Professional skills and expertise
In this module, students develop knowledge about how multinational companies can manage sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The module also introduces basic principles of ethical reasoning with respect to international business-related issues.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• identify key ethical issues of doing business in an international context
• recognize different stakeholder views on ethical issues
• evaluate options and dilemmas in a decision situation from an ethics perspective
• explain sustainability challenges that international businesses are faced with and the opportunities for companies with a clear sustainability focus
• describe strategies, concepts, and tools that can be used for managing sustainability and corporate social responsibility in multinational companies

• discuss ethical issues with coherent arguments
• reflect on their own moral and ethical values

• use digital collaboration tools to solve sustainability or business ethics-related case studies in a virtual team setting

None

This module covers the following topics:
I. International business ethics
• Basic ethical principles
• Ethics within organizations
• Dealing with different ethical standards
• Ethical issues in international business (e.g. business and human rights, labor conditions, corruption, environmental issues)
• Ethical dilemmas and ethical decision making
• Case studies in international business ethics
II. Sustainability and corporate social responsibility in multinational companies (MNCs)
• Corporate purpose and approaches to value creation
• Sustainability challenges and opportunities in international businesses (including the business case for sustainability)
• The triple bottom line (environmental, social, and economic sustainability)
• The role of business in response to climate change
• Strategies, tools and methods for sustainability and corporate social responsibility management in MNCs
• Formulating goals and KPIs for sustainability and CSR
• Sustainability reporting
• Specifics of sustainability and CSR management in internationally active companies (e.g. dealing with different framework conditions, values, or environmental standards)
• Case studies in corporate sustainability
III. Global management practices
• Discussion of emerging trends in international management and/or sustainability-related issues with practicing managers (guest lectures)

Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. (2019). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Haski-Leventhal, D. (2018). Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Tools & Theories for Responsible Management. London: Sage Publications.
Morrison, J. (2020). The Global Business Environment: Towards Sustainability?5th ed. London: Macmillan International Higher Education/Red Globe Press. [Part 4: Global challenges and sustainability]
Sternad, D., Kennelly, J. J., & Bradley, F. (2017). Digging Deeper: How Purpose-Driven Enterprises Create Real Value. Abingdon/New York: Routledge.
Sternad, D. (2020). Effective Management: Developing Yourself, Others, and Organizations. London: Macmillan International Higher Education/Red Globe Press. [Chapters 5.4: Business and management ethics across cultures; 9.4: Beyond financial results]
Velasquez, M. G. (2018). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. 8th ed. Harlow: Pearson.
Different international business ethics and sustainability case studies

• Lecture and discussion
• Case studies
• Self-study
• Discussions with practicing managers (guest lectures)

Integrated module exam (immanent examination character):

• Case study preparation (60%)
  
• Class participation (40%)