Responsible Business (5cr)

Intro

Welcome to the course on Responsible Business—where ethics, sustainability, and innovation converge to shape the future of commerce. In today’s world, businesses are no longer judged solely by their profits, but by their impact on society, the environment, and global communities. Throughout the course, you'll explore how businesses can drive positive change while still achieving their strategic goals. This course will empower you to become a leader who understands that profitability and responsibility go hand in hand.

Learning objectives

The course ensures that graduates act towards ethical, responsible, and sustainable business practices and solutions and understand that responsible practices are a basic necessity in businesses.

After completion of this course or the equivalent assessment of prior learning, the student will be able to:

1. Identify the fundamental concepts related to sustainability, responsible business, corporate responsibility, circular economy and climate businesses.
2. Recognise the motives and risks involved in running a responsible business.
3. Compare corporate responsibility strategies
4. Assess the suitability of various stakeholder engagement models
5. Evaluate the challenges and opportunities companies face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when operating in a global value chain while considering the key elements of social responsibility.
6. Recognize the business models that align with circular economy, climate neutral or biodiversity respectful business

Contents

1. Introduction to corporate responsibility, responsible business and ethics
2. Strategic sustainability
3. Stakeholder orientation and stakeholder dialogue
4. Circular economy, climate businesses and biodiversity in business
5. Social responsibility and fair operating practices
6. Careers and business opportunities in sustainability

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

CONTACT / CONTACT BLENDED
ONLINE / ONLINE BLENDED
VIRTUAL
DEMO
WORKSTUDY

Descriptions of implementation methods can be found in Haaga-Helia's website: https://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/implementation-types

You can complete the course unit by demonstrating or by Work&Study even if the course unit doesn't have DEMO or WORKSTUDY implementations. More information about recognition of learning at Haaga-Helia's website: https://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/career-planning/recognition-learning

Learning materials

Study materials are available on Moodle.
Books: Chandler, David 2022. Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility. Sixth Edition. Sage Publishing. Optional reading: Laasch, Oliver. 2023. Principles of Business & Management: Practicing Ethics, Responsibility, Sustainability. Third Edition. Sage Publishing.

Other material provided/suggested by the teacher.



Other material provided/suggested by the teacher.

Starting level and linkage with other courses

No pre-requisites

Assessment criteria - grade 1

When the implementation type of the course is CONTACT, ONLINE or BLENDED it is required that the student is present during those teaching hours that are marked in the study schedule. If you are absent more than 25 %, your grade will be lowered by one. If you are absent more than 50 %, the course is failed.

Other assessment criteria related to learning objectives


The student:

Knows the basic concepts related to sustainability, responsible business, corporate responsibility, circular economy and climate businesses.

is able to recognise some motives and risks involved in running a responsible business.

is able to analyze some corporate responsibility strategies

can assess the suitability of various stakeholder engagement models at a elementary level

has basic knowledge of the challenges and opportunities companies face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when operating in a global value chain and knows some key elements of social responsibility

has basic knowledge of some business models that align with circular economy, climate neutral or biodiversity respectful business

Assessment criteria - grade 3

The student:

Knows the fundamental concepts related to sustainability, responsible business, corporate responsibility, circular economy and climate businesses.

is able to recognise the motives and risks involved in running a responsible business.

is able to analyze corporate responsibility strategies

can assess the suitability of various stakeholder engagement models

is familiar with the challenges and opportunities companies face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when operating in a global value chain and knows the key elements of social responsibility

has good knowledge of some business models that align with circular economy, climate neutral or biodiversity respectful business

Assessment criteria - grade 5

The student:

Knows thoroughly the fundamental concepts related to sustainability, responsible business, corporate responsibility, circular economy and climate businesses.

is able to analyze the motives and risks involved in running a responsible business.

is able to proactively analyze corporate responsibility strategies

can skillfully assess the suitability of various stakeholder engagement models

has very good knowledge of the challenges and opportunities companies face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when operating in a global value chain and knows thoroughly the key elements of social responsibility

has very good knowledge of different business models that align with circular economy, climate neutral or biodiversity respectful business

Further information

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