First Steps in Making the Business Case for Sustainability from Coursera

The Business School at the University of Colorado Denver wants to help you become a change agent for sustainable business. We hope that with the skills and concepts you gain from this specialization that you will help your business reduce its social and environmental impact. Being a change agent is hard. It takes courage and passion and knowledge. To implement change also requires being able to make the case for that change in terms that people in your company or organization respond to and understand.

After completing the specialization, you will be able to:

* Discuss the threats and opportunities that major global trends such as climate change present to businesses;

* Identify ways a company can improve its environmental and social performance;

* Evaluate and compare companies’ sustainability activities and products;

* Develop a business case for implementing sustainability investments;

* Identify key criteria of green businesses and product design;

* Be a change agent in your organization;

* Understand emerging topics in sustainable business, including those in the public policy space.

We're very excited about offering this MOOC specialization and hope it gives you the first step toward learning about and taking action to make the places you work and the products you buy more sustainable.

Sustainable business changes daily with new products, innovations and ideas, so you will be important in keeping the class current. We look forward to learning from you as you take this green journey!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Change and Change Agents

Welcome to the first class of Become a Sustainable Business Change Agent. This week we introduce you to several people who are making changes and talk about the class and the entire specialization. We also begin to think about what type of changes you should look for at the start of your change agent career. Finally, we discuss what a good proposal has to do to be approved. The proposal has to convince decision-makers that your change helps the company or organization. So you need to make sure that the right people support your idea, that the right person receives it and that you have made a sound case for the sustainability change you are proposing. During the next classes we will help you learn the tools to put together a powerful proposal and to identify the key people who will influence your idea being implemented. We hope by the end of this specialization you will have a proposal for a change in your company, or have the tools so when that opportunity arises you can be an agent of positive change.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in sustainable business, including the threats and opportunities it faces

Teaches how to evaluate and compare companies' sustainability activities and products

Develops skills for making the business case for sustainability investments

Covers unique perspectives and ideas that may enhance understanding of sustainability

Uses a standard tool from financial analysis to demonstrate financial impact of sustainability changes

Provides some real-world examples of change agents for sustainability

Reviews summary

Making the business case for sustainability fundamentals

According to learners, this course offers a practical introduction to making the business case for sustainability. Students found the focus on financial analysis, particularly Net Present Value (NPV), helpful for justifying projects within their organizations. The course introduces key sustainability thinking frameworks and concepts, providing a solid foundation for becoming a change agent. While many appreciate the clear overview, some felt the depth was limited for more experienced learners. The peer review process was occasionally cited as inconsistent, but overall, it is seen as a valuable first step for professionals aiming to integrate sustainability into business strategy.

Covers various thinking frameworks for sustainability.

"The frameworks covered were a great overview."

"The frameworks were interesting."

"Introduced useful frameworks like Life-Cycle Thinking."

Provides a good overview, but may lack depth.

"Excellent introduction! The NPV section was particularly useful..."

"A solid first step. Good overview..."

"Perfect for a beginner like me."

"Found it a bit basic overall."

"Too superficial. Didn't gain much new knowledge."

Generally well-organized and easy to follow.

"Modules were bite-sized and manageable."

"Liked how the topics progressed."

"Content was presented clearly."

Introduces key financial tools like NPV.

"The NPV section was particularly useful for framing conversations at work."

"the NPV part was clear."

"Really helped me understand how to think about sustainability financially."

"Shows you how to use NPV to evaluate projects."

Focuses on applying concepts to real business needs.

"Helped me structure a proposal for my company."

"The emphasis on making a real business case was valuable."

"I learned how to frame sustainability in terms business leaders understand."

"Useful concepts, especially NPV. The focus on creating a proposal was helpful."

Quality of peer feedback can be inconsistent.

"the peer review was frustrating. Some reviews were very low effort."

"Peer grading was highly inconsistent."

"Wish there was more instructor feedback instead of just peers."

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 First Steps in Making the Business Case for Sustainability with these activities:

Review the basics of sustainability

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Reinforce foundational understanding of sustainability concepts to ensure a solid foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Sustainability

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Revisit the definitions and principles of sustainability.
Recall the triple bottom line (TBL) framework and its components.
Review examples of sustainable practices in various industries.

Solve case studies on sustainability challenges

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Provide hands-on opportunities to apply knowledge and develop decision-making skills in real-world sustainability scenarios.

Browse courses on Case study

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Access online case studies on sustainability challenges.
Analyze the case studies and identify key issues and stakeholders.
Develop and evaluate potential solutions to the sustainability challenges.

Attend industry events on sustainable business

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Facilitate networking and knowledge sharing with professionals in the field, fostering a deeper understanding of industry trends and best practices.

Browse courses on Networking

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Identify upcoming industry events focused on sustainable business.
Attend the events and actively participate in discussions and Q&A sessions.
Connect with sustainability professionals and exchange insights.

Five other activities

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Participate in workshops on sustainable business practices

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Provide immersive and hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to develop practical skills and knowledge in specific aspects of sustainable business.

Browse courses on Sustainability

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Research and identify workshops on sustainable business practices.
Register for and attend the workshops.
Engage actively in the workshop activities and discussions.

Analyze a Sustainable Business

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Examine a real-world company's sustainability practices to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Browse courses on Corporate Sustainability

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Select a company to analyze
Gather data on the company's environmental, social, and governance performance.
Assess the company's sustainability strengths and weaknesses.
Develop recommendations for how the company can improve its sustainability performance.

Explore TED Talks on sustainable business

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Provide real-world examples and insights from experts to enhance comprehension of sustainability in practice.

Browse courses on Sustainability

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Search for TED Talks on sustainable business.
Watch selected TED Talks and take notes on key concepts and solutions.
Discuss the ideas presented in the TED Talks with classmates or colleagues.

Compile a resource list on sustainable business

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Promote self-directed learning and foster a deeper understanding of sustainability by providing access to a curated collection of relevant resources.

Browse courses on Sustainability

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Identify and collect articles, books, websites, and other resources on sustainable business.
Organize and categorize the resources based on topic or theme.
Share the resource list with classmates or colleagues.

Develop a case study on a sustainable business initiative

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Apply course concepts to a practical scenario, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the context of sustainability.

Browse courses on Case study

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Identify a specific sustainable business initiative to analyze.
Research the initiative and gather relevant data.
Analyze the initiative's impact on environmental, social, and economic factors.
Write a comprehensive report outlining the case study and your findings.

Career center

Learners who complete First Steps in Making the Business Case for Sustainability will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers use their understanding of sustainability to improve environmental performance and reduce waste for organizations. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course can help Sustainability Managers enhance their knowledge of sustainable practices, develop a business case for sustainability, and communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers. It can also help them stay up-to-date on emerging trends in sustainable business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and develop solutions to environmental problems. They may work in research, consulting, or government. This course can help Environmental Scientists understand the business case for sustainability, which can be helpful when working with businesses to develop and implement environmental solutions. It can also help them communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Managers are responsible for developing and implementing CSR strategies for organizations. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course can help CSR Managers develop a business case for sustainability, communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers, and stay up-to-date on emerging trends in sustainable business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability Consultants help organizations improve their environmental and social performance. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course can help Sustainability Consultants develop a business case for sustainability, communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers, and stay up-to-date on emerging trends in sustainable business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

Product Sustainability Manager

Product Sustainability Managers are responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies for products. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, retail, or consulting. This course can help Product Sustainability Managers understand the business case for sustainability, develop a business case for sustainable products, and communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Analyst

Sustainability Analysts analyze the environmental and social performance of organizations. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as finance, consulting, or government. This course can help Sustainability Analysts understand the business case for sustainability, develop a business case for sustainable investments, and communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Analyst

Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers design and implement solutions to environmental problems. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course may be useful for Environmental Engineers who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Climate Change Analyst

Climate Change Analysts study the impacts of climate change and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as government, consulting, or research. This course may be useful for Climate Change Analysts who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Energy Manager

Energy Managers are responsible for developing and implementing energy efficiency strategies for organizations. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course may be useful for Energy Managers who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Sustainability Educator

Sustainability Educators teach about sustainability to students of all ages. They may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, universities, or museums. This course may be useful for Sustainability Educators who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Sustainability Writer

Sustainability Writers write about sustainability for a variety of audiences. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other publications. This course may be useful for Sustainability Writers who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Sustainability Researcher

Sustainability Researchers study sustainability issues and develop solutions. They may work in a variety of settings, such as universities, research institutes, or non-profit organizations. This course may be useful for Sustainability Researchers who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Sustainability Strategist

Sustainability Strategists develop and implement sustainability strategies for organizations. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course may be useful for Sustainability Strategists who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Sustainability Director

Sustainability Directors are responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies for organizations. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course may be useful for Sustainability Directors who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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Sustainability Coordinator

Sustainability Coordinators are responsible for implementing sustainability strategies for organizations. They may work in a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, or consulting. This course may be useful for Sustainability Coordinators who want to learn more about the business case for sustainability and how to communicate the benefits of sustainability to decision-makers.

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