COURSE NUMBER: MBA292T.3B

COURSE TITLE: Business Solutions for Global Mega Trends

UNITS OF CREDIT: 2 units

INSTRUCTORS: Kellie McElhaney

E-MAIL ADDRESSES: kmack@haas.berkeley.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: http://bspace.berkeley.edu

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00-4:00PM over the following dates: (3/18, 3/20, 4/1, 4/3, 4/8, 4/10, 4/15, 4/17, 4/22, 4/24, 4/29, 5/1, 5/6, 5/8)

PREREQUISITE(S): None

CLASS FORMAT: Mixture of lectures and cases and guest speakers

REQUIRED READINGS: Course reader and B Space

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Project + participation

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

Most B-School classes take the perspective of the shareholder value and try to optimize for it. While doing so, business schools indirectly ignore other critical stakeholder value: community, employees, society as a whole and even a business’ customers. The Financial Times recently called this approach – optimizing for shareholder value alone –“the world’s dumbest idea.” So why are prestigious Business Schools still teaching it?

As we speak, businesses around the globe are impacted by mega-trends: climate change, energy management, big data challenges, water scarcity, food security, changing demographics and many more. Despite the massive, disruptive effects these mega-trends create across industries and functions, they are often not discussed in the classroom. This course, offered for the first time at Haas, will expose students to some of the world’s biggest problems, and more importantly, possible business solutions. This “big picture” course covers only macro topics that influence businesses across sectors and geographies.

Despite the fact that global megatrends pose countless threats to business, they also pose incredible opportunities. Smart business leaders who understand these global megatrends will not only be more prepared to face them, but will also be able to take advantage of new 21^st century realities, enabling their business to thrive. Responsible business leaders cannot afford to continue ignoring these trends while making decisions. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

A 2012 Cheit Award Winner, Kellie is considered one of the top professors at Haas. She founded the Center for Responsible Business which demonstrates thought leadership through its action tank model. Kellie is the author of “Just Good Business” and has previously presented at TED.