30296 - GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
Department of Management and Technology
Course taught in English
BAI (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BEMACS (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BESS-CLES (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BGL (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BIEF (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BIEM (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BIG (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - CLEACC (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - CLEAM (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - WBB (6 credits - I sem. - OB | SECS-P/08)
Course Director:
NICOLA MISANI
NICOLA MISANI
Suggested background knowledge
To feel comfortable in this course, you should be familiar with basic concepts regarding management, organizations, and the global economy.
Mission & Content Summary
MISSION
Sustainability connects old concerns for economic growth and social equity with a concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems. The course explores how sustainability is becoming an existential challenge for humanity due to alarming issues such as climate change and growing social inequality and how it is a source of instability for companies. Organizations are rethinking their role in society, increasingly choosing to exceed legal requirements and take action to address social and environmental problems.
Sustainability is a new perspective that shapes companies' strategies within society. A strategic approach to sustainability is complex because it requires managers to engage not only with customers and suppliers but also with the non-market environment, including regulators, activists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The course focuses on understanding the conditions under which sustainability can benefit all stakeholders.
Innovation is highlighted as a crucial approach to addressing global sustainability challenges. The course examines how both established organizations and new ventures can contribute to sustainability through innovative practices and solutions.
CONTENT SUMMARY
- The challenges of sustainable development
- Societal expectations and the regulatory context
- Business sustainability and ESG
- Climate change and the road to Net Zero
- Sustainable supply chains and human rights
- Sustainability in the marketplace
- Sustainability accounting and reporting
- The circular economy
- Sustainable business models
- Innovation for sustainability
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Describe the global sustainability issues that challenge today's and tomorrow's business models.
- Describe how sustainability penetrates the different activities of the firm and its relationships with stakeholders.
- Identify sustainability issues in the various parts of organizations and their value chains.
- Understand the organizational challenges of adopting sustainable business models.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Examine the extent to which different types of sustainability initiatives are strategic.
- Analyze the sustainability impacts of firms on value chains and business models.
- Identify ways of improving processes and products in the direction of enhanced sustainability.
- Assess the practices adopted by the organizations that want to perform on the financial, social and environmental dimensions.
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
- Individual works / Assignments
- Collaborative Works / Assignments
- Interaction/Gamification
DETAILS
The course is based on active teaching methodologies to maximise students’ participation. In addition to theoretical sessions, students discuss case studies and exercises based on real-world examples. Theory and practice are combined dynamically, allowing in-class assignments to apply concepts.
Specific learning activities, including AI-based ones, complement each class and stimulate students' active involvement in the course.
Assessment methods
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ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students qualify as attending if:
- They complete at least 75% of the classes
- They participate in the group project
The final grade will consist of the following components:
- Learning activities: 25%
- Group project: 25%
- Final exam: 50%
The learning activities are exercises, case analyses, and quizzes administered during classes, focusing on students' ability to apply knowledge and understand all course concepts.
The group assignment tests students' ability to apply the concepts learned in the course. Your task is to develop realistic business solutions that can be implemented to address significant sustainability challenges.
The final exam tests the knowledge you obtained by attending classes and studying materials (the textbook and the other cases and readings). It will consist of a mix of multiple-choice questions and some short-answer questions (e.g., concept questions or case analysis).
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Written exam to test knowledge and understanding of sustainability issues, their systemic and organisational implications, as well as the ability to apply concepts to concrete problems. The exam is based on the textbook and the other required cases and readings. The exam consists of multiple-choice and short-answer questions (e.g., concept questions or case analysis).
Teaching materials
ATTENDING STUDENTS
- R. Hahn (2025), Sustainability Management: Concepts, Instruments, and Stakeholders, 2nd edition, Pearson (only Chapters 1-11, 14, 18, and 20).
- Additional readings and case studies provided through Blackboard and listed in the syllabus.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
- R. Hahn (2025), Sustainability Management: Concepts, Instruments, and Stakeholders, 2nd edition, Pearson (ALL CHAPTERS).
- Additional readings and case studies provided through Blackboard and listed in the syllabus.
Last change 21/05/2026 17:16