Willamette University

Executive Development Center

Sustainable Enterprise Certificate - Curriculum

Each of the SEC’s three sessions will be conducted with an integrated combination of: presentations, small group exercises, expert lectures and discussion, introduction to -and practical application of- tools and simulators, case studies, and time for individual work and reflection.

To receive a certificate, all three sessions must be completed successfully.

Session One: System Dynamics

Please check back for dates. We are scheduling for Spring, 2013. The  course content for our 2012 session is listed below:

"Systems Dynamics: Seeing the Interconnections of our Social, Economic, and Environmental Worlds and Identifying the Greatest Opportunities for Overall Sustainable Well-Being."

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the systemic, interdependent nature of eco-systems, and the impact individuals and organizations can have on these systems.
  • Think systemically and critically about their enterprise using the triple-bottom-line framework.
  • Be ready to implement best practices, tools, and frameworks in their organizations or communities.
  • Recognize the most effective levers to expand environmental, economic, and social well-being.
Appreciate the necessity for global collaboration on climate change after using the "Climate Interactive" simulator.

Webinar: Andrew (Drew) P. Jones

The webinar is from 9:00a.m.-11:00a.m., participants can dial in beginning at 8:45a.m. from their workplace.

Webinar: Peter Senge

The webinar is from 9:00a.m.-11:00a.m., participants can dial in beginning at 8:45 a.m. from their workplace.

Session Two: Natural and Social Systems

"Social Well-Being: Approaching Overall Sustainability of Our World, Our Organizations, and Our Communities through First Understanding How Social Well-being is Created, Supported, and Expanded"
 

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • Have a fundamental understanding of scientific theories of living systems and cognition.
  • Understand how social networks support sustainability in communities and organizations.
  • Acquire new management processes to optimize performance, productivity and social well-being in self-organizing networks.
  • Experiment with the application of new measures and indicators of social well-being.

Webinar: Riane Eisler, "The Real Wealth of Nations"

 The webinar is from 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m., participants can dial in beginning at 9:45 a.m. from their workplace.

Session Three: Moving Into Action

"Implementing a Sustainability Plan: Determining Goals and Measures that Will Move Sustainability from Conversation to Action."
 

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • Be able to apply basic concepts and examples of sustainable frameworks in their networks.
  • Gain access to best practice case studies and practitioners, and explore relevant application in their communities or organizations.
  • Apply tools from previous sessions to the creation of their sustainability plan.
  • Identify the steps needed to integrate or accelerate this plan within their organization or community.