Ethics in Technology and Business

11B1225

Bachelor

German

5.0

only summer term

1 semester

In this module, students practise developing an eye for ethical challenges in a professional context and dealing with these challenges in a reflective manner. By participating in the module, they should be enabled to critically reflect on their own professional actions in the context of conflicting interests (especially between personal goals, the profit interests of their own company and the demands of various social stakeholder groups) and thus make professional decisions that they can ethically affirm against the background of their own values. The focus is on issues that typically arise in connection with technical professions.

1. The inevitability of value judgements in theory and practice
   
   1. The nature of ethical questions
   2. The structure of ethical argumentation
2. Corporate objectives and their legitimacy
   
   1. The invisible hand theory
   2. The ‘practical constraints’ of competition: the prisoner's dilemma
   3. Limits of the ‘business case for business ethics’
   4. Entrepreneurial success in the service of social development
3. Illustrative examples
   
   1. Artificial intelligence and responsibility: data-based discrimination
   2. Value judgements and algorithms
   3. Planned obsolescence (‘predetermined breaking points’ to promote sales)
   4. Dealing with employees between profit interests and moral claims
   5. Product safety and corporate responsibility
   6. Asbestos, Contergan & Co.: technology assessment, major risks and the precautionary principle
4. Corporate ethical principles and instruments
   
   1. Integrity vs. compliance
   2. Vision, mission and code of ethics
   3. Transparency, whistleblowing
   4. Stakeholder dialogue

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Portfolio exam or
• Written examination

The portfolio assessment is worth 100 points and consists of two written work samples (APS) and a one-hour written examination (K1). A maximum of 30 points can be achieved for each of the two APS, and a maximum of 40 points can be achieved for the K1.

Alternative: K2 (at the examiner's discretion)

Portfolio assessment:

• Written examination as part of the portfolio assessment: see the applicable study regulations
• Work sample, written as part of the portfolio assessment: approx. 3-5 page

Written examination: see the applicable study regulations

none

Students recognise the fundamental structures of ethical argumentation, with which they are already familiar, and are also aware of the central conflicts of interest in economic arrangements.

Students develop an in-depth understanding of the inevitability of value judgements in theory and practice. They learn about fundamental approaches to justifying the weighing up of interests.

Students become aware of the fact that professional responsibility exists and that it is not possible to remain neutral in this regard. They are able to classify competing approaches to business ethics and recognise their relevance for their own positioning.

Students can make ethically considered and well-founded decisions when faced with conflicts of interest in their professional lives.

Students recognise ethically challenging situations in professional life. They can assess when a monological evaluation is no longer appropriate and how, in such cases, the necessary insights and normative understanding can be achieved by involving other stakeholders.

Students can identify conflicts of interest in professional situations and explain them in detail. They can knowledgeably justify the systematic importance of ethical requirements for economic actors and their practical implications.

Students recognise the inevitability of professional responsibility and the inherent requirement of professional conduct (as social conduct) to be able to comprehensively justify their actions.

• Hirata, Johannes

• Hirata, Johannes