MM298-Social Responsibility in Action

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Irina Heim
Email: irina.heim@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Students are expected to draw on knowledge and experience gained during the course, and to apply it to a contemporary management problem or issue related to social purpose of the business and 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The practical actions are developed in conjunction with specific organisations, and they address a topic that is relevant to Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME). PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and is governed by the UN and the main business school accreditation bodies. Henley Business School is an advanced signatory to PRME.?

This module is also delivered at University of Reading Malaysia.

Aims:

The module reflects Henley’s commitment to the United Nation’s ‘Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME) the first principle of which is to ‘develop the capabilities of students to be future generators of sustainable value for business and society at large and to work for an inclusive and sustainable global economy.  

The module offers an intensive experiential learning opportunity. Students will work on projects for local organisations and businesses to help them build business solutions consistent with their Sustainable Development Goals/corporate social responsibility objectives. In doing so, students will have the opportunity to apply previously taught material in a real-world context. Most of the module will be taken primarily over four weeks in the summer term.?

PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and is governed by the UN and the main business school accreditation bodies. Henley Business School is an advanced signatory to PRME.

Assessable learning outcomes:

The learning outcomes are based on QAA subject benchmark requirements and AACSB 2018 Business Standards. For further information see the Programme Specification which shows all of the learning outcomes of the programme.

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

• Understand social responsibility, including sustainability, diversity and ethical behaviour in the context of approaches to management


• Apply their knowledge of business, organisations and management to practice


• Apply commercial acumen to real-world business problems


• Critically reflect on their performance in the context of society

Additional outcomes:

The module will require students to work in small, diverse, self-directed teams to achieve their objectives. This will help them develop core transferable skills such as self-management (a readiness to accept responsibility and flexibility, to be resilient, self-starting and appropriately assertive, to plan, organise and manage time), people management (communications, team building, leadership and motivating others) and networking (an awareness of the interpersonal skills of effective listening, negotiating, persuasion and presentation and their use in generating business contacts.  

Outline content:

Spring term introductory lectures and tutorials will prepare students for the project focusing on:

• Understanding social responsibility in relation to business


• Developing core skills (teamwork, self-management and networking)

Summer term:

• Seminars, projects in self-directed teams and field visits focusing on the local cultural context and business


• Developing core skills (teamwork, self-management and networking)

Global context:

Students will be expected to work within diverse groups throughout the module, exposing them to different assumptions and approaches in practice as well as in theory. The course works will provide an opportunity to select the cases in the global context.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module delivery will be through the spring term and an intensive 4-week project in the summer term.

In the Spring term, lectures and tutorials will help students to gain theoretical knowledge and prepare for their assessments and project and allow them to develop the skills they will need to complete their project.

In the Summer term, the first of the 4 weeks will involve lectures and structured tutorials introducing the project. Student teams will also be allocated a tutor to act as supervisor providing regular contact for consultation as necessary. Learning will largely be student team centred.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

No examination.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework One: Individual report (2,000 words; 10 percent -/+ is permissible). Carries 65% weight in module assessment. Submission date: Beginning of April. 

Coursework Two: Group Video Presentation. Carries 35% weight in module assessment. Submission date: Late May. Students are required:

1. to produce a 10-min video related to their group project in the host organisation.


2. to produce 7-10 PowerPoint Presentation slides that summarise and serve as a basis for a video. 

Formative assessment methods:

Students will provide structured peer feedback to other members of their groups.

Each group will be assigned a tutor who will be available to provide feedback throughout the process. The formative feedback will enable groups to reflectively adapt their group report and presentations which are two of the assessed components

Penalties for late submission:

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work. 

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late: 

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;? 


• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded 

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A module mark of 40%. 

Reassessment arrangements:

Students will be required to produce a 3000 words individual report submitted at the end of the August University resit period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Travel, accommodation and subsistence cost are possible– TBD.

Last updated: 19 April 2023