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Sustainability and Business - MAN00055H

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Victoria Wells
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

The aims of the modules are to:

  • Familiarise students with a range of historical and advanced theoretical debates about sustainability in both its wider context and business and management;

  • Equip students with the knowledge to effectively analyse the role of stakeholders within the sustainability process and the evolving nature of corporate purpose;

  • Equip students with knowledge and experience of various perspectives on sustainability and the impact of sustainability of a range of business functions and industries;

  • Equip students with the ability to critique business approaches to sustainability and to be able to effectively convey sustainability solutions within a range of business and management elements.

Module learning outcomes

  • Critically examine core sustainability concepts and perspectives examining both historical and contemporary approaches;

  • Demonstrate knowledge of and critique sustainability communications including internal, corporate disclosure, annual reports and marketing;

  • Critically examine and critique the role of government, stakeholders, shareholders, employees and consumers in sustainability processes, systems, decision making and the evolving nature of corporate purpose;

  • Demonstrate understanding of, critically examine and critique sustainability approaches across different business functions (finance, accounting, supply chain, operations, marketing, HRM etc) and business sectors (energy, transport, manufacturing, services etc).

  • Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and present sustainability focused strategies in a range of business scenarios.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Individual Written assessment/report		 N/A 50
Groupwork
Group Presentation		 N/A 50

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Individual Written Assessment		 N/A 50
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Individual Presentation		 N/A 50

Module feedback

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

Indicative reading

Antonioli, D., Ghistti, C., Mazzanti, M., and Nicolli, F. (2022) Sustainable production: The economic returns of circular economy practices, Business Strategy and the Environment, in press

Brinkmann, R. (2016) Introduction to Sustainability, Wiley-Blackwell

Buchholz, R.A., 1991. Corporate responsibility and the good society: From economics to ecology. Business Horizons, 34(4), pp.19-32.

George, G., Haas, M.R., Joshi, H., Tracey, P. (2022) Handbook on the Business of Sustainability, Edward Elgar

Gray, R. A., Carol, A. Owen, Dave. (2014). Accountability, social responsibility, and sustainability: accounting for society and the environment Boston: Pearson Education Limited.

Kumar, S., Sureka, R., Lim, W.M., Mangla, S.K and Goyal, N. (2021) What do we know about business strategy and environmental research? Insights from Business Strategy and the Environment, Business Strategy and the Environment, 30, 3454-3469

Markovic, S., Sancha, C., Lindgreen, A (2021) Handbook of Sustainability-Driven Business Strategies in Practice, Edward Elgar

Peterson, M. (2021) Sustainable Marketing: A Holistic Approach, Sage

Raworth K. Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist. London: Random House Business; 2017. or

Raworth K. A Doughnut for the Anthropocene: humanity’s compass in the 21st century. The Lancet Planetary Health. 2017;1(2):e48-e49. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30028-1

Sitko, R. (2023) Sustainable Human Resource Management, Kogan Page

Williams, A., Kennedy, S., Philipp, F and Whiteman, G. (2017) Systems thinking: A review of sustainability management research, Journal of Cleaner Production, 148, 866-881.

Whiteman G, Walker B, Perego P. Planetary Boundaries: Ecological Foundations for Corporate Sustainability. Journal of Management Studies. 2013;50(2):307-336. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6486.2012.01073.x


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.