Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

As the role of business becomes increasingly important in the fight against climate change, the module on Sustainability and Non-market Strategy aims to highlight the importance of sustainability in business.

Students in this module will evaluate 1) the various drivers behind sustainability such as cost savings, growth opportunities, innovation, differentiation, and competitive advantage for motivations that can range from environmental to strategic; 2) how companies respond by integrating sustainability into their strategy, setting goals and standards, as well as different shades of green; and 3) when firms maximize social, environmental, and economic value from solving sustainability issues. Sustainability and Non-market Strategy thus refers to decisions regarding issues of Environment, Social, and Governance issues that firms face, and how firms respond to these challenges.

This module should be of value for students interested in issues of sustainability, corporate social responsibility, leadership, and corporate strategy for a world adapting to climate change challenges. In order to achieve these goals, the module will cover topics such as UN Sustainable Development Goals, economics of climate change, CSR, greenwashing, leadership in sustainability, emerging technologies, corporate political activity, and role of government.

The module aims to develop critical thinking skills that are useful to identify and analyse challenges and opportunities in sustainability, as well as become responsible leaders and effective agents of social change.

The module will take a strategic approach to understanding sustainability, examine recent research to analyse critical, ethical, and managerial issues in issues of sustainability.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary knowledge on:  

• central theoretical and practical approaches to corporate social responsibility (CSR).
• how firms integrate sustainability strategies to maximize social, environmental, and economic value.
• defining and exemplifying the roles of different actors such as government, non-government organisations, international organisations, and businesses in responding to sustainability challenges.

Skills

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary skills in:

• applying digital tools to analyse sustainability metrics and firm outcomes related to issues of sustainability.
• understanding, evaluating, and synthesising conflicting arguments for and against corporate social responsibility (CSR).
• independently identifying and addressing issues of sustainability, keeping in mind economic, social and ecological concerns.

Competences

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary competences in:

• taking a problem-based approach to explore central challenges within sustainability and non-market strategy.
• applying critical and reflexive thinking skills useful to analyse and identify sustainability challenges and opportunities
• integrating knowledge from management theory and issues of sustainability for problem solving in real world challenges of sustainability.

Type of instruction

For information see § 17.

Exam

Exams