SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS LEADERS

Maria Jell-Ojobor, Beatrice Di Marco

Instructional goals

This course will explore corporate social responsibility (CSR) as being central to the value-creating purpose of the international firm. New ideas, contemporary knowledge, and original research to the area of socially-responsible international business will be discussed, placing a priority on the global stakeholder influences on acting in a socially-responsible way, foreign buyer reactions to responsible business, and international market targeting to development of socially-responsible international business strategies.

Prerequisites

None

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding The role of CSR for tackling grand societal challenges of the world The complexity of operating in a global environment, the divergent stakeholder needs and the logic behind corporate strategies that manage the risks and challenges of operating internationally Applying knowledge and understanding A strategic management perspective and firm survival and growth through a proactive CSR strategy lens Sustainable business models for the international corporations in the twenty-first century Making Judgements Main theories and concepts on CSR Main elements of CSR and its impact on firm failure versus firm survival The potential of digital transformation for sustainable business models Communication Skills Necessary skills to organize and write the results of an empirical analysis with firm-level data A team-working environment Presentation skills Learning Skills Results of the relevant empirical studies on strategic CSR and sustainable international business models

Course Contents

The modules of the course will cover the following topics: Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility  Corporate Social Responsibility A stakeholder perspective An institutional perspective A legal perspective A shareholder perspective A behavioral perspective A CSR mandate A strategic perspective A sustainable perspective A value creation perspective Project week

Reference Books

Textbook: Chandler, David. Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf (6th Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US), 2022. Leonidou, L. C., Katsikeas, C. S., Samiee, S., and Leonidou, C. N. Socially Responsible International Business: Critical Issues and the Way Forward. Edward Elgar Publishing (2019). Selected Case Studies provided by the teaching team.

Teaching Methods

Fully synchronous  TA consultations Group  project Case Studies

Assessment Method

1x paper presentation and discussion (15%)   1x Group case study presentation (10%)   Group Project Work (65%) 5 Steps of Project Work (25% - 5 % each)   Peer review evaluation (10%) Group Presentation (with slides) of project in W12 (10%) Group Research Paper submission  (20%) - In-person final exam - individual (10%)   Bonus points – up to 2pt for Bonus activities Non-attendant students must study all concepts mentioned on the professor slides and all papers discussed by professor and students. The final written exam will include multiple-choice and open-ended questions on the above readings.

Thesis assignment criteria

Active attendance at the course; Quality of the proposed issue for the thesis. 

Week 1 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 1- Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility  Synchronous lessons What Is CSR? Definition, evolution, nature, and foundations of CSR Paper presentation Intro to the Project Work  E-tivities Discussion forum Project work step 1 Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 2 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 2- Corporate Social Responsibility Synchronous lessons The driving forces of CSR    Paper presentation and discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 3 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 3- A stakeholder perspective Synchronous lessons Stakeholder theory    Paper presentation and discussion  Case study discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Project work step 2 Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 4 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 4- An institutional perspective Synchronous lessons Corporate Stakeholder Responsibility  Paper presentation and discussion  Case study discussion E-tivities Discussion forum Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 5 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 5- A legal perspective Synchronous lessons Corporate Rights and Responsibilities  Paper presentation and discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Project work step 3 Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 6 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 6-  A shareholder perspective Synchronous lessons Who owns the firm?    Paper presentation and discussion  Case study discussion E-tivities Discussion forum Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 7 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 7- A behavioral perspective Synchronous lessons Markets and profits  Paper presentation and discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Project work step 4 Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 8 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 8- A CSR mandate Synchronous lessons Compliance and accountability   Paper presentation and discussion  Case study discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 9 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 9- A strategic perspective Synchronous lessons Strategy + CSR    Strategic CSR Paper presentation and discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Project work step 5  Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 10 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 10- A sustainable perspective Synchronous lessons Sustainability  Paper presentation and discussion  Case Study discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 11 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Week 11- A value creation perspective Synchronous lessons Sustainable value creation  Paper presentation and discussion  E-tivities Discussion forum Related Material Selected reading Lecture slides

Week 12 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

 Week 12- Project week Synchronous lessons Project work presentation  Related Material Video