2020-2021 / GEST6002-1

Social enterprises and sustainable business models: organisation and management methods

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in management (120 ECTS)5 crédits  
 Master in population and development studies (120 ECTS)6 crédits  
 Master in labour sciences (120 ECTS)6 crédits  
 Master in labour sciences (60 ECTS)6 crédits  
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculté des Sciences sociales)6 crédits  
 Master in communication (120 ECTS)5 crédits  

Lecturer

Sybille Mertens de Wilmars

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

  • Course description
The current crisis requires a change in our economic system. The fight against climate change, protection of biodiversity, regulating the global financial system, preservation of social cohesion, the eradication of poverty and the fight against socio-economic inequalities are few emblematic examples of the challenges we collectively face. Among the various proposed paths, some academics advocate for « rethinking the firm ». This option goes for greater public regulation requirement applied to the world of business to CSR initiatives firms undertake on a voluntary basis. Some companies go further in the strong internalization of social or environmental concerns.  They build their business model around these objectives. Beyond the speeches, it is important to study these economic models to understand the rationality and critically analyze their potential but also the limitations and obstacles they encounter.





  • Content
Part 1 - Conceptual and theoretical background
1 - Introduction - capitalist firms failures
2 - Social and sustainable enterprises
3 - Financing Mix and Financing Social and Sustainable enterprises
4 - Governance of Social and Sustainable entreprises
5 - Business Models et social and sustainable enterprises features
6 - International insights

Part II - Applications
5 - Inclusive Models
6 - Sharing Economy Models
7 - Circular Economy Models
8 - Citizen Economy Models

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, students will have been specifically brought to:


  • Understand the economic rationality of sustainable business models
  • Understand the challenges of new sustainable business models (inclusive models, collaborative models, circular models, citizen models)
These learning outcomes are part of the generic LO of the Master in Management Sciences of HEC since they help the student to:


  • Establish a strategy (from a sustainable perspective)
  • Translate the strategy operationally and think about its implementation
  • Implement performance monitoring in a holistic approach
  • Communicate effectively on the business project
  • Adapt its managerial practices to a constantly changing world, developing both its entrepreneurial spirit and its ability to understand economic, social and environmental issues
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

  • 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
  • Case studies prepared in the classroom
  • Corporate visits and meetings with social entrepreneurs
Non compulsory learning sessions on financial budgeting for social business plans

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

The course is mainly face-to-face. Students will also be invited to prepare sessions by home working.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Recommended or required readings

The course will use the virtual interface Lol @, on which will be mailed:

  • PowerPoint presentations of the various sessions,
  • A bibliography containing books and reference articles will be suggested for each topic
  • the cases presented by the students.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

oral exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred remote


Additional information:

The overall assessment will combine three elements:




  • An oral open-book exam (60%) 
  • Group assignment (20%)
  • Continuous assessment (30%)
In second session, the evaluation consists only in an open book oral exam.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course takes place in the second term, Thursday afternoon at N1 rue Louvrex .

Contacts

Sybille Mertens Center for Social Economy HEC-Management School - University of Liège - B33/box 4 - 4000 Liège Tel : + 32(0) 4 366 28 85- smertens@uliege.be