ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING IN PRACTICE (CASE STUDIES)

Course overview

This capstone course consolidates ethical knowledge by applying professional standards, codes, and principles to complex, real-world scenarios. Through high-profile Australian and global case studies, participants analyse ethical failures and successes, practise structured ethical decision-making, and develop the confidence to respond appropriately to dilemmas encountered in professional practice. The course emphasises practical judgement, professional scepticism, and accountability in daily decision-making.

Course objectives

• By completing this course, participants will be able to:
• Identify ethical dilemmas in complex professional and commercial contexts.
• Apply ethical principles and professional standards to real-world case studies.
• Use a structured ethical decision-making framework to evaluate competing options.
• Recognise warning signs of ethical failure at individual, team, and organisational levels.
• Make defensible, well-reasoned ethical decisions in professional practice.

Learning outcomes

• On successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• Analyse ethical failures using relevant professional codes and standards.
• Evaluate the ethical dimensions of ambiguous or high-pressure scenarios.
• Apply a step-by-step ethical decision-making framework to resolve dilemmas.
• Justify ethical decisions with reference to professional obligations and public interest.
• Reflect critically on personal and organisational ethical responsibilities.