Study Guide

Objective

Students
-should be able to explain the central concepts of corporate sustainability (economic, social, and environmental sustainability) and their significance for long-term business success.
-should have knowledge of sustainability-related risks and opportunities, as well as understand the ethical responsibilities that companies have towards society and the environment.
-should have knowledge of sustainable business models.
-should be familiar with principles of sustainability reporting.
-should be able to identify and apply relevant international standards and frameworks within sustainability and quality management, and be able to communicate their results clearly both orally and in writing.
-should be able to apply quality management principles and tools to improve the company’s products and processes.
-should be able to propose solutions that improve quality within the company's operations and products, and present these proposals in a professional context.
-should understand the connection between sustainability work and quality management, and be able to demonstrate how effective quality management contributes to sustainable business development.

Content

-economic, social, and environmental sustainability
-the company's role in a sustainable society
-sustainable business models and sustainability strategies
-ethical aspects of sustainability decisions
-tools for sustainability analysis and strategy formulation
-sustainability reporting
-international standards and frameworks for quality management
-quality management and improvement of processes and products
-stakeholder analysis and quality strategies
-quality management as a driving force for sustainable development

Qualifications

Business Economy and Entrepreneurship

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student has a basic understanding of the three dimensions of sustainability and can identify examples of how they affect businesses.
The student can identify the company's fundamental role in society and provide simple examples of businesses that work with sustainability issues.
The student can describe a sustainable business model and provide examples of how sustainability can be integrated into business strategies.
The student can use basic tools to analyze sustainability issues and formulate fundamental sustainability strategies.
The student has a basic understanding of sustainability reporting and can identify key elements in a report.
The student is familiar with basic international standards for quality management (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001) and their fundamental functions.
The student understands basic quality management processes and can suggest tools for improving products and processes.
The student can identify the company's key stakeholders and understands their fundamental importance for quality and sustainability strategies.
The student understands the basic connection between quality management and sustainable development.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student can explain how economic, social, and environmental sustainability interact and can analyze their impact on business operations.
The student can clearly describe and analyze how companies can contribute to a sustainable society through various strategies and initiatives.
The student can analyze different sustainable business models and sustainability strategies and their practical application in business operations.
The student has a good understanding of sustainability analysis tools and can formulate strategies based on the analysis results.
The student has a good understanding of sustainability reporting and can identify and analyze key elements in a report.
The student can apply and analyze how international standards affect companies' quality management practices.
The student can analyze and suggest improvements to quality processes and products using various quality tools.
The student can analyze stakeholders' influence on the company's quality strategies and formulate strategies to balance the needs of different stakeholders.
The student can analyze how quality management can be used as a tool to promote sustainable development and improve the company's sustainability performance.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student demonstrates a deep understanding of the three dimensions of sustainability and can critically analyze and suggest how companies can integrate these into their strategy in an innovative way.
The student can critically examine the company's role in society and suggest innovative ways for businesses to drive societal development towards sustainability.
The student can develop and propose innovative and integrated sustainability strategies and business models.
The student can use analytical tools to critically assess and develop comprehensive and innovative sustainability strategies.
The student can critically analyze sustainability reports and propose innovative methods to improve the transparency and relevance of the reporting.
The student can critically assess and analyze strategies for how companies can use international standards and frameworks to improve both quality and sustainability.
The student can analyze and propose improvements to quality processes and products using various quality tools, and reflect on their limitations.
The student can identify advanced strategies that integrate stakeholder perspectives and balance various demands to maximize both quality and sustainability.
The student can analyze and provide relevant suggestions on how quality management systems can be used as a tool to promote sustainable development and improve the company’s sustainability performance.