Syllabus

Credits: 6

Schedule: 30.10.2018 - 04.12.2018

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Tiina Ritvala
Terhi Elomaa

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation): 

Responsible teacher: Tiina
Ritvala

E-mail: tiina.ritvala@aalto.fi

Office: A5, Main Building,
Töölö Campus

Office Hours: by appointment

https://people.aalto.fi/tiina_ritvala

Phone +358 40
353 8352

 

Course
coordinator: Terhi Elomaa
https://people.aalto.fi/terhi.elomaa

terhi.elomaa@aalto.fi

Teaching Period (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Period II (2018-2019), Töölö campus
Period II (2019-2020), Otaniemi campus

Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

This course dives into the key dynamics of sustainable business practice in the global business environment. Upon successful completion of this course, you will understand how differences in regulations and social norms in different countries influence legitimate organizational behavior. You will also be able to compare and assess social and environmental sustainability activities of both multinational enterprises (MNEs) and smaller firms, and their impact of producing shared value for both business and society. Moreover, the course develops your ability to critically assess the challenges and opportunities of cross-sector partnerships between companies, non-profit organizations and governments. During the course you will also strengthen your group working and reflective skills enabling you to reflect on your understanding and future practice of sustainability.

Content (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The course offers an overview of diversity of actors, theoretical perspectives and topics at the international business-society interface. We will focus on the firm level strategies and cross-sector partnership engaging profit and nonprofit actors. Theoretically, we  concentrate on institutional and strategic perspectives on sustainability. Topics covered in this course range from corporate, social and environmental sustainability programs to internationalization of social enterprises and shared value analysis. The course is highly interactive. Cases are drawn from a variety of issues, industries/sectors, organizations and geographical contexts. Several classes will feature a guest.

Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

100% assignments

Elaboration of the evaluation criteria and methods, and acquainting students with the evaluation (applies in this implementation): 

INDIVIDUAL
(70% of course grade):

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
AND CONTRIBUTION, 20%

REFLECTIVE
ESSAY, 20% 

FINAL
PAPER, 30%

GROUP
(30% of course grade):

SHARED VALUE ANALYSIS, 10%

SELF-DEFINED PROJECT, 20%

See Syllabus for futher details.

Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Contact teaching 30 h
Independent work 130 h
Total 160 h

Details on calculating the workload (applies in this implementation): 

Classroom hours	30h
Class preparation (pre-readings and discussion questions)	30h
Assignments (group work)	40h
Final papers	60h
Total	160h (6 ECTS)

Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Readings indicated in the syllabus.

Details on the course materials (applies in this implementation): 

A selection of articles and other readings as listed in the detailed session description. 

Substitutes for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

26E03300 Operating in Different Cultural Contexts
26E03301 Institutions, Partnerships and Responsible Business

Grading Scale (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

0-5

Registration for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

via WebOodi

Further Information (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The course is restricted to 50 students (including quotas for students from the Open University and Joo-studies).

1. MIB/Global Management/CEMS/Creative Sustainability students;
2. MIB minor students;
3. Other BIZ and exchange students;
4. Other Aalto students.

There is compulsory attendance in the first lecture and when your group is presenting.

Details on the schedule (applies in this implementation): 

Please refer to the syllabus

#	Date, time and venue	Topic	Assignment Due
1	Tue 30.10 13:15-16:00 (C-331)	Introduction; The expanding role of international business in sustainable development	Pre-course assignment
2	Thu 1.11 13:15 -16:00 (C-331)	Challenges for sustainability in a global context	Readings and preparatory questions
3	Tue 6.11 13:15-16:00 (C-331)	MNEs, social enterprises and Sustainable Development Goals; Responsible global leadership	Readings and preparatory questions
4	Thu 8.11 13:00 -16:00 Finnair HQ, Tietotie 9)	Sustainability in the air. Excursion to Finnair Headquarters, Host: Kati Ihamäki, Director, Corporate Sustainability, Finnair	Readings and preparatory questions
5	Tue 13.11 13:15-16:00 (C-331)	The human factor in sustainability; Global supply chains and children’s rights in business.Guest Speaker: Irene Leino, International Advocacy Advisor, CSR issues, Unicef	Readings and preparatory questions
6	Thu 15.11 13:15 -16:00	Cross-sector partnerships and shared value creation. Class guest:  Irena Bakić, Project Lead, CodeBus Africa, Aalto Global Impact	Readings and group presentations
	Tue 20.11 No lecture	No lecture. Individual feedback sessions.
7	Thu 22.11 13:15-17:00 (Fazerintie 6 Vaarala)	Sustainability in the food sector. Excursion to Fazer Experience Visitor Centre, Host: Nina Elomaa, Corporate Responsibility Director	Readings and preparatory questions
8	Tue 27.11 13:15 -16:00 (C331)	MNEs, climate change and industry renewal. Guest Speaker: Kaisu Hietala, Executive VP Renewable Products, Neste	Readings and preparatory questions
9	Thu 29.11 13:15-16:00 (C331)	Group presentations 1/2	Group project presentations (PPTs for all groups)
10	Tue 4.12 13:15-16:00 (C331)	Group presentations  2/2 & course closing with a “Sustainable food buffet”

Description

Registration and further information