Content

In this seminar, students get acquainted with various tools that may support decision-making for multi-facetted sustainability performance. After a theoretical introduction on some instruments including data envelopment analysis (DEA), decision-tree methodology, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and system dynamics modelling, the students will gain in-depth practical experience by working with one selected tool. In the sense of a project seminar, the students successively develop a system dynamics model for addressing a specific problem in the field of sustainability management, and then report and reflect on model-building procedure and findings.

 

Goals and objectives

  • Get acquainted to decision support tools that are applicable for problems in the realm of sustainability management
  • Get in-depth insights and gain first experience in building a system dynamics model
  • Reflect on the assets and limitations of various decision support tools
  • Gain experience in working in a team, in how to make decisions in a group and how to manage time and resources

This course focusses on a critical approach to sustainable operations and supply chain management, exploring inherent paradoxes and unintended consequences.
Every cause has an effect: Seemingly positive sustainable activities can cause further (un)intended positive or negative outcomes. It is a matter of considering and anticipating these potential tensions or unintended consequences in order to manage and potentially avert them.
During this seminar, we will go into more detail on sustainability paradoxes and unintended consequences and apply this knowledge to contexts of sustainable operations, sustainable supply chain management and Circular Economy.
Circular Economy is a highly evolving and promoted topic within the realm of sustainability management and supply chain management, which we will further explore within the course of this seminar.



Content

This seminar investigates current cutting-edge topics in the field of Sustainability Management. A blended learning format featuring a mix of lecturer’s input with large parts of autonomous group work gives the students the opportunity to explore in an in-depth way the subjects of corporate sustainability reporting, modern slavery in business, circular economy, and stakeholder management. Various group presentations stir discussions and allow for giving and receiving feedback. The seminar deepens existing theoretical knowledge through its application to empirical phenomena and cases.

 

Goals and objectives

Deepen your theoretical knowledge in the field of sustainability management

Apply theories for exploring empirical phenomena and cases and thus gain new insights

Prepare (group) presentations and reflect on different aspects of corporate sustainability reporting, modern slavery in business, circular economy, and stakeholder management through discussions within the group and with the class

If applicable, gain experience in working in a team, in how to make decisions in a group and how to manage time and resources