Studying at York
Corporate Sustainability - ENV00043M
Module summary
This module focuses on sustainability in a corporate context. It reflects a growing awareness of the significance for creating long-term shareholder value of balancing economic performance with practices that are simultaneously environmentally, ethically and socially sustainable.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 to Spring Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
Module aims:
- Introduce students to global trends, concepts, theoretical frameworks and guiding principles relevant to corporate sustainability;
- Examine the links between corporate activities, globalisation and sustainability, and in the context of stakeholders, the role of corporate governance, law and ethics;
- Explore the major challenges faced by decision-makers when attempting to develop and implement sustainability strategies;
- Build an awareness of techniques and tools deployed in the interrogation and management of environmental, social and governance matters;
- Develop skills and competencies relevant to working in a professional context in the field of corporate sustainability policy and management.
Module learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
- Explain the concept of 'corporate sustainability' and present a credible case for incorporating environmental, social and ethical considerations into strategic business planning;
- Understand the role of corporate governance, law and business ethics in managing the relationship between corporations and their stakeholders in the context of globalisation and the goal of sustainability;
- Analyse key factors in developing, deploying and monitoring corporate sustainability strategies in practice (e.g. trade-offs, finance and organisational change);
- Critically analyse business operations from a corporate sustainability perspective and design a programme of changes to improve performance;
- Develop methodological approaches to identifying and managing corporate sustainability issues, apply some basic diagnostic techniques and create some bespoke management tools;
- Deploy some basic skills and competencies pertinent to working as a corporate sustainability professional.
Module content
The module is delivered in the autumn and spring terms.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 40 |
| Essay/coursework | 60 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Generic verbal feedback to the class as a whole and individual written feedback on assessed coursework. Feedback will be provided within four weeks.
Indicative reading
Blowfield, M. and Murray, A. (2013). Corporate Responsibility. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press
Crane, A. and Matten, D. (2016). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalisation. 4th Edition. Oxford University Press
Crane, A, McWilliams, A et al (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility. Oxford University Press
Epstein, M.J. and Rejc Buhovac, A (2014). Making Sustainability Work: Best Practices in Managing and Measuring Corporate Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts. 2nd Edition. Greenleaf Publishing
Hitchcock, D. and Willard, M. (2015). The Business Guide to Sustainability: Practical Strategies and Tools for Organisations. 3rd Edition. Routledge
Tricker, R. (2012). Corporate Governance: Principles, Policies and Practices. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press.