Competing Through Sustainability

Business today has two major challenges: the need to be competitive in the global marketplace and to operate in a sustainable manner. In this challenging marketplace, economic globalization, privatization and free trade benefits are being challenged by anti-corporate and anti-globalization sentiments. Constructively engaging these challenges will be the key to ensuring that we continue to thrive in the coming century — and to everyone’s benefit.

Sustainability, the ability for economic growth today without compromising the growth ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is an important consideration in embracing this challenge. It is being recognized that our current way of operation is not sustainable, given our wasteful use of resources and overdependence on natural resources (e.g., carbon fuels), in the age of climate change. This wasteful consumption and over-utilization of resources is causing a serious economic, climatic and national security crisis that must be addressed. Thankfully, innovation and accelerating advances in technology provide a counterweight to the business-as-usual scenario. It is important for executives to understand environmental and social factors that affect their business and to craft appropriate solutions.

Corporate sustainability is a business approach that creates long-term shareholder value by embracing opportunities and managing risks derived from economic, environmental and social changes. The economic opportunities for companies in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals is valued at more than $12 trillion, according to the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, and is an important component of the PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education) initiative on promoting thought leadership on this issue. This executive course is intended to provide grounding in the strategic thinking necessary to guide a company’s overall approach to sustainability and to prepare students to take leadership roles in addressing such issues in business.

Course Outline:

Module 1: External Analysis and Business Case for Change Module 2: Strategies for Sustainability and Business Value Creation Module 3: Role of Technology and Innovation and Smart Strategic Options Module 4: Strategic and Operational Business Models for Sustainability Module 5: Sustainable Business-based Strategies and Holistic Systems-based Perspective

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