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WageningenX: Business Strategy and Operations in a Biobased Economy

Lead your company to make the switch to biobased resources and build a profitable sustainable business. Learn how to deal with the many strategic and operational challenges facing a companyin the biobased and circular economy.

Business Strategy and Operations in a Biobased Economy
5 weeks
12–16 hours per week
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Business Strategy and Operations in a Biobased Economy

About this course

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“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 the MOOC Business Strategy and Operations in a Biobased Economy 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 Program!

This course is part of the MicroMasters Program 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 Program:

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

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills: Business Strategies, Business Modeling, Sustainable Business, Strategic Management, Operations, Economics, Value Creation, Decision Support Systems, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Economy, Decision Making, Planning, Quantitative Research, Cost Reduction

What you'll learn

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  • Understand the dynamics in biobased business investments
  • Creating business strategies in a biobased economy
  • Understand the supply chain challenges for biobased businesses
  • Using decision support tools to make better decisions about the short- and long-term plans for your business.
  • Design and evaluate biobased supply chains using quantitative methods

Syllabus

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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?

Learner testimonials

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''I am really impressed with the content from ORL group. Also, the insight from Emile is very impressive.''

''The videos are well made!''

Or check out Michaela's learner story on edX: Entrepreneur Applies MicroMasters® Program Learning to New Circular Economy Startup (edx.org)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do you have questions about the MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and/or related online programmes of Wageningen University & Research? To help you find answers to your questions, we created a list with frequently asked questions about enrolling, participating in- and finishing a MOOC.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

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

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Expert instruction
4 graduate-level courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
6 months
16 - 22 hours per week

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Expires on Jan 2, 2024

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