MNM3SUT: Sustainability

Module code: MNM3SUT

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 10

Level: 7

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Peter McManners, email: p.j.mcmanners@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for society, driving government policy and an important influence on business strategy. Understanding sustainability and the implications has become a vital component of strategic analysis. This module is designed to enable participants to critically evaluate the potential impact of sustainability on a sector and analyse how organisations should respond. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

• Critically evaluate sustainability within the context of business and other stakeholders; 
• Critically discuss and apply different sustainability lenses;  
• Critical evaluate an industry or organisation and assess the opportunities and potential impact of sustainability. 

Module content

• Sustainability and today’s business perspective 
• Lenses of Sustainability 
  • External: Environment and resource limits 
  • Internal: Strategy and Reputation 
• Looking to the Future 
• Putting it into Practice 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning transmission will be through the on-line Canvas content. This needs to be worked through, reading the content and attempting the exercises.  To draw maximum value from the elective you should read beyond the material provided in Canvas. The supporting module book should be used when working on the assignment. It is also recommended that participants may want to read the book in full to get a complete perspective on sustainability and its potential impact. In carrying out the assignment, participants will have the opportunity to complete a sustainability analysis on a particular industry and consider the implications for one particular organisation. The results will be presented in a report which will be examined.  

The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on your cohort start date. 

This is an online only module. The scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities are delivered online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module. 

Study hours

At least Please note that the hours listed below are indicative and for guidance purposes only.  hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month 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; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs