About this Course

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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.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.6/5 (244 Ratings)

Maurizio Zollo

Dean’s Chaired Professor in Strategy and Sustainability

Management and Technology Department

34,727 Learners

1 Course

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating94%(3,977 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Understanding the Sustainability Challenge: the Systemic Level

3 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 69 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

10 videos

Welcome to the Course – Maurizio Zollo4mShort-Termism and its Long-term Consequences – Maurizio Zollo3mShort-Termism and its Long-term Consequences: Introduction to the Fishbank Simulation – Maurizio Zollo4mUnderstanding the Tragedy of the Commons – Maurizio Zollo5mA New, Research-based, Approach to the Development of a Sustainability Mindset – Maurizio Zollo (optional: meditation podcasts in the Download section)12mThe Sustainable Development Goals and their Relevance for Business – Valentina Mele6mClimate Change and its Economic Implications – Valentina Bosetti6mIndustrial Ecology – Fabio Iraldo8mPoverty and Income Inequalities – Eliana La Ferrara, Maurizio Zollo11mGender Equality and Sustainability – Paola Profeta6m

2 readings

Beyond What and Why: Understanding Organizational Evolution toward Sustainable Enterprise Models10mAdditional Materials10m

1 practice exercise

Week 130m

Week2

Week 2

3 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.

3 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 113 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

10 videos

What is a Sustainable Enterprise? (part 1) – Maurizio Zollo10mWhat is a Sustainable Enterprise? (part 2) – Maurizio Zollo10mThe Purpose of the Corporation – Nicola Misani5mThe Stakeholder-based View of the Firm – Nicola Misani6mThe Shareholder-Stakeholder Debate – Nicolai J. Foss, Maurizio Zollo28mCorporate Governance – Xing Kelly Chen4mBusiness Ethics & Sustainability – Maurizio Zollo, Celia Moore4mResponsible Leadership – Massimo Magni3mInternational Implementation of Sustainability – Anne Jacqueminet10mRoundtable on the Nature of the Sustainable Enterprise – Maurizio Zollo, Christiane Bode, Armando Cirrincione, Anne Jacqueminet, Michael Russo, Miles Bernard Gietzmann29m

2 readings

Additional Materials10mSlide set Week 210m

1 practice exercise

Week 210m

Week3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Why Corporate Sustainability? Assessing the Strategic Opportunity

4 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 114 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

9 videos

What is the Business Case for Sustainability? – Anne Jacqueminet7mSocial Impact and Employee Preferences – Christiane Bode5mSocial Enterprise: Definitions and Examples – Rakhi Mehra6mCreating a Sustainable Enterprise from Scratch: a Case Study – Rakhi Mehra8mImpact Investing – Audrey Selian, Rakhi Mehra22mImpact Assessment – Rakhi Mehra, Eric Ezechieli14mCircular Economy: The Aquafil Case – Salvo Testa, Giulio Bonazzi22mResponsibly-Innovative Startups: Re-Bello & Wrad Cases – Francesca Romana Rinaldi20mCross Sector Partnerships - Lilach Trabelsi5m

4 readings

The Impact of Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Processes and Performance10mInvesting in the Sustainable Future10mAdditional Materials10mSlide set Week 310m

1 practice exercise

Week 330m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Seizing the Strategic Opportunity: Managing Sustainability Transitions across Business Functions

3 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 93 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

How to Manage the Transition towards Sustainable Enterprise – Maurizio Zollo13mIntegrating Sustainability in Corporate Strategy – Maurizio Zollo10mSustainable Corporate Growth Strategies – Maurizio Zollo12mGovernance: Institutionalizing Sustainability – Xing Kelly Chen5mAccounting and Controlling – Ariela Caglio6mSupply Chain: Main Problems – MJ. Ni. ilknur Tekin3mSupply Chain Focus Pills: Risks in Fashion Supply Chain – Iolanda D’Amato1mSupply Chain Case: the YKK Group Case – Iolanda D'Amato15mHR Strategy and Management – Silvia Bagdadli5mSales & Marketing – Armando Cirrincione5mR&D Innovation: a Framework – Nicoletta Corrocher8mR&D Innovation: Technological Change and Innovation – MJ. Ni. ilknur Tekin3m

2 readings

Additional Materials10mSlide set Week 410m

1 practice exercise

Week 430m

Reviews

4.6

171 reviews

5 stars
70.88%
4 stars
24.71%
3 stars
2.13%
2 stars
1.70%
1 star
0.56%

TOP REVIEWS FROM CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY. UNDERSTANDING AND SEIZING THE STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY

by TPDec 27, 2020

Excellent course. High quality of the talks together with lots of good examples and reference forums to develop overtime. I would highly recommend

by CLAug 25, 2020

I enjoyed this course, it was very detailed in explaining what exactly Sustainability means and how it partners with a successful business. Great course and good information!

by EJJan 10, 2023

A very interesting course with interesting content and perspectives. The reference material provided at the end of each week was a great addition and I personally enjoyed reading each one of them.

by TBJun 9, 2020

It is a very interesting course for a first approach to sustainability and how to change a business towards a sustainable enterprise. I recommend it !!

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

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What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Corporate Sustainability. Understanding and Seizing the Strategic Opportunity