MWM019-Sustainability: Evaluating origanizational responses to environmental and social challenges

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2018/9

Email: helen.stride@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Aims:
To enable participants to critically evaluate contending positions surrounding: sustainability, sustainable business models and approaches to organizational change to enhance sustainability.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Participants will be able to demonstrate awareness of the most pressing issues in global development: Environmental issues of climate change and natural resource and ecosystem decline, and social issues of poverty and population growth and consumerism. Participants will be able to show understanding of the components of the general ‘business case for sustainability’ and be able to critically evaluate and discuss underlying concepts such as ‘eco-efficiency’, ‘eco-effectiveness’ and ‘bio-mimicry’. Participants will be able to critically analyze an organization’s sustainability strategy, evaluating and recommending ways to improve the business model in terms of environmental and social performance. Participants will be able to apply concepts for the leadership, change management and communication of sustainable strategies by critically evaluating a company’s performance in these areas and recommending improvements.

Additional outcomes:
Students will also develop team working skills through completion of group work and presentations skills.

Outline content:

1) Introduction to the course and overview of business sustainability issues

2) Sustainability challenges confronting business

3) Sustainability contexts: growth, responsibility, ecosystems, footprints and reporting

4) Sustainable consumption, wellbeing, advertising, consumerism and brands

5) Sustainability leadership and change

6) Sustainability strategy and the business case

7) Sustainability innovation, planning and design

8) Sustainability partnerships and collaboration

9) Sustainability future directions and looking back at key concepts

10) Individual presentations

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
These four themes will be taught in a holistic fashion in day long workshops spread over five weeks, there may be an additional workshop to support the completion of assignments. Each session will have required pre-reading and recommended activities such as visiting web-sites.

A rich set of materials including films, role plays, simulations, case studies and guest speakers will be drawn upon to supplement traditional lectures within the constraints of the time available.
The resource list and course overview are available in separate documents.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Ten minute presentation with five minutes of Q&A – last week of spring term

Individual Report of 3,500 words to be submitted 8th week of spring term   

Formative assessment methods:
The individual presentation is intended to be chiefly formative in nature, detailed feedback will be given on strengths and weaknesses so that the subsequent written report can achieve a higher standard.

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the standard University policy. 

Assessment requirements for a pass:
Assignments: 50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Students who fail to achieve an overall module pass mark of 50% will be re-assessed by the failed element only, as below. 

• Reassessment by individual assignment (capped at 50%).  Date of resubmission to be advised by Programme Admin 

• Reassessment by individual oral assessment presentation (capped at 50%).  Date of reassessment to be advised by Programme Admin 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 28 January 2019