Strategy and Sustainability

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/strategy-sustainability

Introduction

### Course Review: Strategy and Sustainability on Coursera In an age where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discussions, the course "Strategy and Sustainability" offered on Coursera exemplifies a timely and essential program for business leaders, strategists, and anyone interested in the intersection of business and environmental stewardship. #### Course Overview The "Strategy and Sustainability" course offers a critical examination of the complex relationship between business practices and environmental sustainability. It boldly tackles the perceived dichotomy between the two, elucidating how they can coexist in a manner that is beneficial to both businesses and the planet. Throughout the course, participants explore fundamental issues surrounding strategic decision-making in the context of environmental concerns, dissecting the mindsets of executives and environmentalists alike. #### Syllabus Breakdown The course is divided into six insightful weeks, each designed to build upon the last. Here's a concise look at what to expect: - **Week 1: Business & the Environment** This introductory session lays the foundation by contrasting the perspectives of CEOs and environmental activists. Students will gain an understanding of the evolving relationship between business and the environment over the past 60 years, setting the stage for deeper analysis in subsequent weeks. - **Week 2: Strategic Issues** Participants are led to uncover how environmental sustainability impacts key business strategies, including securing a license to operate and shaping public perception. This week encourages critical thinking about sustainability as an integral component of business strategy. - **Week 3: Strategic Options** Here, the course delves into the concept of environmental sensibility, guiding students through various strategic responses a company might adopt depending on its industry and location. Learners will leave with practical insights into tailoring strategies to their unique business contexts. - **Week 4: Environmental Interest Groups** This session offers a comprehensive look at the diverse landscape of environmental interest groups and how businesses can interact with them effectively. Understanding these groups’ motivations enhances strategic formulation and corporate engagement. - **Week 5: Differences Across Industries and Around the World** The focus shifts to industry-specific challenges and global variations in sustainability practices. This week underscores the necessity for businesses to consider their sector and geographic implications when developing sustainability strategies. - **Week 6: How to Develop a Sustainability Strategy** In the final week, students are provided with an integrated framework to formulate a sustainability strategy that aligns with their organization's goals. This session emphasizes a long-term vision and the importance of buy-in from all organizational levels to drive meaningful change. #### Personal Experience and Highlights Having taken this course, I can attest to its comprehensive and engaging approach. The content is not only informative but also refreshingly applicable to real-world business challenges. Each week builds on the last, ensuring that learners develop a cohesive understanding of how to integrate sustainability into business strategies effectively. The course is designed with flexibility in mind, featuring a mixture of video lectures, readings, and interactive assignments that cater to various learning styles. The instructors provide not just theoretical knowledge but also practical tools and frameworks that can be utilized in business contexts. #### Recommendation I highly recommend "Strategy and Sustainability" to anyone in a business role or aspiring to enter strategic management, especially those passionate about making a positive impact on the environment. This course successfully bridges the gap between profitability and sustainability, empowering future leaders to navigate and reconcile these often conflicting priorities. Whether you’re a student, a mid-level professional, or a senior executive, this course will expand your understanding of sustainability's role in strategy and provide you with valuable insights needed to shape a more sustainable future for your organization. Consider enrolling today and take an important step toward aligning your business strategies with the urgent call for environmental responsibility.

Syllabus

Course Overview & Week 1: Business & the Environment

Welcome! Before starting today's video lectures, please have a look at the course syllabus below. In this first session, we'll explore six fundamental differences between how, in my view, CEOs and board members think about the impact of business on the environment and how environmental activists, lobbyists, journalists, and legislators think about the same ideas. The session also deals with the evolution of environmental concern over the last 60 years and how business has responded. Objectives: To understand the different mindset that business has with respect to other parts of civil society and develop an appreciation for the relatively rapid evolution that has occurred in the relationship between business and the environment in the last 60 years.

This session calls out the strategic issues in which environmental sustainability plays a key role, such as securing a license to operate, dealing with competition, and shaping consumer and societal perception. Learning Objectives: To dig into the different ways in which the issue of environmental sustainability becomes a subject for business strategy.

This session first introduces the idea of environmental sensibility which will be different for companies in different business sectors and in different parts of the world. It then develops six strategic approaches that businesses might follow according to the degree to which they choose to comply with or go beyond legislation. Learning Objectives: To understand the idea of environmental sensibility and to explore different levels of response. In addition, learners will be able to determine the right approach for specific firms in a specific sector and place.

Part of the issue in choosing a strategy to deal with environmental issues is to fully understand the broad spectrum of environmental interest groups. This session explores how the movement took off, distinguishing between four types of groups and examining how business might consider interacting with them (and vice versa). Learning Objectives: To explore the nature of four different types of environmental interest groups such that their motivations and behaviors can be better understood.

This session explores differences across business sectors including automotive, oil & gas, fast-moving consumer goods, mining, and IT/consumer electronics. We will also contrast the situation in the United States with Europe, China, India, and Africa. Learning Objectives: To underline the importance of adapting a specific firm’s strategy to its sector, its geographic scope and even the nature of its ownership and governance structure prior to developing a specific strategic response.

This session presents an integrated framework for working through the issues introduced in the other sessions in order to develop a strategy. This involves understanding the firm’s past and present, looking ahead with a 10–20-year time horizon; quantifying, to the degree possible, the cost and benefits of different options; and making sure that the entire organization – from the board of directors down to line management – understands the direction chosen. Learning Objectives: To go through the critical steps required to build a robust strategy for dealing with environmental sustainability in a specific company or institution.