Sustainable Innovation for Subsistence Marketplaces
- 4.2
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Approx. 35 hours to complete
Course Summary
This course focuses on subsistence marketplaces, which are marketplaces that serve low-income consumers in developing countries. The course explores unique challenges and opportunities in these marketplaces and teaches students how to effectively design and implement solutions.Key Learning Points
- Learn about subsistence marketplaces and unique challenges they present
- Explore innovative business models and solutions tailored for these marketplaces
- Develop skills to design and implement effective solutions
Related Topics for further study
- Subsistence Marketplaces
- Low-Income Consumers
- Innovative Business Models
- Effective Solutions
- Sustainability
Learning Outcomes
- Understand unique challenges and opportunities in subsistence marketplaces
- Develop skills to design and implement effective solutions
- Learn about innovative business models tailored for low-income consumers
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic understanding of business and marketing principles
- Interest in designing solutions for low-income consumers in developing countries
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
Similar Courses
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Sustainable Development
Related Education Paths
Related Books
Description
This course focuses on understanding subsistence marketplaces and designing business solutions for the billions of people living in poverty in the global marketplace. To develop understanding of subsistence marketplaces, we use exercises to enable participants to view the world from the eyes of subsistence consumers and entrepreneurs, facilitate bottom‐up understanding generated by participants, and provide insights from extensive research. More broadly, the course uses the context of extreme resource constrained contexts to learn about the bottom-up approach pioneered through the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative, and apply it in any context. The course will involve virtual immersion in subsistence contexts, emersion of unique insights, bottom-up design, innovation and enterprise. A parallel project will focus on understanding a specific need in a subsistence marketplace, and designing a solution and an enterprise plan.
Outline
- Course Orientation
- Welcome to Sustainable Innovation for Subsistence Marketplaces
- Meet Prof. Viswanathan
- Course Orientation
- Syllabus
- About the Discussion Forums
- Glossary
- Updating Your Profile
- Orientation Quiz
- Module 1: Introduction to Subsistence Marketplaces and Bottom-Up Immersion
- Lesson 1-1.0 Introduction to Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 1-1.1 A Day in the Life of a Rural Homemaker
- Lesson 1-1.2 A Day in the Life of a Family in a Refugee Settlement
- Lesson 1-2.1 Thinking in Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 1-2.2 Feeling and Coping in Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 1-2.3 A Day in the Life of an Urban Homemaker
- Lesson 1-3.1 Gaining Marketplace Insights in Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 1-3.2 Rural Conversation and Observation
- Lesson 1-3.3 Urban Conversation and Observation
- Lesson 1-4.1 Identifying and Understanding Need, Drivers, and Context Elements
- Lesson 1-4.2 Why Virtual Immersion?
- Lesson 1-4.3 Immersion: Africa
- Lesson 1-4.4 Immersion: China
- Lesson 1-4.5 Immersion: South America
- Project Resources
- Module 1 Overview
- Module 1 Readings
- Lecture 1-1.3 A Subsistence Marketplace In Rural Tanzania - Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion
- Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz
- Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz
- Lesson 1-3 Practice Quiz
- Lesson 1-4 Practice Quiz
- Module 1 Quiz
- Module 2: Bottom-Up Immersion and Emersion
- Lesson 2-1.1 Subsistence Consumers and Entrepreneurs
- Lesson 2-1.2 Exchanges and Relationships in Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 2-1.3 A Day in the Life of an Urban Shopkeeper
- Lesson 2-1.4 A Day in the Life of a Rural Shopkeeper
- Lesson 2-1.5 A Day in the Life of a Refugee
- Lesson 2-2.1 Needs/Products, Relationships, and Markets in Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 2-2.2b Virtual Immersion Slideshow
- Lesson 2-3.1 Local Environments in Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 2-3.2 Environmental Issues in Urban Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 2-3.3 Environmental Issues in Rural Subsistence Marketplaces
- Lesson 2-4.1 Bottom-Up Immersion and Emersion
- Module 2 Overview
- Module 2 Readings
- Lesson 2-2.2a Virtual Immersion Exercise: Instructions
- Copy of Lecture 1-1.3 A Subsistence Marketplace In Rural Tanzania - Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion
- Quiz: Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz
- Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz
- Lesson 2-3 Practice Quiz
- Module 2 Quiz
- Module 3: Bottom-Up Design
- Lesson 3-1.1 Generating Ideas and Designing Solutions
- Lesson 3-1.2 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Water
- Lesson 3-1.3 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Plowing
- Lesson 3-1.4 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Technology Solutions
- Lesson 3-1.5 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Cooking
- Lesson 3-1.6 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Education and Schooling
- Lesson 3-2.1 Evaluating Solutions and Designing Ecosystems
- Lesson 3-2.2 Shakti Rising
- Lesson 3-3.1: Case Studies in Bottom-Up Design
- Lesson 3-4.1 Bottom-Up Design
- A Visit to Tribal Communities in Tanzania
- A Day in the Life of an Artisan in Mendoza, Argentina
- A Rural Community in Argentina
- Field Immersion Clip 1 - Cultural Issues
- Field Immersion Clip 2 - Chennai
- Field Immersion Clip 3 - Medical Applications Group Project
- Field Immersion Clip 4 - Solar Appliances Group Project
- Field Immersion Clip 5 - Soy Based Food Group Project
- Module 3 Overview
- Module 3 Readings
- Additional Resource: Examples of Needs Served
- Lesson 3-1 Idea Generation Immersion Exercise: Instructions
- Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz
- Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz
- Module 3 Quiz
- Module 4: Bottom-Up Enterprise
- Lesson 4-1.1 Designing, Communicating and Delivering the Value Proposition
- Lesson 4-2.1 Designing Elements of Enterprise Plan – Case Study of Sun Oven
- Lesson 4-2.2 Designing Elements of Enterprise Plan – Case Study of Marketplace Literacy Project
- Lesson 4-3 Summary
- Lesson 4-4.1 Bottom-Up Enterprise
- A Conversation about Bottom-Up Enterprise Introduction
- Charting a Bottom-Up Journey
- Implementing Bottom-Up Enterprises
- Sustaining Bottom-Up Enterprises
- Guiding Values & Lessons Learned
- Essence of the Bottom-Up Approach
- Gies Online Programs
- Module 4 Overview
- Module 4 Readings
- Lecture 4-4.2 A Local Environments in Subsistence Marketplaces - Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion
- New Reading
- Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz
- Quiz: Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz
- Lesson 4-3 Practice Quiz
- Module 4 Quiz
Summary of User Reviews
Discover the world of subsistence marketplaces and learn how businesses can empower communities while making a profit. This course has received high praise for its engaging lectures and insightful case studies. Many users found the course to be an eye-opening experience that challenged their assumptions about poverty and entrepreneurship.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
The course's case studies provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by subsistence marketplaces and the innovative solutions that can be developed to address them.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging lectures that keep students interested and motivated
- Insightful case studies that provide real-world examples of subsistence marketplaces
- In-depth discussions on the social and economic challenges faced by these communities
- The opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners in the field
- The course provides a unique perspective on poverty and entrepreneurship
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course to be too theoretical and not practical enough
- The course may not be suitable for students looking for a more traditional business education
- The workload can be heavy at times, especially for those with limited experience in the field
- The course may not cover all aspects of subsistence marketplaces, depending on the user's interests
- Some users found the course to be too focused on developing countries and not relevant to developed economies
Madhu Viswanathan
4.2 Raiting
Sustainable Business Enterprises
- 4.3
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
This course will explore current challenges and opportunities facing firms in the area of environmental sustainability. You will be able to:...
Sustainable Innovation for Subsistence Marketplaces
- 4.2
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
This course focuses on understanding subsistence marketplaces and designing business solutions for the billions of people living in poverty in the global marketplace....
Subsistence Marketplaces
- 4.4
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
The foundation for this course lies with unique synergies between pioneering research, teaching, and social initiatives through the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative....
Challenges of Agribusiness Management
- 4.8
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
The goal of this course is to understand the challenges and opportunities of agribusiness nowadays. Course Syllabus: Week 1: Heritage and Excellence in Italian Agriculture...
