Circular Economy Corporate Challenge

Module description

The Circular Corporate Challenge module builds on previous iterations of the Exeter MBA’s corporate challenge and consolidates important aspects of the core subjects in the first semester. By using the contemporary idea of a circular economy, the participants will deal first hand with a real-world business challenge. This module creates an important opportunity for synoptic assessment across the first phase of the MBA while utilising and embedding the lens and thinking of the circular economy. It assesses the students across Finance and Accounting, Economics, Operations, Marketing, and Strategy. It achieves this by requiring the MBA cohort teams to present their solution in respect to each of these subject matters. This results in a comprehensive deliverable for the client partner and reveals the complexity of using new innovation frameworks when crosscutting traditional business verticals. Beyond these subjects the module develops skills in defining the business problem and identifying and validating possible iterations of the proposed solution.

Internationalisation: The module encourages participants to present solutions in regards to our interconnected global challenges.

Employability: The participants will be able to demonstrate a high level of ideation and synthesis across core business functions while applying the latest business thinking.

Sustainability: The module explores ‘sustainability’ from the point of view of both risks and business opportunities, as a driver of new forms of value creation.

External Engagement: The Circular Corporate Challenge is in partnership with a multinational company who sets the circular challenge and judges the final outcomes.

Ethics and Corporate Responsibility: This module will be based on the idea that business can ‘do well’ and ‘do good’ in the context of our global challenges.

Research in Teaching: This module will draw on the expertise of faculty from the newly formed Exeter Centre for Circular Economy and their relevant research. It will also lean on current institutional research from organisations such the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, SYSTEMIQ, and McKinsey and Co. It will also encourage curiosity in the cohort and shine a light on possible areas for further individual research.

Full module specification

Module title:	Circular Economy Corporate Challenge
Module code:	MBAM950
Module level:	M
Academic year:	2019/0
Module lecturers:	Professor Fiona Charnley - Convenor
Module credit:	10
ECTS value:	5
Pre-requisites:	None
Co-requisites:	None
Duration of module:	Duration (weeks) - term 2: 5 Days

Module aims

The module aims to: (1) apply circular economy thinking (2) successfully work across multiple subject areas at the same time (3) synthesise multi-disciplinary information in order to present implementable solutions (4) build creative confidence.

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. Formulate circular economy business solutions
2. Integrate pertinent aspects of Finance and Accounting, Economics, Operations, Marketing, and Strategy to a circular economy innovation proposition
3. Distinguish between linear and circular business processes

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

4. Demonstrate a working business knowledge of Finance and Accounting, Economics, Operations, Marketing, and Strategy
5. Apply theoretical concepts and research to the analysis of the proposed corporate challenge solution

ILO: Personal and key skills

6. Complete individual research and learning tasks in support of a team output
7. Work in a high performance multicultural and multidisciplinary team

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
24	76	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	16	Lectures and workshops
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	8	Guided online content
Guided independent study	76	Reading, research, writing

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Workshop exercises, presentations, and discussions.	In class	1-7	Oral Feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Team presentation	15	10 minutes	1-7	Oral Feedback
Team peer review weighted mark	15	Peer feedback form	1-7	Written Feedback
Team commercial slide deck	70	40 slides	1-7	Written Feedback
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Individual	Individual assignment (3,000 words)	1-6	Four weeks after briefing

Re-assessment notes

The new assignment will have a brief which contains a different emphasis to the initial assignment.

Syllabus plan

Formative two-day Circular Design Challenge feeds into this module and builds the participants capacity to engage with vital skills such as design thinking (DT), user experience design (UX), and circular design principles.

Leading into the module the teams will form tutorial groups to look at the latest thinking from around the world that offer ways of value creation.

The corporate challenge will be set on the first day of the module and through coaching will develop the proposition to be presented and assessed on the final day.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 2015. Towards a Circular Economy Business Rationale for an Accelerated Transition.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/towards-a-circular-economy-business-rationale-for-an-accelerated-transition

Origin date

12/06/2018

Last revision date

01/11/2018