“Businesses cannot succeed in societies that fail.”
— Peter Bakker, President, World Business Council for
Sustainable Development.
In an era defined by climate change, inequality, and resource
depletion, businesses must move beyond profit-centric models. They have to
create value that is sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready. Sustainable
Business Management: Strategies to Build Green Enterprises is a course designed
to equip learners with the tools and strategies to build businesses that thrive
by enabling societal and environmental well-being. The course explores the
foundational principles of sustainability and their integration into core
business functions namely strategy, operations, supply chain, product design,
and stakeholder engagement. Learners will engage with key concepts like Life
Cycle Analysis (LCA), Cradle to Cradle design, frugal and jugaad innovation,
and the “Re” strategies which is Reuse, Recycle, Remanufacture. From
sustainable operations and circular supply chains to transformative models like
Product-Service Systems (PSS), the course offers a practical roadmap for
businesses seeking long-term relevance and resilience. Through case studies,
assignments, and application-oriented content, learners will gain actionable
insights to lead, design, or support enterprises that drive meaningful impact.
Ideal for students, entrepreneurs, and professionals, this course empowers you
to reimagine business success by aligning growth with the needs of people and
planet, guided by a clear sense of purpose.
| Course Status : | Upcoming |
| Course Type : | Core |
| Language for course content : | English |
| Duration : | 6 weeks |
| Category : |
|
| Credit Points : | 3 |
| Level : | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date : | 12 Jan 2026 |
| End Date : | 30 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends : | 28 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date : | |
| Translation Languages : | English |
| NCrF Level : | 6.5 |
| Industry Details : | Management |
Week 1: Understanding
Sustainability in Business
Week 2: Enablers, Risks, and
Challenges in Building Sustainable Businesses
Week 3: Sustainable Design,
Supply Chains, and Innovation in Operations
Week 4: Stakeholder Engagement
and Business Transformation for Sustainability
Week 5: Sustainable Business
Models and Tools for Transformation
Dr. Sumathi Annamalai brings over three decades of rich experience
spanning academia, research and consultancy. She currently serves as an
Associate Professor at the School of Business and Management, CHRIST (Deemed to
be University), Bannerghatta Road Campus, Bengaluru. Her teaching and research
interests focus on Business Sustainability, Human Resource Management, and
Research Methods.
Dr. Sumathi Annamalai brings over three decades of rich experience
spanning academia, research and consultancy. She currently serves as an
Associate Professor at the School of Business and Management, CHRIST (Deemed to
be University), Bannerghatta Road Campus, Bengaluru. Her teaching and research
interests focus on Business Sustainability, Human Resource Management, and
Research Methods.
Dr. Sumathi’s academic work explores how organizations can embed
sustainability into their strategy, operations, and culture while balancing
performance and purpose. She has contributed to several national and
international publications and presented her research at reputed academic
conferences. Over the past few years, she has designed and taught
sustainability-focused courses that encourage students to think critically
about responsible business, ethical leadership, and sustainable value creation.
She has also designed and delivered high-impact corporate training and
consultancy programs for various organizations, translating academic insights
into actionable workplace solutions.
For Dr. Sumathi, teaching sustainability is not merely about
imparting knowledge, it is about shaping a mindset that blends responsibility
with innovation and ethics with entrepreneurship, and strategy. Through this
MOOC, she seeks to inspire learners to rethink how businesses can grow
responsibly while contributing to the well-being of society and the planet.
Dr. Sumathi holds a Ph.D. in Management from Anna University and
is a member of the Academy of Management (AOM) and a life member of the
National Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM).
Enrolling and learning from the course is free. However, if you wish to obtain a certificate, you must register and take the proctored exam in person at one of the designated exam centres. The registration URL will be announced when the registration form is open. To obtain the certification, you need to fill out the online registration form and pay the exam fee of Rs.750/-. More details will be provided when the exam registration form is published, including any potential changes. For further information on the exam locations and the conditions associated with filling out the form, please refer to the form.
Grading Components:
Internal Assignment Score: This contributes 25% to the final grade. It is calculated based on the average of the best 3 out of 6 assignments submitted during the course.
Proctored Final Exam Score: This contributes 75% to the final grade and is based on the proctored final exam, which is scored out of 100.
Overall Course Score: The overall course score is the weighted sum of the internal assignment score and the proctored final exam score.
Assessment Type | Weightage |
Weekend Assessment | 25% |
Final Exam | 75% |
Eligibility for Certification:
To qualify for the course certificate, you must meet both of the following criteria:
If either of these conditions is not met, you will not be eligible for certification, even if your final score is 40 or higher (out of 100).
Score | Type of Certificate |
>=90 | Gold |
76 - 89 | Silver |
61 - 75 | Bronze |
40 - 60 | Successfully Completed |
<39 | No Certificate |
Sample Certificate:
Disclaimer: In order to be eligible for the certificate, you must register for enrolment and exams using the same email ID. If different email IDs are used, you will not be considered eligible for the certificate.
The certificate of completion will include your name, photograph, and final exam score, along with a detailed score breakdown.
It will be electronically verifiable through the SWAYAM platform at https://swayam.gov.in/. Please note that only an e-certificate will be issued. Printed or hard copies will not be provided.
We sincerely appreciate your participation and interest in our online courses and certification programs. Wishing you continued success and an enriching learning experience with IIM Bangalore.
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