Business and Social Change Course Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is social change?

The significant and widespread transformation of social and cultural institutions and human interactions over time.

Which factors contribute to social change? (Select all that apply)

Economy (correct)

Technology (correct)

Weather

Activism (correct)

The course investigates the factors that contribute to social change such as activism, technology, ____ , market, environment, and crisis.

urban population

The course includes a session on informal economy and precarity.

True Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is essential for improving public health in urban areas?

Access to public cooling centres Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of developing an environmentally friendly transport system?

Promoting carpooling strategies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a goal of energy efficiency initiatives?

Increased energy consumption Signup and view all the answers

In the context of urban sustainability, which sector is directly related to waste management?

Waste disposal Signup and view all the answers

What policy approach is necessary for coordinating sustainability objectives in cities?

Greater governmental coordination Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main reasons urbanization should be planned carefully?

Urban poverty and inequality are urgent global priorities. Signup and view all the answers

Which region is projected to experience the fastest rate of urbanization?

Africa Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributes to urbanization in Asia Pacific regions?

Rural-urban migration. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following elements is currently not well-developed for e-mobility?

Charging in rural areas. Signup and view all the answers

What should be improved to promote e-mobility?

Better policies and affordable prices. Signup and view all the answers

Which group is focused on addressing the issue of single-use plastics?

Group 2 Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary environmental health risk in cities of the Global South?

Biological pathogens in food, water, and soil Signup and view all the answers

Which challenge related to climate change is most likely to affect water supply in cities of the Global South?

Flooding Signup and view all the answers

What adaptation policy is NOT typically implemented to address water shortages in the Global South?

Increasing industrial water usage Signup and view all the answers

Which problem related to climate change is linked to inadequate infrastructure in cities of the Global South?

Land subsidence Signup and view all the answers

What type of pollution is a significant problem for cities in the Global South?

Industrial and air pollution Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods is aimed at increasing water efficiency in the Global South?

Incentives for water conservation Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant impact of climate change regarding food security in the Global South?

Declining crop yields Signup and view all the answers

What approach is considered vital for mitigating environmental pollution in urban areas of the Global South?

Implementing low carbon development practices Signup and view all the answers

What is a key priority area in environmental sustainability goals?

Air Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a barrier to sustainability in cities in the Global South?

Vulnerability and poverty Signup and view all the answers

What is one opportunity for enhancing sustainability in cities?

Community participation Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does sustainable production focus on?

Resource use Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a key area of sustainable consumption?

Industrial toxicity Signup and view all the answers

What role does innovation play in sustainability?

Supports sectors partnerships Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts relates to the ecological footprint?

Environmental management Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential element of improved governance for sustainability?

Enhanced transparency Signup and view all the answers

What type of behavior is encouraged to support sustainable mobility?

Public transportation usage Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does not represent an area of focus in environmental sustainability?

Corporate tax strategy Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Introduction

This course explores the relationship between social change and business.
We will examine factors like activism, technology, urbanization, and economic crises.
The course aims to understand how businesses are impacted by social change and how they can contribute to it.

Professor Information

Maria Teresa Uribe Jaramillo teaches the course.
She is a professor and PhD candidate at KEDGE Business School.
Her expertise centers on business and society, peacebuilding, CSR, ESG, and sustainability.
Her PhD research focuses on "business for peace" in Colombia.

Course Schedule

The course is structured around five sessions.
Each session will include a specific topic and assigned readings with an in-class quiz on the material.
Students will work in groups, with 6 groups assigned to 6 specific case studies.
Each group is responsible for presenting their case study during the course.

Course Assessment

The course assessment combines individual and group components.
Individual assessment includes in-class participation and a final report.
Group assessment involves both presentation and video creation.
Quizzes account for 10% of the final grade.
The first group work assignment, involving case presentations, is worth 10%.
The second group assignment, combining brief notes, sketch notes, and a video, is worth 30%.
The final individual report contributes 50% of the final grade.

Group Work 1

Students will work in six groups on six pre-assigned case studies.
The presentations will be 15 minutes long with Q&A time.
Details about the cases are available on the course platform, Learn.

Group Work 2

Students will work in groups to combine brief notes, sketch notes, and video footage.
The content of this assignment will be announced at a later date.

Technological transitions

Technological transitions are evolutionary reconfiguration processes.
They involve multi-level perspectives.
A case study for technological transitions can be explored in the context of e-mobility.
E-mobility presents challenges such as charging in rural areas, technological issues, and end-of-life battery management.
E-mobility can be promoted through better policies, cultural change, and affordable prices.

Urbanization

Urbanization is an inevitable process.
Planning for urban growth is critical.
Urban growth is not uniform across regions and can lead to diverse scenarios.
Most expansion of city land area will occur in low-income countries.
Effective urban planning is crucial in low-income countries.
Tackling urban poverty and inequality are urgent global priorities.
In developing regions, 52% of the population currently reside in urban areas.
This figure is expected to grow to 57% in 2030 and 66% in 2050.
Developing countries are experiencing the fastest rate of urbanization.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, megacities account for 17% of the region’s urban population and attract most foreign investment.
Africa is the least urbanized but most rapidly urbanizing region, with 44% of the population residing in urban areas.
Asia Pacific has 51% of its population living in urban areas and accounts for 54% of the world’s urban population.
The process of urbanization in Asia is mainly driven by rural-urban migration.
Environmental health risks in cities of the Global South include biological pathogens in food, water, and soil.
Cities in the Global South face shortage of natural resources such as fresh water and safe land for housing.
Cities in the Global South experience environmental pollution and stress on the local and regional environment, including air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and waste disposal.
Cities in the Global South are exposed to climate change risks such as natural hazards including flooding, landslides, rising sea levels.

Climate Change and Cities in the Global South

Climate change impacts on cities in the Global South include water shortages, flooding, extreme weather events, land subsidence, declining crop yields, rising sea levels, and loss of marine and other ecological resources.
Cities in the Global South face problems such as water and sanitation issues, waste disposal challenges, industrial and air pollution, land and housing constraints, food security issues, inadequate infrastructure, and dependence on marine resources.
The climate change agenda requires changes in mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Mitigation strategies involve reducing emissions and promoting low carbon development.
Adaptation strategies focus on areas such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, water supply, human health, coastal zones, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

Adaptation Policies

Water adaptation policies focus on water shortage and conservation techniques, incentives for water conservation, water reuse, recycling, desalination, increasing water use efficiency, public education, flood risk mapping, public participation in flood adaptation and mitigation programs, and greater investment in water supply systems.
Infrastructure adaptation policies involve cleaning drainage systems, re-designing structures, relocation, land acquisition, creating wetlands and buffer zones against sea level rise and flooding, protecting existing natural barriers, and maintaining defensible space around buildings and neighborhoods.
Human health adaptation policies aim to improve access to public cooling centers, enhance climate-sensitive disease surveillance and control, promote access to safe water and sanitation, increase governmental coordination and cross-boundary collaboration.
Urban transport adaptation policies prioritize environmentally friendly transport systems, energy-efficient cars, carpooling, efficient public transportation systems, new design standards and planning for urban roads, rail, etc., to cope with warming and drainage, and emphasis on renewable energy.
Energy adaptation policies emphasize increasing energy efficiency and promoting renewable resources.

Integration of Sustainability Objectives

The integration of sustainability objectives involves considering social, economic, and environmental objectives within policies.
This integration applies to development and planning policy in cities of the Global South.
The integration focuses on various sectors, including land and housing, transport, waste disposal, water, and sanitation, and energy.
Projects related to this integration include recycling and waste disposal, sustainable housing, and energy-efficient public transportation.

Environmental Sustainability Goals

Environmental sustainability goals prioritize waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, air quality, soil health, sustainable innovation, sustainable communities, sustainable consumption, sustainable production, environmental management, sustainable behavior, key areas of consumption and production, corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainable mobility, sustainable food, and cleaner production.

Barriers and Opportunities for Sustainability in Cities of the Global South

Barriers to integration of environmental sustainability in cities of the Global South include physical and infrastructure limitations, vulnerability and poverty, institutional and political challenges, social and cultural factors, and knowledge and perception gaps.
Opportunities for integration include sector partnerships, community participation, leadership development, improved governance, innovation, knowledge transfer, and international relations.

Strategies for Environmental Sustainability in the Global South

Strategies for environmental sustainability in the Global South involve the state, civil society, and business sectors.
State strategies focus on improving environmental policy, strengthening capacity-building, and promoting participation.
Civil society strategies aim to strengthen capacity and participation.
Business strategies prioritize accountability, liability, and transparency.

Smart Cities

A smart city utilizes technology to improve efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life for its citizens.
Smart cities leverage technology to address urban challenges such as traffic congestion, energy consumption, and resource management.
Examples of smart city technologies include sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.
Smart cities aim to optimize urban services, enhance communication and collaboration, and promote inclusive growth.

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Description

This quiz assesses your understanding of the relationship between social change and business as introduced in the course. Topics such as activism, technology, and economic crises will be explored. Prepare for discussions and case studies that examine how businesses can both impact and be influenced by social change.