Sustainability for Business: ESG Fundamentals

IMD Business School for Management and Leadership via Coursera

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Overview

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are becoming increasingly important due to regulatory pressures, evolving markets, and the values-based preferences of stakeholders, including investors, consumers, and employees. As ESG reporting becomes mandatory in many parts of the world, no business can afford to be complacent about its responsibilities towards the environment and society. Organizations that fail to manage ESG effectively will face significant operational, reputational, and regulatory risks. IMDs Sustainability for Business: ESG Fundamentals course, in partnership with Coursera, provides...

Syllabus

Introducing ESG and why it matters

In Module 1, youll discover what ESG really means and why its now high up on the agenda for businesses around the world. Well then look at nine planetary boundaries, which include climate change and freshwater use. Crossing these boundaries would cause irreversible environmental changes, with serious consequences for all of us. Well move on to explore some key global trends and youll decide which ones are most relevant to your ESG strategy. And to give you an outlook of where this course is going, once you have completed all modules, youll take part in IMDs AI-powered simulation The ESG Metamorphosis Game, which we designed for you. Youre going to step into the shoes of an investigative eco-travel writer, who goes undercover in a luxury hotel on the island of Terra Vida. Youll be tasked with identifying sustainability issues in the organization and proposing solutions. Your scoring will depend on how well you apply what you have learned. The simulation is a chance to put your learning into practice while building your decision-making and leadership skills.

Uncovering the relevance of E, S, and G for organizations

In Module 2, well explore the business aspects of E, S, and G. We focus on how each of the three dimensions can harm or enhance an organization's value. Well address the environmental dimensions and how you can quantify them to better understand their impact on your organization. Similarly, well unveil the social dimension and go into detail about why the governance dimension matters. Youll learn how to exploit the opportunities related to each of the dimensions while taking into consideration the risks associated with them.

Integrating ESG into strategy

In Module 3, well explore ESG strategies. Youll learn why ESG dimensions are crucial to creating or protecting a firms value and how you can integrate ESG into your strategy. In addition, well dive deeper into CO2 emission reduction strategies and how you can manage emissions in your organization throughout the value chain.

Measuring and managing ESG impact

In Module 4, we cover the importance of measuring ESG dimensions to report on how well your organization is doing on ESG. This module is especially important, because reporting on ESG has become mandatory in many parts of the world. Accountants now go beyond gathering financial information for annual reports; they must also include the organizations ESG performance indicators.

Identifying and managing ESG stakeholders

Module 5 covers stakeholder management. Youll learn about the different stakeholders of an organization: Those that are closely tied to the business, like employees and suppliers, and those that do not directly affect the business but still play an important role for the organization. Well explore why considering all types of stakeholders is an integral part of ESG management.

Leading a culture change for ESG

In the final module, youll learn about the people side of ESG. Business transformations triggered by fundamental changes in society, technology, and regulation are only successful if they are supported and driven by leaders who foster an appropriate organizational culture. Youll also dive into how holistic ESG management practices can be integrated with the organizations overall goals. After the module, youll be ready to step into the shoes of an investigative eco-travel writer who goes undercover at a luxury hotel on the island of Terra Vida. Youll identify sustainability issues in the establishment and propose solutions. Your score will depend on how you navigate interpersonal dynamics and balance competing interests with organizational needs. The simulation is a chance to put your learning into practice while building your decision-making and leadership skills. Have fun!