MBA 736 Master Syllabus

MBA 736: Environmentally Sustainable Business Models and Strategies Master Syllabus

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Required Course Materials: Background materials uploaded on the course’s website and case study course pack.
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Course Description

From closing the loop of their supply chains to facilitating the sharing of their products among customers or in some cases even stopping selling their products, many companies have been reinventing themselves by radically transforming their business models and how they deliver value for the customer. Voluntary or not (i.e., due to external regulations), this transformation has been accompanied by organizations increasingly re-evaluating how they create business value along not only economic, but also social, and environmental dimensions. This is also evidenced by the fact that in recent years companies have started making ambitious pledges regarding minimizing their environmental footprint. This activity has been part of a broader movement towards a Circular Economy with the objective of “…decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system” (see Ellen McArthur Foundation). It has been estimated that the economic value behind the circular economy concepts can be as high as a trillion dollars.

This course explores the dynamic interaction between operations, business strategies, and the environment. Through the analysis of case studies and participation in simulations, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of this interplay and explore how organizations can thrive by contributing positively to society and the environment. The overarching objective of the course is to empower students with fundamental skills and confidence to make the “business case for sustainability.”

Some of the topics that the course covers are:

Carbon offsets
Circular Economy and Closing the Loop
Corporate Environmental Programs
Green Innovation, Product, and Market Development
Greenwashing
Innovative Business Models for Sustainability
Life-Cycle Analysis, Eco-Efficiency, and Eco-Effectiveness
Quantitative Modeling of Environmental Initiatives
Strategic Responses to Environmental Regulation
Supply Chain Sustainability and Responsibility

Prerequisites

It is assumed that each student is familiar with Excel.

Program Learning Goals

Goals addressed in this course are in bold:

Teaming and Leading: Demonstrate the team leadership and interpersonal skills needed to form, lead, and work effectively on diverse organizational teams.
Knowledge of Functional Business Disciplines: Demonstrate knowledge of all core functional areas of business and an ability to integrate them into a meaningful firm-level perspective.
Analytical Decision Making: Demonstrate the ability to analyze uncertain complex managerial situations using appropriate tools, techniques, and information systems for decision-making.
Communication: Demonstrate written, oral, and presentation skills necessary to explain problems and solutions effectively and persuasively.
Ethics and Responsibility: Demonstrate knowledge of ethical decision-making considerations, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability practices.
Global Awareness: Identify relevant economic, political, and social factors that impact business conducted both within and across national boundaries.

Specific Course Objectives

Develop an understanding of the tradeoffs between profitability and environmental sustainability and frameworks to address them.
Identify how environmental issues may present not only risks but also opportunities for organizations.
Develop a holistic understanding of organizations’ environmental impact extending across the entire value chain.
Select the most appropriate strategy to gain a competitive (economic and environmental) advantage.
Quantify the economic and environmental impact of operational and/or strategic initiatives.
Propose business solutions in written and verbal form for problems confronting managers.

Class Procedure

The majority of the course relies on interactive, open-ended case discussions conducted in class. Prior to each session, it is essential to thoroughly review all assigned cases and readings. Refer to the questions provided on the course website and arrive prepared for the discussion. Approach the case studies as if they were consulting projects, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative skills. Students are highly encouraged to leverage their existing background, knowledge, and experiences.

Individual Assignments

There are three individual assignments. The questions can be found on the course’s website. One of the assignments is based on an in-class simulation and the other two are based on assigned case studies. Please refer to the course’s website for further instructions and guidelines.

Class Participation

As this is a class centered around case studies, its success hinges on the caliber of participation. I anticipate active engagement from all class members, requiring attendance, preparation, and active discussion of assigned cases or materials. Full participation is also anticipated in any activities or games. While I may employ cold calls regularly, it is a general expectation for students to proactively engage and contribute without waiting to be prompted.

Experiential Learning-Group Project

One of the goals of the course is to prompt students to thoroughly assess the environmental impact of companies and, importantly, to assert how companies can attain success by actively contributing to societal and environmental well-being. The applied project aims to give students the chance to quantify both the environmental and economic benefits that a company may accrue from a potential initiative, or an opportunity identified by the students themselves. To facilitate this process, students will engage with companies that have agreed to participate in the course; further details about these companies will be disclosed during our initial session.

This project also provides an opportunity for students to customize the course according to their unique interests. Instead of collaborating with the participating companies, students may choose between two alternatives: i) conducting a cross-industry analysis or ii) performing an environmental strategy analysis of a specific business model. Additional information on these project types is accessible on the course’s website.

You are strongly encouraged to use a group contract before you start working on your project. Please reach out to the MBA Program at mba@gmu.edu to request a contract template if you do not already have one.

Questions and Making Appointments

All students are encouraged to bring questions, concerns, and comments to my attention as soon as they arise. Please do not wait! Once final grades are submitted, changes to grades will only be made to correct errors in tallying scores. In addition, there is a feedback section on the course’s website under the Discussion Board that allows anonymous comments to encourage your feedback. You should always feel free to reach out to coordinate a meeting time. You also use the booking hyperlink I have posted on the course’s website to access my calendar and directly make an appointment with me.

Grading

The course grade will be out of 1000 points. The breakdown is as follows. Your total point score out of 1000 determines your final letter grade. There will be no extra credit or make-up work.

	Points	Percentage
Individual Assignments (3)
Class Participation
Project
Total	1000	100%

Grading Scale: A = 90-100; B = 80-89.99; C = 65-79.99; F = below 65 (no rounding; +/- system may be used)

Grade Appeals

All students are encouraged to bring questions, concerns, and comments to my attention as soon as they arise. Please do not wait! Appeals or corrections to grades on any assignment need to be made formally and in writing within one week of the graded deliverable being returned. A decision will be communicated in written form and the written decision is what counts, not any verbal communication. Once final grades are submitted, changes to grades will only be made to correct errors in tallying scores. In addition, there is a feedback section on the course’s website under the Discussion Board that allows anonymous (or not) comments to encourage your feedback.

A Note on Team Grades and Free Ridership

All team members will get the same grade on each of the team assignments unless at least two people in the team decide to change to a peer performance appraisal system. Under such a system, members will rate one another’s contribution to the team assignment, and individual grades will be adjusted (both upward and downward) based on these ratings. If you decide to go with the peer performance appraisal system, prepare a document to that effect signed by at least two members of your team to be submitted with the team assignment, and I will contact you for your evaluation of your fellow team members’ contributions. You cannot decide to do a peer performance appraisal after you receive your grade. You must tell me and hand in the document with the signatures of the majority of the team on the due date.

Late Submissions

Late submissions within 24 hours of the assignment’s due date will incur a penalty of 1% per each hour past the deadline. Submissions that are outside the 24-hour window will not be accepted/graded.

Schedule (Subject to Change)

Class	Topic	Due	Reading
1	Introduction to the Renewable Resources Simulation	Welcome survey (due before class) Project preferences survey (due after class)	Background materials (see Week 1 online) Fishbanks introduction and slides
2	Simulation Debrief Sustainability Strategy & Regulation	Individual assignment #1 (due before class) Project proposal (due before class)	Background materials (see Week 2 online) Case study #1
3	Eco-efficiency Eco-effectiveness	Individual assignment #2 (due before class)	Background materials (see Week 3 online) Case study #2 Case study #3
4	Marketing Sustainability and Project Update	Individual assignment #3 (due before class) Project update (short ppt in-class)	Background materials (see Week 4 online) Case study #4
5	Sustainable Supply Chains I Guest Speaker #1		Background materials (see Week 5 online) Case study #5 Case study #6
6	Sustainable Supply Chains II Guest Speaker #2		Background materials (see Week 6 online) Case study #7 Case study #8
7	Sustainable business models Guest Speaker #3		Background materials (see Week 7 online) Case study #9 Case study #10
8	Project presentations	Project report (short ppt in-class) Project presentation (in-class)

Inclement Weather and Campus Emergencies

Information regarding weather-related changes in the University’s schedule (e.g., closing or late opening) will be provided on the George Mason University website and via MasonAlert. Students can sign up for the Mason Alert system and learn about emergency procedures at the Mason Ready website. An emergency poster exists in each classroom explaining what to do in the event of crises and further information about emergency procedures exists at the Mason Ready website. If the campus closes, or if a class meeting needs to be canceled or adjusted due to weather or other concerns, students will be provided with a Zoom or MS Teams link for virtual (sync) instruction.

Costello College of Business Standards of Behavior

The mission of the Costello College of Business at George Mason University is to create and deliver 5 high-quality educational programs and research. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni who participate in these educational programs contribute to the well-being of society. High-quality educational programs require an environment of trust and mutual respect, free expression and inquiry, and a commitment to truth, excellence, and lifelong learning. Students, program participants, faculty, staff, and alumni accept these principles when they join the Costello College of Business community. In doing so, they agree to abide by the following standards of behavior:

Respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others
Honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community
Accountability for personal behavior

Integrity is an essential ingredient of a successful learning community. Ethical standards of behavior help promote a safe and productive community environment, and ensure every member the opportunity to pursue excellence. The Costello College of Business can and should be a living model of these behavioral standards. To this end, community members have a personal responsibility to integrate these standards into every aspect of their experience at the Costello College of Business. Through our personal commitment to these Community Standards of Behavior, we can create an environment in which all can achieve their full potential.

Academic Integrity

By choosing to take this course, you agree to uphold the George Mason University Honor Code. Please refer to the Office of Academic Integrity for further details.

George Mason University Honor Code: To promote a stronger sense of mutual responsibility, respect, trust, and fairness among all members of the George Mason University community and with the desire for greater academic and personal achievement, we, the student members of the University Community have set forth this: Student members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal, and/or lie in matters related to academic work. In your work on all written assignments, keep in mind that you may not present as your own the words, work, or the opinions of someone else without proper acknowledgement. You also may not borrow the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of material, or the pattern of thought of someone else without proper acknowledgement.

Some kinds of participation in online study sites violate the Mason Honor code: these include accessing exam or quiz questions for this class; accessing exam, quiz, or assignment answers for this class; uploading of any of the instructor’s materials or exams; and uploading any of your own answers or finished work. Always consult with me before using these sites.

Any use of Generative-AI tools should follow the fundamental principles of the Honor Code. This includes being honest about the use of these tools for submitted work and including citations when using the work of others, whether individual people or Generative-AI.

The Costello College of Business Recommendations for Honor Code Violations can be found here.

Attendance

It is expected that each student be prepared for class including having prepared assigned material. In addition, it is expected that each student is in attendance at each class session. Missing classes and tardiness will negatively affect your class participation grade. Let the instructor and your case study teammates know in advance, should you have to miss a class.

Disability

Disability Services at George Mason University is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students by upholding the laws that ensure equal treatment of people with disabilities. If you are seeking accommodations for this class, please first visit the Disability Services website. for detailed information about the Disability Services registration process. Then please discuss your approved accommodations with me. Accommodation requests should be completed during the first week of the module.

Business Library Liaison Information

Kayla Gourlay, Business and Economics Liaison Librarian, Fenwick Library Fairfax Campus: University Libraries Business Info Guides website

Communications

All communications from me to you will be directed via e-mail or course announcements. I will address all of my e-mails and replies ONLY to your @gmu.edu e-mail address for concerns of privacy and confidentiality. If you use another e-mail account as your primary e-mail, please be sure to forward your @gmu.edu e-mail to that account.

Religion

Students who will miss class for religious reasons should inform the instructor of their anticipated absences during the first two weeks of the semester. Please review the University’s policy for class absences due to religious observances here: AP.1 Registration and Attendance.

Counseling Center

George Mason University has a counseling center that can assist if you find yourself overwhelmed by life, want training in academic or life skills, or the like. More information is available at the Counseling and Psychological Services website.

Sexual Misconduct and Interpersonal Violence

George Mason University is committed to providing a learning, living, and working environment that is free from discrimination and a campus that is free of sexual misconduct and other acts of interpersonal violence in order to promote community well-being and student success. All incidents of sexual misconduct will be reported to the University Title IX Coordinator ((703) 993-8730 or email titleix@gmu.edu). As a faculty member, I am designated as a “Non-Confidential Employee,” and must report all disclosures of sexual assault, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, complicity, and retaliation to Mason’s Title IX Coordinator per University Policy 1202.

If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact one of Mason’s confidential resources, such as the Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) at (703) 993-3686 or Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at (703) 993-2380. You may also seek assistance or support measures from Mason’s Title IX Coordinator by calling (703) 993-8730 or emailing titleix@gmu.edu.

Writing Guidelines

Writing guidelines are provided in the description of each assignment on the course’s website. To cite and reference professional or academic sources, please use APA style. Specific instructions for in-text citations and referencing are found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th Edition.

George Mason University has a writing center that can help you improve your English writing skills. More information is available at The Writing Center website.

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