Course Catalogue

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Considers how organisations can responsibly negotiate the complex demands of changing cultural values, ethical perspectives and real-world conditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on strategic planning for sustainable futures that moves beyond 'Business as Usual'.

6 x 3-hour lectures

Please refer to the current postgraduate prospectus at: http://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/

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Practical skill assessment (quiz) - 20%

Four quizzes (5 questions per quiz), multiple-choice style, based on the course readings, to assess conceptual and content knowledge.

Group report - 20% (in PowerPoint slide-deck format, 20 slides max.)

Research and develop a content-based consulting report, by identifying and pulling together a contemporary sustainability related issue for an industry.

Individual written assignment - 60%

Against the background of the problem analysed in the group report, students need to choose a company, analyse the issues the company is facing in this context and make recommendations how to tackle these. Written essay, 1000-2000 words with extended reference list.

This course aims to empower students to build a clearer perspective on the many emerging challenges facing business and modern society as we look towards a future characterised by limited resources, growing populations, shifting climates and constantly changing economic, technological and political structures. As most major international reports on the state of the world agree, 'business as usual' is likely to compound these problems rather than alleviate them and this course aims to explore the range of possible options that could be applied to create more adaptive arrangements for future thriving.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Identify and delineate unstructured, and complex problems related to sustainability at multiple levels (individual, organizational, industry, nation state, and global).

2. Design solutions based on the analysis and the application of acquired theoretical knowledge. Include a discussion of what needs to be in place for the solutions to work.

3. Work collaboratively to create verbal, written and visual artefacts that document the different stages of the problem-solving process in consistent, clear and persuasive ways.

4. Apply ethical and other relevant concepts/theories to critically analyse the different facets of real-world dilemmas and value conflicts

The minimum requirement for the award of credits is the submission of at least 75% by weight of the course's summative assessment (including any examinations). Further requirements may include monitored attendance at classes and examinations. All such requirements shall be specified by the Department concerned, and given to students in writing at the beginning of the course. Normally no grade or credits shall be awarded to a candidate who has not met these requirements.