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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "MGT 345"
COURSE NAME: "Social Entrepreneurship"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Riccardo Maiolini
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Nowadays, significant social problems dramatically affect both the most developed and developing countries in many fields, such as education, health care, and environment.
Social Entrepreneurship is an emerging and rapidly evolving business field that examines the practice of identifying, starting and growing successful mission-driven for-profit and nonprofit ventures, that is, organizations that strive to advance social change through innovative solutions.
As the traditional lines blur among nonprofits, government and business, it is critical that students understand the opportunities and challenges provided by this new landscape. The course explains how to become a social entrepreneur, the different options to organize a social business and to find the requested financial support.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Social Entrepreneurship is an evolving and rapidly changing field that inspects the practice of identifying, starting and growing successful new ventures (for profit and non for profit) that attempt to advance social change through innovative solutions.

 

This course is intended to provide a socially relevant academic experience in order to support students increase in-depth insights into economic and social value creation across a number of sectors/areas (eg. sustainability, education, energy, healthcare, welfare and poverty reduction).

 

Through case studies, lectures, and classroom dialogue, students will study and learn to think strategically and act opportunistically with a socially-conscious business mindset.

 

This course is based on alternative, critical, challenging thinking. We will discuss about weak signals, the relevant things that happen at the periphery of the society but that are important for understanding the evolution of the global system.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1.     To provide students with a working knowledge of the concepts, opportunities and challenges of social entrepreneurship.

2.     To demonstrate the role of social entrepreneurship in creating innovative responses to critical social needs.

To engage in a collaborative learning process to develop a better understanding of the context and domain of social entrepreneurship
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
 The students’ work will be assessed through: 10% Class Participation (discussion questions, verbal comments, in class activity) 40% Individual mid-term in class (individual) 40% Final (Group) 10% personal performance within the group  

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Nowadays, significant social problems dramatically affect both the most developed and developing countries in many fields like education, health care, the environment. Most people think that these serious issues should be solved by either the governments or the third sector, which includes voluntary and community organizations like charities and NGOs. Conversely, the mission of a corporate organization is not to solve social problems but to maximize both its profits and the shareholder value. Social entrepreneurship allows to solve social issues using the instruments and the techniques of classic corporate organizations, however, its main goal is its social mission rather than profit maximization.
The course explains how to become a social entrepreneur, the different options to organize a social business and to find the requested financial support, and how to use the lean start-up methodology to find both the right business model and market fit in order to solve a significant social problem
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE
Class Topic
   
1 Introduction to the course
  Part I: Social entrepreneurship Social Innovation and Impact Theory
2 Definition of social entrepreneurship
3 Introduction to business ethics
4 Corporate social resposibility
5 Strategic Innovation at the Base of the Pryamid
6 Disruptive Innovations for Social Change
7 Social Innovation: definition
8 Social innovation opportunities and challenges
9 Creating Shared value
10 Profit VS Non Profit organizations & the new opportunities of Bcorps
11 Hybrid organizing and hybridization processes: new opportunities and challenges for Social Entrepreneurs
12 Impact theory and Impact Investing
13 Impact theory and Impact Investing
14 Review Class
  Mid Term assignment
15 Part II: Design and implement a Social Venture Plan
16 Business Modeling and business model innovation
17 Design a social business model: the role of users, customers and beneficiaries
18 Back to business models – How can business engage the poor as producers
19 Challenges for social entrepreneurs – generating income
20 Challenges for social entrepreneurs – scaling and replicating to increase impact
21 Scalability fro social purposes
22 The role of social network and digital platforms
23 Fundraising for social purposes
24 Impact investors
25 Project Work
26 Project Work
27 Project Work
28 Project Work
   
  Final Exam