Study Guide

Learning outcomes

Customer-focused design thinking approach allows rethinking products, services, business models and economic systems. It can help companies reach more value from the energy and resources they use. Service design and co-creation is central to a well-functioning circular economy. Existing services can be refined and completely new solutions can be created that can revolutionize the system itself (e.g. renting a coach, from owning to renting a car, etc.).

With circular economy design, economic growth can be decoupled from the resource consumption by promoting innovation, smart design and co-design, knowledge sharing, cooperation and collaboration. In a co-creation process, the mutual value is “created with stakeholders. The needs, objectives and activities are negotiated together with different stakeholders. The process takes into consideration the real needs of the target groups in order to create sustainable innovations.

Module 3 will provide a theoretical framework for service design in the context of circular economy. Service design thinking is central in developing sustainable and attractive business models. Therefore, this module will be implemented hand-in-hand with the Module 2 in order to achieve the highest synergy.

Teaching methods

This course is a part of CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH 15 ECT COURSE, which is provided by 3uas (Metropolia, Laurea and Haaga-Helia).

PLEASE ENROLL TO THE COURSE HERE: www.3amk.fi during 29.11.-12.12.2021

Service Design for Circular Economy -course is part of 3UAS Circular Economy Learning path: Circular economy for sustainable growth 15 ECTS.
Students need to register for the whole 15 CR Learning path. This course cannot be chosen as stand-alone.

The learning path consists of three modules:
• Study module 1: Towards a Sustainable Consumer Society (5 cr) (Metropolia)
• Study module 2: New Business Models in Circular Economy (5 cr) (Haaga-Helia)
• Study module 3: Service Design for Circular Economy (5 cr) (Laurea)

Modules will be implemented as one integrated 15 cr. course. The modules are undertaken as an assignment to a real-life company and executed in mixed multidisciplinary teams.
Blended learning and flipped online approach.

Location and time

CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH 15 ECT COURSE, which is provided by 3UAS (Metropolia, Laurea and Haaga-Helia).
Course duration: 17.1.-16.5.2022

PLEASE ENROLL TO THE COURSE HERE: www.3amk.fi during 29.11.-12.12.2022

All workshops and other contact sessions will be held online, as an integrated entity:
- Towards a Sustainable Consumer Society (5 cr)
- New Business Models in Circular Economy (5 cr)
- Service Design for Circular Economy (5 cr)

SCHEDULE:

ORIENTATION PHASE 17.1.-21.2.2022

17.1.2022 at 13-16 Joint Orientation kick-off online
- objectives, teaming, ways of working etc.
- start of the “Introduction to Circular Economy key concepts & theories”-part

24.1.2022 at 13-16 Introduction to Circular Economy key concepts & theories
- Guidance

31.1.2022 at 13-16 Introduction to Circular Economy key concepts & theories
– Guidance continues

7.2.2022 at 13-16 Circular business Models and Business Model Canvas

14.2.2022 at 13-16 Introduction to Service Design


PROJECT PHASE 28.2.-16.5.2022
Project work in teams between the contact sessions

28.2.2022 at 13-16 Joint project kick-off
- design challenge introduction by company x

7.3.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods, Discover-phase start (Research)
- Desk research
- Field research incl. interviews & observations
- Data analysis

14.3.2022 at 13-16 Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

21.3.2022 at 13-16 Circular BMC, Ecosystem Partner Identification
- Guidance to Life Cycle Analysis-work

28.3.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods
- Define-phase start: Personas, Customer Journey Maps, Service Blueprints
- Guidance to Life Cycle Analysis -work

4.4.2022 at 13-16 LCA task wrap-up & presentations

11.4.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods
- Develop-phase start: Ideation workshop, Concepting, Prototyping

9.5.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods,
- Deliver-phase start: Pitch rehearsals, Prototype / testing result introductions
- Pitching preparations

16.5.2022 at 13-16 Final seminar: pitching
- Circular Service Concept presentations

Learning materials and recommended literature

All materials will be available on-line and recommended reading and other reference materials are available on-line.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

Not available

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

All modules are undertaken as an assignment to a real-life company x and executed in mixed multidisciplinary teams.ms.

Important dates

SCHEDULE:

ORIENTATION PHASE 17.1.-21.2.2022

17.1.2022 at 13-16 Joint Orientation kick-off online
- objectives, teaming, ways of working etc.
- start of the “Introduction to Circular Economy key concepts & theories”-part

24.1.2022 at 13-16 Introduction to Circular Economy key concepts & theories
- Guidance

31.1.2022 at 13-16 Introduction to Circular Economy key concepts & theories
– Guidance continues

7.2.2022 at 13-16 Circular business Models and Business Model Canvas

14.2.2022 at 13-16 Introduction to Service Design


PROJECT PHASE 28.2.-16.5.2022
Project work in teams between the contact sessions

28.2.2022 at 13-16 Joint project kick-off
- design challenge introduction by company x

7.3.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods, Discover-phase start (Research)
- Desk research
- Field research incl. interviews & observations
- Data analysis

14.3.2022 at 13-16 Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

21.3.2022 at 13-16 Circular BMC, Ecosystem Partner Identification
- Guidance to Life Cycle Analysis-work

28.3.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods
- Define-phase start: Personas, Customer Journey Maps, Service Blueprints
- Guidance to Life Cycle Analysis -work

4.4.2022 at 13-16 LCA task wrap-up & presentations

11.4.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods
- Develop-phase start: Ideation workshop, Concepting, Prototyping

9.5.2022 at 13-16 Service Design tools & methods,
- Deliver-phase start: Pitch rehearsals, Prototype / testing result introductions
- Pitching preparations

16.5.2022 at 13-16 Final seminar: pitching
- Circular Service Concept presentations

Forms of internationality

Course execution in English.

Students workload

The course is 15 ects which equals approximately 405 h of studying.
Most of the work will be done in teams.

Further information for students

The Circular Economy Learning path engages 3UAS students from various different backgrounds to work towards a circular economy with companies, especially SMEs. The path exposes the students to the circular economy, which the students do not currently encounter in their earlier studies. The student will accomplish increased learning of the circular economy with knowledge of new tools and concepts on how to develop new innovative and attractive circular economy solutions and business models and the motivation to work for sustainable solutions.

KEY CONCEPTS
Circular Economy principles
Circular Economy business models
Service design / design thinking
Service design process and tools
Co-creation
Customer Insight (Persona & Customer Journey)
Value proposition
Prototyping & testing
Business Model Canvas
Service Concept

Grading scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

EVALUATION OF MODULES 1,2,3

Each module will be evaluated separately, scale 1-5.

Module 3 Service Design:
Team assignment (service concept based on circular economy), 70% scale 1-5
Self- and peer assessment, instructor assessment.

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Knowledge: The student can identify, list and combine the main issues related to circular economy.
Skills: The student can, when part of a team, contribute to tackling and developing circular economy solutions in an organisation. The student can conduct research to identify the elements of circular economy.
Competence: The student can only with difficulty apply problem identification, analysis and solving to circular economy. The student does not demonstrate aptitude or interest in developing circular economy solutions.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

Knowledge: The student can describe the main issues related to circular economy and apply them to new contexts. The student can link the key theoretical concepts to the practical tasks. The student has an understanding of how circular economy contributes to organisational success.
Skills: The student can identify and create circular economy elements and business models in an organisation and implement them with some support.
Competence: The student shows moderate independence in his/her work. The student can apply problem identification, analysis and solving to circular economy to a certain extent. The student demonstrates some aptitude and interest in developing circular economy solutions.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Knowledge: The student can use and combine different theories to present his/her own suggestions and models. The student is aware of conflicting views on the topic. The student uses theory and specific terminology accurately.
The student has a clear understanding and appreciation of how circular economy contributes to organisational success.
Skills: The student can identify, create, implement and develop circular economy solutions and business models in an organisation independently or with only occational suppot.
Competence: The student shows a great degree of independence in his/her work. The student can skillfully apply problem identification, analysis and solving to circular economy issues and projects to an extent. The student demonstrates great aptitude and interest in developing circular economy solutions.

Qualifications

All materials are available on-line and recommended reading and other reference materials are available on-line.

Prerequisite
Approved completion of an introductory course to Corporate Responsibility is a strong recommendation

Further information

This course is part of 3UAS learning lane “Circular Economy for Sustainable Growth” that forms an independent 15 credit specialization in the circular economy.