Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Course description
The economic and financial crisis, the growing inequality and the prospects of climate change are arguing for a fundamental change in the economic system. Through their activities and the choices they make, some enterprises are more directly inspiring for this transition. They fit totally in the perspective of sustainable development when they feature, sometimes as a priority, the social and environmental concerns in their economic objectives. This is usually expressed in their interactions with their stakeholders (employees, suppliers, consumers, financiers, civil society, etc..) This course provides students with a reading for their critical analysis of firm behavior vis- à-vis its main stakeholders. It also gives a good introduction to new inspiring business practices experimented in social and sustainable enteprirses.
Content
1 - Systemic crisis and transition
- Triple crisis
- Sustainable development
- Transition management
- Definition
- Diversity of the business world
- CSR, externalities, stakeholders
- Social enterprises
- Regulation, multinational firms, NGOs
- Public production, privatisation, liberalisation, nonmarket sector
- Solvent demand and exclusion
- Asymetry of information and trust goods
- Collaborative economy
- Revenues, property and power
- Financing-mix and sustainable development goals
- Socially responsible investment
- Evolution of work forms
- Self-management
- Links between Economic activity and environmental degradation
- Circular economy
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course , students will be specifically able to :
- Develop a critical reflection on our current production modes
- Translate sustainable development into concrete terms of relations between the company and its stakeholders
- Evaluate the potential for innovation and the risks of social and sustainable models
These specific learning outcomes reinforce the following generic learning outcomes of our bachelor program in Economics and Management Sciences. Indeed, this course will help students to:
- identify the political, societal and economic context of a complex situation and to identify the legal constraints that apply to it
- understand the societal, economic, political and environmental issues of a complex situation
- take a holistic approach when analyzing a complex management problem
- demonstrate critical thinking, curiosity and scientific rigor at university level
- take a critical and ethical look at their managerial practices.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
- Students must have completed an introductory course in economics and, if possible , in microeconomics and public economics
- Students must be able to express themselves in French or English and must be able to read fluently French and English.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Learning activities include
- Conceptual and theoretical presentations by the teacher (powerpoint)
- Readings and discussion in class
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The theoretical course is organized into two parts. The first part recalls the theoretical raison d'être of the entreprises and justify the great diversity that exists in this field (private, public, SMEs, large companies, multinationals, with profit or social purposes) . This part also describes the conceptual and theoretical foundations of sustainable development and transition. The second part is devoted to the analysis of relationships between enterprises and their key stakeholders. The analysis is illustrated by cases discussed in class.
Recommended or required readings
- A bibliography containing books and reference articles will be suggested for each topic. These documents will be made available (Lol@).
Assessment methods and criteria
The overall assessment will combine two elements:
- Writigs of short essays in preparation of course sessions (20%)
- A written examination to assess the ability of students to enrich his argument with presentations of the course and further reading (80%).
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
This course takes place every Monday 4pm-6pm, from february to may (HEC - room to be confirmed). 1st course : Feb 3
Contacts
Sybille Mertens Cera Chair- Center for Social Economy HEC-Management School - University of Liège - B33/box 4 - 4000 Liège Tel : + 32(0) 4 366 27 51 - smertens@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
Next sessions (20/4, 27/4 et 4/5) are replaced by videos (ppt + oral comments) available from l23/4, 30/4 and 6/5.
Assessment subjects
Assessment methods
1. The 4 assignments will form the basis of the final evaluation.The score (average mark of 4 assignments) will be communicated to students before May 11.
2. If the student is satisfied with this score, he validates it and keeps it as the final score.
3. If the student wishes to improve this score (whether or not he/she has failed for the assignments), the student does not validate the score and registers to make a 5th assignment called "Supplementary Essay" (see instructions on lol @) for June 5, 2020. Two scenarios are then possible:
- If the score obtained for this supp. essay is higher than the average score of the 4 assignments , then the overall score will be an average between the previous score and the supp. Essay score. Example: the student obtained 10/20 for the assignments and 16/20 for the supp. essay, he will obtain a final score of 13/20.
- If the score obtained for this supp. essay is lower than the average score of the 4 assignments , then he/she keeps the score of the assignments as final score. Example: the student obtained 10/20 for the assignments and 8/20 for the supp. essay, he will obtain a final score of 10/20.
4. In principle, the modalities for the second session (September) are unchanged (written exam counting for 100% of the overall score)
Contacts
smertens@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session
Assessment subjects
Students will find on the lol @ platform a comprehensive list of questions. They must be able to answer to thise questions during the written exam. The questions put in "gray" indicate the subjects on which the students will not be questioned.
Assessment methods
The exam will be a written exam ( counting for 100% of the overall score) and will be organized via the lol @ platform.
Contacts
smertens@uliege.be