Business Design Project (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

The objective of the course is to enhance the students’ ability to work in regional, transnational and interdisciplinary teams.
The course content is relevant to students thinking about starting a business or who are already in business – large or small, those who are interested in commercializing their innovations. The second objective of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the nature of entrepreneurship and to introduce the role of the entrepreneur, innovation and technology.
Learning outcomes:
Students are able to develop a plan for implementing innovative business models in an international environment being responsible for the social, ethical and culture issues.
Students are able to work in a regional, transnational and interdisciplinary team.
Students are able to discuss the attitudes, values and characteristics of an entrepreneurial mindset.
Students are able to discuss what is meant by business design and innovation management and the role of the entrepreneur in the enterprise creation process.
Students are able to describe the ways in which entrepreneurs perceive add value, organize resources and manage risk.

Content

Team building
Team work under supervision.

Location and time

First online contact sessions: 8-10 December 2021 (10:00-18:00)*
The final contact sessions either online or in Belfast: 4-8 April 2022 (10:00-18:00)*
* Time could be updated later on

In between the two contact sessions students work independently online in teams.

Materials

Ries E.(2017) The Startup Way. Portfolio Penquin.
Bessant, J. and Tidd, J. (2015). Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Wiley
Lewrick, M., Link P. and Leifer L. (2018) The Design Thinking Playbook

Teaching methods

Students from Lapland UAS, Kajaani UAS, Ulster University and Kempten UAS design new business models in mixed teams of students from the three countries.
The idea(s) could be related to starting a new business or an existing business willing to develop or go international.
The first part, a work-shop will take place on 8 to 10 December 2021 online (Zoom) together with German and Northern Ireland students.
In the second part the students' teams will continue the ideation and deliberation online to further concretise their business models.
The third part, a workshop/conference, will take place online on 4 to 8 April 2022 during which the teams will pitch their business models to a jury, which will assess them.
If the Covid-19 pandemic eases, the conference will be organized in Belfast. Lapland UAS will sponsor part of the travel expenses.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

0: The student did not submit the course assignments or these assignments did not meet the minimal quality requirements presented in the class.
1-2: The student has participated in the team project and delivered the assignments, which are prepared generally according to the defined requirements. The student understands mostly correctly the subject matter concepts and is able to apply them. However, there is a room for development in the content of the assignments. Business challenges and recommendations are rather general and are not elaborated in details.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 - 4. The student has actively taken part in the team project and delivered the assignments, which are prepared according to the requirements presented in the class. The student understands very well the subject matter concepts and is able to apply them correctly. Additionally, the student is able to give useful development recommendations utilizing his/her knowledge and skills on the subject.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5. The student has actively taken part in the team project and delivered the course assignments and these are prepared according to the requirements presented in the class. The student understands deeply the subject matter concepts and is able to apply them correctly. The student also understands well and is able to analyze critically different factors in the planning and implementation of design management and creativity. Moreover, the student is able to give useful development recommendations with proper argumentation in different situations.