Sustainable Decisions and Organisations

Code

BUSI4080

School

Business

Level

4

Credits

10

Semesters

Summer UK

Summary

This module consists of a series of lectures and workshops, as well as role play associated with a primary case study; and is taken by all Executive MBA students. The course integrates and reflects upon the interdisciplinary nature of the Executive MBA programme, and challenges students’ understanding and application of the material presented in the core Executive MBA modules. This is undertaken by focusing on the role of different business executives and stakeholders in achieving economic and socio-environmental sustainability; through an examination of their possibly contradictory objectives, values and decision-making processes surrounding the development of a new business strategy. A wide range of external practitioners feature in the course, and students have to present and defend their integrated sustainable strategy to them in a real board conference; and have to run a real media conference with journalists from the press. 

Target Students

Available for students on one of the Executive MBA variants OR MBA Executive Senior Leadership students who have already taken BUSI4015 Finance and Accounting AND BUSI4018 Strategic Management AND BUSI4030 Leading and Managing People AND BUSI4016 Marketing AND BUSI4028 Operations Management

Co-requisites

Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:

• Finance and Accounting (BUSI4015)
• Marketing (BUSI4016)
• Strategic Management (BUSI4018)
• Operations Management (BUSI4028)
• Leadership, People and Organisational Capability (BUSI4030)

Classes

• One 7-hour lecture
• One 4-hour lecture

32 hours in a one week block. 68 hours module preparation, relevant reading and assessment preparation

Assessment

• 60% Project 1: 60% Group Work - Group strategy document 40% (2,500 words); b) group board presentation 10%; c) group media statement 5% (500 words); d) group media conference 5%
• 40% Coursework 1: Individual assignment: reflective essay of 2,000 words

Assessed by end of designated period

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
    This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:    
        •    The dynamics of the global economy and international business &/or an 
    awareness of cultural, legal/regulatory, political, and economic differences across 
    countries &/or an appreciation of management issues from a global perspective.    
        •    Markets - the development and operation of markets for resources, goods and 
    services    
        •    Customers and stakeholders - customer expectations, service and orientation    
        •    Finance - the sources, uses and management of finance    
        •    People - strategic and operational HRM, meeting future organisational 
    requirements, people development, HR systems    
        •    The importance of sustainability issues, including an understanding of the 
    challenges and opportunities arising from the activities of people and 
    organisations on the economic, social and environmental conditions of the future.    
         

Other

•    How to shape organisational vision, culture and values
•    Know and understand organisational structures
•    Know and understand business modelling
•    Know and understand global perspectives
•    Know and understand new market strategies, changing customer demands and trend analysis
•    Know and understand corporate social responsibility
•    Know and understand ethics and values based leadership
•    Know and understand competitive strategies and entrepreneurialism
•    Know and understand approaches to effective decision making
•    Know and understand financial strategies including scenarios, modelling and identifying trends
•    Know and understand how to evaluate financial and non-financial information
•    Know and understand financial governance and legal requirements
•    Know and understand organisational/team dynamics
•    Know and understand how to build engagement and develop high performance, agile and collaborative cultures
•    Know and understand approaches to strategic workforce planning including talent management, learning organisations, workforce design, succession planning,  diversity and inclusion
•    Know and understand brand and reputation management
 

Intellectual skills
    This module develops:    
        •Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in self     consisting of journalists from the press.
    and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This 
    includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of 
    evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms 
    adequately and generalise appropriately    
        •    Being able to solve complex problems and make decisions: establish criteria, 
    using appropriate decision-making techniques including identifying, formulating 
    and solving business problems; and the ability to create, identify and evaluate 
    options; the ability to implement and review decisions    
        •    Using information and knowledge effectively in order to abstract meaning from 
    information and to share knowledge, including the use of quantitative skills
 

Professional practical skills
    This module develops:    
        •    The ability to conduct research and enquiry into business and management issues
     either individually or as part of a team through research design, the collection and 
    analysis of qualitative data, synthesis and reporting    
        •    Effective performance within team environments and the ability to recognise and 
    utilise individuals' contributions in group processes and to negotiate and persuade 
    or influence others; team selection, delegation, development and management. 
    Leadership and performance management: selecting appropriate leadership style 
    for different situations; setting objectives, motivating, monitoring performance, 
    coaching and mentoring    
        •    The ability to recognise the need for and initiate change and to be able to manage 
    Change

 •    The ability to recognise and address ethical dilemmas, corporate social 
    responsibility and sustainability issues, applying ethical and organisational values 
    to situations and choices
Other
•    Be able to initiate and lead change in the organization
•    Be able to manage conflict
•    Be able to manage partnerships, people and resources effectively and measure outcomes
•    Be able to set a clear agenda and gains support from key stakeholders
•    Be able to challenge strategies and operations in terms of ethics, responsibility, sustainability, resource allocation and business continuity/risk management
•    Be able to oversee financial strategies/management, results and setting organisational budgets
•    Be able to challenge financial assumptions underpinning strategies
•    Be accountable for decisions based on relevant information e.g. Key Performance Indicators/scorecard
•    Be able to oversee procurement, supply chain management and contracts
•    Be able to give and receive feedback at all levels
•    Be able to build confidence and develop trust and enables people to take risks
•    Be able to set goals and accountabilities for teams and individuals
•    Be able to lead and influence people

Transferable (key) skills
    This module develops:    
        •    Effective communication: networking, listening, oral and written communication of 
    complex ideas and arguments, using a range of media, including the preparation of 
    business reports    
        •    High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-
    management; time management; conflict resolution, displaying commercial 
    acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and 
    experience    
        •    Soft skills: understanding the needs of others and empathy towards them; 
    sensitivity to diversity in people and in different situations
 

Conveners

• Dr Niamh O'Sullivan