Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LM Policy in Sustainability and Innovation
School	Birmingham Business School
Department	Management
Module Code	07 38201
Module Lead	Paulina Ramirez
Level	Masters Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-20 hours Year Abroad-160 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Existing models of economic and business growth have been increasingly associated with significant levels of economic and social inequalities as well as unsustainable levels of environmental degradation. These environmental and societal challenges are systemic in nature and cannot be addressed by only focusing on individual technologies, firms, industries, regions or countries but require profound changes to existing business and socio-technical systems at all levels. The module will therefore focus on the role of policy and policy processes to influence the rate and direction of social and environmentally sustainable transition of systems of innovation, production and consumption at firm, regional, national and global levels. The module adopts a broad definition of innovation which covers the entire process from knowledge creation to the implementation and diffusion of new products/services, processes, forms of business organisation and business models across economic and social systems. A key element of the module is the understanding that these processes of innovation, production and consumption are embedded in complex and interactive institutional systems whose transition towards socially just and sustainable modes of operation are complex and often contentious. Some of the key institutions to be studied in the module include (but are not limited to) the role of science and technology, education and skill formation, as well as corporate governance and finance systems. The module will draw on the experience of policy systems from developed and developing countries.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Discuss, analyse and critically evaluate the systemic nature of processes of socially and environmentally sustainable innovation applying the frameworks of the systems of innovation approach. Analyse, compare, contrast and evaluate different theories and policy approaches to the challenges associated with system change towards environmental and social sustainability in the context of both developed and developing countries. Explain, appraise, and evaluate the complexity and often contentious nature of system change towards social and environmental sustainability. Research the innovation dimension of contemporary sustainability challenges using a combination of academic and policy literatures. Examine the impact that different forms of public policy, business support and regulation have on sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship, and evaluate the potential opportunities and threats such factors confer to businesses or organisations when developing sustainable innovation initiatives.
Assessment	38201-01 : Individual Assignment : Coursework (50%) 38201-02 : Group Presentation : Coursework (20%) 38201-03 : Group Report : Coursework (30%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Assessment 1: 2500-word Essay (50%) Assessment 2: 15-minutes Group Presentation (20%) and a 1500-word individual policy advice based on the group presentation (30%). Reassessment: Reassessment by failed component: Assessment 1: 2500-word Essay of policy initiatives in the areas of social and environmental sustainability (50%) Assessment 2: A 5-minute video recorded presentation and 1500-word individual policy advice (50%)
Other
Reading List