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Cheryl Kiser and Ken Freitas

The challenges facing our world are increasingly complex and affect corporations, communities, citizens, and the natural environment. For many companies, even those with strong traditions of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, there is a growing consensus that current models of corporate engagement in society are no longer sufficient. They see that new approaches are needed.

Fortunately, the past decade has seen an explosion of interest and development in social innovation—a discipline that employs entrepreneurial knowledge and methods to develop solutions to pressing social issues.

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The challenges facing our world are increasingly complex and affect corporations, communities, citizens, and the natural environment. For many companies, even those with strong traditions of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, there is a growing consensus that current models of corporate engagement in society are no longer sufficient. They see that new approaches are needed.

Fortunately, the past decade has seen an explosion of interest and development in social innovation—a discipline that employs entrepreneurial knowledge and methods to develop solutions to pressing social issues.

This course combines learnings from the real-world experience of business leaders with analysis and practical applications. These leaders,who have developed and led social innovation efforts, share the theories, strategies, and management frameworks that are drivingnew models for business engagement in society.

You will learn from firsthand accounts and interaction with key executives who’ve led social innovation initiatives. They hail from leading organizations and brands including, Campbell’s, Dunkin Brands, Verizon, Salesforce.com, FIFCO, Barclays and more.

In addition to online interactions, there will be opportunities for in-persontouchpoints for anyone in the Greater Boston area; with the potential for meetups elsewhere in the future.

You will learn the key steps and apply the management frameworks to your organization. You will also develop a clear, practical understanding of the process, knowledge, and skills required to develop social innovation efforts. Finally, you'll learn to address key related challenges including business growth, innovation, employee engagement and retention, social impact, and connection to society.

This is a course for anyone interested in understanding and acting on the new frontier of Corporate Social Innovation. No matter where you sit inside your company, you’ll be able to apply the lessons from companies in the field to develop the practical steps needed for the specific needs of your organization.

This new context is driving companies – large and small – to think beyond Corporate Social Responsibility and to view business opportunities through the lens of social innovation.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • A clear understanding of the multiple ways in which organizations create both social and economic value in a world where the purpose of business is being challenged and redefined.
  • The practical steps and hands-on skills to integrate social issues into business strategies, programs, and organizations through real-world examples and interviews with company leaders who have led social innovation initiatives.
  • How and why corporate engagement in society has evolved – from philanthropy to corporate social responsibility to social innovation – and how it is driving today’s companies to develop new strategies to create both economic and social value.
  • About the leadership and entrepreneurial skills and competencies needed to develop and lead social innovation initiatives, including developing strategic focus, building organizational capacity, engaging stakeholders, measurement tools and driving innovation.
  • Babson’s methodology of entrepreneurial thought and action® and tools to help you take immediate action in your organization.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Covers social innovation, which is standard in organizations rethinking business objectives in current times
Provides practical skills to integrate social causes into business strategies and programs
Taught by Cheryl Kiser and Ken Freitas, who have expertise in corporate social innovation
Examines corporate engagement in society, from philanthropy to CSR to social innovation
Develops leadership and entrepreneurial skills for social innovation initiatives, including strategic focus, organizational capacity, stakeholder engagement, and measurement tools
May require organization-specific knowledge to fully apply the course learnings

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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 From Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Innovation with these activities:
Review the key concepts of business strategy
Refreshing your knowledge of business strategy will help you understand how social innovation fits into the larger corporate context.
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  • Read the introductory materials on business strategy
  • Watch online videos on business strategy case studies
  • Attend a webinar on business strategy
Review the key concepts of innovation management
Refreshing your knowledge of innovation management will help you understand how to apply innovative techniques to social innovation.
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  • Read the introductory materials on innovation management
  • Watch online videos on innovation management case studies
  • Attend a webinar on innovation management
Review key social innovation concepts
Reviewing social innovation concepts will provide a strong foundation for understanding the course material.
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  • Read the introductory materials on social innovation
  • Watch online videos on social innovation case studies
  • Attend a webinar on social innovation
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Review concepts from Intro to Business
Develop a foundation for this course by reviewing key concepts from a previously taken Intro to Business course.
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  • Take notes on key chapters in your textbook.
  • Complete practice problems.
Share experiences with other students
Exchanging ideas with other students will enhance your understanding of social innovation and its applications.
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  • Join a study group
  • Participate in online discussions
  • Attend a workshop
Join a study group to discuss course concepts
Enhance your understanding of course concepts through discussions with peers.
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  • Find or create a study group with classmates.
  • Meet regularly to discuss course materials and assignments.
Follow tutorials on using financial modeling software
Enhance your proficiency in using financial modeling software, a key tool for this course.
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  • Research and identify suitable tutorials.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
  • Practice using the software on your own.
Contribute to the Social Innovation Open Source Toolkit
Contributing to the Social Innovation Open Source Toolkit will help you to connect with other social innovators and learn from their experiences.
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  • Find a project to contribute to
  • Create a pull request
  • Review the code
  • Merge the pull request
Draft a case study proposal
Develop your skills in analyzing and writing case studies, which are frequently used in this course.
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  • Identify a suitable business case.
  • Develop a research plan.
  • Write a draft of your case study.
Attend workshops on financial management
Expand your knowledge and skills in financial management by attending specialized workshops.
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  • Research and identify relevant workshops.
  • Register for and attend the workshops.
  • Actively participate in the workshops and engage with the speakers.
Participate in online quizzes on financial analysis
Reinforce your understanding of financial analysis techniques through regular practice.
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  • Find online quizzes on financial analysis.
  • Complete the quizzes regularly.
  • Review your answers and learn from your mistakes.
Develop a social innovation pitch
Developing a social innovation pitch will help you apply the principles of social innovation to a real-world problem.
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  • Identify a social problem
  • Brainstorm solutions
  • Develop a value proposition
  • Create a prototype
  • Measure the impact
Volunteer at a non-profit organization focused on financial literacy
Gain practical experience and develop your understanding of financial literacy by volunteering at a relevant organization.
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  • Research and identify suitable non-profit organizations.
  • Contact the organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
  • Participate in volunteer activities related to financial literacy.
Develop a financial plan for a small business
Apply your knowledge of financial analysis and planning by creating a comprehensive financial plan for a real-world business.
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  • Identify a suitable small business.
  • Conduct a thorough financial analysis of the business.
  • Develop a financial plan that outlines the business's financial goals and strategies.
Develop a business plan for a social innovation venture
Creating a business plan will help you to think through the practical aspects of launching a social innovation venture.
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  • Identify the target market
  • Develop a marketing strategy
  • Create a financial plan
  • Assemble a team
  • Launch the venture

Career center

Learners who complete From Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Innovation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Nonprofit Fundraising Manager
Nonprofit Fundraising Managers are responsible for raising funds for nonprofit organizations. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the challenges facing nonprofits in the 21st century and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Social Entrepreneur
Social Entrepreneurs are individuals who use entrepreneurial principles to develop and implement solutions to social problems. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the social innovation process and how to develop and lead social innovation initiatives.
Urban Planner
Urban Planners are responsible for planning and designing cities and towns. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the challenges facing urban areas in the 21st century and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientists study the environment and its interactions with humans. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the environmental challenges facing our planet and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit Managers are responsible for leading and managing nonprofit organizations. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the challenges facing nonprofits in the 21st century and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Sustainability Consultant
Sustainability Consultants help businesses and organizations improve their environmental performance and reduce their social impact. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the challenges facing businesses in the 21st century and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineers design and implement solutions to environmental problems. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the environmental challenges facing our planet and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Public Policy Analyst
Public Policy Analysts research, analyze, and develop public policy. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the policymaking process and how to develop and advocate for effective public policies.
Sustainability Manager
Sustainability Managers help companies improve their environmental performance and reduce their social impact. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the challenges facing businesses in the 21st century and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Urban Designer
Urban Designers plan and design cities and towns. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the challenges facing urban areas in the 21st century and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
Corporate Social Responsibility Managers are responsible for developing and implementing CSR programs and initiatives. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the theories, strategies, and management frameworks that are driving new models for business engagement in society.
Social Impact Investor
Social Impact Investors invest in companies and organizations that are working to solve social and environmental problems. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the social innovation process and how to develop and lead social innovation initiatives.
Public Policy Advocate
Public Policy Advocates work to influence public policy on behalf of their clients. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the policymaking process and how to develop and advocate for effective public policies.
Corporate Social Responsibility Analyst
Corporate Social Responsibility Analysts are responsible for researching, analyzing, and reporting on a company's social and environmental performance. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the theories, strategies, and management frameworks that are driving new models for business engagement in society.
Sustainability Educator
Sustainability Educators teach about sustainability and environmental issues. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a deep understanding of the challenges facing our planet and how to develop innovative solutions to address them.

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in From Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Innovation.
Provides a detailed guide to corporate social innovation, discussing the challenges, opportunities, and best practices involved in implementing social innovation initiatives.
This classic book on innovation provides insights into the challenges that large companies face when trying to innovate.
This practical guide to design thinking provides tools and techniques that can be used to create innovative solutions to social and business problems.
Introduces the lean startup methodology, which customer-centric approach to innovation that can be used to test and validate new ideas quickly and efficiently.
Provides a framework for creating new markets and avoiding competition.

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