Unleashing the Impact of your Social Enterprise from Coursera

In Course 3 of this Specialization you will first of all learn about Social Impact Assessment. Hence you will be able to develop a method to evaluate the social mission that you achieve while implementing your business plan. Next you will outline an appropriate communication strategy for your social enterprise and will demonstrate how to market your products and services to beneficiaries and other customers. Here you will employ an adaptable communication strategy as you move from early adopters to a broader market share.

Furthermore you will determine growth strategies and how you can scale or replicate your business plan internationally in order to reach a larger number of beneficiaries. In particular you will discuss organic growth, social franchising, and an open source approach. Finally, you will evaluate exit strategies. Thus you will review options social enterprises have when they need to finance their growth but the original funders can not or do not want to finance the expansion.

Course 3 will be completed by your Capstone project, which will ask you to submit the final business plan of your social venture.

Note: It is highly recommended to have completed Course 1 & 2 of the Social Entrepreneurship Specialization before starting this Course!

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Social Impact Assessment

Welcome to the final Course of this Social Entrepreneurship Specialization. In this session you will be introduced to the topic of measuring the social impact of a venture. You are asked to apply your knowledge to the case of Specialisterne and frame your business plan by writing the executive summary.

Measuring Social Impact

Welcome to Module 2. In this week we will delve deeper into social impact assessment. We encourage you to explore your possibilities as you grow and try to find indicators for your activities. It is crucial to understand and document how societal value is created. Most startups do not yet have any actual impact that can be measured, therefore, it is important to spell out your “theory of change” as clearly as possible and to back it up with data if possible. Relevant data would substantially strengthen your position in terms of investors, stakeholders as well as your communication and marketing strategy.

How Social Enterprises Communicate

Welcome to Module 3! In this week we will talk about how social enterprises communicate about their products and their impact. The case about CaféDirect will be presented and you will be encouraged to think about your own communication strategy. Finally we will kick-off the topic about growth and replication.

Growth and Replication of Social Enterprises

Welcome! In week 4 we will talk about how social enterprises can replicate their social innovations. We will focus on the case of Specialisterne, which demonstrates that also mixed approaches can be valuable and we will also listen to best-practice examples of India and the U.S. Finally you will be asked to give advice about the the Mobility CarSharing case.

Finalize your Business plan

Welcome change-makers to the final week of this Social Entrepreneurship Specialization! We will use this session to further discuss exit strategies by looking at two cases: Mobility and Café Direct. Finally we will approach the sensitive topic of failing and what role it plays in the field of social entrepreneurship. We also want to use this option to thank all learners for participation, contribution and support! We hope that this specialization helped to kick-start your own social entrepreneurship journey. Keep up your good work! Congratulations and good luck!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers social entrepreneurship, which is a useful tool for addressing social problems and creating a positive impact on the community

Taught by Kai Hockerts, who is recognized for their work in social entrepreneurship

Emphasizes developing a business plan, which is a core skill for entrepreneurs seeking funding for their ventures

Examines real-world case studies and examples of social enterprises, providing practical insights for aspiring entrepreneurs

Explores different strategies for growth and replication, enabling learners to expand the reach of their social enterprises

Reviews summary

Entrepreneurship in action

Learners say this course titled Unleashing the Impact of your Social Enterprise is an exceptional resource for aspiring social entrepreneurs. It provides engaging assignments and helpful lectures alongside interaction with the faculty. Students found the curriculum interactive, challenging, and valuable with important insights into best practices in the field. The course also includes failed and successful social enterprises studied as examples, allowing students to see how different strategies and decisions play out.

Peer review is helpful for feedback.

"hardly any other co-students are left at this stage to peer-review the assignments."

The course is well worth the cost.

"Overall good value for the money of course."

The assignments are engaging and help reinforce learning.

"Some of the assignments are locked."

The course can be challenging but rewarding.

"A good and challenging conclusion to the specialization :)"

The course structure is logical and easy to follow.

"Finally also a mentor was assigned which was helpful."

The instructor is active and monitors progress.

"A very interesting course!"

"The mentor is really active and keep monitoring your progress."

"Great Course."

The course provides practical knowledge.

"This is the most engaging course I have ever had."

"Provides many examples, failed and successful social enterprises that give the learners the perspective and also shared experience."

The curriculum is complete and valuable.

"I found the content very complete and valuable."

"Such an amazing MOOC, I found the content very complete and valuable."

"The course content is indeed good..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Unleashing the Impact of your Social Enterprise with these activities:

Review methods for evaluating social impact

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Review methods and approaches for assessing social impact, including frameworks and indicators.

Browse courses on Social Impact Assessment

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Explore frameworks for social impact assessment, such as SROI and IRIS
Identify relevant indicators for your social venture's impact areas
Consider tools and resources to help you measure and track impact

Practice communication skills

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Engage in practice to strengthen your communication abilities, preparing you for the course's emphasis on marketing and outreach strategies.

Browse courses on Communication

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Role-play potential scenarios with a partner
Record and review your presentations for self-assessment
Join a public speaking group or workshop

Practice developing communication strategies for social enterprises

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Develop and refine your ability to craft communication strategies that effectively convey the mission and value of your social enterprise.

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Develop messaging that resonates with your audience and aligns with your mission
Analyze successful communication campaigns from other social enterprises
Identify your target audience and their communication preferences
Create a communication plan that outlines your goals, channels, and timeline

Eight other activities

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Organize Course Materials

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Keep your notes and assignments organized for easy referencing.

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Put together a system to organize notes, assignments, and readings
Review the materials regularly to reinforce learning.

Review Course Syllabus

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Refresh your understanding of what the course will cover to give you a better context.

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Develop a Social Impact Project Proposal

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Get started on your big idea.

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Identify a social issue you are passionate about
Research the issue to understand its root causes and potential solutions
Develop a plan that includes goals, strategies, and evaluation methods
Create a budget that outlines the costs and potential sources of funding

Join a Study Group

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Reinforce your learning in a collaborative environment.

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Find like-minded classmates
Regularly meet to discuss course content and share ideas

Explore Social Entrepreneurship Tools

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Enhance your knowledge and practical skills.

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Find useful online resources, websites, or videos
Use these materials to supplement the course and support your understanding

Attend a Panel Discussion on Social Entrepreneurship

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Engage with professionals and gain valuable insights.

Browse courses on Social Entrepreneurship

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Research and find relevant events
Attend panel discussions and ask thoughtful questions
Network with speakers and attendees

Engage in Peer Review

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Get feedback on your writing and idea generation.

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Connect with peers to form feedback teams
Exchange work with peers
Review each other's work and provide constructive feedback
Revise your work based on feedback

Write a Personal Reflection on Social Entrepreneurship

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Personal reflection helps integrate new knowledge.

Browse courses on Social Entrepreneurship

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Think about what you understand about social entrepreneurship
Write about key concepts and personal thoughts

Career center

Learners who complete Unleashing the Impact of your Social Enterprise will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Enterprise Consultant

Social Enterprise Consultants help social enterprises achieve their goals by providing advice on business strategy, marketing, and fundraising. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process, how to communicate about social impact, and how to grow and replicate a social enterprise. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Enterprise Consultant

Social Impact Analyst

Social Impact Analysts measure and evaluate the social impact of programs and policies. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Impact Analyst

Social Entrepreneur

Social Entrepreneurs are individuals who start businesses with the intention of creating social change. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process, how to communicate about social impact, and how to grow and replicate a social enterprise. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Entrepreneur

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process and how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Program Manager

Program Managers oversee the implementation of programs and projects. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process and how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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Grant Writer

Grant Writers write grant proposals to secure funding for nonprofit organizations and other social enterprises. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process and how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Community Organizer

Community Organizers work with communities to identify and address their needs. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about the social impact assessment process and how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers create and manage social media content for businesses and organizations. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and implement marketing campaigns for businesses and organizations. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers manage the public image of businesses and organizations. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers oversee the sales force of a business or organization. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers identify and develop new business opportunities for a business or organization. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a business or organization. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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Financial Manager

Financial Managers oversee the financial operations of a business or organization. This course may be useful for those who want to learn more about how to communicate about social impact. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Manager