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363-1060-00L 3 Credits MSC , NDS D-MTEC , D-ARCH

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Strategies for Sustainable Business

Lecturers & Examiners: PD Dr. Johannes Meuer

Limited number of participants. Registration will only be effective once confirmed by email from the organizers.

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:33:41

Abstract

In this course, students will learn to critically analyze strategies for sustainable business through exploring case studies on three main questions:1. What is sustainability in business?2. How do I design a sustainability strategy?3. How do I implement a sustainability strategy?

Objective

After the course, you should be able to: 1. Understand and explain sustainability challenges companies are facing; 2. Critique sustainability and related strategies; 3. Evaluate decisions taken by managers; 4. Suggest alternative approaches; 5. Develop action plans; 6. Reflect on strategies for sustainability in their own organizations. You will also learn to apply a range of strategy concepts to sustainability challenges, including leadership, stakeholder management, diversification, and organizational change.

Content

The sessions are interactive and allow you to step into the role of decision-makers as they face key challenges in integrating sustainability. In the past years, we have, for example, taken a closer look at corporate sustainability at IKEA and have discussed how Patagonia is trying to define its net-zero strategy. We have also taken the perspective of an NGO activist to look at Walmart’s development and launch of Love, Earth—a new line of sustainable jewelry—to understand why and how companies increasingly address environmental and social impacts at the strategic and operational levels. In other scenarios, you may adopt the role of the General Manager of a 500-room, 4-star city-center hotel with the goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. During this course, you will also have the opportunity to try out different ways of implementing a sustainability initiative in a simulation exercise.

Resources

Literature

We will provide case study material and guidelines for analyzing cases to participants by email several weeks before the seminar.

General Information

Language: English
Levels: MSC , NDS
Frequency: Yearly recurring

Examination

Type: ungraded semester performance

Credit points will only be assigned if you meet the following three criteria.1) The sessions are highly interactive. The course only works when you and everyone else actively contribute to the debates. Therefore, full attendance/ presence on all course days is necessary.2) You must prepare for class beforehand by reading the case study materials and by answering one brief assignment question before each session.3) Reflection essay with peer review: After the course, you will be asked to critically reflect on the learnings during the course a 2-page reflection essay. To complete the final assignment, you will (anonymously) review the reflection essay of one of your classmates.

Registration & Places

Signup End: 21.02.2025

Course Components

Type	Title	Time & Place	Hours
lecture	Strategies for Sustainable Business Block course	07.03 Date 09:15-17:00 (ML H 37.1) 14.03 Date 09:15-17:00 (NO C 44) 14.03 Date 13:15-17:00 (CHN E 46) 28.03 Date 09:15-17:00 (ML H 37.1)	21 h semesterly