Objectives and competences
In this course, students develop an understanding of sustainability in the business environment and the ability to recognize sustainability challenges and opportunities in business operations. The course encourages critical assessment of business practices, recognition of the differences between credible sustainability approaches and greenwashing, and the development of simple, feasible proposals for improving the sustainability of companies or business ideas. Students also develop the ability to collaborate, argue, and present sustainable solutions in a business context.
Content (Syllabus outline)
1. What sustainability means in modern business and why it is important for companies, consumers, and society.
2. Sustainability in everyday business decisions: products, packaging, procurement, communication, employees, logistics, and environmental impact.
3. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for understanding the sustainability challenges facing companies.
4. Recognizing sustainable business practices and distinguishing between real action and greenwashing.
5. The basics of sustainable added value, circular thinking, and sustainable business models.
6. The role of stakeholders in co-creating sustainable solutions in companies.
7. Simple tools for monitoring sustainable effects and basic approaches to sustainable communication.
8. Analysis of examples of good and bad practices from the domestic and international environment.
9. Solving a practical sustainability challenge or preparing a proposal for improvement for a selected company, organization, or business idea.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Cognitive/Intellectual skills:
• explain the basic concepts of sustainability and their connection to business operations;
• analyze selected examples of business practices from the perspective of sustainability;
• critically assess whether the selected case represents a genuine sustainable approach or greenwashing;
• link the sustainability challenges faced by companies with possible business solutions and improvements.
Key/Transferable skills
• present and justify their view of sustainability challenges in the business environment;
• participate in the preparation of a group solution for a selected sustainability challenge;
• justify the proposed sustainability measures in terms of business and social impacts;
evaluate the importance of sustainability for business decisions in a selected case.
Practical skills:
• recognize sustainable elements in products, services, communication, or business models of companies;
• apply the basic principles of sustainable and circular thinking when preparing improvement proposals;
• prepare a brief analysis or case study of a selected company, organization, or business idea;
• develop and present a feasible proposal for sustainable improvement for the selected business case.
Readings
Temeljna literatura:
• BRADAČ HOJNIK, Barbara. Trajnostno podjetništvo. V: ANTONČIČ, Boštjan (ur.). Podjetništvo : glavni dejavnik razvoja. Ljubljana: Ekonomska fakulteta, 2022. Str. 92-108, ilustr. Učbeniki ekonomske fakultete. ISBN 978-961-240-382-9. http://maksi2.ef.uni-lj.si/zaloznistvoslike/499/Podjetni%C5%A1tvo.pdf. [COBISS.SI-ID 125552643]
• BRADAČ HOJNIK, Barbara. Ustvarjanje vrednosti v okviru trajnostnega podjetništva in poslovnih modelov = Value creation in the context of sustainable entrepreneurship and business models. V: DUH, Mojca (ur.), et al. Izzivi trajnostnega razvoja organizacij. Harlow (England) [etc.]: Pearson Education. 2022, str. 15-37, ilustr. ISBN 978-1-80006-681-6. [COBISS.SI-ID 122847491]
• Študije primerov, aktualne vsebine iz dnevnega strokovnega časopisja (letno aktualizirane)
Dodatna literatura:
• BRADAČ HOJNIK, Barbara, KOREZ-VIDE, Romana, ŠTRUKELJ, Tjaša. Introduction to sustainable development and entrepreneurship. V: WÓJCIK, Ewa (ur.), ZIELIŃSKI, Tomasz (ur.). Economics of sustainability. Katowice: Publishing House of the University of Economics, 2022. Str. 9-31, ilustr. ISBN 978-83-7875-790-0. https://www.sbc.org.pl/Content/578059/download/. [COBISS.SI-ID 117038851]
• KOREZ-VIDE, Romana, ŠTRUKELJ, Tjaša, BRADAČ HOJNIK, Barbara. Unsustainable trends in the global tourism. V: WÓJCIK, Ewa (ur.), ZIELIŃSKI, Tomasz (ur.). Economics of sustainability. Katowice: Publishing House of the University of Economics, 2022. Str. 121-146, ilustr. ISBN 978-83-7875-790-0. https://www.sbc.org.pl/Content/578059/download/. [COBISS.SI-ID 117042435]
• KOREZ-VIDE, Romana, BRADAČ HOJNIK, Barbara, ŠTRUKELJ, Tjaša. The framework for sustainable tourism development. V: WÓJCIK, Ewa (ur.), ZIELIŃSKI, Tomasz (ur.). Economics of sustainability. Katowice: Publishing House of the University of Economics, 2022. Str. 420-450, ilustr. ISBN 978-83-7875-790-0. https://www.sbc.org.pl/Content/578059/download/. [COBISS.SI-ID 117047043]
• UN. (2022). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025. Available: https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789211071597/read
