This course is part of the The Materiality of ESG Factors Specialization

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Mary-Hunter McDonnell

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The Materiality of ESG Factors SpecializationUniversity of Pennsylvania

About this Course

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In this course, you will get an overview of the impact of contemporary ESG ratings and how a company balances ESG issues against its financial performance. You will evaluate the effectiveness of corporate authenticity and the impacts of politics when building corporate ESG policy. You will also learn about social activism’s ability to disrupt markets, and the roles that stakeholders play when dealing with financial markets. 
Next, you will learn about corporate Boards, and the importance of creating independent Directors that can maintain neutrality to protect the interests of both the business and shareholders. You will also learn how Board structure is managed, methods for selecting Board members, and the role that Boards play when crafting ESG policy. 

Lastly, you will look at the necessity of creating a diverse and inclusive culture within an organization and will examine best practices for boards to create strong crisis and risk management policies. 

By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how social activism affects the corporate world in the 21st century, how to build a Board of Directors that can incorporate ESG issues into risk management and governance strategies, and how encouraging diverse and inclusive culture benefits companies.

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Shareable Certificate

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Course 4 of 4 in the

The Materiality of ESG Factors Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 4 of 4 in the

The Materiality of ESG Factors Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Instructor

Instructor rating

5/5 (18 Ratings)

Mary-Hunter McDonnell

Associate Professor of Management

Management

2,364 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Module 1 – Social Performance

In this module, you will learn about the role that social performance plays in how a corporation views itself and how it performs in the market. You will get an overview of the impact of contemporary ESG ratings and how companies balance ESG issues against its financial performance. You will examine the importance of authenticity, and how a company can face backlash if social performance is viewed as solely driven by profit. Lastly, you will discover the impact of regulation and how corporations use political influence in positive and negative ways. By the end of this module, you will have a firm understanding of the nuance within social performance, how companies respond to stakeholder concerns, and how political corruption is managed.

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Module 2 – Social Activism and Non-Market Risk

In this module, you will learn about contention within social activism and the role that it plays in driving corporate social reform. You will also learn about the downsides to social movements, and how they can become market disruptors if they create negative media attention for a business. Next, you will examine examples of the harmful effects of activism, and how they can have the opposite influence on a business than what was intended based on the ideological alignment of stakeholders. Lastly, you will consider corporate activism, how CEOs can take on the role of activist, and the ways that they can influence ESG policies by partnering with NGOs. By the end of this module, you will know how to identify risks within social activism in your business, and how to best ally with NGOs as part of an authentic ESG strategy.

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 50 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Module 3 – Good Governance: Board Composition to Maximize Long-term Value

In this module, you will learn about corporate governance and how that affects risk management and strategy. Next, you will learn how a corporation selects Directors how independence requirements are put into place to protect the interest of shareholders. You will also review best practices to strengthen the independence of the Directors and assess how to increase diversity to gain a more balanced Board of Directors. Lastly, you will discover ways to cultivate an inclusive corporate culture in ways that can improve market performance. By the end of this module, you will be familiar with governance mechanisms and how they work in large and small companies, understand how to select an independent Board of Directors, and finally, identify ways to promote diversity and inclusivity in corporate culture.

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Module 4 – Good Governance: Structures and Practices for Prioritizing ESG Performance

In this module, you will learn about the different structures and importance of Boards and review their functions within a business. You will then learn about the succession process within a board and how that can affect shareholders during those periods. Next, you will discover the process for removing a CEO from an organization, the reasons why that would need to occur, and how stakeholders can sometimes prompt that removal. Lastly, you will review executive compensation models, the methods of corporate control that allow a Board to make decisions that determine an organization’s future, and the instrumental role of risk management. By the end of this module, you will have a thorough understanding of Board structure, how to create and implement a succession plan for a new CEO, and how a Board exercises its control over a business.

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 52 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.8

10 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
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TOP REVIEWS FROM ESG AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM

by ASDec 20, 2022

Extremely insightful course led by such a dedicated and knowledgeable team of professors. Thank you for creating such a great course!

by LHNov 15, 2022

Well-designed course with natural flow of structure, concrete business cases to show the concept.

Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

Best Regards

Liu (Singapore)

by EPOct 10, 2022

Great high level overview of ESG and current trends and topics faced by firms today.

by RSOct 29, 2022

Content well mixed with case studies and practical scenarios help understand the topic.

View all reviews

About the The Materiality of ESG Factors Specialization

This specialization will provide learners with the fundamentals and history of ESG investing, and a close examination of the set of investment approaches that are informed by environmental, social and, governance factors. You'll about the five pathways of materiality, and how those interplay with or against ESG performance. You'll review the concepts of positive and negative screening and identify the ESG factors that cause investors to divest from or negatively screen certain assets.

Next, you'll review private environmental governance, the active role that private companies are playing in combating climate change, and the parallels between the public and private sectors. Lastly, you'll evaluate the effectiveness of corporate authenticity and the impacts of politics when building corporate ESG policy, and the importance of creating independent Directors to maintain neutrality and protect stakeholder interests. By the end of this specialization, you will know the best practices for creating a solid risk management plan, analyzed the complex indexing and measurement techniques employed in the ESG space, examined climate disclosures and implementation of climate solutions, and how social activism affects the corporate world in the 21st century.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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ESG and Social Activism

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