Business Strategies for Social Impact from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Purpose-Driven Leadership

In this module, you’ll learn how to define your purpose and develop a plan to cultivate purpose for your organization. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the critical importance of purpose-driven leadership in a successful organization and why businesses can and should pursue a larger social or environmental purpose. You'll also analyze the five models of social purpose, from generous contributors to impact investors. Through close examination of case studies such as Daily Table and TOMS shoes, you’ll learn how to test your assumptions and find the winning situation for your investors, employees, and customers. By the end of this module, you’ll have a more clearly defined understanding of the purpose your organization wants to pursue and how to prepare for successful implementation.

Module 2: How Business Drives Social Impact

What is the relationship between impact and financial performance? Does it pay for a company to drive impact? In this module, you'll learn various methods businesses use to create social and environmental impact. You’ll identify the different components of impact measurement: valence, focus, depth, breadth, and cost-effectiveness. With Nick Ashburn, Senior Director of Impact Investing of Wharton Social Impact, you’ll discuss real-life examples such as Starbucks, Campbell’s Soup, and Warby Parker, and the impactful decisions they made in employment, operations, and investment. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to refine the method in which your business can reduce environmental challenges and/or ensure fair and equal opportunity, and create a plan for your company to drive both impact and financial performance.

Module 3: Impact Measurement

In this module, you’ll examine the criteria and standards of evidence developed to measure the true social impact of your organization. You’ll identify the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental Social and Governance Criteria (ESG) to be able to better answer the question “What is the Impact of X?” By examining the Nesta Foundation Framework and its standard of evidence, you’ll explore the different levels of rigor for each logic model using real-life examples and learn to accurately assess your organization’s inputs, outputs, and impact. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to calculate the Social Return on Investment (SROI) of your enterprise and be able to strategize an effective plan for your business.

Module 4: Impact Investing

This module was designed to introduce you to the basics of impact investing. By analyzing global trends on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), classic models of impact investment such as microfinance, and actual research data, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the current models of impact investment and which model would work best for your organization. Through exploring other benefit corporations and the UN Principles of Responsible Investment, you’ll discover how NGOs, government, and shareholders and their roles in impactful investments. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to gauge the risk and rewards behind impactful investments, and be able to navigate these issues effectively while exerting sustainable and meaningful impact.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops leadership skills with an emphasis on purpose-driven organizations

Teaches methodologies for measuring the impact of social and environmental initiatives

Covers the fundamentals of impact investing and offers guidance on investing for both financial return and social good

Taught by renowned Wharton professors Katherine Klein and Christopher Geczy

Suitable for individuals, organizations, and investors who want to make a positive social impact

Examines real-world examples and case studies of successful social impact initiatives

Reviews summary

Meaningful strategies for social impact

Learners say this specialization offers engaging assignments and valuable insights into how to run a purpose-driven business. The well-received first three modules introduce essential concepts, such as leading with purpose and measuring impact. However, the fourth and final module, which explores impact investing, presents difficult exams with complex terminology that may be challenging for some learners, especially those lacking a foundational knowledge of finance.

The course offers practical advice and tools for implementing social impact strategies in real-world scenarios.

"Great course on how Business works according to demographics, investment type, interest of the stakeholders and the strategies used."

"A course for that is practical and straight forward in the delivery of management framework, governance framework for managers or investor to understand how impact investment benefits are delivered and measured."

Well-structured modules with real-life examples and insightful interviews make learning enjoyable.

"Wonderful course in general."

"I really enjoyed this course and the instructors."

"The learnings were experiential and I could understand what was taught."

"Very informative! Great course about Social Impact."

Professors Katherine Klein and Christopher Geczy are experts in their fields and provide valuable insights.

"Excellent set of lectures very useful and enlightening, well organized and explained."

"I really enjoyed and learnt a lot from this course!"

"This course has a direct relationship and answers questions I have on the sustainability and impact of my non-profit organization"

The final module on impact investing feels disconnected from the rest of the course, which focuses on broader strategies for social impact.

"This course really delivered on the spectrum of strategies for social impact."

"The module is very helpful to me. First 3 modules are well-instructed, easy to follow up and understand for me as a non-native English speaker."

"Module 4 is more difficult to understand and I have to replay several times for each video."

The final module on impact investing is highly technical and challenging, especially for learners without a finance background.

"The last module was very technical but in general it was very interesting and clarifying."

"Impact investing module uses data from research conducted in 2001, 2003. We are in 2020."

"Great course with the basics - the final module felt very technical and dense, but was probably so because I have no background in corporate finance."

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 Business Strategies for Social Impact with these activities:

Test your alignment with social impact goals

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Take a survey or assessment to determine your alignment with social impact goals.

Browse courses on Impact Investing

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Reflect on your values and interests.
Research different social impact areas.
Take an assessment to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Explore case studies of ethical impact investing

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Review case studies of how investors have used ethical considerations to make a positive social impact through their investments.

Browse courses on Impact Investing

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Find a case study of an ethical impact investment.
Read the case study and identify the ethical considerations that were taken into account.
Evaluate the impact of the investment on the social issue it was intended to address.
Summarize your findings and share them with others.

Develop case studies on real-world social impact investments

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Create multiple case studies on how businesses have successfully implemented social impact strategies.

Browse courses on Impact Investing

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Identify a business that has a strong social impact component.
Research the business's social impact initiatives.
Write a case study that describes the business's social impact strategy, implementation, and results.

Four other activities

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Develop a social impact plan for a hypothetical business

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Develop a hypothetical business plan that includes a detailed social impact strategy.

Browse courses on Social Impact

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Define the mission and values of the business.
Identify a social issue that the business will address.
Develop a strategy for how the business will address the social issue.
Create a plan for measuring the impact of the business's social impact initiatives.

Calculate the Social Return on Investment (SROI) of a social impact initiative

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Calculate the SROI using a hypothetical social impact initiative to analyze its effectiveness.

Browse courses on Impact Measurement

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Define the social impact initiative and its goals.
Identify the resources that will be used to implement the initiative.
Estimate the social value that will be created by the initiative.
Calculate the SROI of the initiative.

Contribute to an open-source project focused on social impact

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Contribute to community projects by reporting bugs, fixing issues, or adding new features.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify an open-source project that is focused on social impact.
Contribute to the project in a meaningful way.
Share your contributions with others.

Develop a proposal for a social impact investment fund

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Create a convincing proposal for a social impact investment fund to outline its goals, strategies, and expected outcomes.

Browse courses on Impact Investing

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Define the goals of the fund.
Develop an investment strategy for the fund.
Create a plan for measuring the impact of the fund's investments.
Write a proposal for the fund.

Career center

Learners who complete Business Strategies for Social Impact will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Consultant

Consultants provide advice to businesses on how to improve their performance across a wide range of areas, including social impact. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a consultant specializing in social impact. You will learn how to measure and evaluate the social impact of business activities, develop strategies to maximize social impact, and communicate your findings to stakeholders. This course will give you a competitive edge in the consulting industry and help you make a positive impact on the world.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers are responsible for managing the public image of businesses and organizations. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Public Relations Manager. You will learn how to develop and implement public relations campaigns, manage media relations, and build relationships with stakeholders. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to make a difference in the world through your work with public relations.

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Nonprofit Executive Director

Nonprofit Executive Directors are responsible for leading and managing nonprofit organizations. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Nonprofit Executive Director. You will learn how to develop strategic plans, manage budgets, and lead teams. This course will give you the foundation you need to make a positive impact on the world through your work with nonprofits.

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Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists invest in early-stage companies with high growth potential. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Venture Capitalist. You will learn how to identify and evaluate investment opportunities, develop investment strategies, and manage investment portfolios. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to make a difference in the world through your work with venture capital.

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Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers are responsible for developing and implementing sustainability programs for businesses and organizations. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Sustainability Manager. You will learn how to identify and assess environmental and social issues, develop sustainability strategies, and measure the impact of your programs. This course will give you the foundation you need to make a positive impact on the world through your work with sustainability.

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Social Impact Analyst

Social Impact Analysts are responsible for measuring and evaluating the social impact of businesses and organizations. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Social Impact Analyst. You will learn how to design and implement impact measurement frameworks, collect and analyze data, and communicate your findings to stakeholders. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to make a difference in the world through your work with social impact measurement.

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Social Entrepreneur

Social Entrepreneurs are individuals who use business principles to address social issues. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Social Entrepreneur. You will learn how to identify and assess social issues, develop business models, and measure the impact of your work. This course will give you the foundation you need to make a positive impact on the world through your own business.

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Program Officer

Program Officers are responsible for managing grant programs for foundations and other funding organizations. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Program Officer. You will learn how to develop grantmaking strategies, evaluate grant proposals, and manage grant portfolios. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to make a difference in the world through your work with grantmaking organizations.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research, analyze, and develop public policies. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Policy Analyst. You will learn how to identify and analyze social issues, develop policy recommendations, and advocate for policy change. This course will give you the foundation you need to make a positive impact on the world through your work with policy.

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Philanthropy Advisor

Philanthropy Advisors help individuals and organizations develop and implement their philanthropic strategies. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Philanthropy Advisor. You will learn how to identify and assess social issues, develop philanthropic strategies, and manage philanthropic portfolios. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to make a difference in the world through your work with philanthropists.

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Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit Program Managers are responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating programs that address social issues. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to develop program goals and objectives, manage budgets, and evaluate program outcomes. This course will give you the foundation you need to make a positive impact on the world through your work with nonprofits.

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Impact Measurement and Evaluation Manager

Impact Measurement and Evaluation Managers are responsible for measuring and evaluating the social impact of programs and initiatives. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to design and implement impact measurement frameworks, collect and analyze data, and communicate your findings to stakeholders. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to make a difference in the world.

See salaries and explore the career path for Impact Measurement and Evaluation Manager

Grant Writer

Grant Writers are responsible for writing grant proposals to secure funding for nonprofit organizations. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Grant Writer. You will learn how to identify funding opportunities, develop compelling grant proposals, and manage the grant writing process. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to secure funding for your nonprofit organization.

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Impact Investor

Impact Investors seek to make investments that generate both financial and social returns. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as an Impact Investor. You will learn how to identify and evaluate impact investments, develop investment strategies, and measure the impact of your investments. This course will give you the foundation you need to make a positive impact on the world through your investments.

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Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers are responsible for developing and implementing social responsibility programs for businesses. The Business Strategies for Social Impact course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to identify and assess social issues, develop strategies to address these issues, and measure the impact of your programs. This course will give you the foundation you need to develop a successful career in corporate social responsibility.

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