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.
This course is part of the Global Challenges in Business Specialization
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Global Challenges in Business SpecializationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAbout this Course
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Course 2 of 7 in the
Approx. 21 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish
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.
Course 2 of 7 in the
Approx. 21 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish
Offered by
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.
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.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
2 hours to complete
Course Orientation
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.
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
6 videos (Total 46 min), 1 reading, 5 quizzes
5 hours to complete
Module 2: Sustainable Product Design and Market Research
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.
5 hours to complete
5 videos (Total 37 min), 1 reading, 6 quizzes
5 hours to complete
Module 3: Sustainable Value Chains and Communications
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.
5 hours to complete
7 videos (Total 54 min), 1 reading, 6 quizzes
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
Reviews
- 5 stars70.49%
- 4 stars10.65%
- 3 stars3.27%
- 2 stars4.91%
- 1 star10.65%
TOP REVIEWS FROM SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
by EIJun 21, 2020
I have learnt so much!
I have a better understanding of building and managing a sustainable business.
by RGDec 25, 2020
It was one of the best courses I have ever taken and I learned a lot.
by DOJun 11, 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 SGMar 1, 2020
Really very useful and insightful. I loved how clearly everything was taught.
About the Global Challenges in Business Specialization
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