• Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between a case or other real-world problem and responsible management.
• Make a stringent analysis of the given question or case using the relevant theories, concepts and models from the course.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the topics and literature from the course as well as their practical or real-world implications
• In class: Actively engage in class activities, discussions and weekly exercise assignments
• For the written exam product: present a logically organized paper with stringent analysis and coherent, substantive argument. Meet standard academic requirements regarding citation of sources, reference lists, etc
• At the oral exam: Make a convincing presentation and reflection of written product. Engage in discussion of theories, concepts and models addressed in the course and their relationship to each other.

Companies increasingly need to communicate their efforts to be responsible and sustainable, both directly through communication products like CSR reports and press releases, but also indirectly through marketing choices and partnership engagements.  First, this course provides an introduction to key concepts and theories related to corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and business ethics, particularly as they relate to marketing and communications.  Second, it examines real-world cases based upon the relevant concepts and models.  Lastly, students will create and critique their own communications products based upon both theory and case learning.  Overall, the course aims to provide both an overview of the key concepts and issues related to responsible management, as well as practical insight and hands-on practice on the topic. 

Topics covered on the course include:

• Ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainability
• CSR communications and reporting 
• Stakeholder engagement
• Partnerships, multi-stakeholder initiatives and other forms of private governance  
• Comparative CSR, globalization and the marketplace
• Consumer behavior
• Marketing ethics
• Consumers and marketing ethics

The structure of the course is divided into lectures and exercises, and tasks students with working in groups.  Lectures will emphasize key concepts by focusing on the major theories and frameworks for each given topic.  Each exercise will begin with a different, real-world case example and discussion, designed to highlight and operationalize the key issue(s) within the weekly topic.  Students will then work within a group over the duration of the course to create, revise and critique internal- and external-facing communications products based upon a case that builds throughout the exercises. 

A unique feature of this course is the progression of a single case that builds week-by-week in response to weekly updates or “twists” that relate to responsible management.  This ongoing case approach is designed to foster students’ ability to grapple with vague or unclear mandates, sometimes contradictory requests, and staying true to brand image throughout a variety of circumstances and scenarios. 

This is a preliminary reading list.  The final list will be made available on LEARN prior to the start of the course.   

Course Textbook:

Rasche, A., Morsing, M., & Moon, J. (eds.) (2017). Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategy, Communication and Governance. London: Cambridge University Press. 

Example Additional Readings:

• Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). Creating Shared Value. Harvard Business Review, (February), 63–77. http:/​/​doi.org/​10.1108/​09600039410055963
• Moon, J. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press., chapter 1
• Crane, A., Palazzo, G., Spence, L., & Matten, D. (2014). Contesting the Value of “Creating Shared Value,” 56(2), 130–153. http:/​/​doi.org/​10.1007/​978-3-319-01463-0
• Pedersen, E. R. G., Neergaard, P., Pedersen, J. T., & Gwozdz, W. (2013). Conformance and deviance: Company responses to institutional pressures for corporate social responsibility reporting. Business Strategy and the Environment, 22(6), 357–373. http:/​/​doi.org/​10.1002/​bse.1743
• Matten, D., & Moon, J. (2008). “Implicit” and “Explicit” CSR: a Conceptual Framework for a Comparative Understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility. Academy of Management Review, 33(2), 404–424. http:/​/​doi.org/​10.5465/​AMR.2008.31193458
• Strand, R., & Freeman, R. E. (2013). Scandinavian Cooperative Advantage: The Theory and Practice of Stakeholder Engagement in Scandinavia. Journal of Business Ethics, 1–21. http:/​/​doi.org/​10.1007/​s10551-013-1792-1
• Carrington, M. J., Neville, B. A., & Whitwell, G. J. (2010). Why ethical consumers don’t walk their talk: Towards a framework for understanding the gap between the ethical purchase intentions and actual buying behaviour of ethically minded consumers. Journal of Business Ethics, 97(1), 139–158. http:/​/​doi.org/​10.1007/​s10551-010-0501-6