21E16001 - Sustainability in Business, Lecture, 13.9.2021-21.10.2021

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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

- Understanding the concepts of sustainable business and corporate responsibility
- Understanding the central tensions in corporate sustainability
- Identifying sustainability challenges and introducing strategic approaches to respond to them
- Understanding sustainability in different business functions and the management instruments available;
- Developing critical thinking about how to deal with different stakeholders in advancing sustainability;
- Recognizing how enterprises can innovate to develop more sustainable businesses.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 13.09.2021 - 21.10.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Tulin Dzhengiz, Samuli Patala

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

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    This course focuses on the role of business in addressing the vast sustainable development challenges faced by the world.  There is a complex relationship between business and sustainability, as business has historically been the source of many of these challenges (e.g. climate change, inequality, pollution), and yet business must also be part of the solution, given the size and scope of global business activities.  Against this backdrop, there has been an undeniable shift in business attitudes towards sustainability, with corporations increasingly wanting to act sustainably. However, these companies are constrained by the competitive pressures that speak to the core of the sustainability challenge: on the one hand, a more sustainable company does good for the world, but on the other hand if done incorrectly, sustainability shifts undercut the financial viability of a company. Put another way, even the world s most sustainable company does no good if it goes out of business.


    With this in mind, the focus of this course is first on understanding the nature of this tension, and second on understanding how to develop business strategies that are simultaneously better for the environment, society, and a company s finances. To truly pursue the needed sustainability shift, companies must creatively address the needs of their diverse stakeholders so that they can find win-wins.


    Overall, the course will cover expansive ground, including business strategy, supply chains, sustainability management and communication instruments, innovation for sustainability, and the circular economy. Simulations and cases will be used to highlight the underlying complexity.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Final project (50%), Assignments (Group/Individual) (50%)

     

     

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Contact teaching 33h (70% lecture attendance requirement, or you cannot get credit for the final assignment)

    Independent work and assignments 123h

DETAILS

Study Material

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    A selection of articles. Required pre-readings for each lecture (1-3 articles per lecture).

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    4 Quality Education

    7 Affordable and Clean Energy

    8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Max 100 students taken to the course

    Students are admitted to the course in the following priority order 1) Creative Sustainability / Open University students, 2) CEMS, 3) Exchange students, 4) MIB, 5) School of Business students, 6) Aalto students.


    Please contact Samuli Patala for more information


    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn I

    2021-2022 Autumn I


    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=21E16001


    Registration for Courses: In the academic year 2021-2022, registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) instead of WebOodi.

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Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof