Description

After completing this course, students will have a working knowledge of green business principles, practices and opportunities.  The course will provide the foundation needed to be able to integrate environmental sustainability so that it adds value to a company’s bottom line

Develop an understanding of what it means for a company to be seen as environmentally responsible, or “green”

• Recognize the business, marketplace and societal drivers that are encouraging companies to become more environmentally responsible
• Gain familiarity with the opportunities and challenges that companies face when they seek to “go green”
• Learn  how to design an Action Plan with key steps (actions and activities) needed to move a company down a green business path
• Know the kinds of tools and practices that can help a company continuously improve its greening efforts
• Create a company culture that supports greening your business
• Appreciate what success looks like when a company achieves “green” status
• Learn about the career opportunities available in the world of green business and clean technology

Benefits of the Program:

• The program is being developed by industry practitioners who have successfully worked on strategy for environmental responsibility, green business practices and implementation for hundreds of organizations.
• The focus of the program is on preparing students to be green business professionals within companies or public agencies
• The program provides a practical understanding and working knowledge of an emerging field that is in high demand in the current economy

 

Outline

Module 1: Green Business Overview:

This module provides an overview of the essential concepts and frameworks needed to be a practicing green business professional including: definitions and significant aspects of green business and why being a green business is important in today’s marketplace.

Module 2: The Context of Green Business

This module presents the context for the green business approach.  You will be provided with an overall understanding of trends in both natural resources and in the economy that have set the stage for the emerging emphasis on green business.

Module 3: The Business Case for Going Green

            This module explores the opportunities and challenges to companies of focusing upon green business strategy and practice.  You will be presented with recent studies that document the business case for environmental sustainability.

Module 4: Evaluate The Impact of Your Business

This module provides an analytical framework and tools that can help you perform a baseline assessment of your company’s ecological footprint including energy, water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions.  It will also introduce you to the concept of supply chain opportunities and impacts.

Module 5: Create a Strategy and Action Plan

In this module you will walk through the process of creating a green business strategy and action plan for an organization.  Topics will include prioritization of opportunities, selecting targets and milestones, exploring implementation barriers and measuring for accountability. It will include tips and case studies that will help you put together a successful plan.

Module 6: Integrate Green Business into your Business Model

This module will give you guidance on how to successfully integrate green business initiatives into your company or organization.  It will provide practical advice on how to develop a well coordinated program that will be popular with employees and will achieve measurable results that positively impact your bottom line.  Tips and case studies will amplify the principles presented.

Module 7: Green Marketing

This module will explore what success looks like when a company achieves “green” status and how to successfully tell your green business story to your internal and external stakeholders.  Green marketing case studies and experts will offer advice that is not widely available in the marketplace.

Module 8: Opportunities and Resources in Green Business and Sustainability

The final module of the course will provide information about the career opportunities in the world of green business and clean technology.  You will receive invaluable advice about where to find key resources for green business practitioners.

Course Outline

Green Business Overview

a)      What is Green Business

b)      Significance of “triple bottom line” thinking

c)      Why being a green business is important

d)     The price of not being green

e)      Green Business issues, drivers and incentives

The Context of Green Business

a)      Key environmental sustainability issues

b)      Market forces driving the green business approach

c)      Framing the challenges and opportunities of becoming a green business

The Business Case for Going Green

a)      Succeeding in business within the limits of nature

b)      Key studies show the value of green business strategy and practice

c)      Leading company initiatives in green business

d)     Introduction to footprint measurement and analysis

Evaluate The Impact of Your Business

a)      Assess and measure your impact: energy, water and waste

b)      Survey your employees

c)      Carbon foot printing and carbon management

d)     Environmentally preferable purchasing and supply chain

Create a Strategy and Action Plan

a)      Determine your priorities

b)      Select targets, milestones and metrics

c)      The data you need and where to find it

d)     Explore barriers to implementation

e)      Tips and case studies for implementing your plan

f)       Measurement and tracking for accountability

Integrate Green Business into your Business Model

a)      Recognize the partners you need to be successful

b)      Cultivate a company culture that supports green business

c)      Build your green team for employee engagement

d)     Increase employee awareness

e)      Introduction to green product design & low carbon design solutions

f)       The importance of internal communications

Green Marketing

a)      How, when and where to tell your green business story

b)      The importance of transparency in stakeholder communications (customers, investors, shareholders and suppliers)

Opportunities and Resources in Green Business and Sustainability

a)      Career opportunities

b)      Key resources

 

 

Demo

http://workingtitlecourses.com/courses/gb/m1/m1.htm

 

Additional Info

Languages

English

Course Length

100.00 hours

Duration of Access

6 months

Instructor

Joel Makower & Rory Bakke

Prerequisites/Audience

This course is essential for people working or preparing to work to help companies transform into green businesses. Green business & Sustainability Professionals must work in a way that meets financial objectives, operates within the limits of nature and meets society’s expectations.

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. Students should have basic keyboarding and computer skills, and be comfortable navigating the Internet. They must also have an understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word recommended), and have emailing capabilities as well.

Requirements/Materials Included

Materials Required/Provided:  (Other than the online content)
3 eBooks:
    •    Truth About Green Business
    •    Strategies For The Green Economy
    •    The Triple Bottom Line: Does It All Add Up?