GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education / Subject to Instructor’s Discretion
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This module introduces and elaborates the principles and practices of ethical and effective workplace communication. It aims at preparing students with practical skills and knowledge of performing workplace communication across different scenarios, and enabling them to practice ethical reasoning and decision-making to achieve effective and sustainable communication outcomes. The module starts with building the foundations of understanding workplace communication, with illustration of its importance, scope, parties involved, and overall framework. Ethics theories relevant to workplace communication will be introduced with practical implications. Ethics issues (e.g., chosen method of communication, content to communicate, etc.) relating to involving parties and organizations are introduced and explained with details. Application details of how to establish and construct effective and ethical communication throughout different scenarios are then presented and illustrated.
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. Describe and illustrate ethical theories and principles in the context of workplace communication, namely justice theory, equal opportunity, deontology theory, and utilitarian ethical theory.
b. Explain the essentials of personal and corporate ethics issues in workplace communication.
c. Apply ethical theories and practical skills in different workplace communication scenarios, including giving and receiving feedback, managing meetings, electronic communication, and intercultural communication.
d. Demonstrate and analyse techniques of ethical and effective workplace communication in both writing and speaking through applying communication skills as well as ethics theories.
1. Introduce and illustrate the basic tenets, assumptions, and applications of ethical theories and principles in the context of workplace communication, namely justice theory, equal opportunity, deontology theory, and utilitarian ethical theory.
2. Explain the essentials of personal and corporate ethics issues (e.g., chosen method of communication, content to communicate, etc.) and ethics principles (justice theory) in workplace communication.
3. Elaborate and apply ethical theories and practical workplace communication techniques in different scenarios, including giving and receiving feedback, managing meetings, electronic communication (e.g., intranet and social media, and intercultural communication).
4. Demonstrate and analyse techniques of ethical and effective workplace communication in both writing and speaking through applying communication skills as well as ethics theories.
1. Class participation (15%)
2. Individual Reflection Paper (30%)
3. Group Project (25%)
4. Test (30%)
1. Locker, K. O. (2022). Business and administrative communication. Homewood (Ill.): Irwin. *
2. Andrew Crane & Dirk Matten. (2019). Business Ethics, managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
3. Rentz, K., Flatley, M. E., & Lentz, P. (2014). Lesikar’s Business Communication: Connecting in a Digital World. McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
4. Hosmer, L. T., & Hosmer, L. R. T. (2010). The ethics of management. Homewood, IL: Irwin.
5. Adler, R. B., Elmhorst, J. M., & Lucas, K. (2019). Communicating at work: Strategies for success in business and the professions. McGraw-Hill.
6. MacDonald, C. (2021). Business Ethics: Decision-Making for Personal Integrity & Social Responsibility. McGraw-Hill.
