Sustainable Business Leadership

CRN: fall: 10419; winter: 20273
Note: This 8-credit program will meet from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fall quarter locations are Longhouse 1007 (Tuesdays) and Lecture Hall 4 (Thursdays). Winter quarter locations are Lecture Hall 4 (Tuesdays) and Lecture Hall 1 (Thursdays).

The 20th Century business model has given rise to complex and interrelated challenges. These include a global water shortage, rapid resource depletion, climate change, and growing social dis-ease. Given these challenges, is the 20th Century business model still valid? Are there other models that are better suited to address the challenges of the 21st Century? What skills and capacities are needed today (and tomorrow) in order for us to succeed?

The corporation of today is reeling from increasing pressure from regulators, investors and the public to embrace social and environmental stewardship. At the same time, shareholder demands for high, short-term return on investment continues to be a competing priority. Largely in response to these growing pressures, more and more businesses have launched sustainability initiatives. Despite the increased activity, most experts would agree that progress toward sustainability has been, at best, modest.

Through a combination of books, selected readings, business case studies, film, guest lectures, and plenty of spirited discussions, this multi-disciplinary, two quarter program will give the students the critical skills to engage in business or civil society as 21st Century innovators and change agents.

During fall quarter, we will explore the role of business in society today and ask the question, why sustainable business? From there, we will evaluate alternatives to the traditional business model (What works; what doesn't? What barriers exist? Do alternative models go far enough?). Also included will be an overview of systems thinking and quality reasoning vs. fallacies.

During winter quarter, we will take on the question: How do we drive business (and thereby society) faster towards true sustainability? We will explore different human and social capabilities in the business context including moral and ethical leadership and communicating a positive vision of change. We will also look at a variety of strategic planning and analytic tools such as different sustainability frameworks, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and cutting-edge marketing tools.