| Module Title |
Building Sustainable Organisations |
| Module Code |
MNA1122 |
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Faculty |
DCU Business School |
School |
DCU Business School |
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NFQ level |
9 |
Credit Rating |
5 |
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Description
The aim of Building Sustainable Organisations is to provide students with an introduction to the principles of building sustainable, responsible and resilient organisations. To achieve this, the module explores several core concepts, including the UN SDGs, Sustainability and climate Risks, Corporate Social Responsibility, Greenwashing, Circular Economy, Crisis Management and Business Continuity Management.
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Learning Outcomes
1. Comprehend the principles behind building sustainable organisations. This includes an in-depth knowledge of the UN SDGs, the relationship between sustainability and climate risks, and the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in modern business practices.
2. Critically assess and evaluate the authenticity of organisational sustainability practices, recognising potential instances of greenwashing.
3. Discuss the importance of crisis management and business continuity in building resilient and sustainable practices in an organisation.
4. Appreciate the role that business ethics has from the perspective of the individual, and the leader, within an organisation
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| Workload | Full time hours per semester | | Type | Hours | Description |
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| Lecture | 24 | No Description | | Directed learning | 4 | Pre-Class Activities | | Independent Study | 36 | No Description | | Assignment Completion | 45 | No Description | | Online activity | 16 | 4-week online course: ‘Business Ethics: An Introduction to Ethics for Business Leaders’ |
| Total Workload: 125 |
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| Section Breakdown | | CRN | 11116 | Part of Term | Semester 1 & 2 | | Coursework | 100% | Examination Weight | 0% | | Grade Scale | 40PASS | Pass Both Elements | N | | Resit Category | RC1 | Best Mark | N | | Module Co-ordinator | Gavin Brown | Module Teacher | Priya Ambilkar |
| | Section Breakdown | | CRN | 21231 | Part of Term | Semester 2 | | Coursework | 100% | Examination Weight | 0% | | Grade Scale | 40PASS | Pass Both Elements | N | | Resit Category | RC1 | Best Mark | N | | Module Co-ordinator | Gavin Brown | Module Teacher | Priya Ambilkar |
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| Assessment Breakdown |
| Type | Description | % of total | Assessment Date |
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| Project | Students will prepare a case study analysing the application of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) within an organisation of their choice. The case study must demonstrate clear engagement with the theories, models, and frameworks introduced in class, applying them critically to the chosen organisation. Students should examine how the organisation approaches crisis management and business continuity in building resilience and sustainable practices, while also using sustainability and CSR frameworks from the module to evaluate the authenticity of its sustainability initiatives and consider the potential for greenwashing. The work should further demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the principles of building sustainable organisations by linking the UN SDGs to climate risks, Corporate Social Responsibility, and the wider sustainability agenda. Students are expected to support their analysis with relevant academic literature alongside at least one organisational source such as a sustainability or annual report. | 65% | Sem 2 End | | Completion of online activity | Pass/Fail - ethics micro-credential | 10% | Sem 2 End | | Reflective journal | Students will produce a short reflective video that captures their personal learning journey throughout the module.
The video should demonstrate thoughtful engagement with the key themes, theories, and practices discussed in class, and reflect on how these have shaped their understanding of sustainability, resilience, and organisational practice. Students are encouraged to consider how their perspectives on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), etc., have developed over the course of the module.
The reflection should also connect the learning to their own academic, professional, or personal context, identifying areas where they may apply these insights in the future. | 15% | Sem 2 End | | Loop Quiz | Throughout the module, students will complete a series of short online "Loop Quizzes" linked to the day’s lecture and seminar content. Each quiz will consist of a small number of questions designed to test understanding of key theories, concepts, and frameworks introduced during class.
Quizzes are low-stakes, each weighted at 2–3%, with a cumulative maximum of 10% of the overall module grade. Students will only achieve the full 10% by completing all quizzes correctly. The quizzes are designed to:
Reinforce learning and encourage active recall of material.
Provide immediate feedback to help students identify areas for further study.
Support preparation for the final summative assessment by embedding knowledge throughout the module.
This continuous assessment ensures consistent engagement with the course material and rewards students for keeping up with weekly learning. | 10% | n/a |
| Reassessment Requirement Type |
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment
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Pre-requisite |
None
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Co-requisite |
None |
| Compatibles |
None |
| Incompatibles |
None |
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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
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
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Indicative Reading List
Books:
- Archie B. Carroll, Jill Brown: 2022, Business & Society: Ethics, Sustainability & Stakeholder Management, 11, Cengage,
- Tracy Dathe , René Dathe , Isabel Dathe , Marc Helmold: 2022, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability and Environmental Social Governance (ESG),
- Raz Godelnik: 2021, Rethinking Corporate Sustainability in the Era of Climate Crisis,
- Peter A. Stanwick and Sarah D. Stanwick: 2020, Corporate Sustainability Leadership,
- Dominic Elliott, Ethne Swartz, and Brahim Herbane.: 2010, Business continuity management : a crisis management approach,
Articles:
None |
Other Resources
None |
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