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Creating a Social Business

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Creating a Social Business

This course is part of Strategy and Finance for the lifecycle of a Social Business Specialization

Instructor: Suresh K. Krishna

1,666 already enrolled

Included with

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

13 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

91% of learners achieved a positive career outcome

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Strategy and Finance for the lifecycle of a Social Business Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

This course is primarily aimed at learners interested in knowing about and running a social business. An ideal learner could be a student, social entrepreneur, social intrapreneur, or a corporate professional interested in social business.

In the Module 1 of the course students will learn how different social business leaders - such as Professor Muhammad Yunus, Rajni Bakshi, Corinne Bazina, Lamiya Morshed, Suresh Krishna, and Daniel Nowack - are reimagining capitalism. The subsequent modules of this course crystallize varied learnings of practitioners and theorists at YSB to a set of tools and readings, which a learner may use as building blocks of a social business. What makes this course unique is the blend of inspiration and rigor that is very important for any kind of social business education. Learners may also use this course to advance in their careers, apply for higher education and jobs in the social impact/impact investing industry. The subscription to this course automatically allows a learner to become a part of the Global Social Business Community. All the best!

Module details

“Every time I see a problem, I create a business to solve it,” Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus. This course has been designed to teach you the fundamentals of social business, from theory to practice, and how this movement has developed and replicated across the world. You will learn from best-in-class examples of social businesses, including from the founder of the social business movement, Professor Muhammad Yunus. You will learn about how social businesses are different from traditional businesses, and what to think about when you are either establishing a social business of your own or providing investment or mentorship support. In this module, we will hear from experts from the social business field, such as journalists, thinkers, academics, and practitioners, who have initiated change through the power of social business. The upcoming sessions in this module will help you understand what are the key social, economic and environmental challenges affecting the world, and the types of successful solutions that have been developed to address these challenges in the developing world.

What's included

8 videos8 readings5 assignments2 discussion prompts

8 videosTotal 66 minutes

Why this course?5 minutes
Introduction to Yunus Social Business (Courtesy: YSB gGmbH)2 minutes
Why Economies Replaced Societies7 minutes
Is There Only One Type of Business?16 minutes
Create Social Fiction (Courtesy - Skoll.org)4 minutes
From Business as Usual to Business Unusual10 minutes
Social Intrapreneurship: The Basics17 minutes
Lessons from the Grameen Family 5 minutes

8 readingsTotal 340 minutes

Introduction20 minutes
Become a part of the Global Social Business Community10 minutes
Course Handout30 minutes
Why Economics Replaced Societies50 minutes
Is There Only One Type of Business?50 minutes
From Business as Usual to Business Unusual50 minutes
Social Intrapreneurship: The Basics80 minutes
Lessons from the Grameen Family 50 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 38 minutes

Why Economies Replaced Societies6 minutes
Is There Only One Type of Business?6 minutes
From Business as Usual to Business Unusual10 minutes
Social Intrapreneurship: The Basics10 minutes
Lessons from the Grameen Family 6 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Introduce yourself15 minutes
Reflection15 minutes

In this module, we will dive into a deeper understanding of social business. We will begin with understanding a social problem, identifying the root cause of the problem and mapping a solution to the identified problem. We would cover the key ingredients necessary to build a sustainable social business.

What's included

3 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt

3 videosTotal 21 minutes

Identifying the Problem6 minutes
Defining the Solution6 minutes
Case Study - The Play Pump9 minutes

5 readingsTotal 130 minutes

Problem Tree Tool - Template and Example10 minutes
Additional Reading on the Problem Tree Tool30 minutes
Theory of Change Tool - Example and Template10 minutes
Defining the Solution40 minutes
Case Study - The Play Pump40 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 23 minutes

Identifying the Problem 8 minutes
Defining the Solution10 minutes
Case Study - The Play Pump5 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 40 minutes

Create and Discuss your Problem Tree40 minutes

In this module, we will apply the learnings from the introductory module and the first module of this course towards a peer-graded assignment. The aim of this module is to enable collaboration amongst classmates as well as provide and receive relevant feedback.

What's included

1 peer review

In this module, you are expected to learn more about how to build an effective social business. The modules of this course aim to provide an objective lens to various nuances of starting and running a social business. It includes understanding your beneficiaries, managing your stakeholders, and staying focused in order to run a successful social business.

What's included

5 videos8 readings5 assignments3 discussion prompts

5 videosTotal 36 minutes

Beneficiary Empathy Map: Whom are we targeting?8 minutes
Stakeholder Mapping6 minutes
Case Study: Cashpor Micro Credit7 minutes
Social Business Canvas7 minutes
Running a Successful Social Business7 minutes

8 readingsTotal 260 minutes

Beneficiary Empathy Map30 minutes
Beneficiary Empathy Map - Template and Example10 minutes
Stakeholder Mapping50 minutes
Stakeholder Map - Example10 minutes
Case Study - Cashpor Micro Credit60 minutes
Additional Readings on Social Business Canvas Model30 minutes
Social Business Canvas Model - Template+Example10 minutes
Running a Successful Social Business60 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 38 minutes

Beneficiary Empathy Map6 minutes
Stakeholder Mapping6 minutes
Case Study - Cashpor Micro Credit6 minutes
Social Business Canvas10 minutes
Running a Successful Social Business10 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 50 minutes

The importance of impact measurement10 minutes
Reflection20 minutes
Why Cashpor is a successful social business?20 minutes

In this module, we will apply the learnings from the entire course towards a peer-graded assignment. The aim of this module is to enable collaboration amongst classmates as well as provide and receive relevant feedback.