ØAADM3600 Sustainable Business Course description

Business firms have many positive impacts on society but are also responsible for social and environmental problems and are under pressure from stakeholders to become more sustainable. Sustainability can be costly but also provide business opportunities, and most firms are now working on a range of sustainability initiatives and practices.

This course aims to give a broad introduction to business and sustainability. The course focuses on how business firms can combine increased levels of social and environmental sustainability with continued financial performance. Topics in the course include the business and ethical case for sustainability, business and climate change, resource use, social sustainability, organization for sustainability, sustainable finance and marketing, sustainability and innovation, regulation, and sustainability reporting.

Language of instruction is English.

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has in-depth knowledge of

• businesses' impact on the climate, environment and society
• theories and frameworks used to explain firms’ sustainability engagement and performance
• different types of sustainability initiatives and practices in business

Skills

The student is able to

• analyse the current sustainability status of a business
• suggest how firms can change towards sustainability
• assess how sustainability initiatives are related to financial results

General competence

The student is able to

• reflect on how their professional life can contribute to business sustainability
• carry out an independent project in a diverse group of students

The course will combine lectures, case discussions and individual work. The course will be partly organized around one group and one individual project.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved for the student to take the exam:

• Peer review: Provide written feedback on another student’s written individual project (1-2 pages). The aim of this coursework requirement is to ensure that the student reflects on the central learning outcomes in the course when working with the individual project, and to make sure each student group has satisfactory progress in their individual project

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by a given deadline.

The exam in the course consists of two parts:

1. Written group project - counts 40% of the final grade

In the group project you will assess the sustainability performance of a business and make suggestions for improvements, based on frameworks and theories from the course.

The group project will be carried out in groups of 2-5 students. The group members will be randomly selected.

The group project should have a scope of 8-10 pages, excluding front page, table of contents, appendices. Font and font size: Arial / Calibri / Verdana 12 points. Line spacing: 1,5

2. Written individual project - counts 60% of the final grade

In the individual project you will research and write a report about one or more of the topics covered in the course.

The individual project should have a scope of 8-10 pages, excluding front page, table of contents, appendices. Font and font size: Arial / Calibri / Verdana 12 points. Line spacing: 1,5

The students can write their exams in Norwegian or in English.

The student receives two separate grades, one for the group project and one for the individual project.

Both parts of the exam must be passed in order to pass the course. Each exam component may be retaken separately.

All aids are permitted, as long as the student complies with the rules for source referencing.

Grade scale A - F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25 % of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Jakob Utgård