Sustainability Through Digital Transformation

Recent years have seen the emergence of far-reaching trends in technology that enable us to re-think our relationship with the environment and the way we work and live. During this period, world leaders ratified the United Nations’ 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in 2015, at the annual Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris, agreed to limit global warming to significantly less than 2°Celsius. COP21. This has brought sustainability back to center stage. It’s now time to take the next step!

The new openSAP course “Sustainability Through Digital Transformation” explores how companies can, and in part already are embracing the opportunities that are arising. It shows how IT and digital technologies help create positive economic, social, and environmental impact while addressing global sustainability trends. In this course, you’ll learn about the evolution of sustainability within organizations in the areas of integrated reporting, social and environmental impact creation, and responsible investment. You’ll become familiar with new sustainability frameworks, including the SDGs, and gain an understanding of how digitization can enable companies to become more successful while contributing to achieving the SDGs.

The course is now open for enrollment. Updates will be sent once you’ve enrolled.

This course was retired in October 2023.

Self-paced since May 12, 2016
Language: English

Course information

Retired

This course was retired in October 2023.

Sustainability Snippets – Podcast series

Welcome to our “Sustainability Snippets”, a new podcast series on topics related to business and sustainability.
On the 15th of each month we will publish a new episode. Subscribe using the link below.

Subscribe on iTunes

Subscribe on iTunes


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Listen to Episode 1


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Listen to Episode 2


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Listen to Episode 3


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Listen to Episode 4


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Course Summary

Digitization is the word on everyone’s lips. Businesses, governments, and other public organizations are busy trying to define their own digital roadmap. But how is this connected with sustainability? Events like the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris or the World Economic Forum in Davos made it clear that if businesses want to survive, they have to learn how to become sustainable. And digitization plays a key role in enabling this. “Sustainability through Digital Transformation” allows you to explore the opportunities digitization offers to further drive sustainability. The course shows how the power of technology can help companies become more successful and at the same time contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Together, we’ll explore opportunities to master the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”. We’ll look at examples of how to leverage digital innovation to transform industry sectors, including health, mobility, financial services, and education for the better.

Course Characteristics

Course Content

Week 1: Evolving Organizational Sustainability
Week 2: Digitization Creates Social Impact
Week 3: Digitization and Resource Productivity
Week 4: Final Exam

Target Audience

  • Students, young professionals, and experts
  • Professionals in the public and private sector
  • Professionals working with SAP customers, SAP customers’ suppliers, prospects, or partners
  • SAP employees
  • The general public

Course Requirements

  • Basic understanding of business and administration processes
  • Basis understanding of industry value chains
  • Basic understanding of information technology (IT)
  • Interest in sustainability

Development Systems

No development systems are required for this course.

About further Content Experts

Christine Susanne Müller

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Christine Susanne Müller joined the sustainability core team in 2012 as transformation and change manager for sustainability. She is responsible for coordinating and executing all change activities, programs, and projects related to SAP's sustainability goals from a holistic change perspective.  

Since 2001, Christine Susanne has worked in various change management and communications roles at SAP on a local, regional, and global level.

Ulrike Fritz-Welz

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Ulrike Fritz-Welz is a technical writer and knowledge transfer specialist with much experience in creating and operating Massive Open Online Courses. She was among the first members of the openSAP team.

After years of private commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, she now makes her passion the focus of her professional life.

Course contents

  • Course content no longer available

  • Week 1:

    Evolving Organizational Sustainability
  • Week 2:

    Digitization Creates Social Impact
  • Week 3:

    Digitization and Resource Productivity
  • I like, I Wish:

    I Like I Wish: Welcome
  • Final Exam:

    Good Luck!

Enroll me for this course

The course is free. Just register for an account on openSAP and take the course!
Enroll me now

Learners

Current
Today
7,018
Course End
May 12, 2016
5,765
Course Start
Apr 13, 2016
4,803

Certificate Requirements

  • Gain a Record of Achievement by earning at least 50% of the maximum number of points from all graded assignments.
  • Gain a Confirmation of Participation by completing at least 50% of the course material.

Find out more in the certificate guidelines.

This course is offered by

Will Ritzrau

Dr. Will Ritzrau joined the sustainability core team in 2013 after 14 years of various internal and customer-facing roles at SAP.

Will is responsible for establishing and expanding sustainability in the core business of SAP. Prior to SAP, Will worked as a biological oceanographer in international climate research programs.

Will’s profile on SCN.

Barbara Fluegge

Dr. Barbara Flügge heads the initiative on empowering ecosystems at SAP. Her focus is on ecosystems embracing business and service opportunities for public and private organizations. Barbara leads the Smart Logistics and Smart Mobility team, designing seamless mobility and digital service models.

Prior to this, Barbara managed programs for Ariba, Arthur Andersen Management Consulting, and PriceWaterhouse

Barbara’s profile on SCN.

Daniel Schmid

SAP’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Daniel Schmid, has been globally responsible for sustainability at SAP SE since 2014.

Daniel started his career in IT consulting and held various senior management positions within SAP Consulting. He then joined the sustainability leadership team, established in 2009 to start SAP’s sustainability journey, and lead the Sustainability Operations team.  

Daniel holds a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. He is chair of the board of econsense, a forum for the sustainable development of German business.