COURSE NUMBER: MBA 292C.1
This is an Applied Innovation elective and has a co-requisite core course: MBA200P Problem-Finding, Problem Solving. If you enroll and have not completed MBA200P, PFPS will be added to your schedule after the Add/Drop period.
COURSE TITLE: Strategic and Sustainable
Business Solutions
UNITS OF CREDIT: 3
Units
INSTRUCTOR: Robert
Strand
E-MAIL ADDRESS: rstrand@haas.berkeley.edu
CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: http://responsiblebusiness.haas.berkeley.edu/students/courses.html
PREREQUISITE(S): None
CLASS FORMAT: Discussion-based course comprised of lectures,
guest lectures with sustainability experts, student presentations, and in-class
time for teams to work on client consulting projects.
BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: 35% Individual
class participation & contributions, 15% Individual short writing
assignments, 40% Team client deliverables, 10% Individual in-team
contributions.
ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:
As the size and influence of corporations continues to expand, the opportunity
for corporations to have great positive or negative impact upon society grows
as well. In this course we critically
and constructively explore the role of corporations in society. We consider the question “What is the purpose
of the corporation?” through deep explorations into the concepts of
sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and creating shared
value (CSV). These concepts can be
considered as responses to mounting criticisms of corporations as well as
recognition of the incredible opportunities corporations have to create positive
social impact. Through this, we consider
how sustainability, CSR, and CSV can serve as a lens to realize business
opportunities and are central to effective corporate strategy.
Approximately half of this course is dedicated to the
philosophical exploration of business and corporations in society, drawing upon
influential thinkers throughout history including Adam Smith, Milton Friedman
and Michael Porter. The other half is dedicated to the practical and strategic
application of sustainability, CSR, and CSV through team-based student consulting
projects. Industry clients vary by semester with representative companies
including: Aibnb,
Cisco, Goldman Sachs, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft, Nike, and Patagonia. This course fulfills the Applied Innovation
Experiential curriculum (BILD) requirement and utilizes Teams@Haas.
CAREER FIELD: “Mainstream” business practitioners (marketers, financiers,
operations, accountants, etc); sustainability/CSR
practitioners; consultants
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Dr. Robert Strand
is the Executive Director of the Center for Responsible Business and member of
the faculty at the University of California-Berkeley Haas School of
Business. He is also Assistant Professor of Leadership &
Sustainability with the Copenhagen Business School. Prior to joining
academia, Robert spent a decade in industry with IBM and Boston Scientific in a
range of roles in manufacturing, supply chain, marketing, strategy, and
investor relations. With his wife
Sarah, he is the proud parent of two wonderful boys, Mikkel
(3 years) and Jonas (1 year).