Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
3İKY201Social Responsibility and Business Ethics2+0+02408.03.2026

 
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Associate Degree
Department / Program Human Resources Management
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The aim of this course is to enable students to evaluate ethical problems and dilemmas encountered in working life within the context of human resource management, to develop ethical decision-making skills, and to gain a perspective on ethical governance and corporate social responsibility. Within the scope of the course, fundamental ethical issues such as employee rights, justice, diversity and inclusion, occupational health and safety, privacy, and digital data responsibility are addressed.
Course Content This course covers the fundamental concepts of ethics and morality, ethical theories, and decision-making approaches; ethics, merit, justice, and transparency in human resource processes; discrimination, diversity and inclusion, employee rights, professional conduct, and mobbing in the workplace; digital ethics, data privacy, employee privacy, artificial intelligence, and algorithmic bias; codes of ethics, whistleblowing mechanisms, ethics committees, and compliance processes; corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and Green HR practices; as well as global business ethics, ILO standards, the fight against modern slavery, and global labor norms.
Furthermore, the curriculum addresses discrimination, diversity and inclusion management, employee rights, workplace behavior standards, mobbing, and unethical behavior. Data privacy, employee confidentiality, and digital ethics issues are examined within the scope of the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK/PDPL), algorithmic bias, and data responsibility. Finally, ethical codes, reporting mechanisms, ethics committees, and compliance processes are evaluated alongside corporate social responsibility models, sustainability, Green HR practices, and global business ethics frameworks within the scope of International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and approaches to combating modern slavery.
Course Methods and Techniques A holistic teaching approach is followed in this course to facilitate the transfer of ethical theories into human resource management practices through interactive lectures, discussions, case analyses, ethical reasoning, simulations, project-based learning, and digital workshops. The concepts of ethics, corporate social responsibility, and human resources are examined through discussion-based sessions, while issues such as nepotism, mobbing, discrimination, data privacy, and global ethical risks are evaluated through case analyses and ethics committee simulations. In addition, students develop practical outputs throughout the semester by preparing policy drafts, manifestos, and CSR and Green HR projects, and current topics such as personal data protection, employee privacy, and algorithmic bias are reinforced through digital ethics workshops. Online forums, peer feedback, portfolio studies, and self-assessment practices support the continuity of learning and establish an integrated instructional structure aligned with all course learning outcomes.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Ali Kayış https://abis.gedik.edu.tr/ali-kayis ali.kayis@gedik.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. J. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Society for Human Resource Management. (2023, April 24). SHRM code of ethical and professional standards in human resource management.
Republic of Türkiye Legislation: Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK), Labor Law No. 4857, and related regulations. Fundamental Principles on the Processing of Personal Data (Institutional Guideline)
International Labour Organization. (2022). ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up. United Nations Global Compact. (n.d.). The ten principles of the UN Global Compact.
Kayış, A. (2026). İKY214 course materials [Unpublished course notes].
Course Notes In this course, fundamental works in the field of professional responsibility and ethics, current academic sources, and course notes prepared by the instructor will be utilized.

Course Category
Social Sciences %40
Education %0
Field %60

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 30
Assignment 1 % 0
Project 1 % 20
Final examination 1 % 40
Total
4
% 90

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 2 28
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 1 14
Presentation 1 15 15
Mid-terms 1 15 15
Project 1 15 15
Final examination 1 15 15
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 4 102

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Explains the concepts of ethics, morality, and corporate social responsibility (CSR), and relates their strategic importance in human resource management to relevant examples.
2 Analyzes ethical dilemmas in working life by using utilitarianism, deontological ethics, and the justice approach, and compares alternative solutions with their justifications.
3 Develops a draft of ethical principles and policy based on merit and fairness for recruitment, compensation, and performance management processes.
4 Evaluates issues related to discrimination, mobbing, and employee privacy within the framework of legislation and ethical principles, and develops applicable solutions.
5 Designs a project by correlating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) models and sustainability (Green HR) principles with human resource strategies, and determines key performance indicators (KPIs).
6 Compares global supply chain ethics and international labor standards, particularly those of the ILO, and analyzes ethical risks.
7 Prepares an ethical manifesto and a brief implementation guide based on professional ethical principles within the framework of the HR professional role.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Conceptual Framework: Ethics, Morality, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Researching the differences between ethics and morality, examining CSR examples, and discussing its strategic importance in HR through a short case study. Lecture Notes (Chapter 1); HR-oriented ethical dilemma case set.
2 Ethical Theories and Ethical Decision-Making Approaches Pre-reading on utilitarianism, duty ethics (deontology), and the justice approach; short case study analysis. Ethical decision matrix; sample analysis form.
3 Ethical Governance and Professional Ethics in HR Discussion on the role of "HR as the corporate conscience"; short forum task; comparison of solution alternatives through a mini-case study involving an ethical dilemma. Examples of professional codes of ethics; ethical governance framework; short case study form.
4 Ethical Issues in Recruitment and Selection Processes Examination of nepotism and meritocracy examples; drafting of a brief principle/policy for ethical recruitment. Interview ethics guide; Blind CV samples.
5 Ethics in Compensation and Performance Management Pre-reading on pay transparency and performance biases (halo/horn effects); drafting of a brief principle/policy for fair compensation and ethical performance evaluation. EU pay transparency framework; performance evaluation forms.
6 Rights, Duties, and Ethical Issues in the Workplace Examination of the balance between the duty of loyalty and freedom of expression, along with examples of mobbing, discrimination, and employee privacy; developing solution proposals through a mini-case study. Psychological contract text; relevant articles of the Labor Law; brief KVKK (Personal Data Protection Law) guide; mini-case study.
7 Discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (D&I) Examination of glass ceiling and age discrimination examples; developing brief solution proposals for inclusive HR practices. ILO discrimination guide; D&I policy sample.
8 Midterm Week Review of the first 7 weeks and scenario-based mini-case studies. Exam Scope and Exam Instructions
9 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Mobbing (Psychological Harassment) Legal Dimensions of Mobbing, OHS Responsibilities, and Internal Prevention Strategies; Developing Solutions Through a Mini-Case Study Mobbing analysis inventory; summaries of precedent-setting decisions
10 Data Privacy and Digital Ethics Preliminary research on the PDPL (KVKK) and employee privacy; examination of examples of artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias; development of solution proposals based on a mini case study Sample PDPL (KVKK) disclosure text; digital ethics manifesto; note on algorithmic bias
11 Whistleblowing and Codes of Ethics Investigation of ethics hotline mechanisms; identification of an ethical issue and preparation of an ethical manifesto draft within the scope of Project-1 Sample code of ethics handbook; whistleblowing template; Project-1 template
12 CSR Models and the Stakeholder Approach Examination of Carroll’s CSR pyramid and stakeholder theory; preparation of a stakeholder analysis draft within the scope of Project-2, identification of priority stakeholders, and alignment with HR strategies Sample CSR strategy plan; stakeholder analysis matrix; Project-2 template
13 Strategic HR and Internal Social Responsibility Research on Green HR and volunteering; design of an ethical policy and a short practical guide within the scope of Project-3 Sustainability reports; Green HR guide; Project-3 draft format
14 Global Supply Chain and International HR Ethics Examination of modern slavery, ILO standards, and ethical risks in the global supply chain; review of the final report within the scope of Project-4 UN Global Compact principles; ILO reports; final review checklist
15 Project Presentations and Overall Evaluation Final review of the ethical manifesto and project reports, and submission of the portfolio supplement Project presentation rubric; ethical manifesto template; final report guidelines; Annex-2 rubric

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9
All 3 3 3 2 4 3 1 1 5
C1 3 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 5
C2 3 1 2 1 5 2 1 1 5
C3 4 2 2 2 4 3 2 1 5
C4 4 2 4 4 5 3 1 1 5
C5 3 5 3 2 3 3 2 2 4
C6 2 2 4 1 4 3 1 1 4
C7 3 2 2 1 3 4 2 2 5

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