Why Corporate Social Innovation?
Corporate Social Innovation is becoming an integral part of many companies’ focus. This concentration will prepare future leaders and entrepreneurs to innovate, disrupt, and reinvent their business models to serve their stakeholders and society at large. As part of the Rutgers Stackable Business Innovation Program (rSBI), the Corporate Social Innovation Concentration is stackable with the following master's programs: MBA, MBA in Professional Accounting.
Concentration Description
As an ever increasing number of businesses step up to address the great challenges of our time, significant opportunities for social innovation are rising to the fore. More and more businesses are discovering new ways to thrive and prosper at the same time as they address some of the world’s most intractable social and ecological problems. The ability to innovate is now seen as a key driver of business success, and is an essential capacity for companies to sustain their competitive advantage. Many leading corporations are beginning to bring social innovation into the heart of their economic, social and environmental strategic priorities, plans, and goals. This concentration prepares the leaders of today and tomorrow to create profitable and sustainable business opportunities, motivating and equipping them to innovate, disrupt, and reinvent their businesses to serve all their stakeholders, and society at large.
Courses
You can take the course listed below as individual classes or as stackable courses towards the completion of a concentration.
Introduction to Corporate Social Innovation
This course helps prepare leaders of today and tomorrow to create profitable and sustainable business opportunities in a world undergoing massive and transformational change. The course provides an overview of "mission driven" and responsibility-centered business practices. Using case studies, guest speakers, group projects and course readings, students will gain broad understanding of the many ways they can pursue positive, innovative and sustainable change, while developing the skills, knowledge and practices for building innovative organizations that contribute to solving complex social, ecological, and economic problems.
- Course Number: 22:620:590
- Credits: 3
- Delivery Mode: In-person, online
- Offered by: MBA
- Relevant Programs: MBA
- Sample Relevant Careers: Sustainability Manager, Social Impact Manager, Innovation Manager, Partnerships Manager, Employee Communications Lead, Global Sustainability Analyst, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Corporate Affairs Manager, Programs Manager, Culture and Community Coordinator
Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
In a world where social issues and environmental problems are increasing, society needs skilled problem-solvers who can leverage the tools of entrepreneurship and the resources of business and philanthropy to address these challenges. In this course, students will learn about entrepreneurial approaches to addressing society’s grand challenges. These approaches can be used to create new ventures (social entrepreneurship) or within existing organizations (intrapreneurship) to discover opportunities and direct resources to make positive social impact. The new social ventures and business initiatives that result harness social innovation for the greater good. This course uses case studies, guest speakers, and a team project to help the key concepts come to life.
- Course Number: 22:620:674
- Credits: 3
- Delivery Mode: In-person, online
- Offered by: MBA
- Relevant Programs: MBA
- Sample Relevant Careers: Social Innovation Team Lead, Community and Social Innovation Manager, Social Entrepreneur/Founder, Nonprofit Relations Manager, Entrepreneurship Manager, Social Impact Manager, Business Development Specialist, Corporate Philanthropy Manager, Community Development Manager, Non-Profit Administrator, Grants Project Manager, Strategic Partnerships Manager
or Management of Innovation & Technology,
This course provides an introduction to the strategic management of technology and innovation. The course has three broad goals. The first is to understand the strategic dynamics of technology markets, with a particular focus on new strategies emerging in the digital economy. Second, we will examine how firms— both in the technology sector and outside—can leverage new emerging technologies to accelerate innovation and enhance competitive advantage. Finally, we will discuss how organizations can structure and manage the process of innovation, and how new digital technologies shape the organization of work.
- Course Number: 22:620:601
- Credits: 3
- Delivery Mode: In-person
- Offered By: MBA
- Relevant Programs: MBA
- Sample Relevant Careers: Product manager, Business Analyst, Strategy Consultant, IT Consultant, Project Manager, Angel Investor, Data Analyst, Information Technology Manager
or Managing Growing Ventures
In this course, students will work with early-stage businesses to address challenges and develop a strategic plan for growth. Topics covered: social networks, organizational structure and culture, innovation, firm growth and change, intellectual property, employment practices and incentives, financing, and entrepreneurial improvisation. Students will learn the basics of entrepreneurship from both a theoretical and practical perspective and in the context of both for-profit and nonprofit enterprises. Issues of business resilience and sustainability (social, economic, & environmental) will be addressed.
- Course Number: 22:620:654
- Credits: 3
- Delivery Mode: Online
- Offered By: MBA
- Relevant Programs: MBA
- Sample Relevant Careers: Strategic Growth Manager, Strategic Growth Consultant, Product Manager, Business Analyst, Strategy Consultant, IT Consultant, Project Manager, Angel Investor, Data Analyst, Information Technology Manager
Reporting and Measuring Corporate Social Performance and Innovation
Increasingly, corporations are being evaluated not only on financial performance, but also on performance along environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions. Responding to demand from various stakeholders, corporations have been providing increasing disclosure on ESG topics through various channels; third-party ratings of ESG performance also abound. In this course, students will (1) be introduced to the different dimensions of ESG performance, (2) learn to navigate the multiple channels of mandatory and voluntary disclosures available on these topics, (3) evaluate the quality of the disclosures, (4) understand the accounting and reporting standards and frameworks governing the disclosures, and (5) become informed users of third-party ratings of ESG performance. The goal of the course is to make students confident users of ESG information.
- Course Number: 22:010:668
- Credits: 3
- Delivery Mode: In-person, online
- Offered By: MBA in Professional Accounting
- Relevant Programs: MBA in Professional Accounting
- Sample Relevant Careers: Corporate Governance Manager, Sustainability Manager, Disclosure Manager, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Manager, Sustainability Manager, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Sustainable Investing Manager, ESG Integration Manager, ESG Consultant
The concentration and courses are offered by the Management & Global Business Department
Sample Relevant Careers: Sustainability Manager, Social Impact Manager, Business Innovation Manager, Partnerships Manager, Employee Communications Lead, Social Responsibility Manager, Global Sustainability Analyst, Corporate Social Responsibility Analyst, Corporate Affairs Manager, Partnerships and Programs Manager, Culture and Community Coordinator
Rutgers Stackable Business Innovation (rSBI)
The future of education is changing. The Rutgers Stackable Business Innovation (rSBI) program allows you to design your own cutting-edge curriculum to earn a standalone certificate or take courses that be transferred towards completing a Master’s degree. Working professionals can enhance their knowledge and upskill by taking relevant courses. If you are a student considering a Master’s degree, rSBI is a perfect way to test the waters in a particular discipline before committing to a full degree program. Employers can invest in the professional development of their employees and choose the courses that address business needs.
Concentrations & Courses
rSBI Management and Global Business Concentration courses are synchronous classes taken during the course of the semester. Note that not all courses are offered every semester.
Learn More About Our Program
For more information, please complete the form below. Luke Greeley, the rSBI Program Manager, and Benjamin Melamed, Distinguished Professor, and rSBI Program Director will contact you.
rSBI Concentrations
View more of the available concentrations. Each academic department manages its own concentrations in the rSBI program.