2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE1390 Introduction to Business, Environment and Corporate Responsibility

20 creditsClass Size: 120

Module manager: Dr Rebecca St Clair
Email: R.StClair@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

What do Unilever, Marks and Spencer and Asda have in common? They are all tackling their environmental and social impacts through corporate responsibility programmes but they have completely different public images. Why? In this module you will learn how to tell the difference between green PR and sustainability innovation in enterprises small and large. Which stakeholders such as pressure groups, consumers and workers have the most influence over changing company behaviour for the better? How do managers make decisions that both are complex and have competing factors to improve sustainability practice in Brand companies and supply chains? The answers and critical company corporate responsibility strategies, ethics, barriers and opportunities will be covered in this module. Case studies of large and small enterprises will be analysed and discussed. An essential module for future business managers or concerned consumers. This module is open to all those interested no matter the background.

Objectives

The aim of this module is to introduce students to core debates and practices in corporate environmental management and social responsibility. Students will learn about the ethical issues facing organisations, what pressure they are under from stakeholders and regulation, what approaches they take to manage these, and how to apply key concepts and theories to understand these.

The learning activities are a mixture of overview lectures and smaller group teaching in the form of seminars or workshops in which students investigate and debate academic literature and real world case studies.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Have a general understanding of the concepts and theories of corporate environmental management and more generally corporate responsibility.
2. Be able to appreciate and debate the ethical issues facing companies in their operations.
3. Have an understanding of the regulatory and stakeholder pressures on business.
4. Have a general understanding of business approaches to environmental management and corporate responsibility.
5. Have knowledge of some current best and worst business practice through case studies.

Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Applying knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems;
2. Communicating clearly articulated and evidence-based arguments in written form;
3. Using the Internet critically as a source of information, gathering information from a range of sources and analysing it;
4. Showing commercial awareness in understanding how businesses are successful in their particular business environment.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			172.00
Total Contact hours			28.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students receive formative feedback through their participation in seminars, both from staff and in discussion with peers.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	.	44.00
Assignment	.	56.00
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 website

Last updated: 13/05/2024

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