Type: Compulsory | ECTS: 7.5

Course aim and description

The course includes two modules: (a) Strategic Management and (b) Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility. The aim of the Strategic Management module is to help students acquire the necessary skills of strategic analysis and synthesis, so that they are able to proceed independently in the preparation of professional reports that will meet the market specifications of business consulting companies. In addition, the aim of the Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility module is to familiarize students with the concept of Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and present the most important CSR tools that are used by businesses nowadays.

Strategic Management: This module analyses a variety of theories and approaches to strategic management and introduces students to the main tools of strategic assessment, analysis and decision-making. In general, it examines how an organization can develop the appropriate strategic resources to better position itself in the external environment in which it operates (or it is going to operate), thus gaining a sustainable competitive advantage.

Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Initially, an attempt is made to present the theoretical framework of the CSR concept, by examining the evolution of Corporate Responsibility, Sustainable Development, Sustainability, Stakeholder Theory, and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) indicators. Emphasis is placed on the business benefits that accompany the strategic implementation of CSR, while successful case studies of Greek and foreign companies are being used. The discussion then moves to the modern tools of Corporate Social Responsibility. Through various exercises and in-class dialogue, the methodology for designing and developing Corporate Responsibility Reports based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards will be presented. Finally, the practical implementation of stakeholder consultation (stakeholder engagement) will be discussed.