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There are 4 modules in this course
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/.
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. Next, the 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.
Welcome to Sustainable Business Enterprises!•4 minutes
Meet Prof. Viswanathan•2 minutes
Learn on Your Terms•1 minute
Lesson 1-1.1 What Is Sustainability?•12 minutes
Lesson 1-2.1 Project: Focus on Problem and Opportunity•2 minutes
Lesson 1-2.2 Needs Immersion•3 minutes
Lesson 1-2.3 Project Resources•10 minutes
Lesson 1-3.1 Sustainable Consumption•17 minutes
7 readings•Total 70 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
ePub•10 minutes
Glossary•10 minutes
About the Discussion Forums•10 minutes
Online Education at Gies College of Business•10 minutes
Updating Your Profile•10 minutes
Module 1 Readings and Resources•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Orientation Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 1 Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Module 1 Peer Assessment•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Getting to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
Demographics Survey•15 minutes
Module 2: Sustainable Product Design and Market Research
5 hours to complete
Module details
This module focuses on understanding how to conduct market research in the arena of sustainability. It also covers how to develop sustainable products. The bottom-up approach in terms of immersion, emersion, and design as applied to sustainable business enterprise is covered. A parallel project focuses on designing a core and augmented solution and an ecosystem.
Lesson 2-4.1 Bottom-Up Immersion, Emersion, and Design•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module 2 Readings and Resources•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 160 minutes
Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-4 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•40 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Module 2 Peer Assessment•120 minutes
Module 3: Sustainable Value Chains and Communications
5 hours to complete
Module details
This module covers how sustainable offerings are delivered and communicated. It also covers topics in sustainable finance and accounting. A case analysis is used to bring out unique issues with sustainability and business. The parallel project involves the final presentation of a problem, opportunity, solution, ecosystem, enterprise plan, and outcomes.
What's included
7 videos1 reading5 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 54 minutes
Lesson 3-1.1 Project Exercises•2 minutes
Lesson 3-1.2 Idea Generation•2 minutes
Lesson 3-1.3 Case Study in Bottom-Up Design•31 minutes
Lesson 3-2.1 Sustainable Value Chains and Communications•10 minutes
Lesson 3-3.1 Sustainable Finance and Accounting: Introduction•1 minute
Lesson 3-3.2 Sustainable Finance and Accounting•3 minutes
Lesson 3-4.1 Case Analysis•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module 3 Readings and Resources•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 3-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 3-4 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Module 3 Peer Assessment•60 minutes
Module 4: BOTTOM-UP ENTERPRISE
6 hours to complete
Module details
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.
What's included
11 videos3 readings5 assignments1 plugin
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 138 minutes
Lesson 4-1.1 Sustainable Business Enterprises Part 1•18 minutes
Lesson 4-1.2 Sustainable Business Enterprises Part 2•10 minutes
Lesson 4-2.1 Bottom-Up Perspective on Emerging Markets•4 minutes
Lesson 4-3.1 Sustainable Global Business Horizons•11 minutes
Lesson 4-4.1 Bottom-Up Immersion, Design, Innovation and Enterprise•20 minutes
A Conversation about Bottom-Up Enterprises Introduction•1 minute
Charting a Bottom-Up Journey•19 minutes
Implementing Bottom-Up Enterprises•19 minutes
Sustaining Bottom-Up Enterprises•17 minutes
Guiding Values & Lessons Learned•14 minutes
Essence of the Bottom-Up Approach•5 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Module 4 Readings and Resources•10 minutes
Congratulations on Completing the Course!•10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 4-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 4-4 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
Course-End Survey•15 minutes
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Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
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Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
¹Successful application and enrollment are required. Eligibility requirements apply. Each institution determines the number of credits recognized by completing this content that may count towards degree requirements, considering any existing credits you may have. Click on a specific course for more information.
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Learner reviews
4.3
146 reviews
5 stars
71.91%
4 stars
9.58%
3 stars
4.79%
2 stars
4.79%
1 star
8.90%
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5·
Reviewed on Oct 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.
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5·
Reviewed on Jun 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
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4·
Reviewed on Sep 17, 2020
This course encouraged me to learn further about sustainable marketing . The course is well planned and I have enjoyed learning .
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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.