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MMBA8068 – Strategic Responsibility and Sustainability: Changing Business for Good

2026 – Term 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Debbie Haski-Leventhal
debbie.haski-leventhal@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBA or GradCertMgtPostMBA or MSusDev or MSocEntre or GradCertSocEntre or GradDipMgt
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Dive into the realm of strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, where purpose-driven business creates a net positive impact. The unit comprehensively explores CSR and sustainability as a holistic, long-term approach to business responsibilities with innovative frameworks and cutting-edge tools. Explore how responsibility and sustainability transcend philanthropy and environmental initiatives, becoming embedded in every aspect of the business aligned with the company’s brand and values. Apply stakeholder integration, ethical behaviour, and the utilisation of firm resources to address societal and environmental challenges. Through in-depth discussions and analysis, examine current approaches to business ethics, sustainability, climate action, and responsible leadership. Utilising inspirational case studies, gain insights into creating, measuring, and sharing impact, effective communication and marketing strategies, and organisational change towards sustainable and responsible business practices. Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to lead and drive meaningful change, fostering a culture of responsibility and sustainability within organisations.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Integrate Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its six components into business operations
  • ULO2: Use a stakeholder integration approach in order benefit the organisation and society at large.
  • ULO3: Integrate ethical, social and environmental factors into business decision-making.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate how strategic CSR can deliver social, financial, and environmental value, individually and as part of a group

General Assessment Information

Late Submission Penalties (written assessments) If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days. Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0. Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100. Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30. Extensions Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date. Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration. Need help? Review the Special Consideration page for further details: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration’

Please visit iLearn for further information

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Professional practice: Evaluating corporate responsibility and impact 30% No 08/06/2026 Individual and Group No Observed
Professional practice: Strategic CSR analysis 50% No 14/06/2026 Individual No Open
Skills development: Learning journal 20% No 14/06/2026 Individual No Open

Professional practice: Evaluating corporate responsibility and impact

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 34 hours
Due: 08/06/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

The purpose of this assessment is for you to work with peers to demonstrate your ability to analyse a company’s strategic CSR through the application of topics covered in this unit. 

You will work with your group members to collect publicly available information, interviews or survey data of a chosen company that has a CSR and/or sustainability program and analyse its strategic CSR. Each group will present for 30 minutes, with each member presenting for at least five (5) minutes on one of the four parts: (1) The company, its history, vision, and mission; (2) its current CSR and analysis of strategic CSR (all six aspects); (3) its work towards the SDGs; and (4) recommendations for improvement. The group will need to submit a draft of the slides 48 hours prior to the presentation, so that feedback can be provided, and the slides can be amended accordingly. Each group will also need to provide an executive summary of the company’s analysis with a title page with all group members’ names and students’ IDs and references according to APA7. 

Skills in focus : 

  • Discipline knowledge 
  • Critical thinking and problem solving 
  • Communication skills
  • Collaboration skills

Deliverable(s): Group presentation (max 30 minutes per group - 15%; 5 minutes per person – 15%)

Individual and group assessment 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Integrate Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its six components into business operations
  • Use a stakeholder integration approach in order benefit the organisation and society at large.
  • Integrate ethical, social and environmental factors into business decision-making.
  • Demonstrate how strategic CSR can deliver social, financial, and environmental value, individually and as part of a group

Professional practice: Strategic CSR analysis

Assessment Type 1: Problem-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 28 hours
Due: 14/06/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of relevant literature and your ability to analyse businesses and their CSR strategy. 

You will prepare a written report based on the group presentation. The report will need to include a review of the relevant literature, an analysis of the business and its CSR (including all six aspects) based on class materials, models, and concepts; the textbook. It will also include one new topic (e.g., SDGs, CSR reporting, CSR marketing, stakeholder integration or organisational change) and offer suggestions for improvement. It may also incorporate the feedback given to the group after the presentation. You will need to include all sources and academic articles used in a reference list according to APA7. 

Skills in focus : 

  • Discipline knowledge 
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Communication skills

Deliverable(s): Written submission [max 3000 words] 

Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Integrate Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its six components into business operations
  • Use a stakeholder integration approach in order benefit the organisation and society at large.
  • Integrate ethical, social and environmental factors into business decision-making.
  • Demonstrate how strategic CSR can deliver social, financial, and environmental value, individually and as part of a group

Skills development: Learning journal

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: 14/06/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of the contents and applications of CSR topics covered in the unit and share your reflections on these topics with peers on the discussion forum to exchange and expand knowledge. 

You will contribute to the discussion forum by sharing your reflections (in writing, audio or video recording) on one video (voice thread), include all your contributions to videos and weekly discussions in your written essay and write about three examples where you contribute to the discussion and reflect on how your contributions help you learn, assist others to learn and generate new insights to the class. 

Skills in focused : 

  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Discipline knowledge 
  • Communication skills
  • Work readiness 

Deliverable(s): Written submission [max 600 words excluding contributions copied from Discussion Forums] 

Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Integrate Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its six components into business operations
  • Integrate ethical, social and environmental factors into business decision-making.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Weekly classes, Mondays 18:00-22:00.  Please note that this class will follow only the third edition of Strategic CSR, not earlier editions: https://www.thenile.com.au/books/debbie-haski-leventhal/strategic-corporate-social-responsibility/9781036201159 

Please visit iLearn for futhrer information

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

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Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

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Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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Student Enquiries

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Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook