98680 - SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEYS

Learning outcomes

"The aim of this laboratory is to expose students to sustainability by taking them on a real journey to meet Italian companies at the forefront of sustainability thinking. Through a combination of on-site visits and lectures students gain exposure to such diverse yet interrelated themes as: - origins of the sustainability concept and the frontiers in sustainability thinking, - role of the private sector in tackling issues related to sustainability, - role of the Business Model as a strategic foundation of sustainability, These topics are explored through highly interactive company visits and guest lectures from established practitioners."

Course contents

The aim of this module is to enhance our collective awareness of the multiplicity of issues associated with sustainability and explore what all of this means for firms. Through a combination of on-site visits, interaction with practitioners, and lectures the students will gain exposure to such diverse yet interrelated themes as:

• Origins of the sustainability concept and facets, and the frontiers in sustainability thinking and implementation in business practices.
• Why Climate Change is the biggest challenge to our society and how the business world is responding to this challenge.
• Role of the private sector and governments in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Net-Zero.
• Role of innovation and manufacturing as a strategic foundation of sustainability.

The possibility to be confronted directly with "best practices" will allow the students to acquire a greater awareness of the impact that sustainable or unsustainable strategies have on any type of organization (private, non-governmental, public) and size (start-ups, small, medium and large enterprises) and on society at large. Students, through the visit to companies and organizations, will be able not only to acquire practical and theoretical knowledge of what Business Sustainability means for firms but also to develop leadership skills that are necessary to lead the transition towards a more sustainable society.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides; Readings package; Case study package.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Tirole, J., Economics for the Common Good, translated by Steven Rendall, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2018.

David J. McKay, “Sustainable Energy — without the hot air”, UIT 2008, available also at http://www.withouthotair.com . Only part I, III and IV.

Allwood, JM, and Cullen, J, 2012., “Sustainable Materials – With Both Eyes Open.”, Cambridge: UIT Cambridge, available also at http://www.withbotheyesopen.com/

Teaching methods

The course attempts to reach its learning objectives by

- On-site visit to companies and innovation centres
- Class discussions
- Guest lectures
- In class presentation by students
- Video material

Assessment methods

Every student will have the personal responsibility to maintain a daily diary of notes of the company visits according to a template loaded on Virtuale that will be presented during the first session. Periodically the students will be requested to share those notes to the other students.

The assessment method will take into account the following group work components:

• Class preparation including personal assignments and participation including daily diary (personal)
• Companies visit preparation. The class will be divided into groups responsible at least once to lead the visit to firms (e.g. introduction of the class to the company representatives, management of the visit follow-up discussion, …). The same group will be responsible after the visit to prepare and submit to the lecturer an executive memo about the visit (max 2 pages) (teamwork peer-reviewed).
• Final diary of what you learned (5 pages). (personal)

The grades in the Italian university system are expressed out of thirty. The passing grade is 18/30. In case of a full grade (30/30) the Professor(s) may also decide to award honours (lode).

You can find below the breakdown of the final grade:

ASSESSMENT METHOD

WEIGHT ON FINAL GRADE

Class participation including daily diary of the visits activity: 30%.

Final diary of what you learned (5 pages): 40%.

Group companies visit preparation: 30%.

Teaching tools

The course attempts to reach its learning objectives by

• On-site visit to companies and innovation centres
• Class discussions
• Guest lectures
• In class presentation by students
• Video material

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Pastore