Responsible Management

Learning Objectives

People at the beginning of the 21st century face a series of major challenges. These are shaped by disruptive technologies, social and geopolitical upheavals, globalization, and massive environmental problems. Companies and their managers play an important role in both exacerbating and overcoming these challenges. Continuing as before—business as usual—is, at the very least, questionable; it appears that new, more responsible approaches to management are needed. Based on approaches from moral philosophy, business and economic theories, and case studies, (1) students will gain an awareness of the most significant challenges in management and learn about approaches to responsible management. Upon completion of this course, students will (2) be able to make normatively sound decisions and (3) apply general concepts of strategic management in the context of responsible management. In addition, they will be familiar with (4) the relevant sustainability standards and their respective areas of application. They will be familiar with the theoretical arguments and the current state of research on the topic of responsible management.

Contents

The module covers key concepts of strategic management and its transformation into responsible management, including in particular

a) Conceptual Foundations—Management and Responsibility

b) corporate governance in competitive systems

c) the strategic management process

d) Shareholder management versus stakeholder management

e) Environmental and resource analysis

f) Value chain analysis (development of globally distributed value creation structures)

g) Strategic management in the transformation process

h) Strategic control

i) Business Strategy and Corporate Strategy

j) Case studies on the individual topic areas

k) Overview of sustainability laws and codes of conduct.