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
This course explores the different ways in which companies and managers can respond to the economic, social, environmental and ethical challenges they face.
Building on a review of the systemic challenges of the Anthropocene and how they translate into companies, sectors and value chains, the course examines different approaches to responsible management, based on different conceptions of corporate responsibility, performance and sustainability.
Particular attention is paid to the practical implications of these approaches for managers and to the main levers and instruments available to implement them: governance and business models, standards, labels and certifications, compliance and corruption prevention, due diligence, etc.
The course also aims to develop students' ability to analyse complex managerial situations, identify the tensions and trade-offs they involve, and make reasoned decisions, notably by drawing on different ethical perspectives.
It provides a bridge between the second-year Bachelor course devoted to the challenges of the Anthropocene and Master-level courses focusing more specifically on transition strategies and instruments.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify and compare different approaches to responsible management, explaining their underlying conceptions of corporate responsibility, performance and sustainability.
- Analyse the managerial implications of these approaches and identify the main levers and instruments available to implement them.
- Analyse a complex managerial situation by identifying responsibility or sustainability issues, the stakeholders concerned, and the tensions or trade-offs involved.
- Apply different ethical perspectives to shed light on a situation and compare different possible lines of reasoning.
- Formulate and justify a responsible managerial decision, taking into account the context, constraints, consequences for different stakeholders, and the trade-offs involved.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
- MOOC ULiège Durabilité et Transition (Bac 1)
- L'entreprise face aux défis de l'Anthropocène (Bac 2)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course adopts a teaching approach that combines knowledge acquisition, analysis and experiential learning. Sessions notably include:
- targeted theoretical and conceptual input, together with reviews of knowledge acquired in previous years;
- case studies, simulations and role-playing exercises;
- testimonials from practitioners integrated into the different course topics;
- the analysis of real managerial situations, enabling students to confront different points of view and practise responsible decision-making.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
The course is organised into 10 three-hour sessions, taught in person.
Sessions combine theoretical input with practical application through case studies, role-playing exercises, group activities, debates and contributions from practitioners.
Active participation in face-to-face sessions is required.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- LOL@
Further information:
Course materials, recommended readings, and case studies will be available on the online platform.
Exam(s) in session
May-June exam session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
August-September exam session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Further information:
1st session:
The assessment consists of three components:
- Quality of the case prepared in pairs: 20%
- Participation and engagement in the course: 20%
- Individual exam: 60%
Participation and engagement are assessed on the basis of active involvement in the activities organised during the course, including case studies, role-playing exercises, group activities, debates and discussions with guest speakers.
The individual exam assesses the student's ability to apply the concepts and analytical frameworks covered in the course to analyse a complex managerial situation and formulate a reasoned decision.
The exam format depends on the number of students enrolled:
- < 15 students: individual oral exam, based on the case prepared
- > 15 students : individual written exam, based on the case prepared
2nd Session
In the 2nd session, the individual exam accounts for 100% of the final grade. Grades obtained in the first session for the quality of the case and for participation and engagement in the course are not taken into account.
Students are not required to prepare a case in advance. The exam is based on a case provided by the instructors and assesses the student's ability to analyse a new situation by applying the responsible management approaches, ethical perspectives and other concepts studied in the course, and to formulate and defend a reasoned managerial decision.
The exam format depends on the number of students taking the second-session exam:
- < 15 students: individual oral exam
- > 15 students : individual written exam
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Instructions relating to the preparatory work and assessment are presented at the beginning of the course. Activities carried out during the semester provide progressive preparation for the analysis of complex situations and the final assessment.
This course takes place during 2nd quadrimester, every Thursday from 9 am till 12, from 4th of February 2027.
Contacts
Prof. Virginie Xhauflair, Centre d'Economie Sociale - HEC Ecole de gestion de l'ULiège - v.xhauflair@uliege.be
Co-instructor: Antoine Huberland, Antoine.Huberland@uliege.be
Teaching assistant: Margaux Père, Margaux.Pere@uliege.be