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2023/2024  KAN-CCBLO2012U  Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility Beyond Borders

English Title
Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility Beyond Borders

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as elective)
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc and MSc in Business, Language and Culture, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Florence Villeseche - Department of Business Humanities and Law (BHL)
  • Minna Paunova - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Main academic disciplines
  • CSR and sustainability
  • Globalisation and international business
  • Organisation
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 03-07-2023

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • Demonstrate knowledge of theories and concepts relevant to diversity and diversity management (DM), corporate social responsibility (CSR), and their interface.
  • Combine and apply these theories in an analysis of diversity and/or CSR-related problems within and beyond organizational and geographic borders.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect on the theories, their application and limitations.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, and observe academic conventions with respect to references, style and argumentation.
Course prerequisites
None. However, prior knowledge in diversity management and corporate social responsibility is recommended.
Examination
Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility Beyond Borders:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Release of assignment The Assignment is released in Digital Exam (DE) at exam start
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Issues to do with equity and equality seem to be in the news more than ever. How organizations deal with diversity challenges is under scrutiny, even when there may be questions over whose responsibility equality is. Can corporate social responsibility (CSR) be used to promote an ethically diverse workforce? Are diversity management (DM) and CSR practices collapsing into one, and if so, what are the consequences? What are the different topics and target groups of DM and CSR in different national and regional contexts? In this course we critically explore the dynamics and assumptions behind these kinds of questions, among others.

 

We will engage with theories, issues, and debates surrounding DM and CSR in and around global organizations. By “around organizations” we mean exploring diversity outside of traditional organizational boundaries and in the communities, value chains, and societies where businesses interact with people. We discuss how DM and CSR are translated, practiced, and communicated across the Global North and Global South.


Covering different aspects of organizing diversity and CSR, in different geographic locations, this course will appeal to students studying organizations, management and diversity, human relations or corporate social responsibility.


Course structure and content 
Besides the introduction and wrap up, the course is organized into three themes. The structure can be summarized as follows:
•    Intro: DM, CSR, and their interface (session 1)
•    Module 1 (M1): The Global North (sessions 2-3-4)
•    Module 2 (M2): The Global South (sessions 5-6-7)
•    Module 3 (M3): Communicating Diversity & CSR (session 8-9-10)
•    Outro: Course wrap up and final Q&A (session 11)

 

For each of the three themes, we will have a structure that includes:
A.   a traditional lecture session focusing on theory and giving the background for the theme
b.    a student-led discussion session (including student-led presentations and activities)
c.    and finally, a case study session, also serving as direct practice for the exam
Description of the teaching methods
Teaching approach
In this course, we will use a combination of traditional lectures and participative sessions using active learning techniques, including case-based discussion, buzz groups, active debating, and student-led presentations. The sessions will balance academic theory with company case studies.

The course coordinators will assign students to groups for group-based work. Each group will be expected to deliver a presentation on one or more course readings (see below). Groups may also be asked to prepare other small assignments at home (e.g., short presentation clarifying a concept, or analyzing a relevant case). Students are also invited to make the most of their groups for reading, discussion, and preparation outside of class.

Student-led presentations in groups
Student groups will be asked to prepare a presentation of an assigned paper in their preferred format (video, power point presentation in class, podcast, role play, written summary, etc.). The presentation must be both descriptive and analytical/critical, and no more than 20 minutes in total (additional instructions will be provided). In addition, groups are asked to prepare 1-2 discussion questions or another activity related to their assigned paper. The presentation (and activity, where applicable) has to be uploaded on Canvas 48 hours before class time. Regardless of group assignments, note that all students are l expected to read all papers for any given session, as they are part of the curriculum.

Preparation before class
Students are expected to have read all assigned materials, and come to each class prepared for an active discussion. The readings for the discussion sessions will be presented by students (instructions will be given in the introductory class and summarized on Canvas).
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback is given by the instructors at mid-term following an assignment. Feedback is also given upon request. We encourage students to use the student groups for peer feedback.
Student workload
Teaching 30 hours
Preparation 128 hours
Examination 48 hours
Total 206 hours
Further Information

This course is, to the best of our knowledge, the first of its kind globally to integrate issues of diversity across geographic locations and across disciplines, including HRM, international and cross-cultural management, CSR, sustainability, and organization literatures.
Expected literature

The course is article- and case-based. Articles are available for free through the CBS library (links will be posted on Canvas). Some cases may have to be purchased through The Case Centre for a small fee. 

 

Recommended books (available at Academic Books)

  • Mahadevan, J. (2017). A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about cross-cultural management. SAGE. 
  • Moon, J. (2014). Corporate social responsibility: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press. 
  • Hansen, K., & Seierstad, C. (2017). Corporate social responsibility and diversity management: Theoretical approaches and best practices. Springer.

 
Last updated on 03-07-2023