IMD - International Institute for Management Development
Sustainability for Business: ESG Fundamentals

Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.

IMD - International Institute for Management Development

Sustainability for Business: ESG Fundamentals

Florian Hoos

Instructor: Florian Hoos

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

12 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

12 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Develop a solid understanding of ESG, the major trends driving it, and how ESG initiatives can be translated to your organization.

  • Familiarize yourself with ways of effectively measuring ESG performance and prepare to navigate the new ESG reporting landscape.

  • Understand how a materiality analysis can highlight risks that should be mitigated and opportunities that can be exploited.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Recently updated!

October 2024

Assessments

11 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

There are 6 modules in this course

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.

What's included

8 videos6 readings1 assignment3 discussion prompts

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.

What's included

8 videos8 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

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.

What's included

8 videos7 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

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.

What's included

11 videos5 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

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.

What's included

6 videos3 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

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!

What's included

7 videos7 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

Instructor

Florian Hoos
IMD - International Institute for Management Development
1 Course380 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Leadership and Management

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

New to Leadership and Management? Start here.

Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions