Course profile

Corporate Sustainability (TIMS7317)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Postgraduate Coursework
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Business School

Achieving corporate sustainability is a challenge that increasingly occupies the attention of senior executives and key stakeholders of twenty-first century organisations. The path forward is protracted, noisy and tough, but provides opportunities for those corporations that see value inherent in the emerging ethos of sustainability. This ethos is already apparent in increasing pressures on corporations from governments, shareholders and political interest groups to change wasteful and destructive practices. This course focuses on how organisations can develop effective value-creating strategies in relation to sustainability. Topics include an introduction to the science behind sustainability, a closer examination of the moral, legal and business case behind action on sustainability, as well as the development, assessment and implementation of strategies to create sustainable value. The course discusses different change strategies - incremental and transformational - required to shift organisations towards sustainability, as well as the role played by senior executives, managers and other stakeholders as change agents for sustainability.

This course is an introductory course for the Master of Business, Social Impact and Sustainability Field of Study. Students from other programs taking this course as an elective are welcome to attend. The course examines the role of business in society. Over the course of our industrial development, business activities have increasingly impacted the environment, driving adverse global and local environmental changes. While leading to wasteful and destructive practices, the impacts from environmental changes on businesses are now also becoming visible. Achieving corporate sustainability has therefore become a key challenge but also an opportunity for corporations. Beyond financial value, business can create social and environmental value. For example, business can create positive environmental impacts while also remaining financially sustainable.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Students should have a keen interest in the interface between sustainability and business.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

MGTS7709

Restrictions

Quota: Minimum of 15 enrolments

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Please note: Teaching staff doﾠnot have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you emailﾠbusiness.mytimetable@uq.edu.auﾠfrom your UQ student email account with the following details:

  • Full name,
  • Student ID, and
  • the Course Code
Aims and outcomes

Aims and outcomes

The aims of this course are to provide students with insights into:

  1. The emergence of sustainability as a major issues confronting business and industrial organisations.
  2. How organisations driveﾠglobal and local environmental change, andﾠthe impacts thatﾠthe environmentﾠhas on corporate activity and behaviour.
  3. The role of strategy andﾠtechnology in creating sustainable value, and in finding innovative solutions to the challenges of sustainability.
  4. How executives and managers can developing a convincing business case for corporate sustainability.
  5. The implementation issues in creating sustainable corporations

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Identify the need for corporate involvement in sustainability. Analyse a companies current sustainability status before developing plans to improve sustainability.

LO2.

Explain the drivers for organisational sustainability, focusing on the link between corporate activity as well as global and local environmental change.

LO3.

Consider regulatory and valuation frameworks to make the moral, legal and business case for action on sustainability.

LO4.

Create change strategies required to shift organisations towards sustainability articulating sustainable value delivered through these strategies.

LO5.

Work within a diverse group integrating different views and experiences into a cohesive outcome promoting sustainability goals.

Course overview
Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Project Individual Project - Part A 35% Individual; 2,000 words

2/09/2024 1:00 pm
Role play/ Simulation Team Sustainability Presentation and Report
30% Group work; 1,500 Words

11/10/2024 1:00 pm
Project Individual Project - Part B 35% Individual; 2,000 words

11/11/2024 1:00 pm

Assessment details

Individual Project - Part A

Mode
Written
Category
Project
Weight
35% Individual; 2,000 words
Due date

2/09/2024 1:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L04

Task description

You will need to undertake a sustainability analysis of an organisation.

The questions you are required to answer are as follows:

  • Introduce the organisation and sustainability.
  • How would you map the organisation using the matrix?
  • Outline drivers for sustainability. Which top two of these drivers have the greatest impact on the organisation?
  • What specific sustainability actions (present 2) would you recommend to move the organisation to an ideal or strategic position? Why
  • Identify the type of change this is and how the particular change action would add value?

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

  • This project is to be completed INDIVIDUALLY.
  • Word length: 2000 words maximum, excluding references and appendices.
  • This assignment needs to be academically referenced with a minimum of 8 academic references in addition to the textbook.

Submission guidelines

Please submit through Turnitin link in the Blackboard Assessment folder.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Team Sustainability Presentation and Report

Mode
Activity/ Performance, Written
Category
Role play/ Simulation
Weight
30% Group work; 1,500 Words
Due date

11/10/2024 1:00 pm

Other conditions
Peer assessed.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L04, L05

Task description

In this assignment, students will embark on a meaningful journey to design and execute a sustainability project associated with a chosen company within its local community. Building upon the foundational knowledge acquired in Assignment 1, this project requires collaborative efforts to identify and address key challenges within the company's surrounding community. Further information, requirements and marking rubrics are available on Blackboard.

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Individual Project - Part B

Mode
Written
Category
Project
Weight
35% Individual; 2,000 words
Due date

11/11/2024 1:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L03

Task description

You will need to continue to undertake a sustainability analysis of the chosen organisation for Part A of the Individual Report.

The topics that you will have to cover are as follows:

  • Executive Summary of Part A of the Individual Report
  • Critical analysis of your company from the perspective of the Ethical and Legal Case for sustainability and how the chosen  company must take action or is taking action in that context
  • Identification and analysis of Trade-offs and tensions in sustainability that impact the chosen company at an individual, organisational, and societal. Trade-offs in SDGs considered.
  • Development of critical analysis of the role of leadership and culture in influencing the chosen organisation including details and reasoning of its impacts or further areas improvement.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

  • This project is to be completed INDIVIDUALLY.
  • Word length: 2000 words maximum, excluding references and appendices.
  • This assignment needs to be academically referenced with a minimum of 8 academic references in addition to the textbook.

Submission guidelines

Please submit through Turnitin link in the Blackboard Assessment folder.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 35

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.
2 (Fail) 35 - 46

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.
3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes
4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.
5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.
6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.
7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Aims and outcomes
Learning resources

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Learn (Blackboard)
All courses are supported by the UQ Learning Management System, Blackboard Learn, which provides an interactive environment for the students and teachers. This is accessible via PC or Mac or Mobile (Apps) environment.
To log on to Blackboard, go to https://learn.uq.edu.au.

Assessment
Learning activities

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1
Seminar

Introduction to Corporate Sustainability

An overview of the course, its content and assessments.

Learning outcomes: L01
Week 2
Seminar

The Drivers for Sustainability

The seminar focuses on the drivers of organisational change for sustainability. Includes globalisation, regulation, SDGs, new business models and others.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02
Week 3
Seminar

The Phases of Sustainability

Understand the phases of organisational sustainability. Identify key aspects used to evaluate companies and their position on the path to sustainability.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04
Week 4
Seminar

Change Approaches to Sustainability

This seminar considers change with a focus on both incremental and transformational change. We consider the appropriate types of change for a given circumstance, steps of implementation and considerations.

Learning outcomes: L03, L04
Week 5
Seminar

The Value of Sustainability

Understanding the value of sustainability projects to an organisation. Consideration of how to calculate value consistent with a focus on environmental, social and financial outcomes?

Learning outcomes: L03, L04
Week 6
Lecture

The Ethical and Legal Case For Action

This seminar covers the ethical and legal case for action consistent with the growing trend towards a corporate focus on ESG.

Learning outcomes: L01, L03
Week 7
Seminar

Leadership in Sustainability

This seminar will cover the topics of leadership and culture. When sustainability is a focus of the company who can demonstrate leadership? What are the characteristics of leaders? Should culture be considered the fourth pillar of sustainability?

Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L05
Week 8
Seminar

Social Enterprise and the Circular Economy

What are social enterprises and how are they run? We'll also look at what is meant by circular economy.

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05
Week 9
Seminar

Trade offs and Tensions in Sustainability

Trade-offs and tensions in sustainability will be reviewed at multiple levels, individual, organisational, societal. Trade-offs in SDGs considered.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03
Mid Sem break
No student involvement (Breaks, information)

IN-SEMESTER BREAK

No class this week.
Week 10
Seminar

Preparation for assessment seminar

Learning outcomes: L05
Week 11
Not Timetabled

No seminar - public holiday

This week we will watch our team presentations. This seminar will be delivered online
Week 12
Seminar

Team presentations - Group A

This week we will watch our team presentations.

Learning outcomes: L01, L05
Week 13
Seminar

Team presentations - Group B; Course Review

Learning outcomes: L01, L05
Learning resources
Policies and procedures

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Learning activities