Reimagining the Global Corporation: Embracing Sustainability

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Contemporary corporate CEOs are facing stiff social, political, and market headwinds to rethink the core purpose and values of their corporations. It’s no longer sufficient to simply ensure year-on-year profitability. Shareholder value is no longer the sole indicator of good performance. Corporations are increasingly expected to demonstrate their broader value to society and to the common good. They are expected to broadly embrace environmental, social, and governance principles and incorporate them into the core fabric of their business. They are expected to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders and be held to ever-higher, more diverse standards of accountability. Why is this happening? What is driving it? How is it changing the core identity, purpose, and values of global corporations? How is it changing the overall corporate structure and performance? How is it changing the relationship between companies, shareholders, clients, consumers, and broader civil society? How is it changing the performance metrics that companies must present to investors and diverse stakeholders? These are the central questions we will grapple with in this class. These are broad and complex questions. We will delve into the core dynamics driving this change process, so you can see the connections between what is happening in the boardroom and how it affects the factory floor and global supply chains. Our goal is to expose you to dramatic tectonic changes underway that are redefining the role of the CEO and global business, but are not presented in the popular press. The course will focus in sequence on: 1) evolving corporate ethics and norms; 2) corporate systems and structure; and 3) key management challenges, analytical metrics, and frameworks.