• Demonstrate a mature nuanced understanding of the complexities associated with the role firms play in contemporary global society
• Demonstrate a strong theoretical understanding of the key literature and frameworks that guide contemporary business responsibilities
• Build a tool kit for examining the interplay of business, environment, and social impacts, understanding the data necessary to make informed decisions
• Demonstrate creative innovative thinking with regard to social responsibilities and wicked problems

Course content:

This course will examine the role of firms in society and ask questions such as: what role we want firms to play, how they can be held more accountable, and if current models and theories are adequate. The starting point for our discussion will be focused on contemporary Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) and its failings to deliver signficant sustainable impact on critical grand challenges. We will analyze both macro and micro factors to determine why CSR has failed and how firms might re-commit to creating sustainable impact. 

We will begin by examining the macro environment and the historical context of firms as key institutions within capitalist societies. As such we will think about firms as agents of social and community development, as well as their interactions with governments and civil society. We will then move to examine more micro factors within the contemporary environment, with particular emphasis on leadership and governance failures and their relation to adverse impacts on human rights and climate. We complete our study with a look to toward the future.

Throughout our discussions and readings, students will learn about various frameworks and tools which firms use to develop, implement, assess, and communicate about their social and environmental impacts. A particular focus throughout the course will be on business innovation and the role of technology as a path for achieving economic growth and addressing sustainable development goals.

Course structure:

Ordinary 6 week course

Preliminary Assignment: The course coordinator uploads Preliminary Assignment on Canvas at the end of May. It is expected that students participate as it will be included in the final exam, but the assignment is without independent assessment&grading.

Course and exam timetable is/will be available on https://www.cbs.dk/en/study/international-summer-university/courses-and-exams

We reserve the right to cancel the course if we do not get enough applications. This will be communicated on https://www.cbs.dk/en/study/international-summer-university/courses-and-exams in start March.

Mandatory readings for the preliminary assignment:

Mackey, J. & Sisodia, R. (2013). Conscious capitalism: liberating the heroic spirit of business. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business Review Press.--  Introduction and Parts 1 and 2  

Schneider, A. (2020). Bound to fail? Exploring the systemic pathologies of CSR and their implications for CSR research. Business & Society, 59(7), 1303-1338.

Hsieh, N. H. (2017). The responsibilities and role of business in relation to society: Back to basics?. Business Ethics Quarterly, 27(2), 293-314.

Giuliani, E. (2018). Regulating global capitalism amid rampant corporate wrongdoing—Reply to “Three frames for innovation policy”. Research Policy, 47(9), 1577-1582.

Full Reading List Provided Prior to start of Course.