Course Outline

This seminar briefly summarizes the evolution of social entrepreneurship as a method of organizing change: the application of entrepreneurial theory to the founding of non-profit and for-profit organizations, which seek to build 'social capital'. Given political and economic uncertainty, the anticipated exit from nuclear energy sources in an era of scarce resources on the one hand and the social implications of the IT and financial revolutions on the other, the focus will be upon ”ecopreneurship” and ”frugal or reverse innovation.” Students will create their own sustainable 'green designs' in the fields of their choice (in groups of not more than 3).

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, the students understand how innovative ideas and practical business models can achieve major social impact, how social entrepreneurs can build sustainable organizations, and why social entrepreneurship has become a contagious global movement.

Registration

Please register via the Student Portal during the central registration period. In case of excess demand for a class, there will be a central lottery/ spot allocation conducted by the Dean's Office of theBusiness School of the University of Mannheim. We cannot influence the outcome of this student allocation. Please do not ask us for exceptions or waiting list positions before the course allocation has been completed. Participation is binding as of session 1 or your spot will be given to a student on the (potential) waiting list! Course decisions are final.

Place & Time

The sessions will take place as according to the schedule below

Place: Room 210, L9 1-2, 68161 Mannheim

Time: 1:45pm - 5:00pm

Assessment

• Oral report on green design: 20%
• Sustainable business plan: 60%
• Active Attendance and participation in discussion of required reading: 20%

Persons in Charge

Lecturer: Professor Dr. Robert Isaak (visiting professor)

Course Load and Language

ECTS: 6

Language: English

Readings & Resources

Readings:

• Alexander Brem & Pierre Wolfram, ‘Research & Development from the Bottom up’ Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, 2014:3:9 (available online via Google)
• Arthur Brooks, Social Entrepreneurship: A Modern Approach to Social Value Creation (Pearson)
• David Bornstein, How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas (Oxford) (IF YOU BUY JUST ONE BOOK, BUY THIS ONE)
• Karen Maas & Ceclia Grieco, `Distinguishing Game Changers from Boastful Charlatans: Which Social Enterprises Measure their Impact?`, Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, Vol. 8, Issue 1, 2017 (online on Google).
• Malcolm Gladwell, The Outliers
• Robert Isaak, Green Logic: Ecopreneurship, Theory and Ethics (Kumarian)
• ’The Making of the Ecopreneur’, in M. Schaper, ed., Making Ecopreneurs (Greenleaf)
• Peter Dacin et al, “Social Entrepreneurship: Why We Don’t Need a New Theory & How We Move Forward from Here”, Academy of Management Perspectives, Aug. 20 2010, Vo. 24, Issue 3, pp. 37-57.
• ”The Charms of Frugal Innovation”, The Economist, April 18, 2010
• M. Porter & M. Kramer,“Creating Shared Value”, Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb., 2011
• Yunus, M., B. Moingeon, L. Lehman-Ortega, ‚Building Social Business Models: Lessons from the Grameen Experience,’ Long Range Planning Vol. 43, Issues 2-3, April-June 2010, pp.308-325
• Samer Abu-Saifan, `Social Entrepreneurship: Definition and Boundaries,’Technology Innovation Management Review, February 2012, pp.22-27. (available online via Google)
• Youtube:
  • A Liter of Light: Official Version (by playwiththejunglegym), and
  • Liter of Light@Night (by Jason Magbanua), and
  • Brilliant Newfoundlander Invents the Solution (also:www.cansolair.com)

Most of the required readings for the seminar will be available online:

Google ‘reserves.pace.edu’ then go to ‘electronic reserves’, then to ‘course pages by instructor’, then to ‘Isaak’, then to course title regardless of date (or recent other course titles in some cases, (i.e. look under ‘by title’ for ‘Small is Beautiful’ and ‘frugal management’), then use ‘global’ as password, click on ‘agree’, click on correct file, and then on ‘download as zipfile’

Schedule (Fall 2020)

September 24

Introduction

Flowscape: Social Entrepreneurship

Course requirements

By next session: form group of not more than 3 for creation of final green design.

Models of Change/Social Capital/Ecopreneurship

• D. Bornstein, `Thoughts for Changemakers’ & websites (handout & on line)
• S. Brand, ”A Deeper Shade of Green” Stanford, March/April 2010, 38-40 (hand-out)

Defining Social Entrepreneurship

• D. Bornstein & S. Davis, 1-47
• S. Abu-Saifan, 22-27

Volunteers to lead case discussions?*

Second Flowscape if time permits: Creating a social business plan with a green screen

October 08

Leadership & Shared Value:

• M. Porter & M.Kramer, `Creating Shared Value’, HBR, Jan-Feb. 2011
• Brooks, 1-18
• Brem & Wolfram, JIE (2014:3:9)

Gandhi as Archtype:

• R.Isaak, ”Gandhi”, 11-25 in Individuals & World Politics
• D.Bornstein, How to Save the World, 1-39
• *Govindappa Ventkataswamy/Aravind Eye Hospitals/India (hand-out)
• *Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank/India
• *Fabio Rosa Case: Rural Electrification/Brazil, 20-39 (HSW): The Light in My Head Went

Description of Structure of Green Designs: Creating a business plan

October 22

Ashoka Benchmarks:

• D. Bornstein, How to Save the World 117-125,146-158,233-241
• *Bill Drayton: Ashoka/US, 47-67: A Very Signficant Force,’ etc.
• *Jeroo Billimoria: Child Protection/India, 68-89: `Ten-Nine-Eight Childline’
• *Vera Cordeiro: Healthcare/Brazil, 126-145
• *Erzsébet Szekeres: Assisted Living for Disabled/Hungary,98-116
• *J.B. Schramm:US/College Access, 159-177:’The Talent is Out There’
• *Javed Abidi: This Country has to Change’Disability Rights/India, 209-232

November 05

Ecopreneurship Design & Ethics 

• R. Isaak, Green Logic, Chapter 1
• ”The Charms of Frugal Innovation”, The Economist, April 18, 2010
• *Jadwiga Lopata: Ecological Agriculture & Tourism/Poland , 153-154 (HSW)
• *Anita Roddick, Body Shop/UK
• *Benjamin Cohen/Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream/US
• *Peter and Brigitte Krämer/Spinnrad/Germany
• *Denis Hayes: Sustainable Design & Construction: net-zero office buildings/US :A Deeper Shade of Green’  

Scott Bader Commonwealth: in E. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful, Ch. 19

November 19

The Making of the Ecopreneur & Social Enterprise Need Assessment/Business Plan

• R. Isaak, “Making of the Ecopreneur”, in GMI 38 Summer 2002, 81-91    
• Arthur Brooks, Social Entrepreneurship, Chapters 1-3.
• The Social Enterprise Business Plan, Brooks, Chapter 4

Peter Brinckerhoff, Social Entrepreneurship, Ch. 6

December 03

Fund-raising and Marketing

• Brooks, Chapter 8
• Brinckerhoff, Chapters 7 & 8

Student Presentations of Green Designs

December 17

Student Presentations of Green Designs

WRITTEN GREEN DESIGNS DUE