Strategic Management and Sustainability in the Digital Age

In today's interconnected and rapidly evolving world, the integration of sustainability, strategy, and digital technologies has become imperative for organizations aiming to thrive in the 21st century. This seminar provides a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic relationship between sustainability, strategy, and the digital age, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complex challenges and leverage emerging opportunities in this transformative landscape.

The seminar delves into the core principles, frameworks, and best practices that underpin sustainability, strategy, and digital transformation. Students will critically analyze the role of sustainability in driving strategic decision-making, examine how digital technologies impact business models, and explore innovative approaches for achieving sustainable competitive advantage.

This seminar will be held in English, meaning that coursework, presentations and papers can be submitted in English only.

The seminar covers a range of interconnected topics, including:

1. The Role of Digital Platforms in Advancing Sustainability: Examining how digital platforms can facilitate sustainable practices, such as sharing economy models, collaborative consumption, and peer-to-peer networks
2. Shared Value: Exploring and Critically Assessing Porter and Kramer's Conceptual Framework
3. Corporate Digital Responsibility: Concept, Critical Analysis and Practical Examples
4. The Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Strategic Decision Making
5. The strategic role of M&A for the transition to sustainable business models

By the end of the seminar, students will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of sustainability, strategy, and digital technologies. They will be equipped with the critical thinking skills and strategic mindset required to effectively navigate the complexities of managing sustainability initiatives in the digital era. Moreover, they will gain insights into leveraging digital technologies to drive sustainable practices, foster innovation, and create long-term value for organizations and society.

All sessions will be held in person. The course description contains all the relevant information on the seminar. Please read it carefully! There you will find all the seminar appointments and a list of introductory literature for each of the topics mentioned above.

Please note: Students are required to give a presentation (as a group) and write a paper (individually) to earn credit points. The seminar is thus organized as follows: On October 14th, 2024, 10:15 am, the seminar will start with a kick off meeting (in person!), where students will be briefed on the overall subject of the seminar. On this occasion, students will also be introduced to the five different topics of the seminar, which will be allocated to students according to their preferences. The final allocation will take place in the second meeting on October 21st, 2024, 10:15 am. During this meeting, we will also give advice on general expectations on giving a presentation, writing a paper as well as on the formal requirements for drafting an academic paper.

After the kick-off meetings, students start writing their papers and work together in groups to prepare a group presentation of their topic. During this phase students are supported by a tutor and can receive feedback in order to prepare the group presentations.

The group presentations will take place on December 09th and December 16th 2024, as well as January 6th, January 13th and January 20th 2025. All members of a group have to participate in the group presentation.

Important: For didactic reasons, all participants are expected to attend these appointments in person, as there will be dedicated feedback and discussion groups for each topic, and the practical insights are relevant for the written papers. Additionally, active participation in courses offered by the Chair of Business Ethics is beneficial for writing a thesis, as we prefer to supervise students who have attended our classes.

Introductory literature will be provided following the topic allocation.

The grade is comprised as follows:
50% paper (10-12 pages), 50% group presentation and discussion of findings.