BUSINESS ETHICS (MGMT 311)

OVERVIEW

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.

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION
  • ROLE IN CURRICULUM
  • LEARNING OUTCOMES
  • STUDY PLAN
  • TEACHING METHODS
  • ASSESSMENT AND GRADING
  • TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course begins with a thorough overview of CSV Concepts to show how businesses can be involved in addressing social needs, and how this might be done (including CSV at Level 1, 2 and 3). A case study focusing on ethical behaviour in practice, British American Tobacco selling cigarettes in Africa, provides a reference point for the ethics of business practices. This is followed three major case studies (Intercorp, Discovery and Walmart) which are covered and assessed in detail to show how some large and well known businesses have found that addressing social needs, and how this has been entirely consistent with profit objectives and has opened up new opportunities and markets based on on addressing social needs that had previously been underserved. Two further frameworks are discussed in detail during the course. Firstly, CSR and Philanthropy, which along with CSV provide the spectrum of methods that companies have used to contribute to social needs. Secondly, the Social Progress Index is assessed in detail to provide a framework for identifying social needs and assessing the progress of countries worldwide in addressing these social needs.
Further case studies are introduced during the course either as a detailed analysis or at overview level. These include both international and more local case studies focusing on usually smaller scale Cambodian and/or ASEAN examples. The students’ assignment involves the students working in groups to identify local, or international companies which have stated an intention to address social needs as a core part of their business so that students can assess these companies under the same CSV framework. Some of these examples are further developed into case studies which can be used for future teaching in the course. A further case study, the Aberfan disaster, South Wales (1966) is shown as an early example where little responsibility was taken to avert a mining disaster, and which has served as an example of the need for responsible behaviour since that time. It is also used to compare the region as it was at the time of the disaster with how it has prospered today. All in all, the course provides a comprehensive framework under which to determine the role that business can play in society, and in particular to demonstrate that Creating Shared Value is a legitimate and well proven strategy. The case studies, examples and the student assignment are all used to provide examples either to show how CSV can work or to compare with other forms of ethical and less ethical strategies.

The quizzes and assignments focus on requiring the students to consider all the commercial and ethical issues involved and gain an understanding of the context of creating shared value. Group work and online interaction to focus on these issues are integral to the course and the student group assignment is an opportunity for students to gain an understanding based on real life interviews with companies in Cambodia. Students are required to reflect carefully and profoundly on ethical issues. By the end of the course, they are expected to internalise key principles of creating shared value and the wider issues of ethical and professional behaviour as well as being able to understand how creating shared value requires a strongly commercial approach and recognition of underserved social needs that create opportunities for sustainable competitive advantage.

Credits: 2
Lecture Hours: 45

Self-Study Hours: 

  • Reading: 40 (80 pages of case study reading)      
  • Review: 30 (Concepts, 3-4 long case studies, 3-5 shorter cases studies)
  • Assignment: 20 (research, company interviews and writing the analysis)
    90

Total Study Hours: 135

ROLE IN CURRICULUM

Prerequisite

Students must have finished Principles of Management before attempting this course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1 Knowledge

Level of Learning PLO CLO Learning Outcome
Understand PK2, PK4 CK1 Explain and show cases where ethical and unethical practices in business impact the wider community
Understand PK2, PK4 CK2 Explain the conceptual framework involved in Creating Shared Value

2  Cognitive Skills

Level of Learning PLO CLO Learning Outcome
Evaluate PK2 PK4 PC5 CC1 Assess successful Creating Shared Value strategies both their impact on the business and the wider impact on the social needs being addressed.
Evaluate PK2 PK4 PC5 CC2 Assess the extent to which Creating Shared Value is consistent with Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy.
Apply PK2 PK4 PC5 CC3 Apply the framework and principles used in the Social Progress Index (and other relevant indices) to identify appropriate social needs that companies might address.

3  Communication, Information Technology, and Numerical Skills

Level of Learning PLO CLO Learning Outcome
Apply PK2 PK4 PC5 PCIT4 CCIT1 Use a case study to discuss how business solutions can contribute to social needs, and associated ethical issues in business.

4   Interpersonal Skills and Responsibilities

Level of Learning PLO CLO Learning Outcome
Evaluate PIP1 PIP2 PIP3 CIP1 Determine the Creating Shared Value approach with the same degree of professionalism.

STUDY PLAN

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 Reading: Introductory presentation of course 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)
2 Opening Case Study: The Question of Ethics in Business: Reading / Previewing: British American Tobacco in Africa Documentary 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, CC3) 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)
3 Creating Shared Value Concepts: Reading: “Creating Shared Value: Competitive Advantage Through Social Impact”: Prof Michael Porter and Mark Kramer (12th December 2018) Learning Outcomes: Understand and interpret the conceptual framework applied and contrast the traditional frameworks of ethical behaviour with the shared value framework (CK1, CK2) 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)
4 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, CK2) Multiple Choice Questions on the Concepts of Creating Shared Value (Google Forms Quiz)
5 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) Reading: Intercorp: Peru (Harvard Business School Case Study) Learning Outcomes: Contrast the approach of Intercorp with conventional perceptions of targeting customer segments and demonstrate how shared value is created (CK2, CC1, CC2) Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Lecturer presents Intercorp Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz)
6 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) Reading: Intercorp: Peru (Harvard Business School Case Study) 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 (CK2, CC1, CC2) Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz Lecturer presents Intercorp Case Study as PowerPoint slides (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz)
7 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) Multiple Choice Questions on the Intercorp Case Study (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz)
8 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. Reading: Discovery Limited (South Africa) Harvard Business School Case Study 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 (CK2, CC1, CC2) 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)
9 Case Study: Discovery Limited, South Africa (2018) Part 2: Building competitive advantage in the Health & Life Insurance Sector by encouraging healthy lifestyle changes. Reading: Discovery Limited (South Africa) Harvard Business School Case Study 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  (CK2, CC1, CC2) 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)
10 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 (CK2, CC1, CC2)   Multiple Choice Questions on the Discovery Ltd. (South Africa) Case Study (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz)
11 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 Reading: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape (Harvard Business School Case Study) 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 (CK2, 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)
12 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 Reading: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape (Harvard Business School Case Study) Learning Outcomes: Analyse the benefits of adopting a shared value approach for Walmart and for the communities that Walmart serves (CK2, 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)
13 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 Reading: Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape (Harvard Business School Case Study) 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 (CK2, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) 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)
14 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)   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, CK3, CC1, CC2)   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)
15 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 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 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 (CK1, CK2, CC2) Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Debate: On Philanthropy, CSR and CSV Case Analysis (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz)
16 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 (CK1, CK2, CC3) Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Quiz on CSR and the Differences between CSR, philanthropy and CSV (through the Kahoot/PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz
17 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: Reading & Previewing: ‘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: Relate social progress to economic growth and demonstrate a full  understanding of the relationship between economic growth and improvements in social progress (CK1, CK2, CC3) 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)
18 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 (CK1, CK2) 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)
19 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 (CCIT1, CIP1) Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Assignment instructions through the Course Specifications,  and the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz)
20 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) Reading: Yara International: Africa Strategy (Harvard Business School Case Study) 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 (CK2, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) 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)
21 Case Study: Becton Dickinson: Global Health Strategy (2018): A company with a long-standing commitment to creating shared value by advancing global health Reading: Beckton Dickinson: Global Health Strategy (Harvard Business School Case Study) 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 (CK2, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) 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)
22 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 Reading: CVS Health: Redefining the Value Proposition 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  (CK2, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) 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)
23 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 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) 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 (CK2, 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)
24 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 Reading: Enel: The Future of Energy (Harvard Business School Case Study) 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  (CK2, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) 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)
25 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 Reading: Social Business at Novartis: Arogyar Parivar (Harvard Business School Case Study 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 (CK2, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) 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)
26 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 Reading: Dow: Breakthrough in World Challenges (Harvard Business School Case Study) 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  (CK2, CC1, CC2, CCIT1) 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)
27 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, CC3, CCIT1, CIP1) Group Presentations Maximum 3 groups (30 minutes each) to present their case study in class (through the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz)
28 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 Reading: Class handouts  Learning Outcomes: Understand the underlying causes of the Aberfan disaster and assess the extent to which it was a failure in Corporate Social Responsibility  (CC1, CC2, CCIT1) Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz   Documentary and notes also with the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz
29 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  Reading: Class handouts  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  (CC1, CC2, CCIT1) Lecture; Case Study; Discussion / Quiz   Documentary and notes also with the Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz
30 Final Exam Revision (Part 2) and closing Reading: Class handouts  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, CCIT1) Lecture; Reading; Discussion / Quiz Revision exercises: Kahoot & PowerPoint Interactive Presentation & Quiz
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 (CK1, CK2, CC1, CC2, CC3) Open-ended and  Multiple Choice Questions on the Concepts of Creating Shared Values, and the case studies

TEACHING METHODS

This course covers three main conceptual areas, Creating Shared Value, Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Progress, each of which are covered in detail to the point where students can use these concepts to analyse their impact and recommend policy and actions. Case studies are used to show how ethical issues in business impact society, how social needs are identified, and how shared value can be created. Some of the case studies are assessed in detail and some as an overview. The case studies are both international and local to Cambodia and the ASEAN Region, and range from global corporations to small scale community projects. The case studies are presented in class with interactive quizzes to allow students to understand concepts and to provide them with opportunities to reflect on the issues and their impact, and to put forward their opinions as to the importance and impact of ethical issues, and how creating shared values can apply. Assigned readings are provided to support the learning and to provide additional material to that covered in class. Students are encouraged more and more to read outside of class to augment their understanding and abilities to evaluate concepts and case studies in real life. Student group work is presented in class. The opportunity for individual or group advice is available any time during the semester, and is encouraged.

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

Grades will be determined based on a grading score, calculated using the following assessments and score allocations:

Assessment Weight of each assessment Learning Outcome Assessed
CLO PLO
Participation 20% CK1, CK2, CC1, CC2, CC3, CCIT1, CIP1 PK2, PC5, PCIT4 PIP1, PIP2, PIP3
Assignments 25% CC1, CC2, CC3, CCIT1, CIP1 PK2, PC5, PCIT4 PIP1, PIP2, PIP3
In-class tests 25% CK1, CK2, CC1, CC2, CC3 PK2, PC5, PCIT4
Assignments 15% CC2, CC3, CIP1, CIP2, CCIT1 PCIT1, PCIT 2
Final exam 30% CK1, CK2, CC1, CC2, CC3, CCIT1 PK2, PC5, PCIT4
Total grading score 100%  

Assignment The students will be required to undertake one assignment during the course from either of the following (Assignment 1 or Assignment 2).

Assignment 1 – Case Presentation

Work Group: Group
Output format: APA Format Report, Presentation
Language: English
Assignment: 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
Assignment: 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.

TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES

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

  1. Yara International: Africa Strategy (715402)
  2. Dow: Breakthroughs in World Challenges (715403)
  3. Social Business at Novartis: Arogyar Parivar (715411)
  4. Discovery Limited (715423)
  5. Nestle’s Creating Shared Value Strategy (716422)
  6. CVS Health: Redefining the Value Proposition (717436)
  7. Walmart: Navigating a Changing Retail Landscape (717474)
  8. Enel: The Future of Energy (718414)
  9. Walmart: Segmenting Social Impact (715435)
  10.   Intercorp (718417)
  11.   Beckton Dickenson: Global Health Strategy (718406)
  12.   DBL Partners: Double Bottom Line Venture Capital
  13.   National Australia Bank: Looking Out for the Customer
  14.   Philips Lighting – Light as a Service
  15.   Generation Investment Management

Additional References

The following are journal articles by Harvard Business School, which are specifically used for the Creating Shared Value Course.

  1.   Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. “Philanthropy’s New Agenda: Creating Value.” Harvard Business Review 77, no. 6 (November–December 1999): 121–130.
  2. Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. “Strategy and Society: The Link between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility.” Harvard Business Review 84, no. 12 (December 2006): 78–92.

Education Resources