2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS2970 Corporate Social Responsibility

10 creditsClass Size: 450

Module manager: Rajinder Bhandal
Email: R.K.Bhandal@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not 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. Investors increasingly expect companies to be accountable for their ethical conduct through Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting. 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, ESG and sustainable development
- Articulate a 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 of CSR

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
Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility

Key ideas, academic theory and case examples are delivered. The interactive workshops enable application of the learning, introduction of case studies, discussion and interactive tasks. The workshops are designed to deepen students' understanding of the topics, for example by debating business ethics issues concerning CSR, discussing practical approaches to issues such as modern slavery. Two additional Workshops will provide opportunities for the class to ask questions and gain feedback on the assignment task.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	5	1.00	5.00
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			84.00
Total Contact hours			16.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Students are expected to further their understanding through reading. The module has a core set of readings. There will also be a reading list of supplementary contemporary journal articles to deepen coverage of specific topics.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

1) Progress issues will be addressed informally during the workshops. The workshops will enable the students to ask questions and gain feedback.
2) Students are welcome to meet with the module leader during office hours to gain feedback and discuss queries.
3) The online Questions and Feedback forum will be used to answer questions, enabling students to raise issues with both staff and other students on the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by 2,500 word coursework.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 11/09/2024

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