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    Which HBS Online Business in Society Course Is Right for You?

    Business professional taking online business in society course
    • 28 Jul 2022
    Catherine Cote Author Staff
    tag
    • Business in Society
    • Global Business
    • Power and Influence for Positive Impact
    • Sustainable Business Strategy
    • Sustainable Investing

    Business doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it impacts and is impacted by the world around it.

    Global politics, community development, social issues, environmental protection, and interpersonal dynamics are all interwoven with business. Understanding how these factors influence your organization—and how you can use business to make a positive impact—can enable you to drive strategic decisions that combine purpose and profit.

    Harvard Business School Online offers six courses in the business in society subject area to equip you with social impact skills:

    • Global Business
    • Sustainable Business Strategy
    • Power and Influence for Positive Impact
    • Sustainable Investing
    • Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
    • Business and Climate Change

    Here’s a primer on each course to help you select the best fit.


    Free E-Book: How to Be a Purpose-Driven, Global Business Professional

    Access your free e-book today.

    DOWNLOAD NOW

    Which Business in Society Course Is Right for You?

    If You Aim to Understand How Political, Social, and Environmental Forces Impact Business

    Global Business is a four-week course designed to provide the skills to operate and succeed in international business.

    Taught by HBS Professor Forest Reinhardt, the course will teach you macroeconomic fundamentals to inform business decisions. You'll gain tools to assess political and social factors’ impacts on your organization and perspective to interact with other businesses on a global scale.

    This course is right if you aim to grow your own business, strategize with big-picture thinking, and make decisions in heavily regulated industries.

    Related: Why Study Global Business? 5 Benefits to Consider

    If you're interested in focusing specifically on environmental factors' business impact, Reinhardt also co-teaches a course with HBS Professor Michael Toffel: Business and Climate Change. The five-week course teaches you to identify and communicate climate risks and opportunities and implement relevant strategies.

    You’ll understand the science, economic impact, and policy implications of climate change and explore how companies in various industries are adapting to and preparing to do business in a changing climate.

    For an offering that hones in on the social factors at play in business, explore Power and Influence for Positive Impact. This six-week course, taught by HBS Professor Julie Battilana, will equip you with an understanding of power’s structures and processes within professional relationships, your organization, and society at large.

    Sustainable Business Strategy is a great fit if you wish to focus on the relationship between business, the environment, and systemic social issues. This three-week course, taught by HBS Professor Rebecca Henderson, busts the myth that running a purpose-driven business must come at the expense of profit and provides knowledge of business models that drive change.

    Related: What You’ll Learn in an Online Sustainability Course

    If You Aim to Learn How Your Business Can Positively Impact the Environment and Society

    Although Power and Influence for Positive Impact and Sustainable Business Strategy shed light on the forces impacting your organization, they also heavily focus on using power, influence, and strategic thinking and execution to make a positive impact and solve the world’s most pressing challenges.

    In Power and Influence for Positive Impact, Battilana stresses that power isn’t just for those at the top and provides instruction for cultivating and leveraging your power for good and holding those in power accountable.

    In Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability, you'll dive deeper into accountability, particularly leaders' responsibilities to their customers, employees, investors, and society and how to deliver on them. This six-week course, taught by HBS Professor Nien-hê Hsieh, will help you develop a toolkit for making tough leadership decisions and communicate the "why" behind those decisions.

    You'll explore "gray-area situations" and use the reflective leadership model to consider your legal, economic, and ethical responsibilities to stakeholders and your own beliefs and biases that influence your decision-making.

    Sustainable Business Strategy is Henderson’s empowering guide to becoming a purpose-driven business leader. You’ll learn how to make the case for sustainability, lead with purpose without sacrificing financially, and craft business strategies that create long-term, positive change.

    Finally, Sustainable Investing rounds out our business in society offerings. This six-week course, taught by HBS professors Shawn Cole and Vikram Gandhi, is right for you if you’re a seasoned finance professional or want to enter the world of impact investing.

    You’ll learn to identify, measure, and monitor sustainable investment opportunities, analyze cutting-edge implementation strategies, and think critically about the role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment portfolios.

    The HBS Online Learning Experience

    No matter which course meets your goals, you'll experience the hallmarks of HBS Online, including:

    • World-class faculty
    • Self-paced online coursework with deadlines
    • Engaging, interactive content
    • Social interaction with fellow learners
    • Real examples of business challenges faced by experts
    • The HBS Online Community, a global network of business professionals
    • Career growth and a positive return on investment
    7 characteristics of the HBS Online learning experience

    Take on Global and Societal Challenges

    In today's interconnected world, business challenges are complex and have global reach and consequences. That's why HBS Online focuses on topics like global economics, ethical influence, and environmental and social change.

    Our business in society courses can propel you toward becoming a more effective and purpose-driven leader. Whether you aim to learn more about the forces influencing your organization or how to leverage your business to make a difference in the world, there’s an HBS Online course for you.

    Which HBS Online Business in Society Course is Right for You? | Download Your Free Flowchart

    If you still aren't sure which HBS Online business in society course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals. If multiple programs interest you, consider pursuing a Learning Track, which enables you to take three courses within the business in society subject area.

    This post was updated on June 5, 2024. It was originally published on July 28, 2022.

    About the Author

    Catherine Cote is a marketing coordinator at Harvard Business School Online. Prior to joining HBS Online, she worked at an early-stage SaaS startup where she found her passion for writing content, and at a digital consulting agency, where she specialized in SEO. Catherine holds a B.A. from Holy Cross, where she studied psychology, education, and Mandarin Chinese. When not at work, you can find her hiking, performing or watching theatre, or hunting for the best burger in Boston.
     
    All FAQs

    Top FAQs

    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

    +–

    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

    +–

    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

    +–

    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

    +–

    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

    +–

    HBS Online offers a variety of payment methods to provide flexibility, including:

    • Credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and AMEX)
    • PayPal
    • Wire transfers
    • Western Union
    • Bank loans (When available)

    You may split your payment across two credit card transactions or send a payment link to another individual to complete payment on your behalf. A minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    Some learners may also qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the program fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for more information.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

    +–

    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

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