Dr. Sarah Birrell Ivory
Lecturer
Why this course
As a requirement for all students beginning their undergraduate business education, this course grounds the learning journey in the understanding that business exists not only within the walls of the firm, but also as part of the societal ecosystem and must be analyzed as such.
By examining such topics as inequality, globalization, and digital disruption, students are asked to develop the critical skills to understand, analyze and make decisions in a complex world.
Course Highlights
Course Objectives:
Understand the defining features and main areas of the role of business in society, and its responsibility for the stewardship of financial, social and natural resources.
Understand and be able to identify the complexities of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal environments as they impact business in a global economy, and the consequences of a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world.
Be able to explain the positive and negative implications of global trends and challenges for business practice as well as the skills and approaches needed to manage and lead businesses.
Be able to demonstrate the ability to recognize the underlying ethical, legal and sustainability implications inherent in business situations and apply that knowledge to recommend responsible actions.
Be able to critically apply a range of techniques and analytical tools applicable to business.
Additional Course Materials
Skills Workshops
Topic Seminars
Latest Coverage
Biography
Dr Sarah Birrell Ivory is a Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh Business School, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and an elected non-professorial member of the University of Edinburgh Senatus Academicus. She is a Co-Director of the Centre for Business and Climate Change, Deputy Director of the Sustainable Business Institute, and past-Chair of the British Academy of Management Sustainable and Responsible Business Special Interest Group. In addition to undergraduate teaching, Dr Ivory teaches doctoral and postgraduate students and is one of the core team delivering the flagship MBA Strategic Leadership course. Dr Ivory’s research streams include sustainability in business, social enterprise governance, and critical thinking pedagogy. She has presented her research at conferences including the Academy of Management and British Academy of Management, and published in journals including the Journal of Business Ethics. You can follow Dr Ivory @drsarahivory and find her new book ‘Becoming a Critical Thinker: for your university studies and beyond’ here.