Duration
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy : 18h Th
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game : 12h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy : Nathalie Crutzen
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game : Virginie Xhauflair
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
English 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
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
This course constitutes Part A (3 ECTS) of an integrated 5-ECTS sustainability course. Part B (2 ECTS) - ChocoMission is common to students enrolled in TECH2002, FINA9030 and GEST7106 and provides an integrative serious-game experience in which students mobilise knowledge, concepts and tools acquired in Part A.
The general objective of these sessions is to analyze why and how do organizations report for sustainability and to illustrate that it would require to measure their sustainability performance.
This course proposes an introduction to and opens discussions (via lectures, readings, videos, etc.) about sustainability reporting and metrics (What? Challenges? Critical perspectives? Examples?).
For example, this course:
- Frames sustainability in both global and corporate contexts
- Describes sustainability reporting standards/frameworks
- Shows how to fulfill sustainability reporting requirements (e.g. double materiality assessment, stakeholders management, etc.)
- Underlines the link between sustainability reporting and metrics
- Discusses both operational and strategic challenges to report and measure for sustainability
- Critically analyzes how these changes would require an adaptation or modifications of management to support a company's sustainability performance management.
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
ChocoMission is an immersive serious game focused on the sustainable transformation of business models.
Working in teams and taking on complementary management roles, students collectively lead a Belgian chocolate company through a sustainability transition. They make strategic decisions related to corporate purpose, governance, financing and cocoa sourcing, while considering their economic, social and environmental consequences.
ChocoMission constitutes Part B (2 ECTS) of an integrated 5-ECTS sustainability course. Part A (3 ECTS) consists of one of three thematic courses: TECH2002, FINA9030 or GEST7106.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge and skills to:
- Discuss key challenges and frameworks related to sustainability, sustainability reporting and sustainability measurement
- Analyze and debate the importance of performance management in sustainability implementation
- Consider and understand the complexity of sustainability reporting standards and related requirements
- Critically analyze business sustainability reports
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
At the end of ChocoMission, students will be able to:
- analyse complex business decisions from a systemic sustainability perspective;
- identify and navigate trade-offs between economic, social and environmental objectives;
- mobilise sustainability concepts and tools to support management decisions;
- develop and justify collective decisions under uncertainty;
- critically reflect on decisions, their consequences and the decision-making process.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Basic knowledge in all the fields of management (finance, marketing, HRM, supply chain management, marketing, strategy, etc.) and strategic management tools.
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
ChocoMission is Part B (2 ECTS) of a 5-ECTS sustainability course.
Part A (3 ECTS) consists of one of the following thematic courses:
- TECH2002
- FINA9030
- GEST7106
Both Part A and Part B are compulsory and must be passed independently with a minimum grade of 10/20. There is no compensation between the two partims.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Interactive pedagogical approach based on several teaching methods :
- Academic lectures (including illustrative videos and examples)
- Conferences with guest speakers
- Pre- and complementary readings
- Practical sessions during which students will (by groups) work on business sustainability reports
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
ChocoMission combines a team-based serious game with individual and collective reflective activities.
Students:
- explore multimedia and documentary resources;
- complete individual and team activities;
- negotiate and make strategic decisions in teams;
- respond to situations affecting their business model;
- participate in collective post-game reflection and debriefing;
- complete an individual post-game questionnaire;
- prepare a reflective team report.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Blended learning
Further information:
- Face-to-face lectures, conferences, practical sessions
- Distance learning (readings, videos)
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
Face-to-face course
Further information:
ChocoMission is delivered in person and played in teams using a dedicated digital interface.
The learning experience combines resource exploration, role play, individual and collective decision-making, negotiation and reflective activities.
Participation in all activities identified as compulsory is required.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- LOL@
Further information:
Information about recommended and required readings will be presented during the lectures.
The slides and relevant documents will be posted on Lol@ but students are expected to take notes during the lectures, presentations and conferences.
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Written work / report
Further information:
Articulation with Part B - ChocoMission
This course constitutes Part A (3 ECTS) of an integrated 5-ECTS sustainability course. Part B (2 ECTS) - ChocoMission is common to students enrolled in TECH2002, FINA9030 and GEST7106 and provides an integrative serious-game experience in which students mobilise knowledge, concepts and tools acquired in Part A.
Both Part A and Part B are compulsory and must be passed independently with a minimum grade of 10/20. There is no compensation between the two partims. When both partims are passed, the final grade is calculated as follows: Part A: 60%; Part B: 40%.
An absence preventing assessment of either partim results in an overall Absent status for the course for the corresponding examination session.
A grade of 10/20 or above obtained for either partim in the first examination session is retained for the second session. Carry-over of a successfully completed partim from one academic year to the next must be requested by the student from the professor responsible for that partim and approved by that professor.
The learning activities, assessment arrangements and organizational requirements specific to Part B are described in the ChocoMission course description. Assessment arrangements specific to Part A are described below.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Other : See details below
Further information:
First session:
- Out of session: active preparation and participation to the course (30% of the final grade)
- In-session: in-person written exam (MCQ) at the end of the course (70% of the final grade)
- in-person written exam (MCQ; 100% of the final grade)
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
Written work / report
Other : Simulation integrated assessment
Further information:
Part B - ChocoMission
Assessment of ChocoMission is based on:
- participation in all compulsory game and debriefing activities;
- completion of the individual post-game questionnaire;
- submission of the team report;
- the quality of the analysis and reflection demonstrated in the report and post-game activities.
A minimum grade of 10/20 reflects satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes. Higher grades reflect the quality and depth of the analysis, the ability to identify trade-offs and interdependencies, the appropriate mobilization of sustainability concepts, and active and reflective engagement in the debriefing activities.
Articulation with Part A and final grade
Both partims must be passed independently:
- Part A (3 ECTS): minimum 10/20
- Part B - ChocoMission (2 ECTS): minimum 10/20
When both partims are passed, the final grade for the 5-ECTS course is calculated as follows:
- Part A: 60%
- Part B: 40%
Second examination session
A grade of 10/20 or above obtained for either partim in the first examination session is retained for the second session. Students only retake the partim that they failed or for which they could not be assessed.
For Part B, a ChocoMission game session is organised during the second examination session. Students participate in the game and debriefing activities in teams, as in the first session.
However, assessment is more individualised: students complete the individual post-game questionnaire and submit an individual reflective and analytical report, instead of the team report required in the first session. The report requires students to critically analyse the decisions and trade-offs encountered during ChocoMission and explicitly connect them with relevant concepts and tools from their sustainability course.
The minimum passing grade remains 10/20.
Carry-over between academic years
A Part A or Part B grade of 10/20 or above may be retained from one academic year to the next. Such carry-over is not automatic: students must request it from the professor responsible for the relevant partim, and the request must be approved by that professor.
Students whose carry-over has been approved are only required to complete the partim that has not yet been passed.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Official language: English.
The attendance to the course is compulsory.
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
The schedule of ChocoMission activities will be available on CELCAT.
Several time slots will be displayed on CELCAT. Students will be required to register for the specific ChocoMission sessions they will attend among the available time slots. Detailed registration instructions, team allocation, practical information and assessment deadlines will be communicated on Lola in due time, before the ChocoMission sessions.
Registration for the required sessions and participation in all compulsory game and debriefing activities are required.
Students are responsible for completing the individual questionnaire and submitting the required report within the communicated deadlines.
Contacts
Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
Prof. Nathalie Crutzen :
Assistant: Julien Chouak (Julien.Chouak@uliege.be)
Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game
Professor Virginie Xhauflair v.xhauflair@uliege.be
in collaboration with HEC Liège SLab
Bruno Gemenne bruno.gemenne@uliege.be
Teaching Assistants
- Yasmin Tabit
- Isaline Thirion