Sustainability Management Overview

Course Overview

• Introduction to sustainability, management, and governance.
• Focus on definitions, frameworks, and business aspects of sustainability.

Readings and Preparation

• Key texts include Caradonna (2014) and "Sustainability: A Comprehensive Foundation."
• Additional readings: chapters, journal articles, and cases to be reviewed.

Assessment Criteria

• Class participation (15%)
• Final exam (35%): multiple choice and short essay, closed book.
• Individual essay (25%): topic TBA, 3 pages due post break.
• Group project (25%): analyze and solve a developed country firm’s environmental problem.

Class Structure

• Combination of lectures, discussions, and videos.
• Emphasis on environmental sustainability (70%), social aspects (20%), and development (10%).

Key Concepts of Sustainability

• Involves balancing economics, environment, and social aspects (3 pillars).
• Interconnectedness of systems important for understanding sustainability.

Definitions of Sustainability

• Brundtland Commission: "Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations."
• Includes intergenerational and intragenerational aspects.

Systems Thinking

• Essential for understanding sustainability challenges.
• Recognizes the complex interplay of various factors across disciplines.

Modelling Approaches

• Early models include Systems Dynamics for predicting interactions and outcomes.
• Importance of stocks and flows in environmental systems.

Historical Context

• Sustainability movement roots in the 18th century, responding to industrialization.

Challenges in Sustainability

• Problems framed as "wicked problems" due to their complexity and interrelated causes.
• Importance of stakeholders and multi-disciplinary approaches.

Future Focus

• Themes of climate change, resource management, and stakeholder dynamics will be discussed.
• Examination of international policies and roles of organizations in sustainability efforts.