module specification

This module will address the critical issue of how current thinking on sustainability will impact on businesses and organisations and how they respond.

The need to create more sustainable organisations and businesses is fundamental to current and future organisational development strategies, and it is necessary for students to understand the growing influence of the sustainability agenda on industry. This influence takes on many forms, from government policies and international agreements to the measuring of impacts of organisational practices on the ecology and communities. It is clear that in the future, organisations, businesses, communities and individuals will be expected to understand and take responsibility for their economic, environmental and social impacts. This module will examine the current and future challenges, it will equip students with knowledge to deal with the challenge of creating sustainable forms of business that operate within ecological and socio-economic limits.

It will explore the sustainability context, and how business practices will need to evolve to reflect the realities of operating within a globalised trading system that is striving to apply sustainability principles. This is an important area of increasing scrutiny for airlines and airports. Particular focus will be given to the importance of Sustainability reporting and reporting standards.

N/A

• Definitions and history of the “Sustainability” concept LO1

• Corporate sustainability LO1

• Economic sustainability LO1

• Social responsibility LO1

• Corporate Social Responsibility LO1

• Environmental sustainability. LO1

• Principles and criteria for sustainability: who decides? LO2

• Measuring sustainability: Challenges and realities LO2

• International Policy frameworks and the role of governments LO2

• CSR and the Industry response to the sustainability challenge LO2

The module will be delivered through a weekly series of lectures and seminars. Teaching will have a blended learning approach. Lectures will deliver information and present academic problems appropriate to the topic under consideration. Full use will be made of online opportunities including web-based simulation/ case study discussion points. Seminars will provide students with opportunities for discussion and activities in small groups and at whole class level, presentations, short writing exercises and reflection, usually on the topics covered in the lecture of the same week. Students will have the opportunity to practice their presentation skills.

Learning materials and opportunities will be made available on Weblearn, which will also be an important means of communication between students and tutors. Students will be expected to read and reflect upon the work covered so far through the module. Progress will be facilitated via weekly debates and discussion, where students will not only consider their own responses but also read those of their peers in the seminar.

Lectures will also (Where possible) be given by guest speakers from industry.

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

LO1:  Analyse complex data and theoretical concepts to demonstrate an understanding of the context of sustainability and related core theories to enable students to assess sustainability and evaluate its complex inter-relationships.

LO2:  Develop a systematic understanding and substantive investigation of sustainability, measurement and corporate governance in the 21st century, reviewing and analysing industry competitors using state-of-the-art published reports.

There will be two in-course assignments which will be weighted as follows:

1. Individual presentation of 20’ with a weighting of 20%

The individual essay/report will focus on the necessity of sustainability in terms of the Environment. Industrial examples could be used to support statements.

2. Individual report of 1,500 words with a weighting of 80%

The final report will address and compare the Sustainability Report of 2 companies in order to highlight different approaches and strategies. Focus will be given on critical thinking and assessment of the suggested strategies of the companies and how well the example companies have achieved previously published targets in their reports related to Sustainability.

Core Texts (Aviation)

Ancell, D. (2016) Clipped Wings, Routledge

Bows, A. (2014) Aviation and Climate Change, Routledge

Flouris, T. (2016) Risk Management and Corporate Sustainability in Aviation, Routledge

Gossling, S. (2009) Climate Change and Aviation, Routledge

Palmer, W. (2014) Will Sustainability Fly? Routledge

Upham, p. (2003) Towards Sustainable Aviation, Routledge

Janic, M (2007) The Sustainability of Air Transportation, Ashgate

Key Generic Texts:

• Idowu, S O (ed.) Key Initiatives in Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer 2015

• Visser, W, CSR 2.0 Transforming Corporate Sustainability, Springer 2014

• Idowu, S O et al (Eds.) Sustainable Business Models: Principles, Promise and Practice Springer (2017)

• Aluchna, M and Idowu, S O (Eds.) The Dynamics of Corporate Social Responsibility Springer (2017)

• Mitra, N and Schmidpeter, R Corporate Social Responsibility in India: Cases and Developments After the Legal Mandate, Springer

• Camilleri, M A (2017), Corporate Sustainability, Social Responsibility and Environmental Management: An Introduction to Theory and Practice, Springer International, Switzerland.

• Idowu, S O and Cheruiyot, T K (Eds.) Sustainable Development: Critical Sectors and Deprived Communities, Springer, 2017.

• O’Riordan, L (2017) Managing Stakeholder Relationships: Corporate Approaches to Responsible Management, Springer International, Switzerland.

Key Environmental Texts

Baldwin, R. (1999) Developing the Future Aviation System, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot

Clark, P. (2010) Stormy Skies, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot

Daley, B. (2010) Air Transport and the Environment, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot

Hoppe, E. (2011) Ethical Issues in Aviation, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot

Janic, M. (2007) The Sustainability of Air Transportation, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot

Lumpé, M. (2008) Leadership and Organization in the Aviation Industry, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot,

Taneja, N. (2008) Flying Ahead of the Airplane, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot

Taneja, N. (2010)Looking Beyond the Runway, Ashgate Publishing, 2010

Taneja, N. (2008) Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Passenger is Flying the Plane, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot, 2008

Journals

• Journal of Business Ethics

• International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

• Business & Society

• Corporate Governance: International Journal of Business in Society

• Social Responsibility Journal

• Business Ethics: A European Business Review

• International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation

• Society & Business Review

Reading List Talis

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/832E4B93-88F0-AF5B-9A9E-71A6F29220D5.html?lang=en-gb&login=1