MG476 Half Unit
Corporate Social Responsibility and International Labour Standards
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Chunyun Li
Availability
This course is available on the MRes in Management (Employment Relations and Human Resources), MRes in Management (Organisational Behaviour), MSc in Accounting, Organisations and Institutions, MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Human Resource Management/CIPD), MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (International Employment Relations/CIPD), MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Organisational Behaviour), MSc in Human Rights and Politics, MSc in Political Science (Global Politics) and MSc in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply:
Places on oversubscribed courses will be allocated via a random ballot process with priority given to students with the course in their Programme Regulations, followed by other Department of Management students, then students from elsewhere in the school. Providing you apply before the Department deadline of 10am on Monday 29 September 2025, the time you applied will not be taken into account. Please be aware that places on high demand courses cannot be guaranteed. By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student’s chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
For further information and updates on course availability during Week 1, please see the Department of Management Electives Moodle page.
Deadline for application:
Please apply by 10am on Monday 29 September 2025 with your first course choices. No allocations are made before this date and time.
For queries contact:
Please view the Department of Management Electives page for contact emails.
This course may be capped/subject to controlled access. For further information about the course's availability, please see the MG Elective Course Selection Moodle page (https://moodle.lse.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3840).
Requisites
Additional requisites:
Any social science background.
Course content
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming an expected element of corporate strategy. This course critically evaluates CSR, focusing on firms’ attempts to prevent labour standards violations in their supply chains. We begin by analysing the rise of CSR, setting it in the context of global value chains and transnational regulation of labour standards. We then analyse topics such as: the impact of CSR on corporate financial performance; whether CSR is an effective means of raising labour standards; theories of CSR; how to embed CSR within the firm and implications of human rights due diligence legislations for firms. The course includes plenty of examples of how large corporations are dealing with the ethical challenges posed by global supply chains. The course is interdisciplinary, and students are encouraged to bring insights from their “home” discipline so that seminars become a mutual learning experience. The course will include a few seminars and a lecture from CSR professionals to share real-world challenges and practices.
Teaching
15 hours of seminars and 10 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
In its Ethics Code, LSE upholds a commitment to intellectual freedom. This means we will protect the freedom of expression of our students and staff and the right to engage in healthy debate in the classroom.
Formative assessment
Indicative reading
- Aguinis, H., & Glavas, A. (2013). Embedded versus peripheral corporate social responsibility: Psychological foundations. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 6(4), 314-332.
- Anner, M. (2021). Three labour governance mechanisms for addressing decent work deficits in global value chains. International Labour Review, 160(4), 611-629.
- Elliott, K. A., & Freeman, R. B. (2003). Can labor standards improve under globalization?. Peterson Institute Press: All Books.
- Locke, R. M. (2013). The promise and limits of private power: Promoting labor standards in a global economy. Cambridge University Press.
- Porter, M. and Kramer, M. (2011) ‘The Big Idea: Creating Shared Value’ Harvard Business Review (Jan-Feb): 1-17.
- Soundararajan, V., Wilhelm, M., Crane, A., Agarwal, P., & Shetty, H. (2025). Towards a Systemic Approach for Improving Working Conditions in Global Supply Chains: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda. Academy of Management Annals, 19(1), 230-264.
Assessment
Course participation (10%)
Essay (50%)
Essay (40%)
For detailed assessment information, including all deadlines and timings, please see the relevant course Moodle page. Assessment timings will be available at the start of each term.
Key facts
Department: Management
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 14
Average class size 2024/25: 14
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Commercial awareness