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2013/2014  KAN-CM_T92  Managing Green and Sustainable Business Environments

English Title
Managing Green and Sustainable Business Environments

Course information
Language English
Exam ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Course period Autumn
Changes in course schedule may occur
Wednesday 09.50-12.25, week 36-41, 43-47
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Chiara Gobbi - Department of Operations Management (OM)
Adminidtrative contact Malindi Wilks - maw.om@cbs.dk
Main academic disciplines
  • Business Ethics, value based management and CSR
  • Globalization, International Business, markets and studies
  • Management
  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics
  • Corporate and Business Strategy
Last updated on 20-03-2013
Learning objectives
The course provide students with a variety of concepts and tools that companies can deploy in order to greener their operations. To be awarded the highest mark at the exam, the student must fulfill the following learning objectives with no or just a few insignificant shortcomings:
  • present, discuss and identify the limitations of the triple bottom line approach that views sustainability as a combination of environmental, social and economic performances
  • present, discuss, and provide a critical point of view of the tools and instruments presented along the course
  • identify benefits and limitations of the tools and instruments
  • suggest the proper actions that companies can undertake in order to promote sustainability in production, consumption, customer service and disposition
Examination
Managing Green and Sustainable Business Environments:
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group exam Individual
Size of written product Max. 3 pages
Assignment type Synopsis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Autumn Term
Aids allowed to bring to the exam Closed Book
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure
The exam consists of an oral exam with synopsis presentation. Students are given 5 minutes to present the synopsis. Questions along the exam are a combination of questions related to the synopsis and course content.Students have to prove they are able to consider companies activities in the view of sustainablity and green operations.
Course content and structure
The deteriorating conditions of the environment, depletion of non-renewable resources, and ever increasing disposal of waste are forcing organizations to reconsider the products they offer and the processes they deploy in the view of minimizing the environmental impact integrating environmental, health, and safety concerns. These new challenges result in considering new practices and actions as green-product design, lean and green operations, and closed-loop supply chains.
The course focuses on practices and actions that companies can undertake in order to promote sustainability and environmental protection. The course considers the roots of sustainability and the obligation to ensure the convergence of social needs and companies competitive advantage. A framework for pursuing sustainability is then considered in relation to:
  • drives of sustainable operations
  • green product and process development: design for environment (DfE)
  • remanufacturing and closed-loop supply chains
  • life cycle assesment (LCA)
  • environmental management systems (EMSs)

The course’s development of personal competences consists of:

-    practice the reading of articles from high ranking journals.
-    improve the ability to extract relevant information and insights
-    present and discuss case findings in groups
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures in combination with group assignments.
Theoretical lectures are aimed at framing relevant concepts as well as to introduce students to the subject. Assignments train students in the application of the concepts and the elaboration of actions that companies can promote in order to achieve sustainability in production, consumption, customer service and product disposition. The teaching method promotes students involvement and participation.
Expected literature
A selection of papers from high ranked journals.

Indicative Literature

  1. Alain Lepage, (2009) "The quality of life as attribute of sustainability", The TQM Journal, Vol. 21 Iss: 2, pp.105 - 115.
  2. Paul R. Kleindorfer, Kalyan Singhal, Luk N. Van Wassenhove. "Sustainable Operations Management", Production and Operations Management, Vol. 14, Issue 4, pages 482–492, December 2005.
  3. Stefan Seuring, Martin Müller (2008) "From a literature review to a conceptual framework for sustainable supply chain management", Journal of Cleaner, Vol. 16, Issue 15, pages 1699-1710.
  4. Linton D.T., Klassen R.,Jayaraman V. (2007) "Sustainable supply chains: An introduction", Journal of Operations Magement, Vol.25, Issue 6, pages 1075-1082.
  5. Grunow, M., Gobbi, C. "Designing the reverse network for WEEE in Denmark", CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology volume 58, issue 1, year 2009, pp. 391 – 394.
  6. Chiara Gobbi, (2011) "Designing the reverse supply chain: the impact of the product residual value", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 41 Iss: 8, pp.768 – 796.
  7. Andel T. (1997), “Reverse Logistics: A Second Chance to Profit”, Transportation & Distribution, Vol. 38, No. 7, pp. 61-64.
  8. Blackburn, J.D., Guide, V.D., Souza, G.C. and Wassenhove, L.N.V. (2004), “Reverse supply chains for commercial returns”, California Management Review, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 6-22.
  9. De Brito, M.P., Flapper, S.D.P. and Dekker, R. (2003), “Reverse Logistics: a review of case studies”, Report Series Research in Management ERS-2003-012-LIS, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Last updated on 20-03-2013