BUSI-1816 Global Business and Sustainability L7 Module Handbook 2025/26 | UOG

Contents

1    Welcome message from your Module Leader
2    Key contacts (academic queries)
3    Module details and learning outcomes
4    Employability
5    Schedule of teaching and learning activities
6    Assessment
a.    Introduction
b.    Theoretical background
c.    Your own perspective
d.    References (not included in the wordcount):
Academic Misconduct
7    Resit assessments
8    Resource recommendations
9    Changes to the module

Module details and learning outcomes

Host faculty: Greenwich Business School
Host school: Business Operations and Strategy
Number of credits: 15
Term(s) of delivery: Term 1 
Site(s) of delivery:  Greenwich 
Pre-requisite modules: None 
Co-requisite modules: None 

Aims:

• Provide an appreciation of key factors on which international business decisions are based, with a particular focus on ethical and sustainability factors. 
• Develop an understanding and appreciation of similarities and differences in local and international business environments. 
• Distinguish the imperatives underpinning international trade and foreign direct investment. 
• Provide an understanding of the principles of the internationalisation process and draw implications for business management, including ethical business management.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Systematically and critically analyse the intricate nuances of diverse political, social, and economic systems.
2. Critically examine the process of globalisation in terms of its scope, form and geographical range, drawing out the implications for business organisations, including sustainability challenges.
3. Critically evaluate the alternative theories of international trade and trace their implications for government trade policy, including sustainability policies.
4. Critically evaluate the roles of the Governments, IMF, the World Bank, and WTO in the process of internationalisation and sustainable development.

Glossary:

• A pre-requisite module is one that must have been completed successfully before taking this module. 
• A co-requisite module is one that must be taken alongside this module. 
• A learning outcome is a subject-specific statement that defines the learning to be achieved through completing this module.

Employability

Corporate governance skills 

1. Global Governance: identify international institutions governing global markets 
2. Regulation: understand local government regulations affecting businesses 
3. Foresight: anticipate regulatory trends by understanding ethical risks 

Business management skills 

1. Rationality: practice ethical and strategic reasoning 
2. Responsibility: learn the ethical dimension of business beyond regulation 
3. Equity, diversity, inclusion: understand the role of business in achieving EDI 
4. Marketing: respond to clients’ demand for corporate social responsibility 
5. Public image: navigate ethical challenges and reputational risks 
6. Technology: taking advantage of AI opportunities in a responsible way

People management skills 

1. Listening: learn how to listen and understand others’ values and motivations 
2. Conflict resolution: resolve value disagreements by finding compromises 
3. Talent retention: create a creative and inclusive environment to retain talents 

Personal development

1. Structured thinking: structure your thoughts in a rational and rigorous way 
2. Strong judgments: develop more confident and coherent value judgments 
3. Global citizen: investigate your own views about corporate citizenship

Schedule of teaching and learning activities

6 Assessment

Assessment schedule:

Your assessment brief: Individual Essay 

6.1 Guidance:

Choose ONE of the following five topics from below. After choosing ONE topic, students MUST write an individual essay using class and reading materials provided on Moodle related to your chosen topic.

Length: 3,000 words + / - 10% (excluding references) worth 100% of the overall mark 

In your essay, you MUST only reference sources from mandatory and suggested readings on Moodle NOTHING ELSE. You are also expected to reference arguments and discussions we had together in tutorials. 

Topic 1: Analyse in detail Matt Zwolinski’s argument in favour of sweatshop labour. Then, explain whether you agree with him or not, and why. Additionally, consider the implications of digital globalization on sweatshop labour practices and how sustainable supply chain management might address the ethical concerns associated with these practices.

Topic 2: Imagine that you are a strategy consultant hired by a large oil company to guide safety standards on oil rigs. Analyse in detail Milton Friedman's Shareholder theory and explain relevant differences with Edward Freeman's stakeholder theory. Additionally, consider how implementing a circular economy model could impact these theories and the company's approach to sustainability. Then, explain which theory you would advise the oil company to follow, and why.

Topic 3: Joseph Heath discusses two Canadian beer companies and argues that they should scale back their advertising expenditures “until they are eliminated completely.” (2014, p.12-13). Analyse his Market Failures Approach and explain why he believes they should eliminate advertising expenditure. Additionally, consider how this approach aligns or conflicts with sustainable business practices and the theoretical concepts of sustainability such as the Triple Bottom Line approach. Discuss whether reducing advertising expenditures could contribute to broader sustainability goals and explain whether you agree with Heath’s perspective in this context.

Topic 4: Today, top executives in S&P500 companies earn on average 300 times the salary of the average worker. Analyse John Rawls' theory and explain how he would evaluate these inequalities. Incorporate a discussion on how AI and sustainability efforts might affect these inequalities, considering the ethical implications of AI in business and its role in promoting or hindering sustainability. Then, explain whether you agree with him or not, and why.

Topic 5: Imagine that you work at Amazon as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion manager. Explain three different kinds of discrimination that your employees can face. Then, explain why and how you would prevent wrongful discrimination in the workplace?

Your Essay needs to contain the four following elements

a.Introduction 

The introduction should remain short but must contain the following elements clearly written: 

• Give some general background on the topic of the essay. 
• Announce your argument statements to the specific question asked by the topic (the answer you will argue for in your essay). For instance, you can say: “In this essay, I will agree/disagree with….”. 
• Include a clear outline of the essay. For instance, you can say: “In section 2, I will explain…. Then, in Section 3, I will argue that….”. 

b.Theoretical background
 
You must analyse and explain the main theories and frameworks necessary to understand the topic. For instance, if you choose Week 1, you must explain the argument of Matt Zwolinski, and if you choose Week 2 you must analyse the main similarities and differences between the arguments of Friedman and Freeman. 

• Explain the main premises and logic of the argument using your engagement with the lectures and tutorials, as well as mandatory and suggested readings on Moodle. 
• Use an example discussed in your tutorial activities to illustrate how your argument applies in real business decisions. 

c.Your own perspective 

You must take a side and explain your perspective on the debate at stake on your topic. Do you agree or disagree with the position of the authors you mentioned above? 

• Explain your own perspective on the issue, which side you are on, and why? 
• If you agree with the main author, you must explain at least one or two objections to their argument and how you respond/reject these objections. 
• If you disagree with the main author, you must explain at least one or two objections to their argument and why you believe that these objections are convincing. 
• Use mandatory readings and suggested readings on Moodle to support your opinion. 

d.References (not included in the word count):

You must use academic sources from Moodle readings ONLY to support your writing and then properly reference all your sources in the reference list at the end of your essay. 

Use the Harvard Referencing Style consistently in all your references.  

Please peruse the guidance materials on responsible use of AI generated contents, as per University of Greenwich’s policy
AI usage if applicable, is to be limited. Students can use it to generate ideas, check grammar but NOT to write text.

6.2 Formative assessments:

students will be supported towards the summative assignment by taking part in seminar discussions on lecture topics. Additionally, students will be offered an Essay Support Clinic in seminar class approximately one week before their assignment submission deadline.

6.3 Feedback for summative coursework:

Feedback will be provided in typed format of a ‘feedback sandwich’ via Turnitin:
What went well;
What did not go well; 
What to be taken forward. 

Students can also discuss the received feedback (NOT the grade) with your tutorial tutor in one-to-one meetings.

6.4 Marking criteria:

this can also be found on the module’s Moodle page under ‘’Coursework Submission’ tab.

6.5 Marking rubric for Individual Essay: 

The marking rubric file can also be found on the module Moodle page under section ‘Module Handbook’.
 
Coursework is marked on the understanding that it is the student’s own work on the module and that it has not, in whole or part, been presented elsewhere for assessment. Where material has been used from other sources, this must be properly acknowledged in accordance with the University’s regulations regarding Assessment Misconduct.

Academic Misconduct 

Plagiarism is a serious offence and is strictly prohibited. All essays submitted for this course will be checked by new advanced plagiarism detection software as well as other highly effective detection methods.

Severe consequences can result from plagiarism: you can fail the module and be expelled from the programme, with potential visa issue for foreign students. Where material has been used from other sources, this must be properly acknowledged in accordance with the University’s Regulations regarding Academic Misconduct. 

Marking, feedback and next steps

To pass this module, you must achieve an overall mark of 50+ 

For coursework, the marks and feedback will normally be provided to students within seventeen working days of the submission deadline. In exceptional circumstances, where there is a delay in providing feedback, you will be informed by the module leader.  

If you do not pass a module at the first attempt, you will likely be eligible for a resit opportunity on the failed assessments. The Progression and Award Board (PAB) will decide whether you will be offered an opportunity to resit. Note that marks on resit assessments are capped at 50% unless extenuation has been applied for and granted.

External Examiner

The External Examiner for this module is:
Name: Dr. Andrew Wild
Institution: University of Nottingham

Please note that the role of the External Examiner is to evaluate the overall standard of assessments on the module. They are unable to correspond with individual students about their work. If you need to discuss your marks or feedback, please contact your serminar tutor and / or module leader.

7 Resit assessments

Assessment schedule:

The module leader and your seminar tutor will clarify doubts and help you to understand the key requirements of resit assessments and previous feedback received (if you made a submission by the original deadline). There will be a ‘Resit Guidance’ section on Moodle. 

8 Resource recommendations

The following are suggested readings for the module. Additionally, more detailed reading recommendations are provided under the weekly lecture topics on Moodle.

9.Additional module information

Activities:
Please refer to Section 5 – Schedule of teaching and learning activities.

Resources:
Please refer to the weekly readings on Moodle.

Costs:
There are no module specific additional costs.

10. Changes to the module

At the University of Greenwich, we value feedback from students as well as External Examiners and other stakeholders and we use this information to help us improve our provision.

Here is an example of some feedback received from internal moderator and external examiner:

International moderator: the marks in the provided sample well reflect the module's learning outcomes and the marking criteria set out in the rubric. Clear and constructive feedback has been provided to all the uploaded assignments, fairly showing different levels achieved by students in the class. Suggestions for improvement are offered to all students with the aim of further enhancing their standards and maximise their potential, independently of the achieved mark. On the whole, the commentary enhances students’ comprehension of the topic and equips them to perform more effectively in future tasks. As a result, the assessment process appears to be both rigorous and founded as expected. 

External examiner: The feedback provided is constructive and helpful. The marks are fair and consistent

Important note: The University of Greenwich will do all that it reasonably can to deliver the module and support your learning as specified in our handbooks and other information provided. However, under some circumstances, changes may have to be made. This may include modifications to the: 

• content and syllabus of modules, including in relation to placements
• timetable, location and number of classes
• content or method of delivery of your module 
• timing and method of assessments.

This might be because of, for example:

• academic changes within subject areas
• the unanticipated departure or absence of members of university staff
• where the numbers expected on a module are so low that it is not possible to deliver an appropriate quality of education for students enrolled on it
• industrial action by university staff or third parties
• the acts of any government or local authority 
• acts of terrorism.

In these circumstances, the university will take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption by making reasonable modifications. However, to the full extent that it is possible under the general law, the university excludes liability for any loss and/or damage suffered by any applicant or student due to these circumstances.