Print as pdf if you want a pdf! If you want a nicer printout, click off the browser's automatically added header and footer.
Blekinge Institute of Technology
Department of Strategic Sustainable Development
Revision: 2
Reg.no: BTH-4.1.14-0391-2023
Course syllabus
Strategic Planning for Organizational Sustainability Transitions
Strategic Planning for Organizational Sustainability Transitions
7.5 credits (7,5 högskolepoäng)
Course code: SL2561
Main field of study: Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
Disciplinary domain: Technology
Education level: Second-cycle
Specialization: A1N - Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Language of instruction: English
Applies from: 2023-08-28
Approved: 2023-03-01
1. Descision
This course is established by Dean 2023-01-13. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Strategic Sustainable Development 2023-03-01 and applies from 2023-08-28.
2. Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires at least 120 completed credits and at least 6 taken credits in Strategic Sustainable Development that includes 2.5 credits about the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). English 6.
3. Objective and content
3.1 Objective
The purpose of the course is for the student to develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of methodology for strategic sustainability transitioning in organizations.
3.2 Content
The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) will be used as an overarching approach to guide a full system understanding of an organization role in society’s transition towards sustainability. The FSSD’s ABCD strategic planning procedure will be used to organize the application of other tools and concepts to develop an organization’s vision, a comprehensive sustainability assessment, and multi-factoral prioritization approaches to implementing a strategic plan. This course will build on the basic knowledge of the ABCD procedure students will have from the prerequisite courses and will deepen their understanding of strategic planning with complementary tools, concepts and group participatory methods. The self-benefit (i.e. the business case) for an organization to become more sustainable will be included in the method.
4. Learning outcomes
The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:
4.1. Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Describe and discuss a methodology for strategic thinking and strategic planning for sustainability.
4.2. Competence and skills
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the benefits to a specific organization from applying a strategic approach to sustainable development.
- Develop and evaluate a vision within the frame of a principled definition of sustainability.
- Assess an organization’s current position relative to its vision and create a strategic plan to create change, with prioritized goals and actions that lead to the vision.
- Be able to communicate and argue for results and conclusions.
4.3. Judgement and approach
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Critically reflect on aspects of a strategic planning process to adapt aspects of the process to a specific organizational context.
5. Learning activities
The course is focused on a group project to create a strategic plan for a real organization. This group project provides the tangible and practical real-life context in which the knowledge and understanding can be applied. Group work is central to the learning of more advanced application of the ABCD procedure. In order to support this problem-based group learning, teachers provide a combination of lectures, coaching to groups, feedback, as well as readings and videos resources.
6. Assessment and grading
Modes of examinations of the course
| Code | Module | Credit | Grade |
| 2310 | Project assignment | 3.5 credits | GU |
| 2320 | Individual assignment | 1 credits | GU |
| 2330 | Individual assignment 2 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2340 | Take-home Examination | 2.5 credits | GU |
The course will be graded G Pass, UX Failed result, a little more work required, U Fail.
To be graded, the assignments must be submitted on time. Late submissions, as well as poor participation or inability to
participate in the project group project, will be considered as a fail (U) for that submission opportunity within the course, unless otherwise negotiated and agreed with the course examiner. Opportunities to pass any failed assignments will be offered after the regular course schedule is complete, unless otherwise negotiated and agreed with the course examiner.
The information before a course occasion states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.
An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.
7. Course evaluation
The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.
8. Restrictions regarding degree
The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.
9. Course literature and other materials of instruction
Robèrt K-H., Broman G., Waldron D, Ny H., Hallstedt S., Cook D., Johansson L.,, Oldmark J., Basile G., Haraldsson H., MacDonald J., Moore B., Connell T., Missimer M., Daly E., and Johnson P. (2019). Sustainability Handbook (2nd ed). Studentlitteratur, Lund, Sweden. ISBN: 978-91-44-11595-5
Supplementary materials are provided.
10. Additional information
This course replaces SL2559
This is not a legal document. If you would like a copy of the legal decision regarding this course plan, contact the registrar at Blekinge Institute of Technology.