MSc Sustainable Business

The course delves into the complexities of sustainable management, examining it through the lenses of individual, organizational, and systemic viewpoints. It offers students tangible management tools, enabling them to make decisions rooted in sustainability and responsibility.

The primary objective is to heighten students' awareness of the pressing ethical and social responsibility issues that managers and leaders face today. By doing so, the course ensures that students are well-equipped to identify and act in alignment with their core values.

Central to the instruction are the foundational aspects of a sustainability mindset. Through tailored pedagogical strategies and tools, students are continuously reminded of the pivotal role that values and purpose play in shaping their future in the business real

The unit aims to:

• explore deep theories and practices of responsible management, fostering a comprehensive understanding that enables students to appreciate the positive transformations ethical management can engender in organizations and the larger society.
• provide students with a robust framework that amalgamates theoretical insights with practical applications, enhancing their ability to make decisions that harmoniously cater to the needs of individuals, the environment, and the business sector, while addressing potential challenges companies might face.
• offer first-hand experiences through reflective assessments that allow students to apply and witness the impacts of sustainable and ethical business practices, thus nurturing a learning trajectory that is both theoretically sound and practically grounded, helping students discern the wider implications of their choices on society.
• help cultivate a sustainability-focused mindset and ethical awareness, preparing students to be able to navigate the practical challenges that confront managers looking to implement sustainability goals in today’s evolving business landscape. 
• prepare students with transferable skills and cultivates an ethos of purpose that can be applied beyond the classroom into their future business careers and personal lives.
• foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that encourages respect for a range of perspectives, facilitating peer-to-peer learning and establishing a community where students are both valued contributors and recipients in the intellectual journey towards a sustainable future.
 

In today's business environment, a sole focus on profits reveals a narrow and short-sighted vision. With increasing challenges facing our planet and its people, there's a clear call for companies to act responsibly and ethically. This course pushes students to critically evaluate how forward-thinking business strategies can offer tangible benefits both for the company and the wider community.

A pivotal part of the course revolves around fostering a sustainable mindset among students. By immersing them in a curriculum that champions ethical values, the program ensures that students don't just learn about sustainability but truly internalize it. This sustainable mindset is invaluable; it shapes how they perceive and interact with the business world. With this perspective, students will recognize that sustainability is not just a trend but a foundational pillar for modern businesses. As they transition into leadership roles, their mindset will guide companies to not only achieve profitability but also make a positive impact on the environment and society.

This course bridges the gap between theoretical principles and their real-world applications. By engaging students in realistic scenarios, the course will highlight the conflicting demands between profit motives, environmental considerations, and societal obligations. Recognizing the challenges of harmonizing business objectives with environmental and social imperatives, the course offers a candid exploration of the dilemmas faced and the potential rewards of ethical decision-making in the corporate realm.

The course offers practical evaluations, giving students tangible insights into the impact of ethical business decisions. By the end of the program, students will not only have gained knowledge but will be prepared to approach the business world with a responsible and sustainable mindset. Their training will position them to make decisions that benefit both the company's bottom line and the wider community.

Syllabus (indicative curriculum content):
Overview of lectures:

1.Introduction to the Foundational Principles of Responsible Management, its relevance, and its practical implementation within current business contexts – internal / external context. Introduction to the key concepts of ethical behavior and sustainable business practices. Emphasising the role of the Sustainability Mindset Indicator (SMI) in tracking and promoting awareness.
2.Exploration of Business Ethics, discussing how these norms should inform and shape the decision-making process. Examination of the ethical challenges in management and decision-making processes. Focuses on understanding the complexities of ethical dilemmas in business.
3. Sustainable Business Models integral to responsible management and approaches to bolster sustainability. Students analyse environmentally-conscious business practices, such as life cycle assessment, triple bottom line (TBL), circular economy, and systems thinking; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and assess the utility, practical relevance, and potential issues of these models.
4.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). the social responsibilities incumbent upon businesses and how managers address these duties responsibly. Ethical capitalism / instrumental foundation of organization/ business environment 
5.Stakeholder Engagement/Development. look at how to effectively discern and prioritize stakeholder requirements and desires in the decision-making process. How likely is it that stakeholders are able/  willing to enforce sustainable outcomes? Understanding  the complexity of balancing diverse stakeholder interests.
6.Responsible Leadership. A look at leadership's role in endorsing and enacting responsible practices across an organization. The importance/ability of leaders in fostering cultures of sustainability.
7. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) The critical role of EDI initiatives and their implementation within the organisation.
8. Shared Value Creation. a critical look at how businesses can produce economic value while also creating societal benefits. It suggests that this can extend beyond the traditional CSR frameworks, reinforcing the idea that ethics can add value to a business.
9. Ethical Decision-Making, presenting various methodologies and strategies to aid in making decisions that align with business requirements, societal expectations, and environmental concerns.
10. Finally, the course concludes by integrating all the topics discussed, providing a holistic understanding of responsible management. The ultimate goal is to instil a sense of purpose and a set of practical/transferable skills in students that students can carry forward into their future careers and personal lives. 

The course will comprise 10 lectures, of 2 hours complemented by 10 seminars, each spanning an hour. Additionally, an online learning platform will be accessible, presenting instructional videos on central themes, case studies showcasing sustainable and responsible management practices, and further reading materials.

The lectures will introduce students to the myriad of sustainability challenges and the diverse societal approaches to address them. They will spotlight both theoretical underpinnings and illustrative cases of tangible solutions and initiatives from various sectors.

The aim of the seminars will be an opportunity for the students to apply and engage with the principles, models and theories discussed in the lecture. Through a mix of group exercises, discussions, and reflections, students will be equipped to understand and formulate sustainable management decisions. Throughout the course the students will reflect on their lectures so that they are exposed to real-world examples that highlight the importance of considering sustainable business perspectives when making decisions.
 

KU1 Demonstrate understanding of sustainable management from individual, organizational, and systemic perspectives. Reflective Journaling

KU2 Identify and articulate the key challenges that managers and organizations face in actualizing sustainable outcomes by proposing potential solutions and explain the scope of sustainability as an issue impacting individuals, organizations, and their management. Reflective Journaling, Reflective Essay

KU3 Analyse the discourses surrounding sustainability, showing how they can be used or manipulated in managerial and organizational contexts. Reflective Journaling

IS1 Critically evaluate the discourses surrounding sustainability evidenced by the ability to discuss potential implications for management and organizations. Reflective Journaling, Reflective Essay

IS2 Apply management and organizational theory to real-world scenarios where firms are aiming to actualize sustainable outcomes. Reflective Journaling

IS3 Generate strategies to navigate or overcome organizational and environmental barriers to achieving genuine sustainability in business, demonstrating critical thinking. Reflective Journaling

PS1 Develop and exhibit practical management skills to make informed, sustainable, and responsible decisions in real business contexts. Reflective Journaling

PS2 Utilize appropriate pedagogical tools and approaches to enhance understanding of sustainable management, and apply these insights to improve decision-making and business outcomes. Reflective Journaling

PS3 Evaluate diverse perspectives, balancing various interests, and making decisions that are both ethically sound and beneficial to the organization. Reflective Journaling

TS1 Cultivate and exhibit a sustainability mindset to influence sustainable business outcomes. Reflective Journaling

TS2 Show sensitivity towards the ethical and social responsibility challenges facing individuals, organizations, and their management. Reflective Journaling

TS3 Apply personal values within the contexts of sustainability discourses and ethical challenges to drive sustainable business practices and careers, demonstrating a sense of purpose. Reflective Journaling

Peer feedback in their groups

Oral feedback given by seminar leader

Weekly feedback provided on submission of journal. Students will also receive weekly formative feedback on the entries

Feedback provided within 15 days of submission
 

Araujo, C.L., Picavet, M.E.B., Sartoretto, C.A.P.D.S., Dalla Riva, E. and Hollaender, P.S., 2022. Ecocentric management mindset: A framework for corporate sustainability. critical perspectives on international business, 18(4), pp.518-545.

Carroll, A.B., Adler, N.J., Mintzberg, H., Cooren, F., Suddaby, R., Freeman, R.E. and Laasch, O., 2020. What “are” responsible management? A conceptual potluck. The research handbook of responsible management, pp.56-72.

Frerichs, I.M. and Teichert, T., 2023. Research streams in corporate social responsibility literature: a bibliometric analysis. Management Review Quarterly, 73(1), pp.231-261.

Haski-Leventhal, D., 2018. Strategic corporate social responsibility: Tools and theories for responsible management. Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility, pp.1-408.

Hermes, J. and Rimanoczy, I., 2018. Deep learning for a sustainability mindset. The International Journal of Management Education, 16(3), pp.460-467.

Laasch, O. and Moosmayer, D.C., 2015. Responsible management learning: Reflecting on the role and use of paradigms in sustainability, responsibility, ethics research. CRME Working Papers, 1(1), pp.1-35.

Nonet, G., Kassel, K. and Meijs, L., 2016. Understanding responsible management: Emerging themes and variations from European business school programs. Journal of business ethics, 139, pp.717-736.

ENHANCEMENT OF DIGITAL LITERACY

This course makes use of the Sustainability Mindset Indicator as a tool of reflection. This will be accessed digitally
The course makes use of weekly online resources made available through its Blackboard page including journal articles, videos and other resources. Students are encouraged to access these for each weekly topic.
Set up online discussion forums where students can apply management theories encouraging intellectual debates, critical thinking and personal reflection on the student’s mindset.
 

STATEMENT TO SUPPORT EQUALITY,DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

This course demonstrates a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion by integrating these principles into its teaching, learning, and assessment strategies. It achieves this through a curated curriculum that features diverse authors and perspectives, as well as dedicated discussions addressing diversity, (under) representation, and equity in responsible management. The course aims to create an inclusive learning environment to encourage open dialogue and respect for diverse viewpoints, while the exploration of responsible leadership will emphasize the role of culture and values in fostering inclusivity.

Teaching resources will be thoughtfully curated to ensure representation and inclusivity across various perspectives. This inclusiveness will be an integral part of our discourse, allowing students to explore the dynamics of diversity and its impact on managerial decision-making and business outcomes.

One of the distinctive features of the course is the opportunity for students to select their summative assessment topics based on their personal values and cultural backgrounds. This empowering approach ensures that the course's core principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion are not only studied but also personally embraced and enacted.

The course aims to ensure that equality, diversity, and inclusion are integral components  to preparing ethical and responsible business leaders.