Core Module Information
Module title: Business Strategy and Sustainable Development

SCQF level: 10:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10

Module code: SOE10103
Module leader: Miles Weaver
School The Business School
Subject area group: Management
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

Description of module content:

The module will address sustainability issues in the context of increasing pressure on companies to be seen to be acting responsibly in relation to their social and environmental impacts; but also the increasing realisation, by businesses, that embedding sustainability into strategies can strengthen their competitive position, and increase profitability. The module content, therefore, covers the key factors in a changing business environment, such as increasing populations, (meeting) resource depletion, food shortages (and higher prices), climate change, and discusses the multinational government initiatives to address these issues. Then, the module turns to the formulation and implementation of ‘sustainable strategies by businesses, focussing on theoretical frameworks by Laszlo, Porter and Kramer, and Prahalad (see Reading List).

Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: understand the concept of sustainable development.

LO2: appraise the key sustainability issues, and to assess the impact on business organisations.

LO3: assess the processes by which businesses can embed ‘sustainable development’ in their strategies.

LO4: evaluate how engagement with sustainability can be beneficial to businesses in terms of creating competitive advantage.

LO5: assess the role of corporate social and environmental reporting (‘social accounting’) in contributing to the attainment of sustainability goals.

Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2025/6, Trimester 2, In Person,
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: In Person
Location of delivery: CRAIGLOCKHAR
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Miles Weaver
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Online Guided independent study 161.5 Guided independent study in preparation for assessments and classes.
Face To Face Lecture 22 Lectures are used to introduce key frameworks/theories and provide distilled analysis of the areas overall.
Face To Face Tutorial 16.5 Tutoriasl are opportunities to discuss and analyse case studies of sustainability strategy of businesses.
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Oral Presentation 20 1~2~3~4 Week 6 HOURS= 15 minutes A group presentation focused on analysing sustainability reports of businesses.
Report 30 1~2~3~4 Week 10 , WORDS= 2500 words A case study analysis of a business's sustainability strategy and its wider social impact.
Centrally Time Tabled Examination 50 1~2~3~4~5 Exam Period HOURS= 2 hours Essay based centrally time tabled examination covering themes from the module.
Component 1 subtotal: 50
Component 2 subtotal: 50
Module subtotal: 100
2025/6, Trimester 2, In Person,
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 002
Primary mode of delivery: In Person
Location of delivery: CRAIGLOCKHAR
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Miles Weaver
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Face To Face Lecture 22 Lectures are used to introduce key frameworks/theories and provide distilled analysis of the areas overall.
Face To Face Tutorial 16.5 Tutoriasl are opportunities to discuss and analyse case studies of sustainability strategy of businesses.
Online Guided independent study 161.5 Guided independent study in preparation for assessments and classes.
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Oral Presentation 20 1~2~3~4 Week 6 HOURS= 15 minutes A group presentation focused on analysing sustainability reports of businesses.
Report 30 1~2~3~4 Week 10 , WORDS= 2500 words A case study analysis of a business's sustainability strategy and its wider social impact.
Centrally Time Tabled Examination 50 1~2~3~4~5 Exam Period HOURS= 2 hours Essay based centrally time tabled examination covering themes from the module.
Component 1 subtotal: 50
Component 2 subtotal: 50
Module subtotal: 100