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.
IMD’s Sustainability for Business: ESG Fundamentals course, in partnership with Coursera, provides a comprehensive understanding of ESG principles and practices, which are integral to the broader concept of sustainability. Wherever you are in your career trajectory, you will gain valuable skills that will empower you to contribute more effectively to your organization’s initiatives or boost your prospects if you are seeking to transition to an ESG-related role. Even if ESG isn’t directly related to your current profession, understanding this critical area will broaden your knowledge and enhance your ability to make informed, responsible decisions.
Throughout the course, you will gain insights from IMD’s expert faculty, as well as from CEOs and business leaders who have successfully incorporated ESG into their business practices and policies. The program also features an immersive AI-powered simulation game, the ESG Metamorphosis Game. By navigating complex and engaging scenarios involving environmental protection, cultural preservation, and corporate responsibility, you will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to lead sustainable practices in the real world.
On completion of ESG Fundamentals, you will receive a workbook to guide you as you implement your learnings in your organization.
Sustainability for Business: ESG Fundamentals
IMD Business School for Management and Leadership via Coursera
Overview
Syllabus
- Introducing ESG and why it matters
- In Module 1, you’ll discover what ESG really means and why it’s now high up on the agenda for businesses around the world. We’ll 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. We’ll move on to explore some key global trends and you’ll 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, you’ll take part in IMD’s AI-powered simulation The ESG Metamorphosis Game, which we designed for you. You’re 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. You’ll 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, we’ll 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. We’ll address the environmental dimensions and how you can quantify them to better understand their impact on your organization. Similarly, we’ll unveil the social dimension and go into detail about why the governance dimension matters. You’ll 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, we’ll explore ESG strategies. You’ll learn why ESG dimensions are crucial to creating or protecting a firm’s value and how you can integrate ESG into your strategy. In addition, we’ll 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 organization’s ESG performance indicators.
- Identifying and managing ESG stakeholders
- Module 5 covers stakeholder management. You’ll 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. We’ll explore why considering all types of stakeholders is an integral part of ESG management.
- Leading a culture change for ESG
- In the final module, you’ll 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. You’ll also dive into how holistic ESG management practices can be integrated with the organization’s overall goals. After the module, you’ll 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. You’ll 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!
Taught by
Florian Hoos
