Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The main objective of this course is to foster students understanding about the possibilities and challenges of accounting for corporate sustainability practices in terms of reporting, assuring, and measuring outcomes.
After completing the course, students will be able to
- understand the role of accounting for corporate sustainability, and the relevant concepts within corporate sustainability from the accounting perspective
- understand and apply relevant sustainability reporting frameworks, such as GRI, SASB, and Integrated Reporting
- critically analyze environmental, social and economic sustainability reporting and initiatives of an organization
- understand the role of sustainability reporting assurance
- understand the assumptions guiding corporate greenhouse gas accounting and respective indicators of carbon footprint.
- identify SASB financially material issues and respective performance indicators
- evaluate responsible investments and ESG ratings
Implicit to its leaning objectives, this course also aims to improve students skills related to communicate ideas clearly, concisely, logically and effectively both verbally and in writing.
Credits: 6
Schedule: 30.10.2019 - 12.12.2019
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Emma-Riikka Myllymäki
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Emma-Riikka Myllymäki, Eduardo Schiehll
Contact information for the course (valid 10.10.2019-21.12.2112):
Questions about the course should be asked primarily
- during the lectures
- in the course website (in MyCourses) --> General discussion
Instructors' contact information:
- Emma-Riikka Myllymäki, emma-riikka.myllymaki@aalto.fi
- Eduardo Schiehll, eduardo.schiehll@hec.ca
CEFR level (applies in this implementation):
Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):
Teaching language: English
Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The course covers both the key concepts and the practice of corporate sustainability in the modern organization, with a focus on external reporting (e.g. sustainability reporting) and performance assessment (e.g. ESG ratings). Through various teaching materials and learning activities, students will be encouraged to apply sustainability frameworks to business practice, and to critically evaluate the processes of reporting and accountability in organization's sustainable development. This course, therefore, aims to offer a holistic and comprehensive approach to study accounting for sustainability. Intensive participation on lectures is necessary in order to succeed the course.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Grounds for evaluation: examination, team assignments, and individual assignments
Weight of the exam on the course is max 40%.
Workload
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Total 160 h, including
- Contact teaching
- Independent studying
- Exam (3h)
DETAILS
Study Material
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Readings will be announced in the syllabus.
Applies in this implementation:
Readings (Myllymäki)
GRI
Standards (Link to GRI:
https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/)KPMG Survey
of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2017PwC's
Corporate Responsibility Barometer 2018Huang, X.,
Chen, J.C., and R.W. Roberts (2010). Toward a more
and L. Watson. 2015. Corporate social responsibility research in accounting.
Journal of Accounting Literature 34: 1-16.
coherent understanding of the organization–society relationship: A theoretical consideration
for social and environmental accounting research. Journal of Business Ethics 97:651–665.Readings (Schiehll)
Articles:
Amel-Zadeh,
A., Serafeim, G. (2018), Why and How Investors Use ESG Information: Evidence
from a Global Survey, Financial
Analysts Journal, vol. 74 (3), pp. 87-103BURKE,
J. J., CLARK C. E. (2016). The business case for integrated reporting: Insights
from leading practitioners, regulators, and academics.Business Horizons, 59(3), 273.Eccles,
R. G., Perkins, K. M., & Serafeim, G. (2012). How to become a sustainable
company.MIT Sloan Management Review,
53(4), 43-50Khan,
M., Serafeim, G., & Yoon, A. (2016). Corporate sustainability: First
evidence on materiality.The
Accounting Review, 91(6), 1697-1724.Scholtens, B. & Sievänen, R. (2013). Drivers of
Socially Responsible Investing: A Case Study of Four Nordic Countries. Journal
of Business Ethics, 115: 605–616.Epstein, M. J. and
Roy, M-J. (2001). “Sustainability in Action: Identifying and Measuring the Key
Performance Drivers.” Long Range Planning, 34(3): 585-604.Peloza, J. (2009).
The challenge of measuring financial impacts from investments in corporate
social performance.Journal of Management, 35(6), 1518-1541.Figge, Frank (2002). «
The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard - linking sustainability management to
business strategy », Business
Strategy and the Environment, 11(5):269-284.Industry
reports:From Transparency to Performance: Industry-based Sustainability reporting
on Key-Issues. The Hauser Center for Nonprofit
Organizations & Initiative for Responsible InvestmentCase
Studies:Corporate Greenhouse Gas Accounting: Carbon Footprint Analysis
UV2027 – Darden Business Publishing
Frito-Lay North America: The Making of Net Zero Snack Chip
UV2025
- Darden Business PublishingPotentially also other material as defined by the instructors
EXAM MATERIAL
- List of readings
- Lecture slides
- Assignments
- Discussions during the lectures
Substitutes for Courses
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
22E29000 Corporate Sustainability Reporting, 22C00700 Yhteiskuntavastuuraportointi.
Prerequisites
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Introduction to Accounting (22A00110) or comparable course at another university.
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
12 Responsible Production and Consumption
13 Climate Action
- Teacher: Emma-Riikka Myllymäki
- Teacher: Eduardo Schiehll