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