MIT Sloan School of Management
Business Sustainability Strategy: Technology and Management
Develop a strategy for driving positive change and sustainable business practices as you learn to navigate complex sustainability issues.
Starting soon
Start date
26 July 2023
Enroll by 18 July 2023
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Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
6–8 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The percentage of targets underpinning the UN Sustainable Development Goals that could be enabled by existing Fourth Industrial Revolution technology innovations.
World Economic Forum (Jan, 2020).
The estimated rewards for investors and businesses who invest in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
PwC (Apr, 2019).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
With an increasing number of environmental regulations and concerns from consumers and stakeholders, the topic of sustainability has moved to the forefront of business endeavors. Yet, despite the demand for greater accountability, organizations still need to remain profitable. In order to have a sustainable future, leaders need to learn to address these inherent challenges.
The Business Sustainability Strategy: Technology and Management online short course explores the process of successfully navigating the trade-offs and tensions between sustainability and profitability. Guided by the MIT Sloan School of Management faculty and a host of guest experts, you’ll learn to pursue sustainability through innovation and behavioral change. Using the PROMISE framework as a lens to holistically examine business choices and sustainability goals, you’ll analyze some of the most prominent sustainability concerns facing modern companies today. You’ll engage in a range of diverse topics, including climate change, dematerialization, and the main types of market failures. After six weeks, you’ll walk away with a strategy for engaging others in developing sustainable business practices, with the skills and knowledge to drive long-lasting change within and beyond your organization.
Is this course for you?
This six-week program offers business decision makers and strategy drivers the skills to drive sustainability management and leadership in their organizations. Professionals who are responsible for moving their businesses forward will gain the skills to oversee sustainability initiatives and ensure ethical business practices meet organizational goals. Those involved in the day-to-day operations of their organization who hope to move into a leadership position will gain the knowledge required to drive new strategies or company-wide policies. Additionally, professionals with environmental knowledge will have the opportunity to align their practice with the business world and learn to promote the value of sustainability in the marketplace.
Course overview
Course overview
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
With an increasing number of environmental regulations and concerns from consumers and stakeholders, the topic of sustainability has moved to the forefront of business endeavors. Yet, despite the demand for greater accountability, organizations still need to remain profitable. In order to have a sustainable future, leaders need to learn to address these inherent challenges.
The Business Sustainability Strategy: Technology and Management online short course explores the process of successfully navigating the trade-offs and tensions between sustainability and profitability. Guided by the MIT Sloan School of Management faculty and a host of guest experts, you’ll learn to pursue sustainability through innovation and behavioral change. Using the PROMISE framework as a lens to holistically examine business choices and sustainability goals, you’ll analyze some of the most prominent sustainability concerns facing modern companies today. You’ll engage in a range of diverse topics, including climate change, dematerialization, and the main types of market failures. After six weeks, you’ll walk away with a strategy for engaging others in developing sustainable business practices, with the skills and knowledge to drive long-lasting change within and beyond your organization.
Is this course for you?
This six-week program offers business decision makers and strategy drivers the skills to drive sustainability management and leadership in their organizations. Professionals who are responsible for moving their businesses forward will gain the skills to oversee sustainability initiatives and ensure ethical business practices meet organizational goals. Those involved in the day-to-day operations of their organization who hope to move into a leadership position will gain the knowledge required to drive new strategies or company-wide policies. Additionally, professionals with environmental knowledge will have the opportunity to align their practice with the business world and learn to promote the value of sustainability in the marketplace.
What will set you apart
The skills to navigate complex sustainability issues, with insight from the holistic PROMISE framework that examines the impact of sustainability goals and choices.
A strategy for engaging stakeholders in sustainability challenges and motivating for positive, long-lasting change in your organization.
Insights from MIT faculty and guest experts on sustainability challenges within businesses, and an understanding of how technology can drive sustainability solutions. 
The ability to navigate the tension between implementing business sustainability initiatives and increasing financial performance.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
World challenges: Environment, inequality, poverty, and social well-being
Module 2
The standard playbook: Managing for sustainability
Module 3
The PROMISE framework: Tensions, trade-offs, and impact
Module 4
Next-generation strategies for sustainability: Technology and innovation
Module 5
Market failures and institutions: Changing the rules of the game
Module 6
Management for the 21st century: Agents of change
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Faculty Directors
Roberto Rigobon
Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management and Professor of Applied Economics, MIT Sloan School of Management
Jason Jay
Senior Lecturer and Director, Sustainability Initiative, MIT Sloan School of Management
Earn a digital certificate of completion from MIT Sloan
Learn how to implement sustainability strategies within your organization and earn an official digital certificate of completion from MIT Sloan.
This program also counts toward an MIT Sloan Executive Certificate, which you can earn upon completion of four programs where at least three of the four come from your chosen certificate track and at least one is completed in person. Find full details here.
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You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
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As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please see the list of university partner login pages here.
