- Are you interested in knowing the role of businesses in an economy?
- Or do you want to learn new models of business that are changing the way that firms create value?

Take this free online course titled, “New Models of Business in Society” offered by R. Edward Freeman of the University of Virginia, and learn to critically examine the role of businesses in a society. This course focuses on emergence of a new anecdote about businesses, which locates every business within a societal framework. In the traditional business models only shareholders and other financiers were considered as the prime stakeholders, but in the new business models customers, suppliers, employees and communities have also been included.

People interested in starting their own business or making their business better are the prospective students to take this course. However, there are no prerequisites for this course, all are welcome. There are no specific textbooks for this course, but there will be suggested readings that you can use to enhance your knowledge and skills. Five to ten videos of 5-7 minutes duration, focusing on the topic of the week will be discussed every week. If you meet the course requirements and grading policy you will earn a Statement of Accomplishment signed by the instructor at the end of the course.

The course has been divided into five weekly modules. Weekly course outline is as follows:

- Week One:  Business in Society: The Problem
- Week Two:  Corporate Responsibility, Philanthropy and Shared Value: The Role of Capitalism in Society
- Week Three:  Building Sustainable Value
- Week Four:  Creating Value for Stakeholders
- Week Five:  Becoming a Stakeholder Entrepreneur: The Social Enterprise Model Reconstructed

Author Bio

R. Edward Freeman is Academic Director at the Initiative for Business in Society at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. He is also the Academic Director of the Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics.