2016-2017 Academic Catalog

Apr 29, 2024

2016-2017 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

MGMT 5616 - Sustainability and Corporate Strategy

Experts have claimed that corporate sustainability is an “imperative” and have compared it to a megatrend, much like the IT revolution. Others argue that sustainability is the new driver of innovation. Respected media sources publish articles proposing that sustainability efforts and results can determine a corporation’s long term performance and value. Others stress the importance of corporate sustainability initiatives as necessary in the pursuit of the “triple bottom line” of economics, environment, and ethics. As the movement has evolved discussion has most recently lead to “shared value”, building strategic business success around not only what is beneficial for the company, but choosing initiatives and values that also benefit the employees, the stakeholders, the community and/or the environment.

Are these claims valid? If so, why don’t all corporations seize the opportunity to be sustainable? And for those that do seize these opportunities, are there useful taxonomies, frameworks, and approaches that may help us systematize and better understand the corporate sustainability phenomenon? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this course.

The course will focus on some of the seminal articles and concepts in the literature and introduce key topics of sustainability, but a unique part of this course is learning the real vehicle by which business decisions are communicated and commitments for resources are gained in the business world today. Students will learn to turn analyses and conclusions into execution through building and communicating a succinct, compelling strategic business proposition for sustainability.

Open to MBA, MSM, and MSF students only.

Please note: Course previously listed as Mgmt 5900 Sustainability and Corporate Strategy. Students who took the course under that designation should not register for this, as it is the same course.

Previously cross-listed with a CAP designation.

Anticipated Terms Offered: Varies