Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / The global business environment has undergone a systemic transformation that has influenced the
way we see and do business. Central to this transformation is the rising importance of
environmental sustainability, social responsibility and sound corporate governance. Given these
changes, leaders require training and education about building a values-based, ethical business
platform in order to operate effectively. Therefore, it is imperative that business people are
appropriately educated in the art of handling matters of this nature. The primary aim of this
research study is to evaluate the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) education
on future business leaders by comparing the expected outcomes of a specific educational
curriculum with its actual real-world outcomes.
The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) introduced a module called Business in
Society in 2011. This duration of the module is one full semester. At the time, the course outline
stated that the aim of the programme was to improve the decision-making ability of students about
ESG issues in the business context. Participants who were busy studying or had graduated from
the programme were expected, in reasonable measure, to be able to formulate appropriate
responses to the challenges and opportunities inherent in matters of the environment, sustainability
and governance. The primary aim of this study was therefore to review and assess both current
student’s and graduates’ envisioned and practical application of theory, their environmental and
social awareness levels and any significant changes in ethical outlook and values, or lack thereof.
The secondary aim of the study was to assess the quality of the educational intervention itself.
In order to review the impact of the programme on participants, the study focused on the subjective
experience of the students, their perceptions of the programme and their subsequent behaviour in
the workplace as an outcome. The research involved a two-tier approach. The first tier entailed the
deployment of surveys to the randomly selected graduates of the programme. The second tier
involved interviews with randomly selected respondents in the first round of surveys. These
research participants were current and former students of the programme. The expectation was to
find that these future business leaders were properly equipped and educated to make the right
decisions concerning sustainability issues and ethical dilemmas.
Based on the results of the survey, it was evident that the majority of students had come away with
a positive experience of the Business in Society Programme, and that the course had had a
positive impact on their lives both professionally and personally. The results of the interview
analysis offered a holistic review of the experience of students in relation to their learning, the
essential learnings and practical application, and the extent of the impact on their personal and
professional lives. Recurrent themes which came to light in the analysis were the increase in awareness and the
absence of practical engagement. There was a general discontent with the delivery of the course,
in particular its lack of practical emphasis, and fragmentation in delivery. Recommendations to
improve the course are supplied and may be utilised and implemented at the discretion of the
Business School.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/96203 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Paulsen, Zenley Olivia |
| Contributors | Volschenk, Jako, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiii, 136 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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