Insegnamento a.a. 2017-2018

Classes: 31 (II sem.)

Instructors:
Class 31: STEFANO POGUTZ

Climate change, energy security and ecosystem degradation are among today most pressing issues, receiving broad attention from political institutions, advocacy groups, media and public opinion. These challenges are now key drivers for many businesses all over the world, and are dramatically transforming the competitive arena, creating new market opportunities that are pivotal to success in the 21st century. Companies are expected to tackle sustainability leveraging on their networks of relations to develop and diffuse green solutions and sustainable business models.
The course intends to familiarize graduate students with these challenges both addressing the macro and systemic perspective, and micro and organizational level of action. According to the number of attending students, the course contents are organized into 4 Modules and 2 Tracks. Modules 1 and 2, are common for all students, and they provide knowledge of climate change and energy risks, relevant regulatory frameworks (in particular, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - UNFCCC), scenarios, and corporate strategic responses (why and how companies address sustainability). Then the course divides into 2 Tracks (Modules 3 and 4):

• Track 1 focuses on innovation, sustainable supply chain and new business models and is associated with a field project organized with the collaboration of leading companies.
• Track 2 is associated with the Model UNFCCC CEMS Climate Change Strategy Role Play, and focuses on measures to address climate change, negotiation and 2 days of off-campus role play. The number of students accepted in Track 2 is limited. Preference is accorded to CEMS students.

The course includes the analysis of best practices, various case studies, qualified speakers companies and agencies. The format is based on active learning methods.

• Acquire basic notions of climate change science and energy scenarios.
• Understand the interdependences between the natural environment and business, with particular attention to resource scarcity and ecosystem services.
• Understand the role of regulations and mandatory mechanisms (focus on UNFCCC) for business.
• Familiarize with mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Understand the relevance of industry self-regulation mechanisms.
• Develop knowledge and skills to analyze firm strategies to address the environmental sustainability challenge.
• Understand new managerial approaches and concepts such as green innovation, clean tech, design for sustainability, sustainable supply chain, new sustainable business models.
• Acquire basic knowledge on the main tools to manage environmental and sustainability issues.
• Provide an exposure to practical cases and company presentation in this area.

For attending students

• Written exam (30%).
• Field project assignment (50%).
• Class participation (20%).

For non attending students

• Written exam.

• Selection of papers and cases made available to the students at the beginning of the course.
• R. SARDA', S. POGUTZ, K. RAMAKRISHNA, Corporate Sustainability in the 21st Century. Increasing the Resilience of Social-Ecological Systems, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
• Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library).