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Business for Social and Environmental Good

Module description

This module first establishes that the role of business is not solely to generate profits. As every business engages with various stakeholders and the natural environment, it should also contribute to social and environmental good. The module then explores multiple business forms, some of which might be better suited to delivering such good. Then, it delves into co-operative enterprises, a business form with a long history and importance presence in contemporary societies. Specifically, you will get familiarised with how co-operatives organise, become a viable business, embody co-operative values and principles and address societal needs.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aims of this module are to:

• provide an overview of different forms of business for social and environmental good
• explain the importance of co-operative values and principles
• explore how co-operatives as a social economic model can contribute to community development
• equip students with the skills, knowledge and experience to develop a co-operative business pitch that aligns with co-operative values and principles

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. articulate the elements that make businesses for social and environmental good distinctive organisations vis-à-vis state-run enterprises and mainstream business
• 2. formulate a sustainable business idea and plan to meet social needs;
• 3. critically evaluate the effectiveness of different co-operative enterprises and their associated legal, financial and organisational forms.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. analyse, in writing and verbally, how business for social and environmental good can be designed to solve real-life economic, social, cultural and environmental problems

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. explore the value of specific strategies, principles, skills and mindsets that support pro-social and pro-environmental enquiry.

Syllabus plan

Sessions will be devoted to exploring multiple forms of business that move beyond the imperative of maximising profit, with relevant cases being discussed. The module also centres on co-operative enterprises and explores topics such as co-operative values and principles, history of co-operatives, co-op organisational forms, legal frameworks, governance, capitalisation and impact.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Bacq, S., Hertel, C., & Lumpkin, G. T. (2022). Communities at the nexus of entrepreneurship and societal impact: A cross-disciplinary literature review. Journal of Business Venturing, 37(5), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2022.106231.

Elliott, M. S., & Boland, M. A. (Eds.). (2023). Handbook of research on cooperatives and mutuals. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Georgiou, A., & Arenas, D. (2023). Community in organizational research: A review and an institutional logics perspective. Organization Theory, 4(1), 1-22.

Kickul, J., & Lyons, T. S. (2020). Understanding social entrepreneurship: The relentless pursuit of mission in an ever changing world. Routledge.

Marquis, C. (2020). Better business: How the B Corp movement Is remaking capitalism. Yale University Press.

Michie, J., Blasi, J. R., & Borzaga, C. (Eds.). (2017). The Oxford handbook of mutual, co-operative, and co-owned business. Oxford University Press.

van Dijk, G., Sergaki, P., & Baourakis, G. (2019). The cooperative enterprise: Practical evidence for a theory of cooperative entrepreneurship. Springer.

Key words search

Social Enterprises; Hybrid Organisations; Sustainable Enterprises; Co-operative Enterprises