KROC 524 Social Innovation Practicum: Local Option (3 units)(Henken; Intersession 2022)

This field-based course provides students an opportunity to combine theory with practice in a dynamic blend of client-focused team projects, in-class learning, site visits, and community research. During this course, students will apply social innovation strategies to real-world needs with some of San Diego’s leading organizations across sectors. San Diego’s diverse population, proximity to the border, and role as a national leader in technology offer incredible opportunities for students to contribute to its social innovation ecosystem. The course will provide hands-on consulting opportunities for students with a select group of San Diego organizations fostering social innovation in the region. This may be in the nonprofit, for-profit, government, or education sector. Based on their interests, teams of 3-4 students will be paired with a “client team” within a highly innovative San Diego’s organization focused on social impact. Past client projects completed by our students have included Qualcomm, Classy, SAY San Diego, and San Diego Grantmakers.

KROC 524 Social Innovation Practicum: Rwanda (3 units)(Cordeiro; Intersession 2022)

This course provides an opportunity for students to explore the real-world application of concepts explored in the classroom. In particular, we will explore social innovation and social change through the case of socio-economic transformation in post-conflict Rwanda. Together we will meet with experts on the region and on the country’s efforts to leapfrog from an agricultural to an information-based economy. The course content thus relies on, and cut across, key concepts in both peace studies and in social innovation. In particular, we will examine the complex relationship between conflict and innovation, especially in light of enduring puzzles related to socio-economic development.

KROC 592 WKSH: Finance for Leading Change (1 unit)(Roche; Intersession 2022)

Social entrepreneurs leverage their efforts through collective action in order to scale-up and grow, institutionalize core values, and to make a larger impact on society beyond profits.  Formalized collective action is achieved through organizations in which social entrepreneurs leverage and formalize their actions. These organizational forms include for-profit entities (LLC, sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, etc.); nonprofit corporations; and more recently hybrid forms (3LC, and B corporations).

The choice of organizational form will constrain a number of management decisions from funding and revenue structure, what to produce, and who to serve. However, all organizations operate under similar institutional environments and must adhere to common regulatory guidelines and financial pressures. This implies that there are core financial management practices, common to all organizations, that are necessary for long term sustainability and are essential components of creating sustainable business models for social impact.

This workshop provides students with the ability to understand fundamental financial and accounting concepts, tools, and techniques, to read and interpret financial statements and ratios, to analyze working capital and cash flow needs, to interpret Return on Investment models, and to create financial forecasts and budgets.