2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE3270 Business and Sustainable Development
10 creditsClass Size: 114
Module manager: William Young
Email: C.W.Young@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2020/21
This module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
What is the business case for sustainable development? Can business enterprises make profits and be sustainable? What is the right trade-off between business interest and sustainability interest? How innovations can help sustainability in business organisations? If these questions motivate you then Business and Sustainable Development is the module you need. The module will focus on the strengths and limitations of the current wave of strategies and tools that can be subsumed under the umbrella terms of corporate social responsibility/ corporate sustainability.The module will help you understand what the current mode of voluntary, beyond compliance, stakeholder-oriented CSR can and cannot achieve in terms of Sustainable Development. The module will be taught through a combination of lecture and case studies, and has no pre-requisites.Objectives
On completion of this module, students will:- Have an understanding of why addressing environmental and social issues are important to move business towards sustainable development.
- Be able to analyse the linkages of business activities with society (present and future) and the natural environment within the concept of sustainable development at micro and macro levels.
- Understand the strengths and limitations of the current wave of strategies and tools that can be subsumed under the umbrella terms of corporate social responsibility/ corporate sustainability.
- Be capable of analysing whether business in its traditional form can address sustainable development.
Skills outcomes
The module places considerable emphasis on:
- recognising and using subject-specific theories, paradigms, concepts and principles;
- analysing, synthesising and summarising information critically, including prior research;
- applying knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems;
- referencing work in an appropriate manner;
- receiving and responding to a variety of information sources (eg textual numerical, verbal, graphical).
Syllabus
Lectures, tutorials and seminars will comprise the following topics: introduction to business and Sustainable Development; CSR and related concepts; sustainable entrepreneurship/CSR in SMEs; the CSR business case; stakeholder management & legitimacy management; key issues in international CSR; international CSR strategy; CSR and poverty alleviation; CSR and environmental justice; and CSR in the context of Global Governance.
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Workshop | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
e-Lecture | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
Drop-in Session | 2 | 1.00 | 2.00 |
Private study hours | 78.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 22.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100.00 |
Private study
- Pre-lecture reading;- Workshop preparation;
- Report preparation and write up.
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Feedback on drafts and final reportMethods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Report | 3,000 words, excluding references and appendix | 100.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 12/10/2020 08:41:42
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD