Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LM Responsible Business
School	Birmingham Business School
Department	Birmingham Business School
Module Code	07 37581
Module Lead	Paulina Ramirez
Level	Masters Level
Credits	10
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-30 hours Guided independent study-70 hours Total: 100 hours
Exclusions
Description	Every age has a vision that helps make sense of today and shapes our future thinking. In 2015 world leaders agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that represent the achievement of the UN’s ambitious strategy to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. However, achieving the SDGs will require new relationships between governments, businesses, civil society and individual citizens. The SDGs are game changers in terms of what it means to be a business and determining their role in creating a more sustainable world. SDGs provide a vision that can mobilise business resources to secure their, and our, best possible future. A future where responsible businesses flourish, protecting the resources upon which they depend, creating value while sustaining our planet. This hopeful vision stands in stark contrast to our unsustainable world, plagued with risks and uncertainties, growing social injustice and ecological devastation. SDGs help define what doing business responsibly means, translating a fuzzy concept into 17 goals to set new strategic priorities, improve decision-making, measure progress and map out a more responsible future. The SDGs redefine success for all organisations, including businesses, and reset our moral compass as to what is valued, valuable and socially acceptable. This module will define and analyse principles of responsible business from the perspective of the UN SDGs informed by ideas such as responsible capitalism, business ethics, corporate governance and regulation, sustainability. Other aspects of business responsibilities to customers, employees (pay, pensions, training, working conditions and rights), inclusion, modern slavery, shareholders, technological developments, activists, stakeholders and society as a whole. Students will also be required to consider the overarching question of what sort of social contract is required between business, government, nature and the people. The module will be delivered through a combination of interactive lectures, class discussion and small group problem-solving exercises that aim to develop student’s critical thinking skills in the context of wicked problems.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Critically evaluate how the SDGs will affect the future of business Analyse the underlying environmental, social and governance issues surrounding each SDG Relate theory and practice through the notion of praxis Critically reflect on the notion of responsibility and what it means for their role in a business, as well as for every business function
Assessment	37581-01 : Individual Assignment : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Individual assignment, 2500 words (100%) Reassessment: Individual assignment, 2500 words (100%)
Other
Reading List