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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CS/MGT 310"
COURSE NAME: "Technologies and Strategies for the Sustainable Enterprise"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Stefano Gazziano
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 11:30-12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: Placement into MA197 or completion of MA 100 or MA 101; Junior standing
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) impact the environment in various ways, ranging from the extraction of resources to produce machines, to their disposal as e-waste. Server farms consume a massive amount of energy and water resources, contributing to climate change. On the other hand, positive impacts of digital technologies are also evident in transports, energy efficiency and conservation, service industry, and social life. This course investigates the enabling technologies related to ICT and energy to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) in all segments of the creation of value, and the evaluation of the environmental impact according to ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria and government systems of compliance. The course also discusses ongoing and future approaches and technological tools to continuously monitor and improve performance, thus assuring compliance with emergent environmental and emission regulations.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Sustainability in enterprise is an ethical responsibility towards future generations. Technologies and strategies for sustainability in an enterprise focus on reducing the emission of Green House gases (GHG) in all segments of the creation of value. ESG (environmental, social governance) criteria, as set by The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) first established in 2001, are the most widely used international accounting tools for quantifying and measuring greenhouse gas emissions.

The course will explore the wide portfolio of technologies available to implement ESG and government (EU, national) criteria with a focus on current trends and future developments, feasibility and costs and impact on the organization. Important concerns of environmental impacts of Energy and  Digital technologies ICTs  are addressed considering the emissions of GHG (greenhouse gas) impact on climate change and the options for its reduction,  is monitoring the sourcing of conflict mineral, resource extraction, impacts on water, design for repair (as opposed to built-in obsolescence), renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, toxic impacts of e-waste, and software design to reduce climate impacts.

Among the technologies investigated: Solar thermal; Photovoltaic;  and Concentrated Solar Power; Biofuels and biomasses utilization; Hydrogen (green, blue, gray) production and use; energy efficiency in buildings and transport; digital IOT; “machine-to-machine” (M2M) communication; digital logistics; applied AI; emission accounting and control; re-use of residual materials and by-products (fundamentals of “circular economy”). 

A survey of company strategies and impact to the organization will be carried out, covering the three categories of ESG evaluation as defined by the GHG Protocol (“Scopes 1,2,3”), but also national and supranational regulatory frameworks (EU, UN, IPCC protocols analyzing the role and rate of success of the technologies applied. Additionally, case studies will be discussed of how major companies apply these policies and technologies.

The course consists of 4 different parts:

Part 1: introduction to the industrial sustainability  regulatory frameworks: national, EU, UN Protocols   of to ESG: GHG Protocol, growing importance in many industry sectors. C, current certification criteria.

Part 2: ESG Strategies; Scopes 1,2,3, case studies   

Part 3: Energy and emissions technologies: renewable sources, efficiency, digital, logistics, training and awareness, emission accounting and control.

Part 4: ESG reporting:  class / group project. 

 

 

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 Next decade employability of JCU students will gain from a clear awareness of ESG tools and criteria.  A technology and strategy focused class on enterprise sustainability updates student skills to the most recent state of the art on an issue which has grown from a corporate social responsibility initiative launched by the United Nations into a global phenomenon representing more than US$30 trillion in assets, in less than 20 years. Many international universities are beginning to offer courses on ESG, mostly in the fields of finance or management.

Learning Outcomesa

- Understanding the evolution of ESG and government compliance and their its importance to business.
- Basic understanding of ESG core competencies, skills and responsibilities that are essential for developing ESG framework and strategy.
- Understanding the current state of the art of the available technologies enabling ESG compliance as described above. 
 - Awareness and application of ESG strategies by major global companies.
- Demonstrate ability to address the different areas of ESG (scopes 1,2,3) and prepare an ESG reporting framework.

 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
World Energy Outlook 2023IEA . International Energy AgencyIEA      
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol - A Corporate Accounting and Reporting StandardWorld Resources Institute - World Business Council for Sustainable Development WRInone     
2023 Sustainability ReportMAERSK Group companyMaersknone Online free report.   
The Limits to Growth; A Report for the Club of Rome's Project on the Predicament of MankindMeadows at al.PAN0330241699 Historical origins of sustainability. Free pdf excerpts from teacher.   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Group Project 30
midterm 30
Final ESG report 40

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory, most tasks will be carried out by work groups. At home assignments will be considered when appropriate.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1 to 3

Part I: The GHG Protocol “Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard”.

ESG definition, its growing importance in many industry sectors, current certification criteria.

Introduction to technologies.

Week 4 to 7

Part 2: ESG Strategies;


At the heart of the decarbonization effort to combat climate change is the need to efficiently measure and track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ensure that carbon and GHG reduction strategies are in place, which first requires an understanding of those emissions.


To standardize the approach to GHG reporting, emissions can be classified into three distinct ‘scopes’, as defined by the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, which covers both direct and indirect emissions related to a given organization.

The scopes correlate to who ‘owns’ those emissions and the level of control applicable to changing those emission levels at each stage.


Scope 1 and 2 emissions are a mandatory part of reporting for many organizations across the world and relate to systems that are within reasonable control of an entity, such as onsite and purchased energy.

Scope 3 emissions are centered on sources of emissions that are more external to a specific organization, such as those across the supply chain. Scope 3 emissions remain mostly voluntary to report, however, in most cases the reduction of Scope 3 has the potential to have the largest impact.


The technologies explore in part 3 will then be considered when applied to each “scope” set of processes.

Different strategies of implementation of specific technologies in relevant scope cases, adopted from major companies (Maersk, Carlsberg; Alfa Laval), will be analyzed and discussed.


Midterm exam

Week 8 to 12

Part 3 - Energy and emissions technologies: renewable sources, energy efficiency; digital devices and systems; logistics.


  1. Solar PV; Concentrated Solar Power;

  2. ICT and digital transition impact;

  3. hydrogen (green, blue, gray) production and use;

  4. energy efficiency in buildings and transport;

  5. Internet of Things (IOT); “machine-to-machine” (M2M) communication; digital logistic

  6. emission accounting and control;

  7. re-use of residual materials and by-products (fundamentals of “circular economy”).

Week 13 and 14

Part 4: ESG reporting. The final stage of ESG is to make public the commitment, effort and results obtained by the company towards sustainability of its products, processes and supply chain. ESG annual report is the instrument to assess progress, communicate to public and personnel, declare conformity to the regulatory framework.

ESG reports from major companies will be considered and a group project will to produce a fictional albeit realistic ESG report on a case study.

Final