General
Course content:
The course explores connections between the concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business modelling in the context of the built environment. Covered topics include:
- business model development
- understanding customer needs (systems thinking, service design, market analysis)
- revenue logic
- Business Model Canvas as a tool
- the concept of innovations and the role of innovations in built environment (novel ideas in conservative industry; entrepreneurship in established businesses)
Learning outcomes:
After the course, the student should:
- understand the principles of Business Model development
- understand the concept of innovation
- be familiar with business vocabulary
- have developed entrepreneurial thinking
- improve presentation and pitching skills
Course requirements:
The course work consists of individual and group assignments, which are graded. Attendance at the weekly sessions is mandatory. Furthermore, the groups are expected to meet outside of the sessions.
Final assessment of the course consists of reading assignments (20%), group work (written business plan) 40% and presentations (20%) and final exam (20%).
- Reading assignments require some short reading prior each lecture and a small task related to the reading.
- Group work consists of the development of new business idea or improvement in business model for construction/FM industry. Students must prepare a short written business plan (up to 10 pages) and final presentations in a form of a pitch. During the group work process, students are advised to go into the market and convey a market study (e.g. interview somebody) in order to get better insights. In addition, every week teacher is available for consultations regarding their group work.
Course schedule:
Note! The schedule and topics are subject to changes
| Week | Date | Topic | Project goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.1. | Introduction | Forming teams |
| 2 | 9.1. | Idea generation | Idea map |
| 3 | 16.1. | Value proposition | Business Model Canvas |
| 4 | 23.1. | Revenue models | Financial calculations |
| 5 | 30.1. | Built Environment & Entrepreneurship | Business environment analysis |
| 6 | 6.2. | Pitching presentations | |
| 7 | 13.2. | Exam |
Next to above mentioned contact hours, teacher will be available for individual consultations or group work on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30
Course personnel:
Vitalija Petrulaitiene, Teacher
Seppo Junnila, Professor
(firstname.lastname@aalto.fi)