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BUSL XXXXXXXXXX – Case Study Essay
Weighting: 30%
Due: The case study essay is to be submitted via iLearn by 5pm Friday, 4th October.
Your essay should include a cover page with:
your student name
your student number
the following statement: “This essay is my own work”
Files uploaded to iLearn should be in the following format: Surname_StudentID_CaseEssay.
Deliverables
One essay of 1500 words, excluding references. Note that 1500 words is the maximum –
there will be a 5% penalty (1.5 marks) for exceeding the word count by each 250 words (e.g.
XXXXXXXXXXwords, 5% penalty; 1751 to 2000 words, 10% penalty; etc.)
You should use an essay structure, which includes an introduction, body and conclusion,
organised into paragraphs. Your conclusion should summarise your essay’s main argument,
which should critically evaluate the different ideas your essay covers.
Research quality will be evaluated on both the quality of sources and how well these sources
are applied to the case. As a guide, you should refer to two to five additional sources and at
least half should come from peer-reviewed academic journals. Useful starting points for
identifying appropriate sources are the recommended readings for each topic, Macquarie
University li
ary online search function and Google Scholar.
Referencing
Ensure you reference all sources you use in your assignment, including online sources.
Direct quotes (i.e. statements not in your own words) should be included in quote marks in
addition to being referenced. You may use any recognised referencing system (e.g. Harvard,
APA), provided you use this system accurately and consistently. For further guidelines on
eferencing systems, see the li
ary website. If you are yet to select a recognised system, one
widely used system is APA 6. The Li
ary has set up an institutional subscription for APA
style Central, which provides tools for using this system. There is more information on using
style central in this blog.
Extensions and Penalties
Late topic submissions and written assignments will be accepted up to 72 hours after the
submission deadline. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made
from the total awarded mark for each 24-hour period or part thereof that the submission is
late (for example, 25 hours late in submission - 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for
cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved.
http:
libguides.mq.edu.au/Referencing
http:
multisearch.mq.edu.au/MQ:Databases:MQ_ALMA XXXXXXXXXX
http:
multisearch.mq.edu.au/MQ:Databases:MQ_ALMA XXXXXXXXXX
http:
teche.ltc.mq.edu.au/style-alert-apa-style-central-toolbox-research-publishing
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Marking:
See the detailed marking ru
ic on iLearn.
Questions
Choose ONE of the following questions for your essay. To answer this question, you will
need to draw on readings covered in the course as well as your own research.
Question 1:
After stating for 40 years that the primary obligation of business is to shareholders, in 2019
the Business Roundtable – comprised of 181 of the United States’ biggest companies –
eleased a new statement that corporations have ‘a fundamental commitment to all of our
stakeholders’. Critically analyse the Business Roundtable’s full statement in light of relevant
ethics theory. Begin by outlining what, according to R. Edward Freeman, a stakeholder is.
Then identify the main stakeholders the Business Roundtable identifies, and explain why,
according to Freeman, businesses would have an ethical obligation to these stakeholder
groups. Finally, critically evaluate the Business Council’s statement from Milton Friedman’s
perspective: What, if anything, would Friedman think is wrong with the Business
Roundtable’s statement? Conclude by analysing whether the Business Roundtable was right
to issue this statement.
Question 2:
Australian
ain surgeon Prof. Charlie Teo has recently been criticised after it was found that
over 100 campaigns on the fundraising site GoFundMe related to patients seeking to raise
money to pay for Prof. Teo’s surgery. According to the Royal Australasian College of
Surgeons, patients who need
ain surgery should be able to access this surgery for free
through public hospitals. Critically evaluate the ethics of Prof. Teo delivering
ain surgery at
market rates. Your answer should consider both arguments for markets being an ethical way
to deliver surgery (e.g. Read, Friedman, etc.) and relevant objections using Critical Theory.
Begin by outlining ethical arguments in favour of ‘selling’
ain surgery at market prices.
Then use at least two Critical Theorists to consider objections to this view. Conclude by
analysing which perspective is most convincing, and why.
https:
opportunity.businessroundtable.org/ourcommitment
https:
opportunity.businessroundtable.org/ourcommitment
https:
www.abc.net.au/news/ XXXXXXXXXX/charlie-teo-defends-prices-after-criticism-from-colleague/ XXXXXXXXXX
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Question 3:
The Guardian newspaper recently reported findings from China Labour Watch that Foxconn
has drafted in hundreds of school children as ‘interns’ to produce Amazon’s Alexa device,
including working overtime and overnight shifts. Under what circumstance, if any, is
Amazon ethically responsible for this practice? Begin by outlining the main arguments for
and against companies being ethically responsible for the labour practices of suppliers in
other countries. Then critically analyse Amazon’s responsibility for how school children have
een employed at Foxconn in this case considering these perspectives. Conclude by analysing
whether Amazon or other stakeholders (e.g. Foxconn or the local government) are most
esponsible for this issue.
Question 4:
A recent article summarises three initiatives performing arts organizations are using to
address the over-representation of men in classical music composition and performance. The
first initiative is blind auditions, where musicians audition for orchestras by sound only, such
that their gender is hidden from their potential employer. The second initiative is performance
prizes for women only. The third initiative is a quota, with the BBC pledging to commission
half of new classical music from women by 2022. Critically evaluate which, if any, of these
initiatives are ethically justified. Using at least two ethical theories, begin by outlining the
main arguments in favour of each of these initiatives. Then consider possible objections to
these initiatives. Conclude by analysing which initiatives are ethically justified, and why.
Question 5:
The weight-loss company Weight Watchers has recently been criticised for releasing an app
targeted at children aged 8 to 17, in which children can set eating ‘goals’ and monitor which
foods they eat to achieve these goals. Children can also ‘upgrade’ to a paid plan with a virtual
eating ‘coach’. While Weight Watchers claim the app encourages healthy eating, parent
groups are concerned it may encourage eating disorders. Critically evaluate the ethics of
Weight Watchers releasing this app. Begin by distinguishing the main ways of apportioning
esponsibility for the harms a product may cause. Identify which form of responsibility is
most appropriate in this case, and why. Then, using at least two ethics theories, consider the
main ethical arguments for and against Weight Watcher releasing this app. Conclude with an
analysis of whether it is ethical for Weight Watchers to release this app, and why or why not.
https:
www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/aug/08/schoolchildren-in-china-work-overnight-to-produce-amazon-alexa-devices
http:
www.chinalaborwatch.org
eport/143
https:
www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/20
eyond-the-dead-white-dudes-how-to-solve-the-gender-problem-in-australian-classical-music
https:
www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/weight-watchers-new-app-for-children-sparks-concern XXXXXXXXXXp52il6.html
https:
www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/weight-watchers-new-app-for-children-sparks-concern XXXXXXXXXXp52il6.html
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BUSL 204 Case Study Essay – Marking Ru
ic 2019
Skill / Capability Excellent (HD/D) Very Good (Cr) (P) Proficient Not proficient
Use of ethics theory • Applies relevant
theory, interpreted
using own insights
• Insightful links
etween theories and /
or draws out
implications of theories
for practice
• Considers objections
and critically evaluates
elevant theory
• Applies relevant
theory to case,
co
ectly
interpreted
• Links between
theories and / or
implications of
theory for practice
• Critically evaluates
theory
• Some reference to
theory, generally
co
ect but with
some e
ors
• Tends towards
descriptive rather
than critical use of
theory
• Some theory not
elevant to case
• No reference to
theory, or theory
not relevant or
substantially
misinterpreted.
Case analysis • Excellent research
combining appropriate
academic and case
sources
• Case critically
analysed, highlighting
strengths and
weaknesses of relevant
theories / framework
• Draws clear insights for
case / practice
• Well-researched
using relevant
academic and
public sources
• Case critically
analysed using
elevant theory
• Draws insights for
practice
• Some research, but
limited relevant
academic or public
eferences used
• Some relevant
connections
etween theory
and case.
• Analysis of case
tends towards
descriptive rather
than critical
• Few, or no, case or
academic sources
• Superficial
discussion or
analysis
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Structure • Succinct and clear
introduction and
conclusion
• Presented in paragraphs
divided by key ideas
• Ideas organised in
cohesive and unified
argument
• Clear introduction
and conclusion
• Use of well-
ordered paragraphs
• Clear links
etween ideas and
themes
• Answers question
in organised way,
ut partial or
unclear essay
structure.
• No introduction
and/or conclusion
• No paragraphs
• Ideas not
connected
Writing and
Grammar
• Excellent expression
• Few if any grammatical
e
ors
• Clear expression
• Few grammatical
e
ors
• Reasonable
standard of
expression
• May have some
grammatical e
ors
• Many sentences
not properly
constructed
• Many grammatical
e
ors
Response to
Question
• All parts of question
answered in depth
• Most parts of
question answered
thoroughly
• All parts of
question answered,
ut some areas
could be further
developed
• Parts of questions
ignored or not
answered.
Referencing • All sources referenced
co
ectly, with close
attention to referencing
detail
• All sources
eferences, largely
using system
co
ectly
• All sources
eferenced, but
some e
ors in
presentation or
system
• Some sources or
direct quotes not
eferenced