4.7
stars
84 ratings

Robert Strand

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Sustainable Vikings: Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility in Scandinavia

Copenhagen Business School

About this Course

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This course gives you immediate access to the world leading sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices.  Scandinavian firms dominate the major sustainability and CSR performance indicators including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).  In this course we explore the concepts of sustainability and CSR and focus attention on how Scandinavian firms, like Novo Nordisk, have achieved superior sustainability and CSR performances.  We consider what lessons can be drawn by managers and firms irrespective of where they may be located in the world.
Through this course, participants will:
• Gain appreciation of the concepts of sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) and be able to situate these concepts within the broader debates about the role of business in society
• Understand the sustainability and CSR approaches by leading Scandinavian companies
• Describe how partnerships between companies, NGOs, and government are fundamental to the sustainability and CSR by Scandinavian companies
• Be able to describe the characterization of the “Scandinavian management” and the role Scandinavian management plays in sustainability and CSR approaches by Scandinavian firms
• Become familiarized with concept of “Scandinavian Cooperative Advantage” and understand how it challenges the dominant view of strategic management.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

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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.

Beginner Level

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

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

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.81/5 (17 Ratings)

Robert Strand

Assistant Professor, Ph.D

Department of Intercultural Communication and Management

5,572 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

Copenhagen Business School

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

4 hours to complete

Introduction to Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

4 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 55 min), 6 readings, 3 quizzes

8 videos

1.1) Course Overview5m

1.2) What is the purpose of business? From Adam Smith to Milton Friedman to Michael Porter.10m

1.3a) What is sustainability? What is corporate social responsibility (CSR)?6m

1.3b) Why do we need sustainability & CSR?8m

1.3c) Interview with Professor Mette Morsing, Copenhagen Business School15m

1.3d) Interview with Mads Øvlisen, former CEO Novo Nordisk & “Father of CSR in Denmark4m

1.3e) Interview with Professor Ed Freeman, University of Virginia Darden & oft-cited as “Father of Stakeholder Theory”1m

1.4) Reflections with Robert Strand2m

6 readings

"The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits” by Milton Friedman10m

Watch the Harvard Business Review video “Porter’s 5 Forces”10m

Watch “What is Stakeholder Theory” with Professor Ed Freeman10m

Read “The Origins of ‘the World’s Dumbest Idea’: Milton Friedman”10m

Read the executive summary of “Creating Shared Value” by Michael Porter & Mark Kramer10m

Watch the Daniel Pink video “Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates us”10m

3 practice exercises

1.2)30m

1.3)30m

1.4)30m

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Scandinavia: An Introduction

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 47 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

6 videos

2.1) What is Scandinavia?4m

2.2) Exploring sustainability & CSR in Scandinavia: My personal journey6m

2.3) Why explore sustainability & CSR in Scandinavia?12m

2.4) Scandinavian Creating Shared Value7m

2.5a) What is Scandinavian culture?9m

2.5b) Interview with Mads Øvlisen, former CEO Novo Nordisk & “Father of CSR in Denmark7m

3 readings

Read "Strategic Management in the Era of Cooperation: Toward a Theory of Scandinavian Cooperative Advantage" by Robert Strand10m

Read Financial Times article "Scandinavia can be an inspiration for creating shared value" by Robert Strand10m

Watch "Swedishness"10m

1 practice exercise

2.1-2.5)30m

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Scandinavian Leadership & Management

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 41 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

Week

Week 4

1 hour to complete

Case study of a Scandinavian sustainability leader: Novo Nordisk

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 29 min)

Reviews

4.7

30 reviews

5 stars
76.19%
4 stars
20.23%
3 stars
1.19%
2 stars
2.38%

TOP REVIEWS FROM SUSTAINABLE VIKINGS: SUSTAINABILITY & CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SCANDINAVIA

by SPMar 2, 2019

It's can be help to learn about the CSR in detail with the help of other experience.

by TMJul 16, 2020

Amazing view from a different perspective in Scandinavian, it would be a challenge but worth a try to apply these ideas to local context. Engaging and interesting course and definitely worth my time

by BSApr 6, 2020

Thoroughly enjoyed as the course and it questioned my pre-existing notions about sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Very insightful conversations and interviews!!

by SSJan 8, 2023

Want to know about sustainability in Scandinavia? enroll to this course, its really insightful with great interviews and context of Economics.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
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.
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.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Sustainable Vikings: Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility in Scandinavia

Sustainable Vikings: Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility in Scandinavia

About this Course