strategic sustainability management for businesses and...

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StrategicSustainabilityManagementforBusinessesandProductsCourseSyllabus

APS1038H,UniversityofToronto,Fall2016Session

CourseDescription:Thiscross-disciplinarygraduatecourseprovidesaholisticoverviewoftheenvironmental,social,economicandgovernance(ESEG)aspectsofstrategicsustainabilitymanagementforbusinessesandproducts.Youwillhavetheopportunitytolearnaboutavarietyofindustrysector,businessandproductsustainabilitychallengesalongwithcollaborativesolutionsappliedandresultsachieved.Youwillgainabroad,cross-functional,cross-disciplinaryperspectivethatwillprepareyoutoleadandfacilitatesustainabilitymanagementprograms.Theimportanceofintegratingstrategicsustainabilitymanagementintotheinterconnectednetworkofsystemsthatmakeupthebusiness-to-businessvaluechainwillbediscussed.Thevalueofmanagingsustainabilityimpactsthroughoutthefulllifecycleofproductswillalsobeaddressed.Internationallyrecognizedframeworks,bestpractices,methodologiesandtoolsbasedonISOstandardswillbeintroducedasvehiclesforpracticalapplicationofsolutionsthatsupportleadershipinsustainabilityperformanceimprovement.

WhoThisCourseIsFor:Thiscourseisforgraduateengineeringstudentswhowishtogainabroaderanddeeperunderstandingofbusinessandproductstrategicsustainabilitymanagementfrommultiplestakeholderperspectivesthatmakeupthebusiness-to-businessvaluechain.Thiscourseisforyou---ifyouaspiretobeasustainabilitychangeagentwithinindustry,whobelievesthatbusinessescanandshouldbeathrivingforceforgoodintheworld.Youseektounderstand,facilitateandinfluencehowstakeholderscancollaboratetoleadthedevelopmentandimplementationoftransformativesustainabilitymanagementsystemsandprograms.

Courseprerequisites:Priorexperienceintheworkforceorbusiness/entrepreneurship,familiaritywithenvironmentalmanagementsystemsandbasicconceptsofeconomic,environmentalandsocialsustainabilityisadvised.ProficiencyintheEnglishlanguageisrecommendedasaprerequisitetomaximizebenefitfrominteractiveclassdiscussions.

CourseObjectives/LearningOutcomes:Attheendofthiscourse,youwillbeableto:• Understandthedrivers,risks,challengesandopportunitiesassociatedwithaddressing

sustainabilitymanagementchallenges.• Applytheguidingprinciplesandvaluesthatareafoundationforaholisticmindsetthat

guidesaneffectivesustainabilityvision,strategyandimplementationplans.

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• Navigatecommonandconflictingneeds,perspectivesandinterestsofmultiplestakeholdergroups,cross-sector,cross-disciplinary,cross-functionalandindustry-specificperspectives.

• Identifythefactorsindevelopingacrediblebusinesscaseforcommonsustainabilitymanagementapproaches.

• Promotestrategicbenefitsofintegratingandengagingthebusinessvaluechainfromsuppliersthroughtoendcustomersforachievingandcommunicatingbreakthroughsustainabilityoutcomes.

• Linksystemsthinkingandlifecyclethinkingtocorebusinessstrategyanddecision-makingusingproductlifecycleassessmentbasedoninternationalISOstandards.

CourseDurationandFormat:12weeks:

• Weeklylecture/classdiscussions-Tuesdays3-4pm(BA2135)• Weeklylecture/classdiscussions-Thursdays3-5pm(BA2135)• Pleasenotethattherewillbenoin-classsessionsduringtheweekofOctober3-7,

classeswillresumethefollowingweek• 1-2guestexperts-TBA

Weeks1-5-Module1:BusinessSustainabilityManagementWeeks6-9-Module2:ProductSustainabilityManagementWeek10-PreparatorygroupdiscussionsforfinalprojectsWeek11-12-In-classprojectpresentations,discussionandpeerfeedback

WhatWillBeCoveredinthisCourseKeystrategicsustainabilitymanagementapproacheswillbeintroducedfromthebusinessvaluechaincontext,illustratingtheimportanceofasystemsperspectiveandproductlifecyclethinking.Module1–BusinessSustainabilityManagement

Week1:WhySustainabilityMatters• StateoftheWorld• SustainabilityPillars(Environmental,Social,Economic,Governance)Week2:IntegratingSustainabilityintoBusiness• RedefiningCapitalism• SystemsThinkingforSustainability• ValueChainperspectiveWeek3:StrategicSustainabilityManagement• BeyondCorporateSocialResponsibility• SustainabilityStrategyandPlanning• StakeholderEngagement

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Week4:IntegratedSustainabilityManagement• SustainabilityPerformanceManagement• ContinuousImprovement• IntegratedSustainabilityManagementSystemsWeek5:SustainabilityReporting• SustainabilityReportingFrameworks• MaterialityAssessment• ReviewofBusinessSustainabilityManagement

Module2–ProductSustainabilityManagement

Week6:ProductLifeCycleManagement• LifeCycleThinking• LifeCycleAssessment• LifeCycleCostingWeek7:SustainabilityManagementApproaches• Eco-businessandEnvironmentalManagement• LeanManufacturing• SocialSustainabilityManagementWeek8:ProductSustainabilityFrameworksandTools• SustainableProcurement• SupplyChainSustainability• ProductStewardshipWeek9:Environmentalclaimsandmarketing• EnvironmentalClaims,LabelsandDeclarations• EnvironmentalMarketing• ReviewofProductSustainabilityManagement

Week10:ProjectworksessionsWeeks11-12:ProjectpresentationsandgroupdiscussionsCourseMaterials:Coursematerialsandreadingswillincludeindustryexamples,excerptsfromtextbooksandotherbooks,webinars,documentaryfilms,articlesfromjournals,newsandbusinessmediaandconsensusstandards.MostofthismaterialwillbereadilyavailableonlineorpostedonBlackboard.Librarycoursereserveswillbemadeavailableforthecourse.Coursereadings

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relatedtoeachweek’stopicswillbeassignedand,attimes,maybeannouncedtosupportthedirectionofdiscussionsinclass.

Pleaserespectthecopyrightprotectionofthecasestudies,readingsandotheritemsprovided.Pleasedonotdistributecopyrightedmaterialsinanyformandreferencethemappropriatelyinyourwork.

CourseAssessment:Assignment1(20%ofcoursegrade,3-pagereport-DueendofWeek5)Assignment1willconsistofresearchandashortreportrelatedtothelecturecontentonthesubjectareaofintegratingstrategicsustainabilitymanagementintothebusiness-to-businessvaluechain.Theassignmentwillfocusondivingdeeperintosustainabilitytopicsthatimpactabusinesswithinanindustryofyourchoice.Pleasedonotmerelysummarizethecontentofthelectures,butdemonstratehowbusinesssustainabilityconcepts,frameworksandtoolshavebeenintegratedintothevaluechainandappliedinpractice.

Assignment2(20%ofcoursegrade,3-pagereport-DueendofWeek9)Assignment2willconsistofresearchandashortreportrelatedtothelecturecontentofthesubjectareaofintegratingproductlifecyclemanagement.Theassignmentwillfocusondivingdeeperintosustainabilitytopicsrelatedtosustainabilitymanagementofproductsfromalifecyclethinkingperspective.Pleasedonotmerelysummarizethecontentofthelectures,butdemonstratehowproductlifecyclemanagementconcepts,frameworksandtoolshavebeenappliedinpractice.

GroupProject(40%ofcoursegrade,3parts)Youwillbeworkinginsmallteamsonaprojectfocusedonanexistingcross-disciplinaryorcross-sectorstrategicsustainabilitymanagementchallengewithinaproductmanufacturingindustrysector.Pleaseselectatopicthatwillallowyourteamtodemonstratetheapplicationofmultiplebusinessandproductsustainabilitymanagementapproachesfromamulti-stakeholderperspective.Theprojectmustbepre-approvedbasedonasuccessfulprojectproposalthatwillbesharedwiththeclass.Eachteamwillpresenttheprojectresultstotheclassinthefinaltwoweeksoftheterm.Itismandatorytoattendallprojectcasestudypresentationsandtoparticipateininteractivediscussions,toenhancepeer-to-peerlearning.Youwillsubmitafinalprojectreportsummarizingthesustainabilityinitiativeorchallenge,objectives,stakeholderanalysis,collaborativesolutionsapplied,methodology,toolsandresourcesused,resultsandconclusions.Thebreakdownofgradingfortheprojectisasfollows:1. ProjectProposal:2pages,20%-DueendofWeek72. ProjectPresentation:10-15minutes+classdiscussion5minutes,30%-tobescheduled

inWeeks11and123. ProjectReport:5-6pages,50%-DueendofWeek12

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In-classparticipation:(20%)Themajorityofthefoundationallecturematerialwillbepresentedin-class.Somelecturesmaybedeliveredbywebcastorwebinarduringclasstimesoncertainweeks,TBA.Theweeklylecturematerialandselectedcoursereadingswillsubsequentlybediscussedinclass.Pleasestrivetoattendallin-classsessionsandparticipateinclassdiscussionseachweek.Repeatedabsencesduringscheduledin-classtimeswillnotworkforthiscourse.Mandatoryandoptionalweeklycoursereadingswillrequire2-4hoursoftimeoutsideofclasseachweek.Extractthekeyinformation,describethecross-cuttingchallenges,issuesandinsightsandmakenotesforsharingandcriticaldiscussioninclassandbycommentingonline.Youwillberequiredtoparticipateingroupdiscussions,breakoutsessions,debates,casestudyreviewandotherfacilitateddiscussionsinclass.Youwillalsobegradedonthefrequencyandqualityofyouronlineparticipationinthecoursediscussionforum.1. Participateinweeklyclassdiscussions,Q&Aonmandatoryassignedreadings:40%2. Commentonlineon2ormoreoptionalcoursereadings/materialseachweek:30%3. Shareyourwork,commentandinitiaterelevantdiscussionsincourseforum:15%4. Contributetoclassdiscussionsonfinalprojectpresentationsbypeers:15%

InstructorBioJabeenQuadir,P.Eng.hasover30yearsofexperienceinstrategic,managementandtechnicalpositionswithvariousorganizationsindiverseindustrysectors,including:industrialchemicals,advancedmanufacturing,pulpandpaper,plasticsinjectionmouldingsystems,constructionstandardsdevelopmentandsustainabilityofbusinesses,buildingsandproducts.AsfounderofSustainabilityEdgeSolutions,sheisactiveinthedevelopmentofnational,NorthAmericanandinternationalstandardsforsustainabilityintheconstructionsector,greenbuildingratingsystems,aswellasfacilitatingprogramsforsustainableprocurementandenvironmentalclaimsbasedonproductlifecycleassessment.Ms.Quadirispassionateaboutbuildingthecapacityofsustainabilitychampionsandteamstofacilitatetheadoptionofstrategicsustainabilitymanagementprinciples,practices,processes,technologiesandproductsthatencompassenvironmental,economicandsocioculturalaspects,basedonsystemsthinkingandafoundationofsoundlifecycleconsiderations.

Ms.Quadirisalsoconsultsfororganizationsfacingdisruptivetechnological,socialandbusinessmodelchangeusingtheexponentialorganizationsmethodology.

SheisalicensedprofessionalengineerwithaB.A.Sc.inChemicalEngineeringfromtheUniversityofWaterloo.

ContactInformation:Jabeen.quadir@utoronto.ca(416)230-7946