Engage in changing practices to make your organisation more sustainable, responsible and ethically informed.
Managers are increasingly confronted with issues of sustainability, responsibility and ethics. The course, ‘Managing Responsibly: Practicing Sustainability, Responsibility and Ethics’, helps form multicultural teams to learn about these issues and solve them. The course also facilitates the formation of peer networks that allow a continuous learning experience after finishing the MOOC. The MOOC is an initiative in collaboration with the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative. The main goals of this course are to give an overview of the three areas that make up responsible management: ethics, sustainability, and responsibility. It also aims to assist in applying the knowledge and understanding gained from these areas to real-world issues in managerial settings. Finally, the course teaches how to recognise, comprehend, and support individual actions that can result in systemic and organisational change, as well as how to recognise, gather, and discuss opposing viewpoints to collectively solve urgent problems.
MODULE 1: MANAGING RESPONSIBLY
This module deals with the importance and context of managing responsibly and how it relates to sustainability, responsibility and ethics. It investigates the competencies that managers may require to implement responsible management practices by taking a systemic approach. Key elements include in-depth lectures on the principles of responsible management, expert interviews, and introductory sessions led by the course facilitators. These are intended to improve understanding of the managerial competencies required to successfully implement sustainable and ethical practices.
Duration: 3 hours
Readings: 3
Videos: 8
Discussion Prompts: 0
MODULE 2: SUSTAINABILITY
This module looks at the concepts of sustainability, such as social, environmental, and economic dimensions, as well as the importance of time. Moreover, it further delves into sustainability in a business context by looking at prominent management tools, such as impact assessment, footprinting, and life-cycle management. It aims to equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively integrate and manage sustainability initiatives within organisations.
Duration: 4 hours
Readings: 3
Videos: 3
Discussion prompts: 1
MODULE 3: RESPONSIBILITY
This module explores the foundations of responsible business practices and various approaches, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), social entrepreneurship, or corporate citizenship. It aims to examine practical management applications, including stakeholder management and corporate social performance. Through videos and readings, the module seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how organisations can implement and manage responsibility effectively.
Duration: 4 hours
Readings: 3
Videos: 5
Discussion Prompts: 0
MODULE 4: ETHICS
This module examines business ethics through the lenses of behavioural ethics and moral philosophy. It seeks to apply these approaches to address moral issues and develop ethical practices in challenging situations. Additionally, the module covers the use of ethics management tools, such as ethics hotlines, codes of ethics, and ethics training, to support ethical behaviour in organisations to foster a culture of integrity. By integrating theoretical and practical aspects, the module aims to equip learners with the skills to navigate and manage ethical dilemmas effectively in the business environment.
Duration: 3 hours
Readings: 3
Videos: 3
Discussion Prompts: 0
MODULE 5: PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
This module’s objective is to facilitate group discussions among peers with similar responsible management issues to develop coping strategies. It also involves selecting a professional area of interest, such as strategy, marketing, or finance, to explore and innovate responsible management practices within that field. Through videos and readings, the module aims to enhance understanding of responsible management functions, professions, and competencies and apply these insights to real-world scenarios.
Duration: 2 hours
Readings: 3
Videos: 4
Discussion Prompts: 0
Module 6: INTEGRATION: ‘Bringing it all together’
This module prepares learners for real-life challenges in managing responsibly and driving responsible innovation. It focuses on critical reflection and challenging the status quo, addressing systemic complexity, power struggles, and organisational inertia. Learners will explore how to translate these insights into transformative actions. The module includes thematic connections drawn from practitioner interviews, providing practical perspectives on responsible management. Through a comprehensive assignment and peer review, it aims to integrate course concepts into actionable strategies for real-world application.
Duration: 5 hours
Readings: 1
Videos: 0
Peer Review: 1
COURSE OVERVIEW
Platform: Coursera
Duration: 22 hours
Difficulty: Beginner
Flexibility: Self-paced
