SDG233 Sustainable Leadership with Crises Management

Contents and structure

The aim of the course is to educate change agents for better Sustainable Leadership and Crises Management.

This course has two parts.

The first part on Sustainable Leadership program (5 ECTS) is designed to raise awareness for future leaders/leaders and employees in private and public companies of UN SDG goals and challenges on climate, nature, society, and economy. Crises within the triple bottom line - business, environment and society will be discussed - Causes, effects, prevention, and measures. Possible paths for reaching climate reduction, biodiversity and goals for economy and society will be discussed. Anthropocene and risk society are important theories for framing sustainable leadership and crises management.

Central concepts: Competence on SDG, organisation, technology, complexity, discourse, leadership, management, preventing, preparedness

A learning sustainable leadership will help handle change processes at the system level in the organization and be one of the prerequisites for creating learning organizations. Creating good cultures for sustainability in business units will be central. There will also be theories of social responsibility and ethics.

The second part on Crises Management ( 5 ECTS) focuses on the role of information systems and involved actors in crisis and response management and organization. We study issues influencing the design, development, use, and evaluation of technologies and methodologies supporting individuals, organizations and communities in order to handle crises and be better prepared for response in a sustainable society. While many are under the impression that access to new technologies promises preparedness, this is not the case today. Tools and technologies can be powerful tools or great support, but also dangers or traps if not handled carefully.

We are going to discuss with experts from different areas and professions examples and lessons about the SDGs in crisis, and their need for better preparedness.

The course consists of lectures and discussion seminars. Students are required to prepare and present a project report in a group and submit an individual assignment.

The course is a part of the The Norwegian West Coast SDG educational initiative: Knowledge for Ethics and Sustainable Development.

Learning Outcome

This course should provide the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The candidates

• Has broad knowledge of theories, methods, models and tools for managing complex organisations, including ambidexterity leadership.
• Has broad knowledge of basic theories, methods, models and tools about ethics, sustainability and central sustainability goals - SDG.
• Has broad knowledge of central discourses, policies, resource allocation, regulation and stakeholder theory that are relevant to the SDG goals familiar with risk analysis, challenges for emergency organization for crisis and response management,
• Has broad knowledge of central issues regarding roles and use of technologies for crisis and response management.

Skills

The candidates

• Can reflect on key concepts of ethics, social responsibility, sustainability, organisation, technology, complexity, discourse, management, prevention, preparedness.
• Can discuss the advantages and limitations of emergency management in organisations.
• Can contribute as constructive dialogue partners to propose organization and management that is resilient and results-oriented.
• Can use academic knowledge to analyze and discuss sustainability goals and response management for various crisis scenarios.
• Can discuss technology support for crisis and response management.

General Competance

The candidates

• has knowledge of central discourses about risk society and the Anthropocene human epoch.
• Understands the dilemma with technological solutions to sustainability challenges for climate and nature.
• Understands challenges in building management capacity and legitimacy.
• To be able to critically examine and argue for activities, processes and support to achieve the SDGs.
• To have insight into relevant ethical issues for technology management.

Entry requirements

None

Teaching methods

Lectures, invited lectures, discussion seminars, project works and assignments. Students are required to submit and present a project report (group work) and an individual written assignment.

Compulsory learning activities

1. Group essay and group presentation

2. Individual writing of a short article with a poster presentation.

Assessment

Essay (individual or group) representing 60% of final result

Oral examination (individuel) representing 40% of final result

Grading scale is A-F where F is fail.

Examination support material

Essay: all

Oral: none

More about examination support material