Interdisciplinary Elective

Department

Bachelor's program Business & Management

Course unit code

B&M-B-4-IEL-IEL-IEL

Number of ECTS credits allocated

5.0

Name of lecturer(s)

FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Stöckl Thomas, Huter Lucas, BA MSc MA

Recommended optional program components

none

Recommended or required reading

Ferrel, O.C., Thorne, D., & Ferrel, L. (2021). Business and Society. A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility & Ethics. Chicago Business Press.Carrol, A.B., Brown, J.A., & Buchholtz, A.K. (2017). Business & Society: Ethics, Sustainability & Stake-holder Management (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Clark, C.E., Chang, K.K., & Melvin, S.P. (2021). Business and Society. Ethical, Legal, and Digital Environ-ments. Sage.

Laasch, O. & Conaway, R. (2017). Responsible Business. The Textbook for Management Learning, Com-petence and Innovation. Routledge.

Additional information about examination modalities

For the first attempt, you need to participate in an in-class debate (30%), develop and present a sustainable business model (40%), and submit a self-reflection video (30%). In case of a negative grade on the first attempt, you will have to submit a term paper (70%) and a self-reflection video (30%).

Level of course unit

Bachelor

Year of study

Spring 2026

Semester when the course unit is delivered

Language of instruction

English

Learning outcomes of the course unit

With the course “Interdisciplinary Elective”, we aim to develop your information literacy skills, your re-sponsible decision-making skills, and your entrepreneurship skills in the field of responsible and sustain-able management. The course comprises an interactive mix of lectures, discussions, and individual and group exercises which will allow you to investigate and experience the interrelationships of business and its societal and ecological environment and the role of responsible management therin. Furthermore, you will have a chance to reflect on your approaches and perspectives. Having completed this course, you will have acquired sound theoretical knowledge and developed practical skills so that you are able to:
• define basic concepts such as corporate social responsibility, sustainability, triple bottom line, and stakeholder approach.
• understand the role of businesses in society as well as the interrelationships between business and society.
• analyze the impact of business decisions and behaviors from a multi-stakeholder perspective.
• appraise the role of social entrepreneurship in overcoming societal and environmental chal-lenges.
• form, articulate, and evaluate arguments related to responsible and sustainable management.
• reflect on your approach, perspectives, and behaviors as part of society and as (future) manag-ers and leaders.

Course contents

Flexibilität, Interdisziplinarität und individuell gestaltbare Studienpläne werden für Studierende zunehmend wichtiger. Mit studiengangsübergreifenden "Interdisziplinären Wahlpflichtmodulen“/„Interdisciplinary Electives“ wird diesen Ansprüchen Rechnung getragen. Gleichzeitig werden aktuelle Themen in das Curriculum integriert, innovative Lehrmethoden angewendet und interdisziplinärer Austausch gefördert.

Die Studierenden entwickeln:

...fachliche Kompetenzen (weiter), die nicht unmittelbar im Kerncurriculum angesiedelt sind und erweitern ihr Wissen basierend auf den individuellen Interessen.

...übernehmen durch die aktive Studiengestaltung (Wahlprozess, Format) mehr Verantwortung für den eigenen Lernprozess.

...lernen durch studiengans- und disziplinenübergreifende Formate interdisziplinäres und vernetztes Denken.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course comprises an interactive mix of lectures, discussions, and individual and group exercises. Face-to-face lectures will be accompanied by several self-study phases.

Work placement(s)

none