• Understand and explain how a variety of social and environmental factors can come to be interpreted as within a firm’s “sphere of influence”,
• Analyze the conditions and limitations for how and when social and environ-mental factors can be seen as relevant for corporate strategy,
• Specify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative theoretical frameworks that explain the distinctive challenges involved in managing CSR,
• Understand the changing boundaries between public and private regulation of CSR,
• Evaluate inherent strengths and weaknesses of the concept of the business case for CSR, and
• Analyze concrete problems within CSR strategy by applying the theoretical concepts discussed throughout the course

This course looks at how business practitioners can show leadership for responsible and sustainable business practices. While the course gives an introduction to corporate sustainability and responsibility, it also reaches beyond some of the more traditional debates, as it (a) highlights the regulatory and political context shaping and constraining responsible business decisions and (b) emphasizes how leaders can use management and governance systems to enable responsible conduct. The course is divided into four parts, all of which discuss factors that need to be considered when leading corporations in a responsible manner.

The first part (day one) frames the theoretical and practical debate around Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and corporate sustainability. We discuss why firms engage in CSR and how they align their CSR policies with broader corporate strategy. We also look into different types of actors relevant to the CSR discussion, mostly NGOs, consumers, and investors. The second part (day two) contextualizes what we discussed during the first part by looking into a specific CSR issue: corruption. We discuss what corruption is, why (most) people see it as a problem, and what firms can do to fight corruption.

The third part (day three) explores how responsible business can be managed within firms. We first discuss the relevance of non-financial reporting and review some legal regulations. We then discuss how responsible business can be integrated into corporate governance, mostly by debating the role of Boards of Directors. Finally, we explore why firms often sign up to labels and certifications, and how such standards shape internal practices. The fourth part (day four) provides a forum to discuss another specific problem: labor rights in global supply chains. It shows that firms often struggle to manage CSR ‘beyond’ their own corporate borders. The course is designed in an interdisciplinary way blending insights from management studies, leadership, business law, and international relations.