Course coordinator
Professor Daniel Nyberg
Consultation available weekly by appointment on campus or on zoom.
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course examines the innovation strategies that Business introduce to deal with issues associated with sustainability and climate change. The course looks at the emergence of new clean technologies - their applications in industry environments and theprocesses by which businesses translate this knowledge into competitive advantages.
This course is designed to give students a comprehensive and experiential understanding of the sustainability challenges facing organisations and to highlight risks and opportunities that are emerging as a consequence of global environmental change. Furthermore, the course is designed to enable students to challenge the status quo of "business-as-usual" and to search for innovative solutions to some of the pressing issues impacting organisations - including changes in ecologicalﾠparameters throughﾠclimate change,ﾠmore frequent and/or severeﾠextreme weather events and natural resource scarcity. The course seeks to use frame-breaking approaches to problem solving and the development of organisational strategies.
Sustainable Development Goals - UQ Business School is a proud supporter and Advanced Signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME). As part of the largest global collaboration between business schools and the UN, the school emphasises its role in empowering students to drive societal transformation through the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs highlight that a thriving economy relies on a healthy environment, aiming to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection for a sustainable future.
Course requirements
Restrictions
Quota: Minimum 15 enrolments
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Ben Robra
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not 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 email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to:
- Give students exposure to some of the significant, complex issues facing organisations and communities, particularly those resultingﾠfrom global environmental change caused by climate change and natural resource scarcity.
- Give students an understanding of climate policy developmentsﾠandﾠthe effectiveness of policy responses.
- Give students an understandingﾠof potential for innovative responses by organisations andﾠmeans of driving change, particularly through the application of scenarios.
- Give students experience in the development of strategies for effective business adaptation and resilience.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand the range of challenges organisations are facing resulting from changing environmental conditions both directly and indirectly linked to mitigation and adaptation.
LO2.
Explain, discuss and critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of policy developments related to sustainability and climate change.
LO3.
Apply holistic thinking and emerging business models to develop innovative and frame breaking responses to the issues associated with sustainability and climate change.
LO4.
Evaluate issues relating to the sustainable operation of business across a range of sectors and develop innovative approaches to business sustainability issues.
LO5.
Work within a project team integrating different views and experiences into a cohesive outcome promoting sustainability goals.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay/ Critique, Project | Individual Assessment | 40% |
11/04/2025 1:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Scenario Planning for Strategic Management
|
40% |
9/05/2025 1:00 pm |
| Reflection | Individual Reflective Critique | 20% |
9/06/2025 1:00 pm |
Assessment details
Individual Assessment
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Project
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
11/04/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Innovation in response to sustainability issues will be required of companies in vulnerable industries if they are to keep pace with change. This assessment consists of a single long-form (2,500 words) research report that demonstrates the student's critical capacities, intellectual initiative, writing skills, and ability to develop a consistent, coherent, and independent response to future corporate challenges while demonstrating their knowledge of the potential impacts of climate change. Details of the assessment questions are provided in Blackboard.
This is an individual piece of assessment.
AI Statement
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments are required to be submitted electronically through Turnitin in the Blackboard Assessment link.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Scenario Planning for Strategic Management
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
9/05/2025 1:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05
Task description
This task will be detailed in class and through the Blackboard site. Students will be formed into teams. Teams will be working on scenarios developed during a class workshop. Each team will be allocated a key issue for management - as a team you will need to research the issue and develop a strategic management response in line with the scenarios developed in class. These plans must be plausible.
For this assessment student teams are required to submit:
A video presentation of their scenario and plan with supporting documentation must be submitted online through the Blackboard site. Please note the video presentation should stand alone to convey all content with the supplementary material for reference purposes.
A peer assessment will be conducted as part of this assessment with the outcome potentially impacting an individuals marks.
Detailed marking criteria for this Assessment will be provided on the course Blackboard site.
AI Statement
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit online through Blackboard Assessment link.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Individual Reflective Critique
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
9/06/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L04, L05
Task description
This 1000 word individual assignment is a reflection on the scenario planning activity and its role as a management tool to prepare for future challenges. Notes and background research from the Scenario Planning workshop must be submitted as an appendix to the reflection. Further details will be provided in the course Blackboard folder.
AI Statement
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit through the Turnitin assessment link.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 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.
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.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Seminar |
Introduction Course overview Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 2 |
Seminar |
The Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience Challenge Understanding the role of mitigation, adaptation and resilience. The current global policy approaches including SDGs. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Frameworks - Sustainability Strategy and Innovation Learning outcomes: L01, L05 |
Week 4 |
Seminar |
Future Challenges and Strategies for Innovation Learning outcomes: L01, L05 |
Week 5 |
Seminar |
Future Scenario Planning Workshop (Part 1) This week will be Part One of the workshop to form the Future Scenario for your Team assignment Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
Week 6 |
Seminar |
Future Scenario Planning Workshop (Part 2) This week will be Part Two of the workshop to form the Future Scenario for your Team assignment Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
Week 7 |
Seminar |
Future Scenario Planning Workshop (Part 3) This week will be Part Three of the workshop to form the Future Scenario for your Team assignment. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 8 |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
No Seminar This Week Good Friday Public Holiday - Friday 18 April 2025 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes. |
Mid-sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
IN SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 |
Seminar |
Sustainability challenges - the Transport Sector and the Sharing Economy Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 10 |
Seminar |
Revisiting the Grand Challenge of Sustainability - Systems Thinking Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 11 |
Seminar |
Strategic Thinking and Business Sustainability Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 12 |
Seminar |
Team Presentations to expert panel Assessment Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Week 13 |
Seminar |
The Path Forward, Wrap up Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Additional learning activity information
Sustainable Development Goals.
This course integrates the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through lectures and assessment.
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Goal 9: Industries, innovation and infrastructure
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
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:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.