MBA528 Advanced Business Ethics and CSR
MBA528 Advanced Business Ethics and CSR
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
Management
Sumeyye Kusakci
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to develop a critical understanding of sustainability and responsible business practices in a globalized economy. It explores how organizations address complex challenges related to environmental responsibility, social impact, ethical decision-making, and stakeholder expectations. Through a combination of conceptual discussions, academic readings, and real-world case analyses, students will examine contemporary sustainability issues from multiple theoretical and managerial perspectives. The course seeks to strengthen students’ ability to critically evaluate business decisions, understand competing stakeholder interests, and develop informed and responsible managerial judgments in complex organizational contexts.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Rasche, A., Morsing, M., & Moon, J. (2017). Corporate sustainability: Managing responsible business in a globalized world. Cambridge University Press.
Additional Literature
Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.Teaching Methods
Lectures
Academic Insight Session
Corporate Dilemma Analysis
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kick Off Meeting | |
| 2 | What & Why Corporate Sustainability | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Historical Foundations | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Ethical Approaches | Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Stakeholder Theory | Chapter 4 |
| 6 | Strategic Approaches | Chapter 5 |
| 7 | Political Approaches | Chapter 6 |
| 8 | Ecological Perspectives | Chapter 7 |
| 9 | Organising & Governance | Chapter 9 & 15 |
| 10 | Sustainable Finance | Chapter 11 |
| 11 | Consumers & Corporate Accountability | Chapter 14 |
| 12 | Human Rights, Labour Rights & Diversity | Chapter 21 & 22 |
| 13 | NGOs, Activism & Reputation Politics | Chapter 13 & 16 |
| 14 | Eid al-Adha!!! | |
| 15 | Revision and Exam Preparation |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA528.1 | Course | Tuesday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.35 FBA Conference Room | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 13:00 | B F1.34 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 13:00 | B F1.34 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Academic Insight Primary Discussant
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Academic Insight Secondary Discussant
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3
Corporate Dilemma Analysis
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Attendance & Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Academic Insight Primary Discussant
20 hours ⏳ (20 week × 1 h)
Academic Insight Secondary Discussant
20 hours ⏳ (10 week × 2 h)
Corporate Dilemma Analysis
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Final Exam
50 hours ⏳ (50 week × 1 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [MBA528] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| MBA528 | Advanced Business Ethics and CSR | 3 | 0 | 6 | Tuesday 17.00-20.00 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Sumeyye Kusakci | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 10:00-13:00 Thursday: 10:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| skusakci@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to develop a critical understanding of sustainability and responsible business practices in a globalized economy. It explores how organizations address complex challenges related to environmental responsibility, social impact, ethical decision-making, and stakeholder expectations. Through a combination of conceptual discussions, academic readings, and real-world case analyses, students will examine contemporary sustainability issues from multiple theoretical and managerial perspectives. The course seeks to strengthen students’ ability to critically evaluate business decisions, understand competing stakeholder interests, and develop informed and responsible managerial judgments in complex organizational contexts. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Rasche, A., Morsing, M., & Moon, J. (2017). Corporate sustainability: Managing responsible business in a globalized world. Cambridge University Press. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Lectures, Academic Insight Session, Corporate Dilemma Analysis | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Kick Off Meeting | |||||||||
| Week 2 | What & Why Corporate Sustainability | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Historical Foundations | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Ethical Approaches | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Stakeholder Theory | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Strategic Approaches | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Political Approaches | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Ecological Perspectives | Chapter 7 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Organising & Governance | Chapter 9 & 15 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Sustainable Finance | Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Consumers & Corporate Accountability | Chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Human Rights, Labour Rights & Diversity | Chapter 21 & 22 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | NGOs, Activism & Reputation Politics | Chapter 13 & 16 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Eid al-Adha!!! | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Revision and Exam Preparation | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Academic Insight Primary Discussant | 1 | 30 | 1,2 | Consult Instructor | |
| Academic Insight Secondary Discussant | 2 | 10 | 2,3 | Consult Instructor | |
| Corporate Dilemma Analysis | 1 | 20 | 3,4 | Consult Instructor | |
| Attendance & Participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Academic Insight Primary Discussant | 1 | 20 | 20 | |||
| Academic Insight Secondary Discussant | 2 | 10 | 20 | Corporate Dilemma Analysis | 1 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Final Exam | 1 | 50 | 50 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 07/03/2026 | |||||||||
