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Transforming Business: Valuing social and human capital
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 9 hours
  • Course by Capitals Coalition
  • Offered by

About

The aim of this course is to introduce business employees to social and human capital within the context of the Capitals Approach and human rights. It will provide guidance on how to get started in making positive impacts for people, planet, and society within the business decision-making context. This course is an introductory course; no prior knowledge is needed. It is of particular relevance to those working in the domains of strategy, risk, finance, procurement, accountancy, auditing, human resources, and sustainability. Drawing from the internationally recognized Social and Human Capital Protocol, the course provides a comprehensive introduction to social and human capital issues and their relationship with human rights and sustainability. Over four modules, the course will guide you through the process of understanding and integrating social and human capital issues into business DNA to improve people well-being and tackle inequalities. In modules 1 and 2, you will be introduced to the concepts of social and human capital and human rights thinking, the Social and Human Capital Protocol, as well as the Capitals Approach. Here, you will be guided through the first stages and steps of conducting a capitals assessment. In module 3, you will learn about impact and dependency pathways and how to measure and value those connected to your business activities. Finally, in module 4, using the Asses-Commit-Transform-Disclose framework you will learn about how to apply the findings of a social and human capital assessment to make commitments and transform business practices, and how to communicate and report on these elements. The course features many real-world business examples, such as Natura, Novartis, Kering, Tony's Chocolonely, Jacobs, OFI, to demonstrate why and how other businesses have measured and valued social and capital, and the benefits this has brought to their strategy and management processes. These examples also show how companies make commitments to enact change and transform business practices, providing insight into different actions and commitments you can take. By the end of the course, participants are expected to have learned about why it is essential to embed social and human capital into business decision-making, and how to get started with a capitals assessment. This course has been developed by the Capitals Coalition in partnership with Nature^Squared, Social Value International, and the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality.

Modules

Course inspiration

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • What inspires you to begin this journey?

3 Videos

  • Welcome by Mark Gough - CEO of Capitals Coalition
  • Inspirational video: Natura CFO Silvia Vilas Boas
  • Inspirational video: Kering

2 Readings

  • Learning objectives of the course
  • Learner survey

Welcome to module 1

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Where are you on your journey?

2 Videos

  • Welcome to the course
  • The Capitals Approach

1 Readings

  • Learning objectives module 1

Introduction to business and human rights thinking

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Companies' responsibility to respect human rights and sustainability due diligence
  • The UN Guiding Principles (UNGP) on Business and Human Rights

Course practicalities

    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Readings

  • Course acknowledgements
  • Assignments, grading and technicalities
  • Stay in touch!

Starting points and the benefits of assessment

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Starting points and benefits of a social and human capital assessment

1 Readings

  • Learning objectives module 2

Entry points to social and human capital

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Entry points to social and human capital

2 Readings

  • Entry points to social and human capital
  • Linking social and human capital to Human Rights: Shift

A social and human capital assessment

    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Readings

  • The Social and Human Capital Protocol
  • The process of a capitals assessment

Stage 1: Frame

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Social and human capital impacts and dependencies in practice

1 Videos

  • Impacts & dependencies resulting in business risks and opportunities

1 Readings

  • Step 1: Getting started - social and human capital stocks, flows, and values

Stage 2: Scope

    • 1 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
Show info about module content

2 Assignment

  • Defining a target audience and objective
  • Scoping an assessment in practice

1 Discussions

  • Talk to your colleagues!

1 Videos

  • Prioritizing impacts & dependencies

5 Readings

  • Stakeholder perspectives and target audience
  • Step 2: Defining your objective
  • Step 3: Determining the appropriate scope
  • Step 4: Introducing impact drivers and dependencies
  • Prioritization exercise

Wrapping up module 2

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Final assessment module 2

1 Discussions

  • Personal reflection

1 Videos

  • Key take-aways module 2

1 Readings

  • Bibliography & further reading

Welcome to module 3

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Social Value International (SVI) Principles

1 Readings

  • Learning objectives module 3

Impact and dependency pathways and stakeholder perspectives

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Impact & dependency pathways

2 Readings

  • Stakeholder engagement and quality of relationships
  • Impact and dependency pathway exercise

Stage 3: Measuring and valuing social and human capital

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Measuring & valuing

3 Videos

  • Identifying good indicators for measuring social and human capital
  • Valuing social and human capital
  • Tony's Chocolonely: Measuring, valuing, and disclosing in the cocoa sector

2 Readings

  • Business stories on measurement and valuation processes
  • Valuation techniques

Detailed pathways for social and human capital

    • 3 Videos
    • 6 Readings
    • 5 Assignment
Show info about module content

5 Assignment

  • Occupational safety and health
  • Equitable workplace
  • Living wage
  • Bridging capital
  • Taxes

3 Videos

  • Occupational safety and health: Jacobs Engineering Group
  • Living wage: Tony's living wage
  • Bridging capital: Natura

6 Readings

  • Introducing pathways for social and human capital
  • Dependency pathway: Occupational safety & health
  • Impact pathway: Equitable workplace
  • Impact pathway: Living wage
  • Dependency pathway: Bridging capital
  • Impact pathway: Taxes

Tools and resources

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Useful tools and resources

1 Readings

  • Useful tools and resources

Wrapping up module 3

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Final assessment module 3

1 Discussions

  • Personal reflection

1 Videos

  • Key take-aways module 3

1 Readings

  • Bibliography & further reading

Welcome to Module 4

    • 4 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Readings

  • Learning objectives module 4
  • Apply and the ACT-D Framework
  • Interpreting and testing the results
  • Key standards and guidance for decision-making

Stage 4: Apply

    • 3 Videos
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Apply: Using results in decision-making processes
  • Novartis: Sonja Haut on Social Risks Along Global Supply Chains
  • World Business Commission to Tackle Inequality: Taking action

Commit

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • What kind of commitments will you make?

1 Videos

  • Commit: How companies are setting targets to change

Transform

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Transform: Time for action
  • Olam Food Ingredients (ofi): Action and transformation

1 Readings

  • 10 actions for change

Disclose

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Who will you communicate with?

1 Videos

  • Tony's Chocolonely: Influencing the supply chain

2 Readings

  • Communicating findings and visualizing data
  • Real-world examples of businesses communicating results

Wrapping up Module 4

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Final assessment module 4

1 Videos

  • Key take-aways module 4

Reflecting on the overall course

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Challenge yourself!

1 Videos

  • Mark Gough: A call to action

4 Readings

  • Reflecting on overarching learning goals for the course
  • Next steps
  • Bibliography & further reading
  • Feedback survey for the course

Auto Summary

"Transforming Business: Valuing Social and Human Capital" is an introductory course focused on integrating social and human capital into business decision-making to enhance sustainability and human rights. Ideal for professionals in strategy, finance, HR, and sustainability, the course spans four modules over 540 minutes, featuring practical examples from leading companies. Developed by the Capitals Coalition and partners, it offers foundational knowledge without requiring prior expertise. Accessible via Coursera's Starter subscription, the course empowers learners to make impactful business transformations.

Tim Polaszek
Instructors

Tim Polaszek

Natalie Nicholles
Instructors

Natalie Nicholles