Course Syllabus

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Course InformationThis course is offered collaboratively through the UW MBA Consortium. Campus specific course information is listedbelow:UW-Eau Claire: MBA 774 – Sustainability and Organizational ManagementUW-LaCrosse: BUS 700UW-Oshkosh: MBA 769

Credit Hours: 1.5Course Term: Fall 2019Delivery Mode: Online

Instructor InformationInstructor: Andrew (Drew) Stapleton, Ph.D.Home Campus: UW-LaCrosseCell Phone: 608-386-2317Office Hours (CST): Monday 7:00-8:00pm and Wednesday 9:30 - 10:30 pm(I will be at my computer during this timeand you can expect a quick response to emails). However, it is my intent to be on most nights late - sometimes aslate as midnight. The exception is weekends, in which I will most likely check in Sunday evenings.E-mail: astapleton@uwlax.edu

Course DescriptionThis course is designed to introduce participants to the interrelationship between business and the naturalenvironment; specifically, it examines the impact of the environment on business and the consequences of daily andlong term business decisions on the environment. This is a hands-on course in which you will be required to do muchintrospection, reading, and group discussion.

Learning OutcomesAt the end of this course, participants should be able to:

Apply economic, social, and environmental spheres to an organization's strategy.Describe the process implications of short-term and long-term decisions on the environment and social issuesboth locally and globally.Reflect upon current issues in sustainability.Assess an organization's sustainability effort and make recommendations for improvements.

Required Course Materials

Textbooks:

Scott Young and Kathy Dhanda. Sustainability: Essentials for Business. Los Angeles: Sage (2013).Peter Senge et al. The Necessary Revolution. NY: Doubleday (2008).Vital Signs: The trends that are shaping our future, Volume 22. 2015.

These pieces bring a world of practical information/experience and different perspectives to the highly complex,highly polarized topic of sustainability. It is supplemented with a selection of readings from current and historicalliterature. These books are challenging, interesting, and inspiring and should lead us to great discussion here and inthe future as you become more knowledgeable about how to deal with the challenges of sustainable value creation.

Technology requirements: There are no additional, course-specific technology requirements. Please review theminimum technology requirements and information document.

Course Topical OutlineThis course is organized in the following units:

Module 1: Essentials for Business: Air and WaterModule 2: Bottom Line & Environmental ImpactsModule 3: Benchmark/Office and FacilitiesModule 4: Strategies, Consumers, and MarketingModule 5: Role of Corporations and GovernmentModule 6: Reporting, Metrics and MeasurementModule 7: Designing Sustainable Communities

Assignments and Activities

Discussions

Participants are expected to participate regularly in discussions and to make contributions without negativelyimpacting others with personal viewpoints and unsubstantiated content.

You will be required to post at least once by the due date on the discussion, and then at least once more by the timethe discussion closes. You are not required to make an original post to every discussion. All of yourcontributions that week could be replies to others, for example, if you think that is the best way for you tomake a substantive contribution to the discussion.

You should also strive to support your positions with references to articles, books and/or videos, as well ascontemporary business literature such as WSJ. Barron's, etc,. Please see the Student DiscussionExpectationsdocument for more information on the requirements for participating in discussions. The discussionsare due in the appropriate discussions area by the dates listed in the calendar.

Reports

Two research reports are required. These reports consist of an in-depth look at an environmental and social issueand how it is being addressed in your firm. You will need to define an issue, its relevance, how it is or is not beingaddressed and what you think the end game will be. You must also discuss how it impacts your firm's short and long-term strategy and operations. The reports are due by the date listed in the calendar.

Importantly, these two are stand alone. That is, scoring well on the first does not mean you should relax and startlate on the second. Stay focused and up to date and follow the discussions regularly.

Exam

A final exam will be given in essay format. Coverage will be inclusive of readings, your papers, current events, anddiscussions. The grade will be based upon the thoroughness of coverage and clarity of your writing. The exam is dueon the date listed in the calendar.

Grades

Grades will be assessed using a variety of methods. As with any course, your level of participation on a regular basisis critical to your successful understanding and completion of the course. Scoring is as follows:

Discussions (12 @ 20 points; 1 @ 10 points)

250

Reports (2) 200

Exam 100

Total 550

Final Letter Grades ScaleLetter grades will be awarded in accordance with University policies following the standard practice of each UWcampus participating in the UW Consortium. For example, an Oshkosh student in a given course will be gradedbased on Oshkosh policies, an Eau Claire student based on Eau Claire policies, and so on. These policies aresummarized below:

OshkoshStudents

Eau Claire and MBA Consortium Students LaCrosse Students Parkside Students

AA-B+BB-C+CF

Any gradeabove “F” isacceptable.

AA-B+BB-C+CC-D+DD-F

Foundation courses must be completed with anoverall average of 3.0. Up to 2 credits of C work willbe accepted; any additional courses in which a Cgrade is achieved must be repeated. A grade belowC will result in dismissal from the program.

AABBBCCDF

A "C" grade is acceptableas long as the studenthas a "B" average in all. If not, the student isdismissed from theprogram.

A "D" or "F" grade resultsin dismissal from ourprogram; repeating ofgraduate courses is notallowed.

AA-B+BB-C+CC-F

Any grade above “F”is acceptable. Thecourse does notneed to be repeatedif the grade ispassing.

Course Grading for Eau Claire and MBA Consortium Students – percentage (no rounding)93-100 (A) 86.99-83 (B) 76.99-73 (C) 66.99-63 (D)92.99-90 (A-) 82.99-80 (B-) 72.99-70 (C-) 62.99-60 (D-)89.99-87 (B+) 79.99-77 (C+) 69.99-67 (D+) Below 60 (F)

Course Grading for Parkside – percentage (no rounding)93-100 (A) 86.99-83 (B) 76.99-73 (C) 92.99-90 (A-) 82.99-80 (B-) 72.99-70 (C-)89.99-87 (B+) 79.99-77 (C+) Below 70 (F)

Course Grading for Oshkosh – percentage (no rounding)93-100 (A) 86.99-83 (B) 76.99-73 (C)92.99-90 (A-) 82.99-80 (B-) Below 73 (F) 89.99-87 (B+) 79.99-77 (C+)

Course Grading for La Crosse – percentage (no rounding)93-100 (A) 82.99-77 (BC) Below 63 (F)

Course Summary: Date Details

Mon Oct 28, 2019Complete the Student Code of Conduct 12am

1.1 | Overview to do: 11:59pm

92.99-87 (AB) 76.99-70 (C)86.99-83 (B) 69.99-63 (D)

Consortium's Excused Absence PolicyAn absence will be considered excused or authorized according to the following institutional policies:

1. The student’s home campus policy on excused absences will apply.UW – La CrosseUW – Oshkosh

2. UW MBA Consortium students will follow the UW – Eau Claire Authorized Absence Policy.

If your absence falls into the excused absence category, please contact me as soon as possible. I may request thatyou provide documentation, and I may need time to make alternative assessments available to you.

Late Work PolicyDue to the interactive nature of the discussions, it's important that you participate in the course in a timely manner.Therefore no late work will be accepted in this course. I do recognize that there are special circumstances that mayarise, such as a death in the family or a medical emergency. Please contact me as soon as possible if you findyourself in a situation that may result in late work.

Instructor ExpectationsI typically access this course site daily and once on most weekends. I can most easily be reached via email and willrespond as soon as possible. If it is simple, please feel free to text me. The discussions each week, in addition to theregular reading material, are important and play an ongoing part in deepening our understanding of sustainability andits interaction with business strategy and operations.

Academic Integrity PolicyAny act of academic irregularity will result in penalties ranging from a minimum grade of F to dismissal. In this course,"academic irregularity" would include not properly referencing works consulted, handing in work previously preparedfor another class, and copying work verbatim from another source. Continued enrollment in this course constitutesunconditional acceptance of these policies.

Accommodation for Students with DisabilitiesIn order to ensure that all of our students have equitable access to our online course materials, we strive to meet theguidelines set by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires the public to provide reasonableaccommodations to individuals with disabilities when posting web-based materials. Canvas is compliant with W3C'sWeb Accessibility Initiative and with Section 508 guidelines. Additionally, Canvas was certified asa substantially conformant LMS by WebAIM, a third party authority in web accessibility. If you find that coursematerials are not posted in a format that meets your needs, or you need testing accommodations, please contactOnline Course Support at 1-715-836-6020 or email BIZHelp@uwec.eduand we will work with you to find areasonable accommodation.

Date Details

Wed Oct 30, 2019

1.2 | Introductions due by 11:59pm

1.3 | Vital Signs: Discussions due by 11:59pm

1.4 | Necessary Revolution: 80/20 due by 11:59pm

Sun Nov 3, 2019 Week 1 Discussions close to do: 11:59pm

Mon Nov 4, 2019 2.1 | Overview to do: 11:59pm

Wed Nov 6, 20192.2 | Necessary Revolution: Brain Drain due by 11:59pm

2.3 | Sustainability: Monsanto due by 11:59pm

Sun Nov 10, 2019Week 2 Discussions close to do: 11:59pm

2.4 | Environmental Issue Report (Sustainability Issue Report 1) due by 11:59pm

Mon Nov 11, 2019 3.1 | Overview to do: 11:59pm

Wed Nov 13, 20193.2 | Necessary Revolution: Mental Models due by 11:59pm

3.3 | Forbes Article: Program or Embedded? due by 11:59pm

Sun Nov 17, 2019 Week 3 Discussions close to do: 11:59pm

Mon Nov 18, 2019 4.1 | Overview to do: 11:59pm

Wed Nov 20, 20194.2 | Necessary Revolution: Pilot Project due by 11:59pm

4.3 | Necessary Revolution: Green Products and Competitors due by 11:59pm

Fri Nov 22, 2019 Midterm Course Evaluation to do: 11:59pm

Sun Nov 24, 2019Week 4 Discussions close to do: 11:59pm

4.4 | Social Issue Report (Sustainability Issue Report 2) due by 11:59pm

Mon Nov 25, 2019 5.1 | Overview to do: 11:59pm

Wed Nov 27, 20195.2 | Necessary Revolution: Casino due by 11:59pm

5.3 | Necessary Revolution: NGO Power due by 11:59pm

Sun Dec 1, 2019 Week 5 Discussions close to do: 11:59pm

Mon Dec 2, 2019 6.1 | Overview to do: 11:59pm

Wed Dec 4, 2019 6.2 | Necessary Revolution: Thoreau due by 11:59pm

Date Details

Sun Dec 8, 2019 Week 6 Discussions close to do: 11:59pm

Mon Dec 9, 2019 7.1 | Overview to do: 11:59pm

Wed Dec 11, 2019 7.2 | Conclusions due by 11:59pm

Fri Dec 13, 2019 Week 7 Discussions close to do: 11:59pm

Sun Dec 15, 2019 7.3 | Final Exam due by 11:59pm

Final Grade