Business Strategy and Operations in a Biobased Economy (edX)

“Sustainable growth business models are the beginning of a solution — they aim to optimize the use of resources and fossil energy, and to reduce waste flows and emissions (eco- efficiency). Structuring a (more) circular business model is a logical next step. A circular economy is the logical and more hands-on approach to sustainable thinking and acting. Besides a clear link to cost reduction, the principles of a circular economy have an even stronger link to value creation and innovations at system level". From the document “Circular Economy” of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition.

To contribute to the bio-society in 2050 you should know what a business model of a company in the biobased and circular economy comprise of. Does it always require cross-company collaborative efforts to succeed in this sector? What operational supply chain challenges have to be dealt with to ensure efficient and sustainable production networks? And how can managerial decision-making be supported by quantitative methods?

Join this course if you want to be able to answer these questions and gain a solid understanding of the business side of the biobased and circular economy.

The course contains two key business perspectives. It starts with relevant strategic management considerations such as the trends impacting the transition of businesses and value chains towards a more circular economy, their multi-stakeholder collaboration, and the development of feasible biobased business models. Then, the course continues with operational considerations, on e.g. supply chain management issues, different types of planning problems that are encountered, and the development of decision support for the design and operations of biobased supply chains.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain the skills on a strategic- and operational level to transform your company’s business model in a conscious, sustainable and profitable one.

Join the MicroMasters programme!

This course is part of the MicroMasters Business and Operations for a Circular Bio-Economy.

A series of 3 courses and a final capstone project that will provide you with the knowledge and tools to analyse the business and operations side of the switch to biobased products. You will be able to contribute to managerial decision-making, as well as deal with supply chain management and planning.

Explore the other courses in this MicroMasters programme:

- Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Approach

- From Fossil Resources to Biomass: a Chemistry Perspective

- Capstone Business and Operations for a Circular Bio-Economy

You might also like the MicroMasters Economies and Policies for a Circular Bio-Economy.

What you'll learn

- Understand the dynamics in biobased business investments

- Creating business strategies in a biobased economy

- Understand the supply chain challenges for biobased businesses

- Design and evaluate biobased supply chains using quantitative methods

Syllabus

Module 1: The Circular Business Strategy

In this module, you will be introduced to the factors affecting the investments and drivers for biobased business, all from a business strategy perspective. This will help you analyse how major innovations in existing industries develop and get accepted.

Module 2: From Creating Opportunities to Solving Challenges

As just like any other business, it is also important to choose the right legal structure in a biobased economy. But what are the key players in biobased supply chains? Let’s learn about organizations and cooperative formats to use in creating new value chains.

Module 3: Supply Chain Operations in a Biobased Economy

Module 3 will help you to translate the business strategy into actual operations by introducing you to the current thinking on supply chains. Here you will understand the complexity of supply chain management and planning, and how reverse flows can be used to create biobased supply chains.

Module 4: Decision Support for Biobased Operations

In module 4, you will learn about how you can use decision support tools to make better decisions about the short- and long-term plans for your business. For instance, the differences in planning at a local, regional, or global level.

Module 5: Integrating Business Strategy and Operations

To conclude the course, we will integrate the business strategy and operation theories seen in the previous modules in a specific case of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA): how can you apply these theories in your own case study?