About this course: How do we create innovative and effective solutions to social problems around the world ? This course was designed for individuals and organizations who want to identify and bring about transformative societal change. Professors Jim Thompson and Ian “Mac” MacMillan help you develop both a strategy and a framework for your social enterprise based on their years of experience and expertise teaching social entrepreneurship and advising entrepreneurs. You’ll learn how to define a social problem, understand contextual realities, develop a solution, and plan for effective deployment. By the end of this course, you’ll have a deep understanding of the realities of launching an enterprise, be prepared for every step of the process, and put your social entrepreneurial venture on the path to success.

Created by: University of Pennsylvania

Taught by: James D. Thompson, Director, Wharton Social Entrepreneurship Program
Entrepreneurship
Taught by: Ian "Mac" MacMillan, Dhirubhai Ambani Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Management

Basic Info	Course 3 of 4 in the Business Strategies for A Better World Specialization
Language	English
How To Pass	Pass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings	4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Module 1

In this module, you’ll learn how to define a social enterprise and develop its basic framework. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the critical importance of research to identify patterns, cause, and context. You’ll master the process of Idea Generation and analyze the successes and failures of others to be better able to attract funding for your social enterprise. You’ll also learn how to examine factors and contexts through Segmentation, and differentiate between Transactional Accessibility and Acceptability. By the end of this module, you’ll have a more clearly defined understanding of the problem your organization wants to tackle and how to fund your project.

4 videos, 2 readings

Reading: Recommended Reading: The Social Entrepreneur's Playbook
Video: Describing the Social Problem
Video: Idea Generation and Advisory Board
Video: Segmentation for Social Enterprises: Part 1
Reading: Module 1 - Lecture Slides

Graded: Module 1 Quiz

WEEK 2

Module 2

This module was designed to promote a deep understanding of your beneficiaries through segmentation in order to design solutions to the Social Problem of your enterprise. After identifying and segmenting major factors and contexts of your population, you’ll draft a Segment Attractiveness Scoring Table that will enable you to analyze the beneficiaries of your solution, and then use the Beneficiary Experience Table to refine that solution. Finally, you’ll learn how to differentiate between Screen-In and Screen-Out Criteria to identify potential problems. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to create a Concept Map for your own social enterprise, and visualize the trajectory and potential outcomes of your solution.

4 videos, 1 reading

Video: Understanding the Beneficiary
Video: Screen In & Screen Out Criteria
Video: Describing the Solution
Reading: Module 2 - Lecture Slides

Graded: Module 2 Quiz

WEEK 3

Module 3

In this module, you’ll examine the details and operational realities of your social enterprise. You’ll identify deliverables, needs of beneficiaries, and expected costs. You’ll explore key concepts such as Unit of Business, Social Impact and Financial Goals, and the Deliverables and Cost Table to assist in operationalizing the venture. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to better assess how success will be defined in your venture and the key deliverables and capabilities required to maintain your social enterprise.

4 videos, 1 reading

Video: Framing and Scoping the Venture
Video: Operations Realities
Video: Cost Table
Reading: Module 3 - Lecture Slides

Graded: Module 3 Quiz

WEEK 4

Module 4

This module was designed to help you test the feasibility of your social enterprise. By utilizing the Most Competitive Alternatives in organizing a Proposed Beneficiary Experience Table, you’ll be able to assess advantages and disadvantages against relevant competition. Once you have a plausible and attractive proposition, you’ll deploy a quick and cost-effective test-of-concept to scaffold future success for your venture. Finally, you’ll discover the inevitable socio-politics that emerge with multiple stakeholders, and learn how to navigate these issues effectively while maintaining support. By the end of this module, you’ll have developed a powerful strategy that will ensure success for your social entrepreneurial ventures.

4 videos, 1 reading

Video: Test of Concept Plausibility
Video: Stakeholder Analysis
Video: Conclusion & Next Steps
Reading: Module 4 - Lecture Slides

Graded: Module 4 Quiz

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How It Works

Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

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Creators

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Pricing

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Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 of 42 ratings

Very good teachers.

This course give me a really good understanding about Social Entrepreneurship. The materials are simple yet rich of information. As a person without business background and English as second language, at the first time I thought it will be hard for me to study. But it turned out, I can understand because professors are explain using daily conversation words. Of course there are business terms mentioned, but they provide small text for the explanation. Thank you very much. I am a happy student.

This is exactly the knowledge I have been seeking, presented in a very clear understandable format. Professor Thompson and Professor "Mac" are engaging, entertaining and, at moments, genuinely adorable. I truly enjoyed the course, thank you!

Good introductory course on social entrepreneurship :)