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HRM10730

Academic Year 2026/2027

Business in Society (HRM10730)

Subject:
Human Resources Management
College:
Business
School:
Business
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Ms Sadhbh Crean
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module considers the nature of the relationship between business and society, and how societal issues are increasingly affecting all aspects of corporate strategy and behaviour. It will introduce students to the key issues of morality, ethics and policy and explore contemporary issues in this arena. Moreover, topical issues, around which informed perspectives and opinions diverge, will form an integral part of the curriculum, e.g. climate change and sustainability, globalization, working conditions in MNC supply chains and gender equality. The module aims to provide students with a strong sense of the connections (and tensions) between individual, organisational, and societal actions and outcomes, a sense of social embeddedness, while also retaining a positive business outlook. This module will interrogate these issues and frame student assessment and evoke student engagement through critical analysis and written and verbal expression.

The following questions will be discussed:

Should firms be responsible and sustainable if it negatively impacts the bottom line?
What role should the state play in regulating businesses and ensuring firms are more sustainable?
What labour standards should western companies adhere to when manufacturing in developing countries?
And others.
These are questions to which there is no ‘one right answer’. Rather there are a range of viewpoints and the challenge of students of the subject is to critically assess differing viewpoints by drawing on appropriate empirical and theoretical academic research.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe and assess the key trends that impact the relationship between business and society today.
2. Explore a range of social, environmental, and ethical issues, and analyze the role of business in addressing them.
3. Understand and apply various theoretical approaches to morality and ethics within a business context.
4. Display critical thinking skills in written work by constructing well-supported arguments based on a broad range of academic literature.
5. Work independently and in groups as a scholar by reading widely and engaging with diverse academic sources.
6. Recognise and apply the AI Fluency Framework terminology and concepts, particularly the four core competencies (Delegation, Description, Discernment, and Diligence) across three modes of interaction (Automation, Augmentation, and Agency).

Indicative Module Content:

Approaches to Business in Society: Market Capitalism, Stakeholder Model, Regulatory Pluralism, Dominance Model.
Regulating Capitalism: Historical swings between market capitalism and regulatory pluralism.
The stakeholder model and corporate social responsibility.
Theories of ethics.
Climate change and environmental sustainability.
Supply chain sustainability.
Human sustainability.
Diversity and sustainability.
Tax and sustainability.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Not addressed

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Advanced Beginner

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Novice

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Not addressed

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Novice

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Not addressed

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Novice

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Not addressed

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 1

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 4

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 3

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 2
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

102

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, 2 hours x 11

Use of AI:
AI Permitted for Limited Support
Students may use AI tools for limited support in this module, for practice questions for the final exam. Students remain fully responsible for the accuracy and reliability of their work. Any use of AI must be cited appropriately.


Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Business in Society (ACC10730)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Students must complete an AI Fluency digital badge at any point before the end of week 9. Week 9 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
5
 No
Individual Project: Students must complete a Critical thinking & AI digital badge at any point before the end of week 4. Week 4 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
5
 No
Exam (In-person): End of Semester, closed-book examination consisting of two essay questions, covering all material in the module. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
90
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Ksenia Usanova Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Musa Afandiyev Tutor
Andrea Berger Tutor
Burak Ceylan Tutor
Ms Sheila Harty Tutor
Lan Huong Hoang Tutor
Leona Nicell Tutor
Xue Zhang Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 3 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 14:00 - 15:50
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