• Summarize the current state of affairs in Scandinavia in sustainability and CSR.
• Analyze sustainability and CSR activities (management practices, stakeholder engagement, organizational structures, and reporting) at a selection of major Scandinavian firms.
• Describe the characterization of "Scandinavian management" and the role this may have in sustainability and CSR approaches and performances in Scandinavia while also critiquing such characterizations when they risk becoming stereotypes.
• Describe the significant degree of partnership activities in the Scandinavian region between companies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and governmental organizations and their relationship to sustainability and CSR.
• Describe trends in Scandinavia regarding “implicit” and “explicit” CSR and explain likely factors for these trends.
• Describe the interactions between corporate strategy and considerations to sustainability and CSR - and what this has meant in a Scandinavian context.

Scandinavia represents a uniquely stimulating region of the world in which to explore sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Scandinavian companies are disproportionately well represented in the major sustainability and CSR performance indicators including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Global 100. The region as a whole has demonstrated superior sustainability performances with strong and balanced country-level economic, social, and environmental performances. Scandinavian governments are actively engaged with the sustainability and CSR agendas working to combine a high level of public services and a generous welfare state with engagement by companies to develop corporate responsibility in social and environmental areas.

In this program we explore sustainability and CSR in a Scandinavian context.  We do so while also critically reflecting upon the ongoing and looming challenges to sustain these performances.   

The course introduces the basic concepts of sustainability and CSR, and examines their distinctive Scandinavian setting.  It proceeds by examining key sustainability and CSR themes and issues and in so doing, students will investigate how these  are distinctive from, and similar to, those in other national business systems. Attention will also be given to instances of different approaches within Scandinavia. The course will enable students to consider specific Scandinavian companies and other relevant organizations. Each class will either include a guest speaker or a class exercise in which students work together in small groups’

This course will be structured as a dynamic, discussion based course where excelling in the course will demand both preparation of the materials and engagement in the discussions.

Guest lectures will be delivered by CSR professionals.

Background reading on CSR

J. Moon (2014) A Very Short Introduction to CSR

CSR in general

A.Rasche, M. Morsing and J. Moon (2017) ‘The changing role of business in global society: CSR and beyond’ in A Rasche et al Eds (2017) Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategy, Communication and Governance Cambridge University Press Chapter 1

J. Moon, L. Murphy and J-P Gond (2017) ‘Historical Perspectives on CSR’ in A Rasche et al Eds (2017) Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategy, Communication and Governance Cambridge University Press Chapter 2

D. Matten & J. Moon (2008) “Implicit” and “Explicit” CSR: A conceptual framework for a comparative understanding of corporate social responsibility.  Academy of Management Review.  33(2): 404-424.

Scandinavian CSR

R.Strand,  R. E.Freeman and K.Hockerts (2015). ‘Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Scandinavia: An Overview’ Journal of Business Ethics 127: 1 1 – 15

R.Strand, and R.E. Freeman (2015) ‘The Scandinavian Cooperative Advantage:  Theory and practice of stakeholder engagement in Scandinavia.  Journal of Business Ethics 127: 1 65 – 85

The complete literature list will be available on Learn.