2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS2970 Corporate Social Responsibility

10 creditsClass Size: 300

Module manager: Dr Matthew Davis
Email: m.davis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and business ethics is critical for all managers and those involved in business. The international banking crisis and high profile disasters in the textiles industry have illustrated the social and business cost of poor ethical and CSR decision-making. The CSR dilemmas and problems that managers need to negotiate are becoming ever more complex due to the nature of globalization and the emergence of developing economies. Too often CSR is seen as a public relations issue. This module offers an overview of the key issues involved in CSR and the challenges facing modern organizations. The module examines the responsibility business has to society and how the balance can be managed. The module helps you to identify CSR issues, make informed decisions and articulate these to stakeholders. The module showcases research relating to environmentally sustainable behaviour and modern slavery. Ethical reasoning is introduced - in particular the question of to whom a firm is responsible and how to approach ethical decision making. Key ideas and practices are highlighted using case studies and video clips. This module is designed to be accessible for all, regardless of subject discipline, but students with some organizational experience or business knowledge will probably relate more easily to some of the material. The module supports and encourages you to engage with, and learn from, CSR theory and think about how to put it into practice.

Objectives

The aim of this module is to provide students with an overview of the key issues concerning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the ethical and sustainability challenges facing organizations. It will explore the relationship between business and society, together with how the balance may be managed and strategies to support CSR and sustainability. This module offers students an insight into global citizenship and the responsibilities of business to their stakeholders - important for anyone entering the modern business world.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Recognise and summarise key terms, business practices and relevant theories relating to CSR and sustainable development
- Explain the business case for CSR
- Identify and give examples of different stakeholders and recognise that they may hold different positions on issues of CSR
- Explain the relationship business has with poverty
- Critically assess the impact that CSR has made

Skills outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have developed the skills necessary to:
Subject specific
- Identify and discuss differing ethical and social issues facing organisations
- Develop and articulate logical arguments to support the goal of CSR

Transferable
- Develop and articulate logical arguments to support a chosen viewpoint

Syllabus

Indicative content:

Introduction to key CSR concepts

Shareholder Theory and Stakeholder Management

The Business Case for CSR

Sustainable Development, Business and Poverty

Ethical Decision Making

Sustainability and employee action

Impact and Future of Corporate Social Responsibility

A feedback forum will be included in one of the lecture sessions to provide an opportunity for questions and feedback on module themes and exam requirements.

Supported by five interactive seminars designed to deepen students' understanding of the topic by debating business ethics issues concerning CSR, practical approaches to issues such as modern slavery and an exam preparation session.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	5	1.00	5.00
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			75.00
Total Contact hours			25.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Class learning is supported by a range of online video and other resources accessed through Minerva. Students are also expected to further their understanding through reading. The module has a core set of readings, provided through the online readings folder. There will also be a reading list of contemporary journal articles to deepen coverage of specific topics.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Progress issues will be addressed informally during the seminar sessions.
- Students are welcome to meet with the module leader during office hours to gain feedback and discuss queries.
- The in person Feedback Forum provides an opportunity to ask questions, gain feedback and discuss the exam format and structure.
- The Questions and Feedback forum on Minerva will be used to answer questions relating to the exam and lecture topics, enabling students to raise issues with both staff and other students on the module.

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by 2 hour examination.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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