Transdisciplinary teaching of CSR by systemic constellations

Abstract

The demand for innovative teaching methods for the transfer of sustainability and CSR knowledge to students is constantly rising. However, the problem remains that such knowledge is rather orientational than hard fact knowledge. So the question rises, if there are new and innovative methods—especially in the course of rising demands for transdisciplinary and research-orientated teaching—which are suitable for the transfer of knowledge and the creation of insights into socially highly important topics such as sustainability and CSR. This chapter presents such a method. The method of systemic constellations is meanwhile well known in organisational consulting and is slowly finding its way to university teaching. The authors have worked with the method for several years and have gained some experience in the use of the method in university teaching. In this chapter the topics sustainability, CSR, sustainable leadership and decision-making premises in companies are addressed and related to the benefit, which can be gained by applying the method. To illustrate the huge potential the method bears, some examples are explained that show how the method has been applied in the context of teaching CSR.