Indian Institute of Management Rohtak
Course Outline
Course Title : Systems, Sustainability and Social Justice
Program : Five-Years Integrated Program in Management
Credits : 1 (20 Sessions)
Type : Compulsory
Session Duration : 75 minutes
Term : VII
Year : 2025
Faculty : Dr. Neeraj Singh
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Introduction
Embark on a captivating journey through the course “Systems, Sustainability, and Social Justice,”
where the global challenges of climate, Covid, conflicts, carbon, and cyberwarps converge. Uniting
systems thinking, social cohesion, and sustainable development, this transformative offering
weaves together diverse approaches. Participants explore interconnectedness and learn to
implement solutions that foster economic, environmental, and societal value. Institutions and
businesses are empowered to embrace good governance, inclusiveness, and environmental
sustainability. Siloed approaches are challenged as resilience-seeking stakeholders unite to spark
innovation and transformation. This course acts as a bridge, connecting seemingly different areas,
engaging students in systems-driven group thinking, and igniting a passion for change that adds
value to businesses, the environment, and society. Together, they tackle global issues like climate
change and income inequality, understanding the importance of collective efforts for a better world.
Course Objectives:
• Foster deliberative thinking on business value creation through systems thinking,
sustainability, and social justice.
• Unveil practicality of theoretical approaches in systems, sustainability, and societal justice.
• Develop purpose-driven leadership competencies.
Pedagogy:
The teaching and learning would be through a mix of lectures, demonstrations, discussions, case
analysis, assignments, quizzes and presentations. Participants are expected to prepare before
attending sessions.
Learning Outcomes:
• Develop a thorough understanding of systems thinking, sustainability, and social justice
principles.
• Apply theoretical frameworks to analyse and solve real-world problems for the betterment
of both businesses and society.
• Cultivate leadership skills necessary to effectively address and tackle sustainability
challenges with a clear sense of purpose.
1
Evaluation Scheme
Class Participation and in class discussion I+G 20%
Group project report and final presentation G 20%
Mid Term Examination I 30%
End term examination I 30%
Total 100%
*I= Individual components, G= Group components
Brief Outlines:
The course consists of three modules:
1. Foundations of Systems Thinking
2. Sustainability and Systems Thinking
3. Social Justice and Systems Thinking
Readings:
Main Textbook
1. Smith-Barusch, A. (2018). Foundations of social policy: Social justice in human
perspective. Cengage Learning.
2. Zastrow, C., & Hessenauer, S. L. (2022). Empowerment series: Introduction to social work
and social welfare: Empowering people. Cengage Learning.
Reference Books (Available from instructor/ library)
A. Meadows, D. H. (2009). Thinking in systems: a primer/donella h. meadows; edited by
diana wright. London: Earthscan, 2009.
B. Howard-Grenville, J., Buckle, S. J., Hoskins, B. J., & George, G. (2014). Climate change
and management. Academy of Management Journal, 57(3), 615-623. (online access
available)
C. Shrivastava, P. (1995). The role of corporations in achieving ecological sustainability.
Academy of management review, 20(4), 936-960. (online access available)
D. Newell, P., & Frynas, J. G. (2007). Beyond CSR? Business, poverty and social justice: an
introduction. Third world quarterly, 28(4), 669-681. (online access available)
E. Wright, C., & Nyberg, D. (2017). An inconvenient truth: How organisations translate
climate change into business as usual. Academy of management journal, 60(5), 1633-1661.
(online access available)
2
F. Meadows, D. H., Goldsmith, E. I., & Meadow, P. (1972). The limits to growth (Vol. 381).
London: Earth Island Limited.
G. Malhotra, N. (Ed.). (2022). Frontiers in Social Innovation: The Essential Handbook for
Creating, Deploying, and Sustaining Creative Solutions to Systemic Problems. Harvard
Business Press.
Special Instructions
Please take the time to review, refresh your knowledge, and prepare in advance for our in-class
discussions, which will last for 75 minutes per session.
Course Outline
Case/Exercise/
Module S.No. Topics Readings#
Assignment
Foundations of Introduction to Systems: Properties of Reference Exercise and
Systems Thinking systems, Slinky as a system, systems and A: Chapter Discussion:
1 interconnected entities, systems in nature, 1 and 2 Taobao in China:
systems in businesses, business ecosystems Map the systems
as an example. actors
Types of Systems, Their Properties and Reference Discussion on
Value Proposition: Point-based, bundle- A: Stakeholder
based, integrated, and self-organizing Chapter 3 Relationship Maps
2
systems; properties of network externality;
value proposition of business systems.
Why systems surprise us. Linear minds in Reference Exercise and
a nonlinear world. Nonexistent boundaries. A: Discussion
3 Layers of limits. Ubiquitous Delays. Chapter 4
Bounded Rationality.
Systems Traps…and Opportunities: Reference Exercise and
Policy resistance-fixes that fail. The A: Discussion
tragedy of commons. Chapter 5
4 Drift to low performance. Competitive
exclusion.
Shifting the burden to intervener-addiction.
Revolutionizing Systems and Shaping Reference Exercise and
5 Philosophies. Places to intervene in a A: Discussion
system Chapter 6
3
Living in a world of systems. Exposing Reference Exercise and
your mental models to the light of day. A: Discussion
Honor, respect, and distribute information. Chapter 7
Paying attention to what is important, not
6
just what is quantifiable. Feedback systems
and policies. Locating responsibility in the
system.
Sustainability & Climate Change and Management: Reference Exercise and
Systems Thinking Glimpse into the science of climate change. B: Discussion
7
The policy of climate change. Pages: 615-
618
Climate Change and Management: Reference Exercise and
Implications for organisations and B: Discussion
8
management. Reshaping Value chains Page: 618-
619
9 Climate Change and Management: Reference B: Exercise and
Organisational Resilience and adaptation. Page 619623. Discussion
Shifts in work and life. Societal shifts.
10 Social sustainability systems: Textbook 2: Exercise and
Organisations, communities and groups: Chapter 10. Discussion
models of organisations. Knopf’s
bureaucratic system model. Community
practice. Building and sustaining
community. Local development model.
Social planning model. Social action plan.
Mid Term Examination
11 Social sustainability systems: Self-help Textbook 2: Exercise and
group. Chapter 9. Discussion
Katz and Bender classification. Powell
Classification. How SHG translates to
social sustainability
12 Business & Ecological sustainability: Reference C Exercise and
Ecologically sustainable development. Discussion
Ecologically sustainable corporations. Total
quality environmental management.
4
Social Justice and 13 Introduction to Social Justice. Definition. Textbook 1: Exercise and
Systems Thinking Components of Social Justice. Justice in Chapter 1 Discussion
Process. Oligarchy and Social Justice.
Liberal concept. Sociological and
Philosophical Perspectives on Social
Justice.
14 Collective responses to social problems: Textbook 1: Exercise and
Social security. Grand Problems: Old age, Chapter 4. Page Discussion
unemployment, medical insurance. Health 101 to 136.
and social services.
15 Collective responses to social problems: Textbook 1: Exercise and
Poverty. Values and Beliefs about Poverty. Chapter 5 Discussion
Public intervention approaches towards
poverty alleviation.
16 Vulnerable Populations: Discriminations Textbook 1: Exercise and
and Oppression. Women. Women in Chapter 12 Discussion
Family. Women at the workplace. Women
in Military. Women as citizen
17 Business, poverty and social justice: CSR Reference D Exercise and
and its limitations. Importance of process Discussion
orientation. Role of State and Business
Integrating 18 System thinking and triple bottom line: Reference E Exercise and
thoughts. How organisations translate climate change Discussion
into business as usual.
19-20 Discussion on key learning from
assignments and Group
Presentations
End Term Examination
#
A few readings may be added/changed by instructor to improve the quality of discussion in the
sessions.
Assignment: Details of group assignment will be shared in session no. 5
Important Notice: Plagiarism, including the use of generative AI like ChatGPT, copying, or
collaborating dishonestly, is strictly prohibited in this course. Any instance of plagiarism will
result in an automatic course failure. Additionally, the Institute will take disciplinary action,
which may include expulsion from the program.
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