NBD405 Entrepreneurship and business model design

• Topics

  Course Description: This course offers a hands-on learning experience where students collaborate directly with entrepreneurs to tackle real-world business challenges. Working in groups, students will address specific issues such as designing new business models, scaling existing ones, finding new customers, or expanding into new markets. Throughout the course, students will conduct in-depth research, analyze problems, and present their findings in the form of a consultancy-style business project. The course emphasizes practical application, guiding students to develop feasible and actionable recommendations that can be implemented by the entrepreneurs they work with.

  Some of the themes covered in the course, include (but are not limited to):

  1. How to Design Business Models: We learn   about the fundamentals of business model design, exploring why some entrepreneurs fail and others succeed.
  2. Designing a Value Proposition: We dive into the core of value proposition design by exploring customer needs and jobs-to-be-done framework (What Is the Job-to-Be-Done, and What Do Customers Actually Want?). We learn how to identify what customers truly value and developing solutions that address these needs effectively.
  3. How to Design Digital Platform Models. We examine the specific characteristics of digital platform business models. We will learn about network effects, multi-sided markets, and how digital platforms can facilitate value creation and capture through technology and user interaction.
  4. How to Design Sustainable Business Models: We will focus on how to integrate sustainability into the business model design. We cover how companies can integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their models to create long-term value for both business and society.
  5. How to Scale a Business Model and Expand to Other Countries.  we address the challenges of scaling a business and entering new markets. We will learn about the strategic and operational aspects of scaling, including market research, international expansion strategies, and the adaptation of business models to different markets.

• Learning outcome

  Upon completing this course, the student will have gained 

  Knowledge of 

  • Core principles and frameworks for designing and evaluating business models.
  • How to identify and craft compelling value propositions by understanding customer needs and jobs-to-be-done.
  • The dynamics of digital platforms, sustainable business models, and strategies for scaling businesses across different markets.

  Skills in

  • Applying research and analytical methods to real-world business problems in collaboration with entrepreneurs.
  • Developing actionable, consultancy-style business solutions that are both innovative and feasible.
  • Strategically addressing challenges related to digital transformation, sustainability, and international business expansion.

  General competence in

  • Advanced research ability, problem-solving, and critical reflection.
  • Planning and executing project work in an international team during the length of the semester.
  • Communicating findings of the project in a clear and engaging manner.

• Teaching

  This course serves as an introductory course to Gründerskolen but can be taken by all NHH students. 

  This is an interactive course that requires active participation by students throughout classes. Overall, students are expected to take an active role in their own learning experience and contribute to a positive and open learning environment in class. Also, students are expected to reflect on and discuss the status of their term paper against the background of the topics covered in the classes. 

• Restricted access

  Please note that registration to this course ends on 15 January 2025.

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  GRU401 - Gründerskolen

• Compulsory Activity

  Class attendance is mandatory (an unexcused absence from three lectures will result exclusion from the course). In addition to regular attendance all students must be involved in the preparation of their team presentation and term paper.

  Groups of students are expected to hand in four deliverables throughout the teaching semester.

  Course approval is valid for one semester.

• Assessment

  Group term paper accounts for 100 % of the grade, 4-5 students in each group.

  Must be written in English.

• Grading Scale

  A-F

• Literature

  The required readings in this course will consist of a selection of articles and case study texts. A list will be published upon course start.