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.
Sustainable Business Enterprises
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.3
(142 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 20 hours
Learn at your own pace
Build toward a degree
What you'll learn
Understand the importance of sustainability for business.
Learn about specific topics such as consumer behavior, market research, product design, and value chains, 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 any context.
Skills you'll gain
- Market Research
- Environmental Issue
- Value Propositions
- New Product Development
- Innovation
- Design Thinking
- Customer Analysis
- Business Strategies
- Business
- Market Opportunities
- Socioeconomics
- Consumer Behaviour
- Corporate Sustainability
- Product Design
- Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG)
- Communication Strategies
Details to know
Shareable certificate
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Assessments
20 assignments
Taught in English
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This course is part of the Global Challenges in Business Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 5 modules in this course
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.
What's included
3 videos6 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
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.
What's included
5 videos1 reading4 assignments1 peer review
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.
What's included
5 videos1 reading5 assignments1 peer review
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
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 assignments
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.5 (22 ratings)
Offered by
Explore more from Business Strategy
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
The Open University
University of Colorado Boulder
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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Learner reviews
4.3
142 reviews
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Showing 3 of 142
PA
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.
DO
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
SS
5
Reviewed on Feb 29, 2020
Really very useful and insightful. I loved how clearly everything was taught.
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