Beyond Grey Pinstripes

     

University of Alberta

All Participating Schools

     
University of Alberta
U. of Alberta
 3-23 School of Business
Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R6
Canada
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Demographic Information

Number of full-time MBA students (2011): 

80

Number of part-time MBA students (2011): 

60

Total duration of full-time MBA program: 

22 months

MBA faculty (Fall 2010): 

127

Females as percent of student body: 

32%


Description of MBA Program: 

The Alberta School of Business always emphasizes that at the end of the day, your word and your reputation are your best assets. We urge our students to always do the right thing, to not be afraid to be leaders in this regard. As future leaders of both the public and private sector, Alberta MBA graduates have the opportunity to bring social and environmental issues into the forefront of mainstream business. The Alberta MBA program is designed to ensure that students develop a high degree of awareness of social and ethical concepts and issues and the ability to recognize and deal with the core issues.



The Alberta MBA program offers a number of courses dedicated exclusively to Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics, Sustainability, Environmental Economics, Natural Resource and Environmental Law, Strategic Management in the Public Sector, and Managing Business-Government Relations in Canada. These topics are also integrated into a number of core courses and electives. Issues of corporate social responsibility, value sets, and ethical behaviour are touched on and discussed in virtually all disciplines. Students are also able to specialize their education in the areas of Natural Resources and Energy, where there is a strong focus on environmental issues, and Public Management, where courses are focused on non-profit and government organizations.



Outside of the classroom, social and environmental concerns are reinforced through student clubs and guest speakers. All students are encouraged to join the campus chapter of Net Impact, a global network dedicated to using the power of business to make the world a better place. The student group on campus helps organize socially responsible volunteer opportunities for students and along with the School itself, help to bring in speakers focused on social, ethical, and environmental concerns.  



The Alberta School of Business is also home to a number of institutes focused on social, environmental, and non-profit management. These institutes include The Canadian Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (CCSE), the Centre for Applied Business Research in Energy and the Environment (CABREE) and the University-wide School of Energy and the Environment (SEE). The CCSE is dedicated to promoting an understanding of social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility, while both CABREE and SEE are focused on environmental concerns.



Leaders not only have to have the fundamental business skills necessary to run a successful organization, but ability to see beyond the bottom line.



How does the MBA program 'walk the talk' of social and environmental impact?: 

The Net Impact chapter at the University of Alberta is a very committed and passionate group.  Through the Net Impact chapter, a number of campus greening initiatives have been undertaken in recent years. Three major projects Net Impact has been involved in this year are the Recyclemania Marketing Campaign, Green Computing, and Water Efficiency.



Recyclemania Marketing Campaign


The purpose of this project is to provide support to this year's Recyclemania campaign at the University of Alberta. Recyclemania is an annual competition between universities and colleges accross North America aimed at increasing awareness of waste on campus and increasing rates of recycling. Net Impact will assist the office of sustainability in two ways:

First, the Net Impact project team will conduct a market research study to determine information critical to project strategy.  Following the marketing survey, Net Impact will make strategy recommendations to the office of sustainability on how to conduct this years Recyclemania campaign to achieve the best results.

Secondly, Net Impact will assist with the promotion and operation of the Recyclemania competition. Following the competition, we will also assist in the post competition analysis to find the key learnings and make recommendations for next years competition.



Green Computing


The purpose of this project is to conduct a 'phantom load' audit of the business building, and make recommendations to reduce energy consumption as well as improved equipment recyclability. A phantom load is defined as Electricity consumed by a device while off or not performing its function.


Results of this audit will be presented to the University of Alberta's Energy Management and Sustainable Operations team and the VP of IT at the University, who are considering investment in green computing initiatives


Water Efficiency


The objective of this project is to perform a water consumption audit of the Business building and Students Union Building (SUB).  Two approaches will be taken. First, we will access the building utilities data and determine normalized consumption rates per square meter. These results can be compared to other buildings and industry standards to determine their relative performance. Second, we will perform an audit of all water use fixtures in these buildings and determine potential savings based on replacing or renewing existing fixtures.
 

Academic Department

Course Name: Energy Technologies and Institutions
Instructor: Richard Dixon

The course provides an introduction to regulatory, market and technology issues of the resource and energy sectors in Canada in general, and in Alberta in particular.

The objective is for students to acquire a basic understanding of the various sectors and to be able to understand regulatory, market and technology fundamentals. In addition, students will gain an appreciation for the similarities and differences between sectors.

Within each sector, a focus on the specific environmental and regulatory challenges facing the sector address environmental management. Additional class time is also devoted specifically to climate change within the energy industries.

Course Name: Environmental Management
Instructor: Ujjayant Chakravorty

This course is intended to introduce students to the theory of environmental economics and to examine its role in management and policy-making. The first half of the course is devoted to the development of a model of pollution, the evaluation of policy in this context, and to the setting of optimal environmental policies. The second half of the course is devoted to applications. Particular policies and practices implemented in North America will be examined.

Course Name: Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility with Communications
Instructor: Dr. Richard Field

“This course focuses on the application of moral principles and models for ethical decision making to individuals and businesses in the 21st century. Contemporary ethical and social issues will be examined through the use of case studies, class discussions and presentations. Topics include concepts of individual ethics, workplace issues, corporate compliance and social and environmental responsibility. While examining ethical issues, emphasis will be placed on improving students' proficiency levels in verbal and written business communication.” This purpose will be achieved by discussion, writing, case analyses, and by experiential exercises and role plays.

Course Name: Implementing Public Policy
Instructor: Dr. Trish Reay

Many policies succeed or fail, not because of the policy content, but because of the implementation process. All too often there is inadequate attention to the problems and issues involved in implementation. In this course, we will investigate the process of policy implementation from an organizational perspective. Topic areas will include: using new knowledge to develop policy; influencing policy; and the role of managers in effectively implementing policy. There will be a strong focus on how public sector managers can effectively design and implement change strategies that take into consideration the organizational structure, systems, leadership, culture and politics. The course will combine classroom discussion of theoretical concepts and practical applications.

Course Name: Managing People
Instructor: Andrew Luchak

This course introduces students to principles in the effective management of people at work, with emphasis on the application of theory via “real world” problem scenarios. The course emphasizes that people can be an organization’s greatest asset and an important source of competitive advantage if managed properly. This is most likely to happen when employees clearly understand what role behaviors are required of them by an organization’s culture and strategy and when they are equipped with the skills, motivation and opportunity to behave as such. This course will help students develop a base of knowledge and skills that are relevant for leading and managing people within organizations.

Specifically, the course involves the following issues:

- Environmental (business strategy, culture, organizational learning, organizational change)

- Social (employee rights, rewards and well-being; employment exchanges; career planning; equity and diversity; labor relations, performance management and innovation)

Course Name: Natural Resources and Energy Capstone
Instructor: Joseph Doucet

The course provides an opportunity to develop a better and deeper understanding of international aspects of energy/resource markets and environmental issues, particularly European issues. The course is structured around a visit to London, England.

Course Name: Natural Resources and Environmental Law
Instructor: Stan Rutwind

The goals of this course are to give students an understanding the regulatory law framework and the environmental law framework in a number of jurisdictions including Canada and Alberta; understanding the functions of legislation and decision makers including boards and courts; understanding regulatory frameworks relating to the development of oil and gas, oil sands, coal, forestry and electricity; and to be aware of current issues including sustainable development, greenhouse gases and coal bed methane.

Course Name: Principles of Marketing Management
Instructor: Robert Fisher

The objectives of the course are to (1) develop marketing decision-making skills (2) understand and apply major marketing concepts and (3) increase familiarity with a range of context-specific marketing knowledge, practice, and terminology.

Within the course, one case involves clear ethical and social issues. Social impact issues relating to "how marketing can contribute positively to society" are brought up where appropriate through out the course.

Course Name: Process of Making Public Policy
Instructor: Rodney Schneck

Emphasizes a systematic and comprehensive approach to the study of developing and implementing public policy within the context of Canadian society. This course explores both the decision-making process, and such factors as the separation of powers between levels of government, electoral politics, interest groups, media and government bureaucracy as they influence the making of public policy.

Course Name: Public Sector Leadership
Instructor: Roger Palmer

Nearly all research on leadership has focused on the private sector. This course will concentrate on the unique features of leadership in the public and non-profit sectors. The course will examine the senior management structures in the different orders of government but the focus will be transformative leadership in areas of current policy interest including examples from environment, health, education, and social services

Pages

Type of Offering

Roger Phillips - International vs. Canadian Investment and Ownership of Canadian Corporations
Date: November, 2010

On November 24th, from 5:30 – 6:15pm, Roger Phillips will be speaking to students in the 4th floor lounge. In light of the recent BPH Billiton’s failed take-over bid for Canadian Potash Corporation, including the intervention of the Government of Canada to block this bid, Mr. Phillips will speak about investment in Canada and address issues including: Where are we going with investment and ownership in Canada? Is there a difference of investment in high-tech industries versus natural resources? Was the federal government action justified or antiquated within the global market that we need to compete? What is the quality of investment that is required in Canada and how can we generate that for the sustainability of the Canadian economy?

Mr. Phillip’s perspective and 20 years of experience as the CEO for steel producer IPSCO Inc is insightful and of particular relevance to not only the Potash Corporation situation, but also to corresponding investments in natural resources across Canada. Mr. Phillips currently serves as a Director at Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc, and La fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, a Member of the Alberta School of Business Advisory Council, and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Social Enterprise Fund - MBA Dean's Forum
Date: February, 2011

Bob Ward, Antoine Palmer, and Kevin Gangel from the Social Enterprise Fund will be exploring how today’s entrepreneurs can tap into Edmonton’s financial and advisory resources in order to effectively implement great ideas and world-transforming projects.

EPCOR Distinguished Lecture
Date: March, 2010

Each year, the EPCOR distinguished lecture series invites a prominent individual to speak on Water Policy Issues.

The importance of water for Canada’s environment, economy and society is growing each and every day. Virtually every industry in Canada relies on water in some capacity but have we treated water with the care it deserves?

Water has gained prominence on the political agenda over the past 10 years with new actors emerging. Professor Rob de Loë cautions that the lack of national coordination will jeopardize Canada’s ability to respond to the complex water related challenges and opportunities.

Rob will discuss the need for an action-oriented, pan-Canadian vision and strategy. Such a strategy would include “acknowledgement of shared responsibility for water in Canada; a flexible and adaptive approach; and a strategic stance that focuses on areas where a national perspective is needed, and where the benefits of collaboration are evident.”

“Water is crucial for the economy. Virtually every industry from agriculture, electric power and industrial manufacturing to beverage, apparel, and tourism relies on it to grow and ultimately sustain their business.”

Pacific Institute, Water Scarcity & Climate Change: Growing Risks for Businesses & Investors

Rob holds the University Research Chair in Water Policy and Governance at the University of Waterloo. He is a member of the Canadian Water Network, Canadian Water Resources Association and Canadian Association of Geographers as well as an Associate Editor of the Canadian Water Resources Journal.

International Business Speaker Series
Date: September, 2010

The International Business Specialization arranges for a number of guest speakers to visit the University and deliver presentations on current issues to students within the IB specialization as well as MBA students at large. Specific topics vary by speaker, but have included discussions on corporate governance within different countries, business practices within different cultures, international environmental concerns, and discussion of the current economic downturn. Speakers include:

Greg Jardine, Executive Director

Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations

Harvey Sheydwasser, CEO

LogiCan Technologies

Tom Facklam, GP

BioEnterprise

School of Energy and Environment Seminar Series
Date: September, 2010

The School of Energy and the Environment (SEE) host once a month Seminars in Energy and Environmental issues. Speakers/Topics have included:

"Using Nanoscience for Photovoltaics: Generating the World's Energy Through Solar"

"Advances in Biofuel Development; the Promise and the Pitfalls for Energy Sustainability"

"Green Biorefineries and Tomorrows Future Economy"

"Policy Making on Climate Issues: the Place of Citizen Deliberation"

"Oil Sands Revegetation"

"Building Sustainable Forest Soils Following Oil Sands Mining"

World's Greenest Oil - MBA Dean's Forum
Date: January, 2011

Dr. Peter Silverstone, Professor and Senior Scholar from Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, will be presenting his new book World's Greenest Oil. In a completely independent assessment he examines the facts behind the environmental controversy of oilsands. Dr. Silverstone has a diverse background with multiple interests. He is a physician, professor, academic, and businessman. He was promoted to a position of Full Professor at the University of Alberta before he was 40 based upon the quality of the medical research he carried out. He has been recognized of being successful both as an academic and as a businessman.

Michael Hill, Ducks Unlimited
Date: November, 2010

A Reverse Auction for Wetland Restoration in the Assiniboine River Watershed, Saskatchewan

Wetland habitat continues to be lost in many watersheds across Canada and new program tools are needed to help restore drained wetlands. We used a reverse auction to restore drained wetlands in the Assiniboine River Watershed (ARW) of east-central Saskatchewan which is an important target area for wetland restoration in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). The reverse auction format was discriminative, with sealed bids and two rounds of bidding. Bidders could submit bids for 12-year term agreements and/or perpetual conservation easements, and bids were submitted by quarter section (160 acres). Bids could be either in cultivated cropland or perennial forage, and were evaluated using an environmental benefits index based on the incremental increase in predicted hatched waterfowl nests relative to bid price. Potential bidders were solicited via contacts with existing conservation project cooperators, and a public media campaign. In the first round, 20 bidders submitted 118 bids to restore 713 wetlands totaling 670 acres at a price of $837,000. All bids were for 12-year term agreements. Bid prices to restore drained wetlands within cultivated land were higher than for perennial forage. In the second round, thirty bids from 7 bidders were approved to restore 211 wetlands totaling 211 acres in perennial forage at a price of $182,000. The price of successful bids varied from $20.83 to $391.22 per acre per year (average $118.52). The reverse auction provided information on cost variability and funding required for achieving NAWMP wetland restoration objectives in the ARW.

The Power of Nanotechnology: Alberta's Energy Future
Date: December, 2010

Nanotechnology is the current forefront of science and innovation, while energy production is tied to global development, competitiveness, and quality of life. Together Nanotech and Energy will impact different aspects the economy, environment, and social welfare, both in Alberta and Globally. Our panelists will talk about Alberta´s current energy state, developments in the renewable energy sector and Oil Sands operations, how these developments diversify Alberta´s economy, and the government´s role in financing this research.

Panelists include:

• Dr. Jillian Buriak, Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta

• Mr. Peter Watson, Alberta Deputy Minister of Energy

• Dr. Murray Gray, Scientific Director for The Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

MBA Career Services

Within the MBA program, all full-time students are required to complete BUS 504 - Career Management, where all MBA students are exposed to the tools necessary to manage their career search and career development.

All students meet one-on-one with MBA Career Services to discuss their future career plans. During the one-on-one meeting, advice and career development assistance is provided for those interested in both social impact and environmental management.

Outside of BUS 504 and individual contact with students, MBA Career Services works to bring employers within all areas, including environmental management and social impact, to campus and to actively recruit MBA students.

In addition, professors and instructors assist students interested in these fields (and others) to build their networks and pursue career interests in these areas. Within the specializations (Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment, Public Management, International Business, etc), the specialization directors work with students and guest speakers who are brought in are also available to assist with career development initiatives.

MBA / Master of Forestry
MBA / Masters of Agriculture
Canadian Center for Social Entrepreneurship
Business School Housing? Yes
Number of Faculty: 2
Contact Name: Gary McPherson
Contact Email: ccse@ualberta.ca

The Canadian Center for Social Entrepreneurship (CCSE) is unique in Canada in its mission to work with all three sectors - voluntary, government, and business - to build the foundations necessary to encourage entrepreneurial approaches to social innovation. Leaders in the new philanthropy agree that solutions to critical social issues lie in dissolving the boundaries between the sectors to share insight, knowledge and commitment for the development of our communities.

The need for a forum to inform, strengthen, and engage communities made the School of Business at the University of Alberta a logical choice for housing the CCSE. The CCSE benefits from the expertise and stature of the School of Business in education, research and collaboration with the community.

Center for Applied Business Research in Energy and the Environment (CABREE)
Business School Housing? Yes
Number of Faculty: 10
Contact Name: Joseph Doucet
Contact Email: joseph.doucet@ualberta.ca

CABREE is a non-partisan, independent research center that is dedicated to providing applied economic analysis to inform public policy debates on issues of vital importance to Alberta and Canada as a whole. Our activities complement and support the Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment MBA specialization. Our students are one of our major resources and they actively participate in research projects and interact with decision makers in the private and public sectors through Center activities.

CABREE's research efforts focus on energy markets, electricity restructuring, and climate change issues. Within each area, we explore policy driven issues and will highlight the linkages between energy and the environment. Our analysis will draw from business economics, finance and quantitative modeling, as well as from associated disciplines.

School of Energy and the Environment
Business School Housing? No
Number of Faculty: 13
Contact Name: Joseph Doucet
Contact Email: nkosturi@ualberta.ca

University of Alberta’s School of Energy and the Environment (SEE) is at the heart of an unprecedented approach to examining and solving key issues related to energy and the environment in today’s rapidly changing world. The school brings together the university’s unique and extensive combination of expertise in diverse areas - engineering, science, arts, agriculture, native studies, business, law, public health, medicine and others - in a virtual environment that conducts research, undertakes interdisciplinary education, and cultivates and contributes to worldwide discussions on critical issues surrounding environment, energy, and the economy.

Canadian Corporate Governance Institute
Business School Housing? Yes
Number of Faculty: 7
Contact Name: Randall Morck
Contact Email: ccgi@ualberta.ca

The Canadian Corporate Governance Institute (CCGI), located in the University of Alberta's School of Business, is an instigator of and clearinghouse for research into all aspects of Canadian corporate governance. The CCGI's goal is to make it as easy as possible for Canadians to become informed about the laws, regulations, economic issues, and policy debates surrounding corporate governance in this country. In addition to focusing on the governance of listed corporations, the institute also studies the governance of family firms, public sector enterprises, and not-for-profit organizations.

University of Alberta Net Impact Chapter

Net Impact's mission is to improve the world by growing and strengthening a network of new leaders who are using the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental, and economic impact. With more than 130 student and professional chapters on 5 continents in 80 cities and 80 graduate schools, a central office in San Francisco, and partnerships with leading for and not-for profit organizations, Net Impact enables members to use business for social good in their graduate education, careers, and communities. The Net Impact Chapter at the University of Alberta allows students a place to meet and work together towards using business for social good.

Agency vs. stewardship in public family firms: A social embeddedness reconciliation
Author(s): LeBreton-Miller, I; Miller, D

Family businesses (FBs) play a key role in the world's economies. Unfortunately, the current literature surfaces disparate understandings and conclusions concerning their conduct and performance. Much of that literature falls under two insightful perspectives, agency theory and stewardship theory, that conflict quite directly. The agency view, based in economics, maintains that families will pursue utility for themselves to the detriment of their public shareholders. By contrast, stewardship proponents, arguing from a psychological perspective, suggest that family owners will invest deeply in their enterprise, to the benefit of all. This study synthesizes the literature on each of these perspectives to derive core motivational assumptions and expected organizational outcomes. Then, by employing a third sociological perspective, it proposes to reconcile these opposing views by considering the social embeddedness of firms and their key actors within the institution of the family for different types of public family enterprises. It will argue that there is a need for such integration in order to better understand and permit accurate, context-based predictions across various kinds of family businesses and family business situations.

Journal Title: Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice Volume: 33 Edition: 6 Page Numbers: 1169-1191
Corporate governance and the responsibility of the board of directors for strategic financial reporting
Author(s): Gaa, JC

One of the fundamental principles of good corporate governance is transparency, i.e., the disclosure of private information to external stakeholders, so that they may make judgments and decisions relating to the corporation. Equally important, but less discussed, is the competing value that corporations need to protect legitimate secrets. Corporations thus need a communication strategy for dealing with external stakeholders which addresses the conflict between disclosure and secrecy. This article focuses on an important element of that communication strategy in the context of financial reporting: the possibility that corporate insiders may consider it in their interest, or in the interest of specific stakeholders, to alter or manipulate the financial information that it discloses publicly. Using concepts from the corporate governance and financial reporting literatures, it addresses the ethical question of who (management or the board of directors) should be responsible for making the fundamental strategic choices whether and (if so) how the corporation alters or manipulates the financial information. This article argues that the board of directors is responsible for formulating (and monitoring) the corporation's communication strategy, and that management is responsible for carrying it out.

Journal Title: Journal of Busness Ethics Volume: 90 Edition: Page Numbers: 179-197
Linking social issues to organizational impact: The role of infomediaries and the infomediary process
Author(s): Deephouse, David; Heugens, P

When do organizations decide to ‘adopt’ a given social issue such that they come to acknowledge it in their patterns of action and communication? Traditional answers to this question have focused either on the characteristics of the issue itself, or on the traits of the focal organization. In many cases, however, a firm’s decision to adopt or ignore an issue is not a straightforward function of firm or issue characteristics. Instead, we view issue adoption as a socially constructed process of information exchange between parties that are involved in the emergence and evolution of the issue, mediated by third-party organizations. We refer to this process as the infomediary process and these latter organizations as ‘infomediaries,’ after the information mediation and brokerage roles they play in the social processes linking social issues to organizational impact. We present a concise theoretical model of how infomediaries establish credible linkages between focal organizations and social issues. The thrust of the model is that the infomediation process, rather than the issue or firm characteristics, is what really drives firm-level issue adoption decisions.

Journal Title: Journal of Business Ethics Volume: 86 Edition: 4 Page Numbers: 541-553
The Welfare Implications of Climate Change Policy
Author(s): Leach, Andrew

The response to three different climate change policies is measured within a general equilibrium model of world output, technological change, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate-driven changes in productivity. The proposed policies, including an approximation to the Kyoto protocol, are shown to differ greatly in how they mitigate climate change, support economic growth, and allocate rents across generations. Benefits of alternative policies, relative to the status quo, do not necessarily accrue to the generations that bear the costs. The results also show that the chosen rent distribution rule has a profound effect on policy evaluation. In particular, policies which allocate rents on a per-capita basis are shown to be systematically welfare-preferred to situations where emissions rights are grandfathered to emitting firms. This implies that both the optimal level of emissions and the welfare cost of reaching a given target of emissions or atmospheric concentration would be lower under a per-capita allocation of emissions permits or carbon tax revenues

Journal Title: Journal of Environmental Economics and Management Volume: 57 Edition: 2 Page Numbers: 151-165
Voluntary Environmental Decision-Making: Green Electricity Purchases and the Role of Champions
Author(s): Doucet, Joseph; Gkuedtm T; Berkhout, Tom

This study investigates the corporate decision to voluntarily purchase premium-priced Green Electricity (GE) by examining the internal and external factors which influence environmental decision making. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight paired firms in Alberta, Canada. Firms purchasing GE typically employed a top-down decision-making process, while firms characterised by a participative process did not. An internal driver (environmental champion) was more significant than external factors (regulations, stakeholder pressure) at influencing firms to voluntarily adopt GE purchasing, while organisational culture was found to moderate the effect of drivers. Cost is a common inhibitor to green purchase decisions, but customer (oil industry) perceptions and government regulations were also identified in some cases.

Journal Title: International Journal of Business Environment Volume: 3 Edition: 3 Page Numbers: 308-328
Water Allocation under Distribution Losses: Comparing Alternative Institutions
Author(s): Chakravorty, Ujjayant; Hochman, Eithan; Zilberman, David

The distribution of water resources is characterized by increasing returns to scale. Distribution
links water generation to its end-use. Standard economic analysis overlooks the interaction
among these micro-markets – generation, distribution and end-use. We compare water allocation
when there is market power in each micro-market. These outcomes are compared with
benchmark cases - social planning and a competitive business-as-usual regime. Simulations
suggest that institutions with market power in generation and end-use generate significantly
higher welfare than the distribution monopoly and the competitive regime. However, if the policy
goal is to maximize the size of the grid, a distribution monopoly is preferred.

Journal Title: Journal of Economic Dynamics & Control Volume: 33 Edition: 2 Page Numbers: 463-476