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2013/2014  KAN-SE05  Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility in Service Organizations

English Title
Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility in Service Organizations

Course information
Language English
Exam ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Course period Third Quarter
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board
Study Board for MSc of Social Science
Course coordinator
  • Adriana Budeanu - Department of International Economics and Management (INT)
Main academic disciplines
  • Economic and organizational sociology
Last updated on 06-12-2013
Learning objectives
The student must demonstrate
  • knowledge and understanding of corporate social responsibility and how it can be applied in service organisations
  • knowledge about sustainability and corporate social responsibility issues related to transportation, trade, tourism and hospitality and meeting and event industries
  • comprehensive knowledge and understanding of theories and models presented in the course
  • analytical knowledge of cases from the curriculum
  • good analytical and presentation skills
Examination
Examination:
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 Group exam, max. 5 students in the group
The oral exam is individual. If written individually the synopsis must be of max. 3-5 pages.
Size of written product Max. 10 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 Spring Term
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If a student is ill during the regular oral exam, he/she will be able to re-use the synopsis at the make-up exam. If a student is ill during the writing of the synopsis and did not contribute to the synopsis, the make-up exam can be written individually or in groups (provided that other students are taking the make-up/re-exam). If the student did not pass the regular exam, he/she must make a new revised synopsis (confer advice from the examiner) and hand it in on a new deadline specified by the secretariat.
Course content and structure

The course gives an understanding of the principles of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, and their relevance for the management and strategy of service corporations. Using real-life cases, the course presents and discusses tools and policies that can be used by service organisations to reduce negative impacts and play a more responsible role in the society. The course also includes environmental economics. A special attention is dedicated to the issue of climate change and its relevance for sustainable tourism operations, through the analysis of current policies, strategies and innovative business models. Through a balanced combination of theoretical knowledge and real-life examples the course teaches students to identify and critically examine the challenges related to sustainable development as applied to the management of service operations. In addition, the course provides students with the necessary skills and tools to plan sustainable meetings and events.

Through its learning activities and assessment, the course enhances the generic and specific competences of problem-solving abilities, understanding of related disciplines, ability to identify and formulate a problem and social and ethical awareness.
Teaching methods
Lectures, case analyses etc.
Expected literature

Field, B. and Field, M (2012), Environmental economics: An introduction, 6th edition, McGraw-Hill.

Orsato, R. (2006), “Competitive environmental strategies: When does it pay to be green?” California Management Review, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 127-143.

Hall, J.,(2000) Environmental Supply Chain Dynamics, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol.8(6), pp.455-471
Seuring, S., Muller, M., (2008) From a literature review to a conceptual framework for sustainable supply chain management, Journal of Cleaner Production, 16: 1699-1710

Epstein, M.J., Roy, M-J.(2003), “Improving sustainability performance: Specifying, Implementing and measuring - Key principles,” Journal of General Management, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 15-31.

Morsing, M., Schultz, M., Nielsen, K.U.(2008), “The ‘Catch 22’ of Communicating CSR: Findings from a Danish study,” Journal of Marketing Communications, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 97-111.
*** Please note that the final list of articles for the course readings will be uploaded in January. The course book by Fields & Fields should be the 6th edition (an older 5th edition would also be suitable, as there are only minor differences between the two editions).
 
Last updated on 06-12-2013