Identifying Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities from Coursera

This Course will clarify the definition and meaning of Social Entrepreneurship and will focus on the need to learn about the source and root of a social problem. You will be introduced to different perspectives about Social Entrepreneurship and you will learn about complementary and opportunistic assets which will help you to detect an opportunity and develop an idea of how to create a business for social change.

From a practical perspective you will be asked to initiate a team formation process and start to think about a problem topic that you want to address with your social venture in the future. You will work in a team to research this topic and will gradually start to think about a particular opportunity and identify a purpose for your social venture project.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to the Course

Welcome to the first Module of Course 1! In this first Module you will receive an administrative introduction to the general structure of the Specialization and learn how you can manage the courses successfully. Content-wise we will, first, address the definition and meaning of Social Entrepreneurship. Second we will focus on the need to learn about the source and root of a social problem and highlight the importance to deal with this prior to thinking about solutions.

Definition of Social Entrepreneurship

Welcome to Week 2. The second Module will introduce you to different perspectives about Social Entrepreneurship. You will be asked to initiate your team formation process and select a problem topic that you want to address with your social venture in the future.

Who is a Social Entrepreneur

With Module 3 you have reached halftime of Course 1. Congratulations! This Module will answer the question what it takes people to become Entrepreneurs. In addition you will be introduced to the concept of a Community Enterprise. Your personal challenge will be to define your future role within your project team and to think about how to find opportunities to address social problems.

How to Identify an Opportunity

In Module 4 you will be introduced to opportunity identification. You will learn how to recognize complementary and antagonistic assets and turn them into opportunities. You will also be confronted with failures that other ventures experienced in order to prepare yourself for potential challenges for your own establishing your own social venture. By the end of the Module you will be encouraged to start thinking about possible income models.

Earned Income Creation

Welcome to the last Module of this course! We hope you have enjoyed the course so far and made a progress in becoming a Social Entrepreneur. In this 5th Module we will delve deeper into different financial structures for social ventures. Furthermore you will discuss what it means to transfer a concept to a different context by reference to Microfinance. Finally you will be able to design a revenue strategy for your social venture.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces students to the root and source of social issues, which is key to developing solutions

Introduces students to complementary and opportunistic assets, which is important for developing creative solutions to social issues

Opportunity identification is taught through this course

Develops a team formation process, which is very practical

Introduces students to community enterprises, which can be a great way to create social change

Provides students with the chance to think about possible income models for their social ventures

Reviews summary

Engaging and practical social entrepreneurship course

Learners say this engaging, practical course provides helpful guidelines and inspiring perspectives on identifying social entrepreneurship opportunities. Students appreciate the interactive assignments and the chance to connect with peers worldwide. The course is well-structured and informative, with insights from experts and opportunities to put concepts into practice. While some materials may be outdated, learners overall recommend this course for those interested in or working in Social Entrepreneurship.

Provides valuable perspectives from professionals.

"Insightful course material"

"EXCELLENT SUPPORT BY THE PROFESSORS & SIMPLE EXPLANATION "

"The professors are well chosen; they are professionals, above all, and good teachers."

Combines theory with hands-on projects.

"Practical guidelines and interesting perspectives"

"Helped me start the setup up of my own social business"

"I also enjoyed the capstone project where I created a marketing campaign for my cause."

Features interactive tasks and team projects.

"Engaging! Practical information and inspiring speakers"

"Working in groups with people all over the world is hard but well worth it."

"Brilliantly structured course. Very informative. Quite engaging as well with babele projects, assignments, reviewing others assignments."

Occasional technical issues may arise.

"Starting week 2, we were asked to identify a problem and register ourselves at a platform called Babele so that we could build our own groups and develop our ideas further. However the platform/app does not work as expected."

"Could not advance through the courses because other students were not grading my assignments"

"No one responds to messages or comments in forums asking for help"

Some course materials may be older.

"It should be only more updated"

"In this dynamic world, cases six or seven year old seem antique sometimes."

"The MyC4 case has been overtaken by history as MyC4 doesn't exist anymore."

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 Identifying Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities with these activities:

Create a Social Entrepreneurship Resource Folder

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Organize and store your notes, assignments, articles, and other materials related to social entrepreneurship.

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Create a dedicated folder on your computer or in the cloud.
Save all relevant materials from the course, including lecture notes, readings, and assignments.
Add articles, videos, and other resources that you find online.

Watch a TED Talk on Social Entrepreneurship

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Gain inspiration and insights from leading social entrepreneurs who share their stories and ideas.

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Search for TED Talks on social entrepreneurship on YouTube or TED.com.
Select a TED Talk that interests you and watch it.
Take notes on the key points and ideas presented in the talk.

Volunteer with a Social Enterprise

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Gain hands-on experience and contribute to a social cause by volunteering with an organization that aligns with your interests.

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Research social enterprises in your area.
Identify an organization that you're passionate about and contact them to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Commit to a regular volunteer schedule.
Engage actively in the organization's activities and learn from the staff and other volunteers.

Five other activities

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Conduct a Stakeholder Analysis

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Improve your ability to identify and analyze stakeholders by using a framework to assess their interests, power, and influence.

Browse courses on Stakeholder Analysis

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Identify the stakeholders involved in the social problem you're addressing.
Categorize the stakeholders into groups based on their interests.
Assess the power and influence of each stakeholder.
Develop strategies for engaging with each stakeholder group.

Join a Social Entrepreneurship Study Group

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Enhance your learning by connecting with other students, sharing ideas, and supporting each other's progress.

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Find or create a study group with other students in your class or online.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials, work on projects together, and provide feedback to each other.
Share resources, articles, and videos related to social entrepreneurship.

Solve the Social Entrepreneurship Problem Tree Template

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Reinforce your understanding of problem identification and solving by visualizing the root causes and effects of social problems.

Browse courses on Social Problem Identification

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Download the Social Entrepreneurship Problem Tree Template.
Identify a social problem you want to address.
List the root causes of the problem in the boxes at the bottom of the template.
Identify the consequences and effects of the problem in the boxes at the top of the template.
Draw lines connecting the root causes to the consequences.

Develop a Social Venture Proposal

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Apply your learning by creating a detailed proposal for a social venture that addresses a real-world problem.

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Identify a specific social problem you want to address.
Research the problem and develop a solution.
Create a business plan for your social venture, including a mission statement, goals, objectives, and financial projections.
Present your proposal to a group of peers or mentors for feedback.

Participate in a Social Entrepreneurship Competition

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Challenge yourself by developing a solution to a social problem and presenting it to a panel of judges.

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Research social entrepreneurship competitions.
Identify a competition that aligns with your interests and skills.
Develop a strong solution to the problem addressed by the competition.
Prepare a presentation and pitch your solution to the judges.

Career center

Learners who complete Identifying Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Entrepreneur

As a Social Entrepreneur, you will have the opportunity to use the skills you developed in this course, Identifying Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities, to create a business that will address social issues. This course will teach you how to identify opportunities, develop a business plan, and raise capital. You will also learn how to manage a social enterprise and measure your impact.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Entrepreneur

Nonprofit Manager

As a Nonprofit Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit organization. This course will teach you how to develop and implement programs, manage staff, and raise funds. You will also learn how to evaluate the impact of your organization's work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Social Worker

As a Social Worker, you will help people overcome social and economic challenges. This course will teach you how to assess client needs, develop treatment plans, and provide counseling. You will also learn how to advocate for social justice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Community Organizer

As a Community Organizer, you will work with communities to identify and address social problems. This course will teach you how to build relationships, develop strategies, and mobilize resources. You will also learn how to empower communities to take action.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Policy Analyst

As a Policy Analyst, you will research and analyze social policies. This course will teach you how to identify policy problems, develop solutions, and advocate for change. You will also learn how to evaluate the impact of policies.

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Journalist

As a Journalist, you will report on social issues. This course will teach you how to research stories, interview sources, and write compelling articles. You will also learn how to use social media to reach a wider audience.

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Teacher

As a Teacher, you will have the opportunity to teach students about social issues. This course will teach you how to develop lesson plans, engage students, and assess learning. You will also learn how to create a positive and supportive learning environment.

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Consultant

As a Consultant, you will work with organizations to help them address social issues. This course will teach you how to identify opportunities, develop solutions, and implement change. You will also learn how to manage client relationships.

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Researcher

As a Researcher, you will conduct research on social issues. This course will teach you how to design research studies, collect data, and analyze results. You will also learn how to write research reports and present your findings.

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Lobbyist

As a Lobbyist, you will advocate for social change. This course will teach you how to build relationships with policymakers, develop advocacy campaigns, and influence public opinion. You will also learn how to evaluate the impact of your work.

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Activist

As an Activist, you will work to raise awareness about social issues and advocate for change. This course will teach you how to organize protests, rallies, and boycotts. You will also learn how to use social media to mobilize supporters.

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Grant Writer

As a Grant Writer, you will help organizations secure funding for their social programs. This course will teach you how to identify funding opportunities, write grant proposals, and manage grants. You will also learn how to build relationships with funders.

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Fundraiser

As a Fundraiser, you will help organizations raise money for their social programs. This course will teach you how to develop fundraising strategies, plan fundraising events, and solicit donations. You will also learn how to build relationships with donors.

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Social Media Manager

As a Social Media Manager, you will help organizations use social media to raise awareness about their social programs and connect with supporters. This course will teach you how to develop social media strategies, create engaging content, and measure the impact of your work.

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Marketing Manager

As a Marketing Manager, you will help organizations market their social programs. This course will teach you how to develop marketing strategies, create marketing materials, and measure the impact of your work.

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