Business in Society: Responsibility, Diversity and Geopolitics module (BU31008)

Businesses are now expected to care people and the planet, as well as profit.

Through up-to-date examples of 'business in the news', you will learn about the issues that place demands on businesses beyond the bottom-line. You will also learn how business can respond to such issues and events.

The issues involve (but are not limited to) sustainability, sexual harassment, obesity, surveillance, precarious labour, the power of tech giants, and cultural appropriation.

We critically assess and discuss corporate social responsibility, stakeholder, and ethical theories as well as purposeful leadership and innovation that help frame and develop how business can make a positive contribution to society together with issue management insights and corporate communication efforts.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• critically evaluate expectations and courses of action available to businesses facing social issues underpinned by ethical and stakeholder theory
• analyse the wider business environments and identify key issues, trends, and developments
• work independently and in groups while comprehensively consolidating relevant information and data from a variety of sources
• produce written communication pitched at a suitable level for a variety of audiences

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• critically evaluate the role of business within society and offer practical responses to issues that arise in the business environment, underpinned by theory
• demonstrate analytical as well as written and visual communication skills

Assignments / assessment

• Essay (60%)
• A group poster presentation (30%)
• Weekly participation in discussion boards (10%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

You will be taught by both in-class lectures and practical, tutorial case-based exercises.

Learning material consists of textbooks, academic and newspaper articles, videos, questions & discussion, drawing, and role play.