Module: Sustainability and Strategic Consultancy A

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).

As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Sustainability and Strategic Consultancy A
Module Code	MT5811A (ITS) / MNA1167 (Banner)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinator	Yuhui Gao
Module Teachers	John Loonam
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

Amidst increasingly complex challenges such as the global pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical conflicts, organisations are operating in an uncharted environment. Embedding sustainability has become an integral part of doing business. Semester I seeks to provide participants with deep insights into the expectations, opportunities, and risks associated with sustainability initiatives, and explore various approaches to initiating, designing, evaluating, and communicating sustainability strategies. Participants will learn about various marketing communication and storytelling techniques to deliver credible, powerful and impactful sustainability messages. In semester II, the module will focus on applying lessons learned. Specifically, in preparation for year two, where consulting teams will work with a client organisation on a real-life strategy project, participants in year one are introduced to the principles of management consulting and the foundations of research methods. Participants will also explore prospective client organisations that are interested in collaborating on a sustainability-focused Strategy Project.

Learning Outcomes

1. Enhance knowledge and understanding of the range and depth of sustainability and appreciate the important role of corporate purpose;
2. Critically assess the organisation’s current sustainability practices and design a sustainability agenda for the organization;
3. Understand corporate sustainability reporting regulations and ESG reporting frameworks;
4. Using various tools and storytelling techniques to effectively communicate the sustainability agenda with key stakeholders;
5. Critically analyse the nature and characteristics of Strategy Consulting in resolving organisational issues in a local, national and global context;
6. Enhance research method knowledge for case-specific qualitative inquiry

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	48	Participation in asynchronous, aynchronous and face to face lectures
Independent Study	100	Reflecting on application of module content to Sustainable-centric Strategy Projects
Professional Practice	22	On site Research & Client Engagement
Assignment Completion	60	Study and synthesis of course materials and additional readings for delivery of Group Report and individual assignments
Group work	20	Preparation for Group Presentation & Feedback
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Theme 1: Becoming a purpose-led business
Overview of concepts such as sustainability, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR); why corporate purpose matters; materiality analysis; identify the most pressing sustainability issues for a business and explore how these issues create risks and opportunities for business today and how they may evolve in the future; explore business cases for sustainability or ESG practices. Activities: Define corporate purpose; explore how it inspires and motivates customers, investors, governments, civil society, suppliers and communities to support and contribute to the company’s success and the positive impact on people and planet envisaged by the purpose; guest speaker.

Theme 2: Designing credible and comprehensive sustainability strategy
The important role of sustainability strategy in creating business resilience; sustainability strategy ideation, prioritization and refinement. Activities: HBR simulation; sustainability agenda brainstorming; guest speaker

Theme 3: Putting words into actions (Operationalising sustainability)
Detailed plans, change programmes and ongoing examination of different aspects of the business and its value chain to find ways to improve social, environmental and economic performance. Activities: peer-evaluation; guest speaker

Theme 4: Reporting and governance
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD); ESG reporting requirements; data management and measurement challenges Activities: video demos; case studies; guest speaker

Theme 5: Storytelling for sustainability
Storytelling methods and techniques; sustainability communication; the risk of green-washing Activities: storytelling competition; successful marketing campaign case studies; industry judging panel.

Theme 6: Introducing Strategic Management Consulting
Introducing Strategy and Consulting. Participants will explore the history of management consulting and its evolution within work organisations. A particular focus will be placed on consulting within strategic transformation initatives. Activities: Video and case study scenarios

Theme 7: Exploring Strategy Projects
Advancing the conversation on management consulting, participants will reflect on organisation-wide strategy projects that would advance sustainable initiatives Activities: Guest Speaker

Theme 8: Research Methods
Introduce qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis with particular emphasis on the action research methodology (which will be used throughout year two) Activities: Client Engagement

Theme 9: Towards Strategic & Sustainable Projects
Groups will prioritise strategy projects and liaise with propsective clients to deliver a final presentation and report. Activities: Peer-Evaluation

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Exhibition Evaluation	Poster & Media Output	50%	Sem 1 End
Presentation	Presentation and written report	50%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 2

Indicative Reading List

Bhattacharya, C. B.: 2020, Small Actions, Big Difference: Leveraging corporate sustainability to drive business and societal value, 1st, Routledge, New York,
Saunders, M. N. K; Lewis, P.; Thornhill, A.: 2023, Research Methods for Business Students, 9th, Pearson Publications, New York,
Coghlan, D.: 2019, Doing action research in your own organization, 5th, Sage, London,

Other Resources

63985, Affixed to Course Outline in term, 0,

Semester 1 lecturer: Yuhui Gao Semester 2 lecturer: John Loonam