Sustainable Value Chain Strategies, 6 credits

Hållbara värdekedjor, 6 hp

TEAE18

Main field of study

Industrial Engineering and Management

Course level

Second cycle

Course type

Programme course

Examiner

Jakob Rehme

Director of studies or equivalent

Daniel Ellström

Education components

Preliminary scheduled hours: 40 h
Recommended self-study hours: 120 h
ECV = Elective / Compulsory / Voluntary
Course offered for Semester Period Timetable module Language Campus ECV
6CDPU Design and Product Development, Master of Science in Engineering (Product Development - Management) 9 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CEMM Energy - Environment - Management, Master of Science in Engineering 7 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CEMM Energy - Environment - Management, Master of Science in Engineering (Sustainable Business Development) 7 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CIEI Industrial Engineering and Management - International, Master of Science in Engineering, Chinese (Master Profile Strategic Management and Control) 9 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CIEI Industrial Engineering and Management - International, Master of Science in Engineering, French (Master Profile Strategic Management and Control) 9 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CIEI Industrial Engineering and Management - International, Master of Science in Engineering, German (Master Profile Strategic Management and Control) 9 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CIEI Industrial Engineering and Management - International, Master of Science in Engineering, Japanese (Master Profile Strategic Management and Control) 9 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CIEI Industrial Engineering and Management - International, Master of Science in Engineering, Spanish (Master Profile Strategic Management and Control) 9 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E
6CIII Industrial Engineering and Management, Master of Science in Engineering (Master Profile Strategic Management and Control) 9 (Autumn 2026) 2 1 Swedish/English Linköping, Valla E

Main field of study

Industrial Engineering and Management

Course level

Second cycle

Advancement level

A1F

Course offered for

  • Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management - International
  • Master of Science in Design and Product Development
  • Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management
  • Master of Science in Energy - Environment - Management

Prerequisites

Corporate strategy, Sustainable development 

Intended learning outcomes

The aim of the course is that the students should develop knowledge and understanding about business and management strategies for economic, environmental and social sustainability in the context of value chains. The students will learn to develop strategies, and to apply theories, methods and tools enabling them to systematically analyze value creation and different strategic sustainability challenges and opportunities in the context of the strategic management of value chains, business ecosystems and business relationships. The course also aims to provide an overview of value chains, their actors and interrelationships.

After successful completion of the course, the student should on an advanced level be able to:

  • Describe and explain theories on business strategy and value creation relative sustainability in business ecosystems.
  • Describe and elaborate on the role and importance of sustainability in the strategic management of firms and value chains.
  • Based on theories and models for strategic value chain development, describe and analyze driving forces and barriers for firm sustainability, in business ecosystems and value chains from different stakeholder perspectives.
  • Apply relevant theories, methods and tools in order to critically evaluate sustainable value chain strategies for a firm as well as for a value chain.
  • Develop structured solutions to identified sustainability challenges with implications for relevant stakeholders, from a strategic management perspective.

Course content

The course focuses on a number of key themes. Examples include:

  • The value chain concept, including business relationships and network/ecosystem theory
  • Value and resource analysis - theoretical concepts as well as critical views and limitations of current conceptualizations.
  • Strategies, principles and tools for sustainable value chains and networks from a business and management perspective.
  • Role and relevance of economic, environmental and social sustainability for contemporary firm strategies and value creation in value chains.
  • The role of the firm for value chain sustainability development.
  • Sustainable business models.

Teaching and working methods

Teaching will be in the form of lectures, seminars and project work.

Examination

UPG1Oral and written examination3 creditsU, 3, 4, 5
PRA1Project2 creditsU, 3, 4, 5
UPG2Seminars1 creditsU, G

To pass the course students must attend the compulsory seminars, participate in and pass the project, as well as pass the written examinations.

Grades

Four-grade scale, LiU, U, 3, 4, 5

Other information

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

  • If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
  • If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
  • If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Other

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

The planning and implementation of a course should correspond to the course syllabus. The course evaluation should therefore be conducted with the course syllabus as a starting point. 

The course is campus-based at the location specified for the course, unless otherwise stated under “Teaching and working methods”. Please note, in a campus-based course occasional remote sessions could be included.  

Department

Institutionen för ekonomisk och industriell utveckling

Course literature

Articles


  • Collection of academic articles
Code Name Scope Grading scale
UPG1 Oral and written examination 3 credits U, 3, 4, 5
PRA1 Project 2 credits U, 3, 4, 5
UPG2 Seminars 1 credits U, G

To pass the course students must attend the compulsory seminars, participate in and pass the project, as well as pass the written examinations.

Articles

Collection of academic articles

Note: The course matrix might contain more information in Swedish.

I = Introduce, U = Teach, A = Utilize
I U A Modules Comment
1. DISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE AND REASONING
1.1 Knowledge of underlying mathematics and science (G1X level)

                            
1.2 Fundamental engineering knowledge (G1X level)
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
1.3 Further knowledge, methods, and tools in one or several subjects in engineering or natural science (G2X level)

                            
1.4 Advanced knowledge, methods, and tools in one or several subjects in engineering or natural sciences (A1X level)
X
X
UPG1
PRA1

                            
1.5 Insight into current research and development work
X
UPG1
PRA1

                            
2. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
2.1 Analytical reasoning and problem solving
X
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
2.2 Experimentation, investigation, and knowledge discovery
X
PRA1

                            
2.3 System thinking
X
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
2.4 Attitudes, thought, and learning
X
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
2.5 Ethics, equity, and other responsibilities
X
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
3. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION
3.1 Teamwork
X
PRA1
UPG2

                            
3.2 Communications
X
PRA1
UPG2

                            
3.3 Communication in foreign languages
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
4. CONCEIVING, DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING SYSTEMS IN THE ENTERPRISE, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT
4.1 External, societal, and environmental context
X
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
4.2 Enterprise and business context
X
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
4.3 Conceiving, system engineering and management
X
X
UPG1
PRA1
UPG2

                            
4.4 Designing

                            
4.5 Implementing

                            
4.6 Operating

                            
5. PLANNING, EXECUTION AND PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH RESPECT TO SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Societal conditions, including economic, social, and ecological aspects of sustainable development for knowledge development
X
X
UPG1
PRA1

                            
5.2 Economic conditions for knowledge development
X
X
UPG1
PRA1

                            
5.3 Identification of needs, structuring and planning of research or development projects
X
X
UPG1
PRA1

                            
5.4 Execution of research or development projects

                            
5.5 Presentation and evaluation of research or development projects

                            

This tab contains public material from the course room in Lisam. The information published here is not legally binding, such material can be found under the other tabs on this page.

There are no files available for this course.