MAN 5193 Sustainability in Practice

MAN 5193 Sustainability in Practice

Course code: 
MAN 5193
Department: 
Law and Governance
Credits: 
15
Course coordinator: 
Caroline Dale Ditlev-Simonsen
Course name in Norwegian: 
Bærekraft i praksis
Product category: 
Executive
Portfolio: 
Executive Master of Management
Semester: 
2023 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Teaching language: 
Norwegian
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Today's companies must relate to sustainability. This is expected from various stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, employees, authorities etc. New laws in the field place increasingly stringent requirements on companies in the field of sustainability, including reporting. Both at national and international (EU) level, the authorities place increasing demands on sustainable operation and reporting. At the same time, there are requirements in the supply chain to ensure that companies can document that they relate to social responsibility and sustainability. This is often a prerequisite to obtain contracts. The UN's sustainability goals are the framework that the company and the various actors must adhere to, and the environment and social conditions play a central role.

The course deals with the corporate strategy for integrating sustainability in a way that is good for both the environment and the economy. Integration strategy, innovation, circular economy, life cycle analysis, management, employees, stakeholder analysis, risk management, dissemination, finance (ESG), reputation and anti-corruption work are some topics that will be addressed during the course. Management and organization of sustainability will also be addressed.

The course is practically oriented and representatives from the business community will be involved and contribute to dialogue and sharing of experiences. There will also be an international digital dialogue. The course will help get a well-established overview of sustainability from different perspectives. Sustainability is an interdisciplinary field and it is necessary to understand the whole and to be able to collaborate with different actors. Avoiding silo mentality is central to sustainable development.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge
  • In-depth knowledge of the UN's sustainability goals
  • In-depth knowledge of various theories related to sustainability
  • Be able to assess and discuss a company's relationship to sustainability
  • Be familiar with relevant laws related to sustainability
Learning outcomes - Skills
  • Be able to develop and integrate sustainability in a company
  • Be able to lead the work with sustainability and reporting within the company
  • Be able to assess how companies work with sustainability from different perspectives
  • Be able to map risk conditions in the supply chain (environmental and social)
  • Be able to apply different approaches to dealing with key stakeholders
  • Be able to develop and integrate ethical guidelines / code of conduct and anti-corruption program
General Competence
  • Develop an integrated value system for sustainability
  • Identify and analyse dilemmas and challenges
  • Demonstrate knowledge of dilemmas in attitude and behaviour
Course content

The teaching will be in the form of lectures, cases, group work, presentations, guest lectures, business cases and multimedia tools. The following are topics that will be covered, but changes and updates may occur. There is constant development within this field and this will be taken into account in the course content.

 

  • Where we are today in relation to environmental and social conditions - and how did we end up here? Economic theory and sustainability; history and development, innovation and system change.
  • UN sustainability goals; what do they mean and how to apply / integrate in the company. Various tools for sustainability and business, as well as certification. Relevant laws and regulations in the field.
  • How to develop a sustainability strategy - step by step and implementation, Management Theory and organizational change in relation to sustainability, innovation.
  • "Business case for sustainability" - from ignorance to business opportunity: tomorrow's winners, with a competitive advantage. Circular economy, life cycle analysis and climate accounting.
  • Customers' relationship to sustainability - attitude, behaviour and nudging, how to get the customers on board. The role of government in sustainability - laws, rules, fees and incentives, effect of various measures.
  • Employees and sustainability - when is sustainability commitment positive for employees - and when is it not. Get employees involved and on board.
  • Sustainability in an international perspective; the supply chain and compliance with selected procurement requirements and laws.
  • How can cooperation and partnerships with with different stakeholders to contribute to sustainable development - nationally and internationally.
  • Business development in developing countries / emerging economies in relation to environmental and social conditions, Business opportunities and challenges, digital solutions.
  • Sustainability and finance - Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) and ethical investments and impact assessment.
  • Media as a stakeholder
Teaching and learning activities

The program is implemented with three sessions of two days (a total of six days) as well as digital teaching over a semester, a total of approx. 75 hours.

The supervision offer will be somewhat different in the various Executive Master of Management Programs. Personal guidance and guidance will be given during the lecture. In general, students can expect advisory guidance, not evaluative guidance. The guidance offer is estimated at 2 hours per. task. In programs where there is no compulsory attendance, it is the student's responsibility to obtain information that is given during the lecture, but which does not appear on the program's website / It's learning or other course material.

The students are evaluated through a project assignment that counts for 60% of the total grade and an individual 3-hour home exam that counts for 40%. The project assignment can be written individually or in groups of up to three people. All exams must be passed for diplomas in the program to be awarded.

The project assignment is part of the degree's independent work, cf. Regulations on requirements for a master's degree, corresponding to 9 credits per. program. For the degree Executive Master of Management, the independent work will consist of the sum of project assignments from the programs taken.

 

Computer tools:

SDG Impact Assessment Tool (free and no license required)

 

In all BI Executive courses and programs, there is a mutual requirement  
for the student and the course responsible regarding the involvement of the student's experience in the planning and implementation of courses, modules and programmes. This means that the student has the right and duty to get involved with their own knowledge and practice relevance, through the active sharing of their relevant experience and knowledge.
 

Software tools
Software defined under the section "Teaching and learning activities".
Qualifications

Bachelor degree, corresponding to 180 credits from an accredited university, university college or similar educational institution. The applicant must be at least 25 years of age and at least four years of work experience. For applicants who have already completed a master’s degree, three years of work experience are required.

Disclaimer 

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this. 

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
40
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Individual home exam, over three hours.
Exam code: 
MAN 51931
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
60
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Exam code: 
MAN 51932
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
48 Hour(s)
Teaching
27 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
122 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
200 Hour(s)
Examination
3 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
400

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 15 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 400 hours.