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MN50705: Responsible business

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: School of Management
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Academic Year
Modular (no specific semester)
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
Business has been the source of tremendous economic growth, creating opportunities for many across the world to live better, healthier, and more prosperous lives. However ethics and sustainability challenges, including climate change, pollution, water scarcity, poverty, equality, and human rights pose significant threats to our prosperity and to the ability of business to flourish. Smart businesses have recognized the need to understand and respond to these risks, but also to seek out new opportunities in the changing markets of the future. This unit enables participants to think about these risks and opportunities in terms of responsible business strategy. It is designed to help executives become 'future fit' and adept at making their organizations resilient through the development, implementation, and adaptation of strategy to simultaneously create environmental, social, and economic value.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this unit, participants are expected to be able to:
* Demonstrate awareness of the types of ethical ethics and sustainability issues faced by managers and why they are important
* Apply an enhanced understanding of what individual managers can, should or should not do when confronted with ethical dilemmas such challenges.
* Interpret the potential risks and opportunities emerging from critical ethics and sustainability trends in the business environment
* Critically evaluate new business models for sustainability responsible business
* Articulate a vision for sustainability responsible business leadership within and beyond their organisation and sector

Skills:
Knowledge and understanding
* An appreciation of the fundamental frameworks necessary to understand internal and external organisational contexts as well as theoretical foundations underpinning the links between business and society;
* An understanding of the economy as an evolving complex adaptive system of distributed information and knowledge.
Skills
* appreciation of the interconnected nature of organisations and ability to apply both theoretical and practical understanding;
* operate effectively within teams as well as independently, assuming leadership roles where appropriate;
* apply practical decision-making methods and tools at both tactical and strategic levels;
* be self-directed and able to act autonomously in planning and implementing projects at professional levels;
* an ability to reflect on their earlier learning and practice, so as to integrate new knowledge with past experience and effectively apply it to new situations;
* an ability to develop a holistic perspective on an organisation and an understanding of how the different functions relate to one another.

Content:

* Ethical judgements of business conduct
* Ethics and sustainability risks and opportunities facing business
* Stakeholders, reputation and corporate responsibilities
* Responsible business strategy and risk management
* Development and implementation of responsible business strategy
* Measuring performance and reporting on responsible business corporate responsibilities
* Reporting on corporate responsibilities
* New business models for responsible business.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MN50705 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

School of Management

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.