Service Design Ethics
| Module title | Service Design Ethics |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM814DA |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 1 | 15 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
Service Design Ethics aims to equip you with a sophisticated understanding of ethical, inclusive, and responsible service design by leaning into critical systems thinking. You will critically interrogate and implement ethical frameworks, regulatory compliance, and sustainable design approaches within complex, real-world service contexts. Critical Systems Heuristics will be introduced, and you will be trained in its applications. You will develop advanced competencies in applying human-centred and participatory design approaches while recognising and addressing potential biases, inequities, and unintended consequences in service delivery. Through case studies, design challenges and reflective activities, you will learn to balance user needs, organisational objectives, and societal impacts. You will be invited to demonstrate critical awareness of power, accountability, and long-term consequences of design decisions.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to introduce students to design ethics, organisational development and the need to ensure capacity and capability for the sustainability of service delivery.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of approaches to ethics both theoretical and in the sector the practitioner is supporting (K17)
- 2. Critically reflect on the ethical aspects of services and on own role as a practitioner (B1).
- 3. Appraise capability development needs of others and co-design a training strategy (S26).
- 4. Evaluate prioritisation techniques to select one from a range of generated design options by considering issues of ethics and power (K13).
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement for the people the practitioner works with (K20).
- 6. Demonstrate critical awareness of techniques to explore a problematic situation (S3).
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Reflect on personal learning and evaluate personal strengths and areas for improvement (B4).
- 8. Communicate complex ideas in a highly effective fashion in a given number of words in written forms (S18).
Syllabus plan
- Introduction to ethics.
- Service design ethics.
- Critical Systems Heuristics.
- Designing fair and sustainable services.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 70 | 300 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 20 | Lectures and workshops |
| Guided independent study | 70 | Independent work on portfolio and EPA exam preparation |
| Placement/Study Abroad | 300 | Apprentice applying SD concepts to work context. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 20 mins (equivalent to 2000 words) | 1,2,3,4 | Peer reviewed |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 100 | 3500 words | 1-8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Report | 1-8 | Next re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Ulrich, W., & Reynolds, M. (2010). Critical systems heuristics. In Systems approaches to managing change: A practical guide (pp. 243-292). London: Springer London.
- Risdon, C., & Quattlebaum, P. (2018). Orchestrating experiences: Collaborative design for complexity. Rosenfeld Media.
- Tarling, K. (2023). The Service Organization: How to Deliver and Lead Successful Services, Sustainably. London Publishing Partnership.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 21/10/2025 |