Course Syllabus

Course Description

Note:  This course is aimed at both the business student and the sustainability/environmental studies student.  It is also appropriate for any student simply interested in the development of sustainable businesses.

We face a perfect storm, at the intersection of climate change, a growing energy crisis, resource scarcity, and economic re-structuring.  Naturally, the rules for success are changing: business-as-usual is no longer an option. While many companies have been developing more socially responsible approaches, over the last few decades – there is a growing realisation that we need to go beyond CSR.

The sheer scale of the challenge, along with the nature of emerging business opportunities (e.g. UN SDGs), mean that leading players are now adopting more transformative models – integrating sustainability principles into the heart of everything they do for long-term, sustainable business success (e.g. Ørsted, Maersk).

Furthermore, a new generation of start-up enterprises are being established for the specific purpose of meeting the great challenges of our time; they are building new, more sustainable business models that are disrupting markets for good (e.g. circular economy).  There are exciting times. 

Through this course, we will explore the drivers, strategies, and business cases of companies that are taking a fully integrated approach to deliver sustainable business success in a rapidly changing world.

We will focus geographically on companies in Denmark – while also conducting comparative analysis to businesses in the United States.  

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the environmental, social, and economic drivers and risks impacting on companies – along with the major business opportunities for integrating sustainability factors within the core business strategy.
• Understand the latest big-impact topics, including how businesses can meet the Circular Economy challenge.
• Develop insights on sustainable business analysis, and strategy formulation.
• Understand and contrast the differences in strategies and context, between Europe and the United States.
• Enhance your critical thinking skills.
• Develop your professional presentation skills.
• Enhance your career potential and capabilities – towards becoming an effective business leader and/or change agent, in supporting the necessary transition towards a sustainable economy.

Faculty

Adrian Owen Mongan, Master's in Economics (International Macroeconomics), UW Madison, Wisconsin. Master's in Economics (International Trade), University College Dublin, Ireland. Worked in multinational conglomerates for over 10 years with roles as company macroeconomist, strategy director, and in strategic communication. Experienced university lecturer in international trade, macroeconomics, and microeconomics. With DIS since 2019.

Required Texts

Recommend you read Doughnut Economics. In addition, Custom readings and cases for each class are available on the DIS Canvas system.

Contact

Adrian Mongan, adrian.mongan@outlook.com

Course Format 

This course is taught with varied class formats, including:

• Discussion Classes – Based on assigned readings, these classes will combine lecture with class discussion introduce new material, along with group exercises to test and embed learning.
• Student Group Sustainability Challenge Presentations – Students will collaborate in group projects culminating in team-based presentations.

Grading

See under assignments

Points                                   Grade
93-100                                   A
90-93                                     A-
87-90                                     B+
83-87                                     B
80-83                                     B-
77-80                                     C+
73-77                                     C
70-73                                     C-
67-70                                     D+
63-67                                     D
60-63                                     D-
59 and below                        F

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

• Course Enrollment and Grading  
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code 

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