The achievement of a balanced economic, social and environmental development - as expressed in the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development - is recognized as one of the major challenges humanity is facing today. What is less clear is whether and how organizations can generate business opportunities and value for their stakeholders while tackling such challenges.
In this course, thought leaders in a wide variety of management and economics fields illustrate how to assess and seize the opportunities offered by these global emergencies. They will offer new ways to understand the purpose and the logic of success of the business enterprise in this new context, providing ideas and examples on how to manage the transition process to realize the value creation potential from corporate sustainability for all involved stakeholders.
Learning objectives
The course will allow you to:
- Understand What the macroeconomic and microeconomic consequences of both climate changes, poverty, hunger, gender or race discriminations, lack of communication between the State, Civil Societies, and businesses, etc are.
- Understand Why it is important for businesses to tackle sustainability issues in order to create more and better business opportunities;
- Learn How each individual, organization and system can start to analyze its behaviors and change towards more sustainable practices and models.
Corporate Sustainability. Understanding and Seizing the Strategic Opportunity
Offered By
Università Bocconi
3,498 enrolled
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
Understanding the Sustainability Challenge: the Systemic Level
This section will introduce the course and frame the complex set of issues that the course aims to tackle. You will learn about some of the most important global sustainability challenges within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and how to reflect on their implications for business.
10 videos (Total 69 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
10 videos
Short-Termism and its Long-term Consequences – Maurizio Zollo3m
Short-Termism and its Long-term Consequences: Introduction to the Fishbank Simulation – Maurizio Zollo4m
Understanding the Tragedy of the Commons – Maurizio Zollo5m
A New, Research-based, Approach to the Development of a Sustainability Mindset – Maurizio Zollo (optional: meditation podcasts in the Download section)12m
The Sustainable Development Goals and their Relevance for Business – Valentina Mele6m
Climate Change and its Economic Implications – Valentina Bosetti6m
Industrial Ecology – Fabio Iraldo8m
Poverty and Income Inequalities – Eliana La Ferrara, Maurizio Zollo11m
Gender Equality and Sustainability – Paola Profeta6m
2 readings
Beyond What and Why: Understanding Organizational Evolution toward Sustainable Enterprise Models10m
Additional Materials10m
1 practice exercise
Week 110m
Week
23 hours to complete
Understanding the Sustainability Challenge: the Business Level
In this section you will learn the core concepts of corporate sustainability and the key dimensions that distinguish a sustainable organization. Instructors will discuss the foundations of the stakeholder-based view of the firm, and the logic for and against the primacy of shareholder value maximization as guiding purpose for firms' existence. We will then explore sustainability challenges and opportunities for organizations across some of the key dimensions of business, and conclude with a roundtable discussion on the nature of the sustainable enterprise.
10 videos (Total 113 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
10 videos
What is a Sustainable Enterprise? (part 2) – Maurizio Zollo10m
The Purpose of the Corporation – Nicola Misani5m
The Stakeholder-based View of the Firm – Nicola Misani6m
The Shareholder-Stakeholder Debate – Nicolai J. Foss, Maurizio Zollo28m
Corporate Governance – Xing Kelly Chen4m
Business Ethics & Sustainability – Maurizio Zollo, Celia Moore4m
Responsible Leadership – Massimo Magni3m
International Implementation of Sustainability – Anne Jacqueminet10m
Roundtable on the Nature of the Sustainable Enterprise – Maurizio Zollo, Christiane Bode, Armando Cirrincione, Anne Jacqueminet, Michael Russo, Miles Bernard Gietzmann29m
2 readings
Additional Materials10m
Slide set Week 210m
1 practice exercise
Week 210m
Week
33 hours to complete
Why Corporate Sustainability? Assessing the Strategic Opportunity
This module consists of two different parts. In the first part we will explore why corporate sustainability could be paramount for corporate success. In the second part, you will learn about successful cases of organizations focusing on a business model designed around sustainability principles and mindsets.
8 videos (Total 108 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
Social Impact and Employee Preferences – Christiane Bode5m
Social Enterprise: Definitions and Examples – Rakhi Mehra6m
Creating a Sustainable Enterprise from Scratch: a Case Study – Rakhi Mehra8m
Impact Investing – Audrey Selian, Rakhi Mehra22m
Impact Assessment – Rakhi Mehra, Eric Ezechieli14m
Circular Economy: The Aquafil Case – Salvo Testa, Giulio Bonazzi22m
Responsibly-Innovative Startups: Re-Bello & Wrad Cases – Francesca Romana Rinaldi20m
4 readings
The Impact of Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Processes and Performance10m
Investing in the Sustainable Future10m
Additional Materials10m
Slide set Week 310m
1 practice exercise
Week 310m
Week
42 hours to complete
Seizing the Strategic Opportunity: Managing Sustainability Transitions across Business Functions
In this module, you will learn to assess the challenges related to the management of the integration of sustainability-related processes in business organizations. This transformational change challenge is assessed across some of the key business functions and will allow you to frame and address similar challenges and opportunities within your own business context.
12 videos (Total 93 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
12 videos
Integrating Sustainability in Corporate Strategy – Maurizio Zollo10m
Sustainable Corporate Growth Strategies – Maurizio Zollo12m
Governance: Institutionalizing Sustainability – Xing Kelly Chen5m
Accounting and Controlling – Ariela Caglio6m
Supply Chain: Main Problems – MJ. Ni. ilknur Tekin3m
Supply Chain Focus Pills: Risks in Fashion Supply Chain – Iolanda D’Amato1m
Supply Chain Case: the YKK Group Case – Iolanda D'Amato15m
HR Strategy and Management – Silvia Bagdadli5m
Sales & Marketing – Armando Cirrincione5m
R&D Innovation: a Framework – Nicoletta Corrocher8m
R&D Innovation: Technological Change and Innovation – MJ. Ni. ilknur Tekin3m
2 readings
Additional Materials10m
Slide set Week 410m
1 practice exercise
Week 410m
Week
52 hours to complete
Transitioning Organizations to Sustainable Enterprises: Developing the Road-Map
In this final part, you will learn how to approach the challenge of developing a roadmap to realize the stakeholder value creation potential in sustainability transitions at three different levels. It will entail the integration of change initiatives in the development of sustainability mindsets and behavior in managers and employees - individual level - with initiatives related to transformational change in the organizations we are working in - organizational level -, and the equally critical initiatives to transition towards sustainable behaviors and outcomes in the political, social and economic systems - systemic level -.
6 videos (Total 59 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
6 videos
Developing a Roadmap for Transformation: Individual Level – Frank Brueck10m
Developing Roadmap for Transformation: Organizational Change – MJ. Ni. ilknur Tekin8m
Developing a Roadmap for Transformation: How to Pursue Organizational Change – Michael Russo11m
Developing a Roadmap for Transformation: Change at the Systemic Level – Steve Waddell10m
Course Wrap-up – Maurizio Zollo4m
2 readings
Additional Materials10m
Slide set Week 510m
1 practice exercise
Week 510m
Week
62 hours to complete
FINAL ASSESSMENT
1 quiz
4.7
13 Reviews50%
got a pay increase or promotion
Top Reviews
This course gave me a holistic understanding of Corporate Sustainability. Thanks to the Lead Principal, Lecturers and the entire team.
An important source of inspiration for those who deal with or would like to deal with corporate sustainability. Highly recommended.
Instructor
Maurizio Zollo
Dean’s Chaired Professor in Strategy and SustainabilityManagement and Technology Department
About Università Bocconi
Our ambition is to develop students' potential and foster knowledge in Business, Economics and Law through innovative learning and research activities in a multicultural environment. Bocconi is a community that constantly innovates teaching and learning technologies and that strongly believes in the power of life-long learning and networking.
Now available online.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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Is financial aid available?
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