Comments on: Sustainability and Responsible Leadership Course Ideas Needed

By: admin

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:34:56 +0000

Hi James.

I put finance under economics purely as a matter of ease for me, but I agree that they are separate topics.

With regards to sustainability and responsible leadership, are there suggested topics that you would have for either category?

Thanks
R

By: James

James — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:47:49 +0000

Economics and Finance should be two categories – especially if the project will be in Shanghai – which is the 2020 world financial capital – how about for Finance – banking, insurance, non-banking services, exchanges, commodities..

By: admin

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:35:15 +0000

Steve.

Thanks. I defiantly missed that one!

Rich

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:33:30 +0000

How about occupational health and safety? China has, on the books, good rules but they are not particularly well applied, recognized or appreciated.

By: Clement Wan

Clement Wan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:20:07 +0000

I would emphasize insofar as implementation goes, to be technology agnostic – especially under the topic of clean technologies. I’m not sure how familiar you are with LNG/Shale Gas technologies, but I think we’re on the verge of a major transition given how much we’re finding of this stuff practically everywhere. It’s believed that natural gas is abundant everywhere including China and India (based on the geology) and they’re just scratching the surface so far.

It sounds incredible but if you track the reserves for North America, they thought just a few years ago that stocks were declining and were looking to develop LNG ports to import the stuff but now they’re spending hundreds of millions to upgrade ports for export. This has massive implications everywhere given how much more clean burning natural gas is. Here’s a relatively long video that I’m not sure you can get from China but it provides an overview: http://fora.tv/2009/02/24/Robert_Hefner_The_Grand_Energy_Transition

It’s the reason why natural gas prices are so low and may stay that way relative to oil – so there’s a solid economic case for it versus some of these other technologies. Indeed, I suspect that it will push other technologies onto the backburner…

As for other aspects, I agree with Greg that the biggest impact to productivity and quality of life that students can impact will be in the people management and how they will differ from one industry to another and understanding quite specifically the cost-benefit tradeoffs that they make.

Clement

By: admin

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:57:17 +0000

Hi Greg.

Thanks…. and please go on and on.

One subtopic that I have included, which I believe is “human”, is cultural preservation. Also, it should be mentioned that as part of their research and practicum, they will be required to create a stakeholder map that looks at the human side of these issues.

So, if you can help frame up your ideas into something I can present, then I am happy to include it.

Thanks
R

By: gregorylent

gregorylent — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:34:11 +0000

there is nothing human in any of those lists .. all intellectual academic categories and new-paradigm povs will not arise from the boxes you start with ..

leadership .. what about ego studies, love/empathy/nurturing/service studies?

sustainability .. what is actually at the basis of sustainablity? reverence, respect, relationship, recognition of oneness …

what about the value of traditional (pre-mao) chinese spiritual teachings .. there are very real principles that china still knows that has resulted in them having all the money and america in debt ..

who really knows about sustainability in this world? agrarian cultures ..

i could go on. and on ..