1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course provides a comprehensive overview of CSV (Creating Shared Value) concepts and how businesses can address social needs while benefiting both the firm and society. It covers value creation, collaboration, and assessing a business’s impact on social needs. Case studies explore ethical behavior and the consequences of irresponsible actions. Major case studies demonstrate how addressing social needs aligns with profit objectives and opens up new opportunities. Additional case studies analyze smaller-scale examples. The course discusses CSR, philanthropy, and the Social Progress Index. Students evaluate companies using the CSV framework and engage in group work and online interaction. The course aims to instill key principles of creating shared value and ethical behavior while recognizing underserved social needs as opportunities for competitive advantage.
2. REASON FOR THE COURSE
This course introduces students to Creating Shared Value (CSV), which combines addressing social needs with making a profit and creating sustainable competitive advantage. It differentiates CSV from CSR and philanthropy by integrating social needs directly into the business model. Students assess CSV as both an ethical and profitable approach, using frameworks to recognize how businesses can contribute to society. The course explores company responsibilities and opportunities to address social needs, developing students’ ethical understanding and reasoning abilities. By considering social needs and ethical issues, students can make informed decisions and build strategic solutions that align business opportunities with social impact.
3. STUDY HOURS
4. ROLE IN CURRICULUM
Prerequisite: Students must have finished Principles of Management before attempting this course.
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
| Knowledge | Level of Learning |
Related PLO |
|---|---|---|
| Apply the Creating Shared Value Framework (CK1) Apply the Creating Shared Value (CSV) Framework to a range of businesses | Apply | PIP2 |
| Evaluate the contribution of CSR and CSV (CK2) Evaluate the CSR and CSV frameworks in terms of their capacity to deal with the ethical issues faced by businesses |
Evaluate | PIP2 |
| Cognitive Skills | Level of Learning |
Related PLO |
| Analyze a firm’s competitive advantage through CSV (CC1) Analyze the impact of shared value strategies on a firm’s own competitive advantage and platform for future growth, internationally and in Cambodia |
Analyze |
PIP2 |
| Analyze the impact of CSV on social needs (CC2) Analyze the impact of shared value strategies on social needs and the wider community |
Analyze | PIP2 |
| Communication, Information Technology, and Numerical Skills | Level of Learning |
Related PLO |
| Create indicators to measure shared value (CCIT1) Create indicators for measuring shared value creation based on appropriate measures for results and impact for shared value initiatives |
Create | PCIT1 |
| Interpersonal Skills and Responsibilities | Level of Learning |
Related PLO |
| Evaluate a company’s shared value strategy in a team (CIP1) Evaluate a company’s shared value strategy through a case study undertaken in a team |
Evaluate | PIP1 |
Grades will be determined based on a grading score, calculated using the following assessments and score allocations:
| SKILL | Assessment | Skill Weighting for Grade | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation (in-class) | In-class Tests (*4) | Assignment | Midterm Exam | Final Exam | |||
| Apply the Creating Shared Value Framework (CK1) | 50% | – | – | 50% | – | 15% | |
| Evaluate the contribution of CSR and CSV (CK2) | – | 50% | – | 50% | – | 15% | |
| Analyze a firm’s competitive advantage through CSV (CC1) | 25% | 25% | – | – | 50% | 20% | |
| Analyze the impact of CSV on social needs (CC2) | 25% | 25% | – | – | 50% | 20% | |
| Create indicators to measure shared value (CCIT1) | 50% | 50% | – | – | – | 15% | |
| Evaluate a company’s shared value strategy in a team (CIP1) | – | – | 100% | – | – | 15% | |
| TOTAL | 100% | ||||||
This course explores Creating Shared Value, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Social Progress. Students gain a comprehensive understanding, analyzing impact and proposing policies. Case studies demonstrate how ethical issues in business affect society and generate shared value. Examples include international and local projects. Quizzes aid comprehension and reflection. Assigned readings supplement class material, encouraging independent reading. Group work and guidance are available throughout the semester.
| Assignment 1 | – | Case Presentation |
| Work Group: | Group | |
| Output format: | APA Format Report, Presentation |
|
| Language: | English | |
| Description: | Each group of students will be required to present one of the CSV course case studies, including the background to the case study, the CSV strategy adopted by the company, how this integrates into the three levels of CSV (Level 1, 2 or 3), how this builds sustainable competitive advantage whilst at the same time addressing ethical issues of business. The assignment should submit what they have presented in class as a short written report. | |
| Assignment 2 | – | Company Interview and Report |
| Work Group: | Group | |
| Output format: | Presentation | |
| Language: | English | |
| Description: | Each group of students will be required to visit a company of their choice to interview the company owner or manager, to determine their view of CSV and the extent to which CSV can lead to sustainable competitive advantage. The format of the interview will be designed in class with student participation so that each group of students will be able to collect similar data from interviews. The results will be presented in class by the students and marked in terms of both content and presentation. Assignment Rubric |
The course targets the 30 lessons in the study plan below. Each lesson is 1.5 class hours each; there are a total of 45 class hours. The study plan below describes the learning outcome for each lesson, described in terms of what the student should be able to do at the end of the lesson. Readings should be done by students as preparation before the start of each class. Implementation of this study plan may vary somewhat depending on the progress and needs of students.
| No | Lesson Learning Outcomes | Teaching and Learning Activities, Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Opening Lecture: Scope of Course, Introduction to Course Content, Case Studies and Examinations Learning Outcomes: Understand the purpose of the course and interpret how the course focuses on ethical issues in business (CK1, CK2) |
Lecture; Discussion / Quiz; Reading Lecturer covers the scope of the course and Learning Objectives (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Introductory presentation of course |
| 2 |
Opening Case Study: The Question of Ethics in Business: Learning Outcomes: Students to compare their view of ethics in business with the portrayal of the business activities alleged in the case study and develop their own interpretation of ethical and unethical business (CK1, CK2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Documentary shown to class, frequent breaks to ensure understanding and discussion of issues raised in the documentary (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading / Previewing: British American Tobacco in Africa Documentary |
| 3 |
Case Study: Aberfan Part 1 The most serious mining disaster in UK’s living history, found to be as a result of lack of responsible safety and health actions by the operators of the mine Learning Outcomes: Understand the underlying causes of the Aberfan disaster and assess the extent to which it was a failure in Corporate Social Responsibility (CK2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Documentary and notes also with the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz Reading: Class handouts |
| 4 |
Aberfan Part 2 (including the then-and-now mapping exercise) The most serious mining disaster in UK’s living history, found to be as a result of lack of responsible safety and health actions by the operators of the mine Learning Outcomes: Set out the lessons learned from the Aberfan Disaster, clearly distinguish the CSR actions that should be taken by any company operating in the mining sector, and determine the extent to which even a mining company could follow a shared value strategy (Ck2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Documentary and notes also with the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz Reading: Class handouts |
| 5 |
Creating Shared Value Concepts: Learning Outcomes: Understand and interpret the conceptual framework applied and contrast the traditional frameworks of ethical behaviour with the shared value framework (CK1) |
Reading; Lecture; Discussion / Quiz Lecturer presents the overheads (up to slide 15) and invites class comment and discussion (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: “Creating Shared Value: Competitive Advantage Through Social Impact”: Prof Michael Porter and Mark Kramer (12th December 2018) |
| 6 |
Class Quiz: Creating Shared Value Concepts (Google Forms Quiz) Completion of BAT in Africa and Creating Shared Values Concepts Learning Outcomes: Students to apply the concepts of shared value creation and demonstrate their understanding of how these can apply to business(CK1) |
Multiple Choice Questions on the Concepts of Creating Shared Value (Google Forms Quiz) |
| 7 |
Case Study: Intercorp, Peru (2017) Part 1: Peru’s Largest Diversified Company: Meeting the Needs of Peru’s Growing Middle Class in Peru’s regions (multisector) Learning Outcomes: Contrast the approach of Intercorp with conventional perceptions of targeting customer segments and demonstrate how shared value is created (CK1, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Lecturer presents Intercorp Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Intercorp: Peru (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 8 |
Case Study: Intercorp, Peru (2017) Part 2: Peru’s Largest Diversified Company: Meeting the Needs of Peru’s Growing Middle Class in Peru’s regions (multisector) Learning Outcomes: Analyse how shared value can be created in each sector in which Intercorp operates, and identify common characteristics of the shared value approach (CK1, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Lecturer presents Intercorp Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Intercorp: Peru (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 9 |
Class Quiz: Intercorp (Peru) Part 3) (Kahoot Quiz or Google Forms Quiz) Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate a full understanding of how Intercorp uses the shared value strategy to gain competitive advantage whilst addressing social needs in Peru (CK1, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Multiple Choice Questions on the Intercorp Case Study (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) |
| 10 |
Case Study: Discovery Limited, South Africa (2018) Part 1: Start-up company in the 1990s building competitive advantage in the Health & Life Insurance Sector by encouraging healthy lifestyle changes. Learning Outcomes: Assess the state of the insurance industry in South Africa at the time Discovery started and determine why a shared value strategy was appropriate for Discovery Limited (CK1, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Discovery Limited Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Discovery Limited (South Africa) Harvard Business School Case Study |
| 11 |
Case Study: Discovery Limited, South Africa (2018) Part 2: Building competitive advantage in the Health & Life Insurance Sector by encouraging healthy lifestyle changes. Learning Outcomes: Compare the shared value approach and business model used by Discovery compared to traditional insurance companies and determine why it became a more successful approach to providing health insurance (CK1, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Discovery Limited Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Discovery Limited (South Africa) Harvard Business School Case Study |
| 12 |
Class Quiz: Discovery Limited (South Africa) Part 3 (Kahoot Quiz or Google Forms Quiz) Learning Outcomes: Apply the concepts of shared value to the business model adopted by Discovery Limited and assess how this model applies to other sectors of the insurance and finance sectors (CK1, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Multiple Choice Questions on the Discovery Ltd. (South Africa) Case Study (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) |
| 13 |
Case Study: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape Part 1: Walmart’s wide range of initiatives to a Creating Shared Value Strategy, particularly since its rescue role after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Learning Outcomes: Distinguish the element of Walmart’s strategy which could be considered as creating shared value from the start of the business in the 1960s (CK1, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Walmart Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 14 |
Case Study: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape Part 2: Walmart’s wide range of initiatives to a Creating Shared Value Strategy, particularly since its rescue role after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Learning Outcomes: Analyse the benefits of adopting a shared value approach for Walmart and for the communities that Walmart serves (CK1, CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Walmart Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 15 |
Case Study: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape Part 3 Walmart’s wide range of initiatives to a Creating Shared Value Strategy, particularly since its rescue role after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Learning Outcomes: Determine and assess the extent of shared value created by the many Walmart initiatives in the areas of economics activity, education, health and environmental improvement (CK1, CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Walmart Case Study and answer questions in class, or lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 16 |
Mid-Term Revision Session (1 of 2) (Kahoot Quiz or Google Forms Quiz) Learning Outcomes: Understand and evaluate the concepts of shared value to all the case studies and apply the same concepts more widely to local and international businesses (CK1, CK2) |
Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Covering all concepts and case studies to date for the mid-term exam (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) |
|
MID TERM EXAMINATION Based on the Kahoot and Google Forms Quizzes: Multiple Choice Questions on the Concepts of Creating Shared Values, Intercorp, Discovery Limited Learning Outcomes: Compare and contrast ethical and unethical business practice approaches and demonstrate a full understanding of how the shared value approach extends our understanding of ethical business strategies (CK1, CK2) |
Multiple Choice Questions on the Concepts of Creating Shared Values, and the case studies Intercorp and Discovery Ltd (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) | |
| 17 |
Corporate Social Responsibility (Part 1): An overview of Corporate Social Responsibility, particularly to identify ‘stakeholders’ and the CSR actions that would generally be appropriate under CSR Learning Outcomes: Understand who might be considered stakeholders in a business and the scope of company actions under Corporate Social Responsibility to mitigate adverse effects on company stakeholders (CK2) |
Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Debate: On Philanthropy, CSR and CSV Case Analysis (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: PowerPoint Presentation taken from Management and Organisational Behaviour, by Laurie Mullens and Gill Christy, 10th Edition 2013 Pearson (Publishers), Chapter 17: pages 659-692 |
| 18 |
Corporate Social Responsibility (Part 2) (Kahoot Quiz or Google Forms Quiz) Learning Outcomes: Clearly distinguish between the actions of companies under CSR with the business strategies of creating shared value (CK2) |
Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Quiz on CSR and the Differences between CSR, philanthropy and CSV (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz |
| 19 |
The Social Progress Imperative Part 1: An overview of the Social Progress Imperative, including the presentation overheads (in this folder) and the TED Talk documentaries: ‘The global goals we’ve made progress on — and the ones we haven’t’ Michael Green Reading: Class notes plus in-depth reading of the information provided at www.socialprogress.org Learning Outcomes: Relate social progress to economic growth and demonstrate a full understanding of the relationship between economic growth and improvements in social progress (CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz In class presentation and discussion of the Social Progress Index and the way that we measure social progress in relation to GDP (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading & Previewing: ‘What the Social Progress Index Can Reveal About Your Country’ Michael Green |
| 20 |
The Social Progress Imperative (Part 2) An overview of the Social Progress Imperative, including the presentation overheads (in this folder) and the TED Talk documentaries: ‘What the Social Progress Index Can Reveal About Your Country’ Michael Green ‘The global goals we’ve made progress on — and the ones we haven’t’ Michael Green Reading: Class notes plus in-depth reading of the information provided at www.socialprogress.org Learning Outcomes: Apply the principles, and demonstrate examples of social progress to the business objectives and strategies in the case studies and more widely in local and international businesses in Cambodia (CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz In class presentation and discussion of the Social Progress Index and the way that we measure social progress in relation to GDP (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) |
| 21 |
Setting the Assignment Students to interview a company which has stated values of contributing to social needs as part of their business Learning Outcomes: Locate a company that is potentially following a shared value strategy and is prepared to be interviewed, and assess the extent that the company is following a shared value strategy, and prepare a case study of the company following the guidelines set out in the structured interview and questionnaire (CIP1) |
Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Assignment instructions through the Course Specifications, and the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) |
| 22 |
Case Study: Yara International Norway Africa Strategy, (2018): A Norwegian fertiliser company which has joined forces with many private sector, NGO and public sector organisations, including the government, to develop the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) Learning Outcomes: Apply the principles of shared value at the cluster level and determine the value created for both companies and for the SAGCoT Region of collaboration in the development of infrastructure, education and regulations in the agricultural sector (CK1, CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Yara Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Yara International: Africa Strategy (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 23 |
Case Study: Becton Dickinson: Global Health Strategy (2018): A company with a long-standing commitment to creating shared value by advancing global health Learning Outcomes: Assess the shared value created for medical products (focusing on the Odon Device), and how this value can be assessed if the financial returns to the company are considered marginal (CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Beckton Dickinson Case Study and answer questions in class, or lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Beckton Dickinson: Global Health Strategy (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 24 |
Case Study: CVS Health: Redefining the Value Proposition: A successful US-wide pharmacy chain which has introduced a wide range of community health care issues to complement the services provided by the state healthcare system Course Learning Outcomes: Evaluate the decision of CVS Health to become a health company rather than a straightforward pharmacy and general store, and identify the shared value created for both CVS Health and the communities it serves (CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the CVS Health Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: CVS Health: Redefining the Value Proposition |
| 25 |
Case Study: Nestle’s Creating Shared Value Strategy: The long-term commitment for Nestle to move from a mainly confectionery company to a global health and nutrition company Learning Outcomes: Evaluate and assess the strategy of Nestle to become a health a nutrition company focusing on the shared value that it creates, particularly with consumers in Africa and coffee farmers in Central and South America (CC1, CC2, CCIT1) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Nestle Creating Shared Value Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Nestle’s Creating Shared Value Strategy (Harvard Business School Case Study – Module 2 Theme 2: Nestle’s Level 1 and Level 2 CSV Strategy) |
| 26 |
Case Study: ENEL – The Future of Energy: The former state-owned monopoly supplying electricity to Italian households and industry, and its fundamental change in direction to focus on renewable energy Learning Outcomes: Determine how the decision of Enel to become a leading edge provider of clean energy has created new areas of business opportunity, and determine how this has created shared value with is customers and communities (CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the ENEL – The Future of Energy Case Study and answer questions in class, or lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Enel: The Future of Energy (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 27 |
Case Study: Social Business at Novartis: Arogyar Parivar (Family Without Illness): The Swiss Pharmaceutical Company’s long-term strategy to break into the Indian rural village market, building its strategy on the basis of cells of health educators promoting health issues in Indian villages Learning Outcomes: Examine and assess the costs and benefits of the Arogyar Parivar (Healthy Families) strategy in India, Kenya and Vietnam and analyse how the programme might have to evolve in order to meet both the commercial and societal shared value objectives (CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Novartis Case Study and answer questions in class, lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Social Business at Novartis: Arogyar Parivar (Harvard Business School Case Study |
| 28 |
Case Study: Dow – Breakthrough in World Challenges (BTWC): The chemical giant and its strategy to champion products which are both commercially profitable with sustainable demand and which meet a global challenge Learning Outcomes: Evaluate the extent to which the BTWC strategy is a shared value strategy, and assess the scope for shared value initiatives in a multinational industrial chemicals company such as Dow (CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Students read the Dow – Breakthrough in World Challenges Case Study and answer questions in class, or lecturer presents the Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) Reading: Dow: Breakthrough in World Challenges (Harvard Business School Case Study) |
| 29 |
Group Case Study Presentations: Session (1-of 2): The presentations are the output of the student groups’ assignments Learning Outcomes: Apply the principles of shared value to the company interviewed, evaluate the nature and extent of shared value created for the company and for the communities it serves, and present an assessment of the sustainability as a shared value business (CC1, CC2) |
Group Presentations Maximum 3 groups (30 minutes each) to present their case study in class (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz) |
| 30 |
Final Exam Revision (Part 2) and closing Learning Outcomes: Understand, evaluate and apply the shared value, CSR and Social Progress concepts to the case studies and local companies studied during the course (CC1, CC2) |
Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Revision exercises: Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz Reading: Class handouts |
| 31 |
FINAL EXAMINATION Based on the Kahoot and Google Forms Quizzes Multiple Choice Questions on the Concepts of Creating Shared Values, the 8 Case Studies that students are presenting, Corporate Social Responsibility and the Social Progress Imperative Learning Outcomes: Interpret the shared value, commercial and CSR issues as they apply to the case studies, and interpret the impact that these have on the businesses communities and societies studied during the course (CC1, CC2) |
Open-ended and Multiple Choice Questions on the Concepts of Creating Shared Values, and the case studies |
This course is based on case studies made available by Harvard Business School ‘Creating Shared Value’ Course. These are supported by journal articles on Corporate Philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility and Creating Shared Value. These are listed below.
Core Textbooks
Harvard Business School Case Studies for Creating Shared Values
Additional References
The following are journal articles by Harvard Business School, which are specifically used for the Creating Shared Value Course.
Textbooks and Additional Reading
The textbooks and articles below are for wider reading on business ethics issues.