This course is part of the Global Challenges in Business Specialization

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Madhu Viswanathan

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Part of the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) degree
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Global Challenges in Business SpecializationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

About this Course

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This course will explore current challenges and opportunities facing firms in the area of environmental sustainability. It will begin with an introduction to sustainability, with a particular focus on how environmental sustainability is relevant to business. Topics such as unsustainable consumption/consumer behavior, market research on sustainable product design  , and sustainable value chains and communications will be covered. We will also cover the bottom-up approach in terms of immersion, emersion, and design as applied to sustainable business enterprise. The course concludes with a summary of insights on global challenges in business, with particular focus on poverty and the environment.
You will be able to: 

• Understand the importance of sustainability for business 
• Analyze   specific topics including consumer behavior, market research, product design, value chains and communications using the sustainability lens in business 
• Design solutions and develop enterprise plans for sustainable business initiatives 
• Apply the bottom-up approach for sustainable business initiatives in varied contexts

This course is part of Gies College of Business’ suite of online programs, including the iMBA and iMSM. Learn more about admission into these programs and explore how your Coursera work can be leveraged if accepted into a degree program at https://degrees.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/idegrees/.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 2 of 7 in the

Global Challenges in Business Specialization

Approx. 21 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.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 2 of 7 in the

Global Challenges in Business Specialization

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

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

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.35/5 (17 Ratings)

Madhu Viswanathan

Professor, Department of Marketing, College of Bus. Admin., Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles Professor Emeritus, Department of Bus. Admin., Gies College of Business, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Department of Business Administration

18,028 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Start working towards your Master's degree

This course is part of the 100% online Master of Business Administration (iMBA) from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted to the full program, your courses count towards your degree learning.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Course Orientation

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 7 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

4 hours to complete

Module 1: Sustainability and Consumption

This first module begins with an introduction to sustainability. The various dimensions of sustainability are examined, with particular focus on how environmental sustainability is relevant to business. The module provides an overview of sustainable business practices through discussion and examples. Unsustainable consumption and motivations for sustainable consumer behavior will be covered. You will do a parallel project on the same topic as in the first course, but for higher-income segments in emerging markets or advanced economies. The module will focus on finalizing a specific need, geography, and beneficiaries for this project.

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 45 min), 1 reading, 5 quizzes

Week2

Week 2

5 hours to complete

Module 2: Sustainable Product Design and Market Research

5 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 37 min), 1 reading, 6 quizzes

Week3

Week 3

5 hours to complete

Module 3: Sustainable Value Chains and Communications

5 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 54 min), 1 reading, 6 quizzes

7 videos

Lesson 3-1.1 Project Exercises1mLesson 3-1.2 Idea Generation2mLesson 3-1.3 Case Study in Bottom-Up Design30mLesson 3-2.1 Sustainable Value Chains and Communications10mLesson 3-3.1 Sustainable Finance and Accounting: Introduction32sLesson 3-3.2 Sustainable Finance and Accounting2mLesson 3-4.1 Case Analysis5m

1 reading

Module 3 Readings and Resources10m

5 practice exercises

Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz30mLesson 3-2 Practice Quiz30mLesson 3-3 Practice Quiz30mLesson 3-4 Practice Quiz30mModule 3 Quiz30m

Week4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Module 4: BOTTOM-UP ENTERPRISE

This module summarizes the course on sustainable business enterprises focusing on business, environmental, and social sustainability. It then covers a bottom-up perspective on emerging markets. It also summarizes the two courses on sustainable global business horizons focusing on global challenges in business, with particular focus on poverty and the environment. Finally, the module covers the unique approach employed here in terms of bottom-up immersion, design, innovation, and enterprise. A parallel project stream compares and contrasts the enterprise plans in the two courses and the learning from focusing on subsistence marketplaces for the purposes of upward innovation, i.e., how innovation for subsistence marketplaces influences innovation from subsistence marketplaces.

5 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 142 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

12 videos

Lesson 4-1.1 Sustainable Business Enterprises Part 117mLesson 4-1.2 Sustainable Business Enterprises Part 210mLesson 4-2.1 Bottom-Up Perspective on Emerging Markets4mLesson 4-3.1 Sustainable Global Business Horizons10mLesson 4-4.1 Bottom-Up Immersion, Design, Innovation and Enterprise20mA Conversation about Bottom-Up Enterprises Introduction1mCharting a Bottom-Up Journey19mImplementing Bottom-Up Enterprises19mSustaining Bottom-Up Enterprises17mGuiding Values & Lessons Learned13mEssence of the Bottom-Up Approach5mGies Online Programs3m

3 readings

Module 4 Readings and Resources10mCongratulations!10mGet Your Course Certificate10m

5 practice exercises

Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz30mLesson 4-2 Practice Quiz30mLesson 4-3 Practice Quiz30mLesson 4-4 Practice Quiz30mModule 4 Quiz30m

Reviews

4.3

29 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
10.07%
3 stars
3.87%
2 stars
4.65%
1 star
10.07%

TOP REVIEWS FROM SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

by PAOct 25, 2020

Prof. Viswanathan did a great job teaching this class and it was a fantastic follow-up to the first course, Sustainable Innovation in Subsistence Marketplaces.

by SGFeb 29, 2020

Really very useful and insightful. I loved how clearly everything was taught.

by DOJun 10, 2021

This is a very relevant, well-prepared/presented, and very educative course, I really want to appreciate Prof. Madhu, I will definitely take another course with you. Kind regards.

Dorothy

by RGDec 24, 2020

It was one of the best courses I have ever taken and I learned a lot.

View all reviews

About the Global Challenges in Business Specialization

Learning Outcomes for the Specialization:

Upon completion of this specialization, you will be able to: Understand how businesses function in the global marketplace. Make ethical decisions to run a responsible business in the global marketplace. Understand the role of business in addressing global challenges such as poverty and the environment. Understand how business can pursue opportunities and confront challenges in the complex global marketplace.

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 subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. 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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