Ethics and sustainability in businessLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

You learn key ethical theories and how to apply them to business decision-making.
You learn to evaluate corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks.
You learn to assess the impact of business operations on society and the environment.
You learn to develop sustainable business strategies that balance profit, people, and the planet.
You learn to identify greenwashing critically and identify authentic sustainability initiatives.
You learn to design an ethical and sustainability-focused business proposal or policy.

Content

What are the core principles of business ethics?
Why is ethical decision-making important in business?
How do ethical theories apply to business?
What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and why does it matter for enterprises and communities?
How can companies integrate CSR into their business strategies?
How can businesses reduce their environmental impact?
What are the key frameworks for sustainable business practices (e.g., circular economy, carbon neutrality)?
How does sustainability drive innovation and competitive advantage?
What does social sustainability mean for businesses and communities?
What defines an ethical leader in business?
How can leaders foster an ethical corporate culture?
What is Environmental Sustainability in Business (ESG) investing, and how does it differ from traditional investing?
How do companies measure and report ESG performance?
What are the ethical risks of AI and automation in business?

Evaluation

Students can:
a. use professional business ethics and corporate responsibility vocabulary and concepts in an expert way in different situations.
b. evaluate information sources critically.
c. work as team members in working life expert duties and identify and describe the problems of business ethics and corporate responsibility.
g. apply critically the ethical principles of the professional field in different situations.