Topic outline

  • General

    Course content: 

    The course explores connections between the concepts of business modelling, innovation and entrepreneurship in the context of the built environment. Covered topics include:

    1) business model development

    • understanding customer needs
    • revenue logic
    • Business Model Canvas tool
    • business plan

    2) the concept of innovations and the role of innovations in built environment 

    The course has each year a specific substance theme. In year 2019 the theme is "circular economy in cities and built environment". The business modelling skills are applied to create a business idea for the specific thematic area.

    Theory is put into practice by applying tools and skills in the group work. Group work consists of business idea development and pitching at the end of the course. 

    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 follows Problem-based learning (PBL) pedagogy, in which students learn about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem found in trigger material. The PBL process does not focus on problem solving with a defined solution, but it allows for the development of other desirable skills and attributes

    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 pre-exam (40%), individual assignments (10%), group work (written business plan) 25% and pitching presentation with the group (25%). 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.  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 

    The course starts with a pre-exam. The pre-exam is held at the first lecture:
    Friday, 1 March, 12:00 » 15:00, Lecture room, 326, Konetekniikka 1, Otakaari 4

    The materials for the pre-exam are: 
    1) McKinsey & Company (2011), "How to Write a Business Plan" (guidebook), page 1-47
    2) Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013), "Towards the Circular Economy Vol. 1: an economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition"

    Session

    Topic

    Week 1

    1.3.

    Introduction and pre-exam

    Week 2

    8.3.

    Circular economy, market analysis

    Week 3

    15.3.

    Business idea generation

    Week 4

    22.3.

    Business idea selection, Business model canvas

    Week 5

    29.3.

    Business plan development, Revenue models

    Week 6

    5.4.

    Pitching presentation preparation

    Week 7

    12.4.

    Pitching presentations

    26.4.

    Business plan return

    Literature exam:

    For those who cannot attend the lectures a separate literature exam is arranged. The literature exam fully compensates all the course work and the grade is only given based on the literature exam. The literature exam is arranged after the lectures on May 10, 2019 at 12:15.

    The requirements for the literature exam are:

    1) McKinsey & Company (2011), "How to Write a Business Plan" (guidebook), page 1-47
    2) Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013), "Towards the Circular Economy Vol. 1: an economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition", 92 pages
    3) Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur (2010), "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers", John Wiley & Sons, 1 Feb 2013, 273 pages
    4) Henry Chesbrough (2010), "Open Services Innovation: Rethinking Your Business to Grow and Compete in a New Era", John Wiley & Sons, 229 pages
    5) Pulkka, Lauri (2016) "Collaboration in Discontinuous Innovation in the Construction Industry", Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS, 193/2016, 136 pages (Summary 50pages + app.papers 86pages)
    6) Srnicek, Nick (2017). "Platform capitalism". 171p.