Opinto-opas

Objective

At the end of this course students will be capable of understanding the roots of CSR, the critical elements of a CSR initiative, the implementation issues of a CSR initiative, developing a strategic communication plan for CSR, as well as auditing an existing CSR initiative.

Content

CSR Background and Core Issues, CSR and the Sustainability Sweet Spot, Lessons on Launching and Sustaining Sustainability Efforts, CSR as Innovation, CSR Case: Samsung, LG, Pepsi, Unilever, CSR as Global Citizenship – the IBM Case, CSR in Cultural Context, Developing Strategic Partnerships between nonprofits and business. Cases will be provided also from the public / third sector.

Location and time

5.11. 9 - 12
12.11. 9 - 12
19.11. 9 - 12
26.11. 9 - 12
All contact teaching will take place at Myllypuro campus.

Materials

Freeman E. (2010). The Stakeholder theory and the Modern Corporation
Mintzberg H. (2015) Why Corporate Social Responsibility Isn’t a Piece of Cake – Harvard Business Review.
Scheyvens, R. Banks, G., and Hughes, E. (2016) The Private Sector and the SDGs: The Need to Move Beyond ‘Business as Usual’ Sustainable development.
Bansal, P. & Song, H-C. (2016) Similar But Not the Same: Differentiating Corporate Sustainability from Corporate Responsibility. Academy of Management Annals. 11 (1): 105-149.
Barkemeyer, Ralf, et al. (2014) "What happened to the ‘development’ in sustainable development? Business guidelines two decades after Brundtland. Sustainable development 22 (1): 15-32.
Bansal, P., & DesJardine, M. R. (2014) Business sustainability: It is about time. Strategic Organization 12(1): 70-78.

Teaching methods

? Online course lectures, short essays and individual essay

Exam schedules

? Short papers based on the weekly readings (50%) (Due before each lecture: 12.11; 19.11; 26.10)
? Individual essay (50%; 8-10 pages)

International connections

N/A

Completion alternatives

Not needed

Student workload

17 hrs of contact teaching
119 hrs of autonomous studying

Content scheduling

5.11. 9 - 12
12.11. 9 - 12
19.11. 9 - 12
26.11. 9 - 12

Further information

Content:

This course investigates the historical origins of corporate social responsibility (CSR), the difference between CSR and sustainability, and how business strategies are constructed in relation to society.

Learning outcomes of the course:

At the end of this course, students will be capable of understanding the roots of CSR, the critical elements of a CSR initiative, the difference between CSR and sustainability, and evaluate CSR practices in relation to the 2030 United Nations Sustainability Goals.


Lecturers:
Dr Tricia Cleland Silva
Dr Linda Tallberg

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient performance: has completed basic requirements to pass the course and has made an attempt to apply and articulate concepts and information both verbally and in writing but has not made enough effort overall. The student has demonstrated little effort, interest and motivation for individual or team activities / assignments and the output is rather weak.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good overall performance: can apply and articulate concepts and information well both verbally and in writing, certain areas of individual or team output require further attention; shows appropriate level of interest and motivation in individual and team activities. Good presentation delivery and analysis.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent performance in all elements of the course: shows interest and motivation in individual and team activities and assignments, fully applies and clearly articulates concepts and information both verbally and in writing. The student is able to support his/her argument with references to the recommended reading and lecture content. Excellent presentation delivery and analysis.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Sufficient performance: has completed basic requirements to pass the course and has made an attempt to apply and articulate concepts and information both verbally and in writing but has not made enough effort overall. The student has demonstrated little effort, interest and motivation for individual or team activities / assignments and the output is rather weak.

Assessment methods and criteria

? Short papers based on the weekly readings (50%) (Due before each lecture: 12.11; 19.11; 26.10)
? Individual essay (50%; 8-10 pages)

Further information

The language of tuition is English.

The course is assessed on the 0 (failed) – 5 (excellent) grading scale.