Sustainable Value Chain Strategies, 6 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

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

Entry requirements

Prior to the start of the course, the examiner/director of studies will verify that participating students have sufficient knowledge, see information under Prerequisites.

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

Grades

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 a manner where both men's and women's experience and knowledge are made visible and developed. 

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.  

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department

Course literature

Articles

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  Collection of academic articles