Subsistence Marketplaces

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

About this Course

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The foundation for this course lies with unique synergies between pioneering research, teaching, and social initiatives through the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative. Unique to this approach is a bottom-up understanding of the intersection of poverty and the marketplace.
The goals of this course are to help you develop an understanding of marketplace activity in the radically different context of subsistence where much of humanity resides and survives, and for you to design solutions that can be implemented by individuals, businesses, and social enterprises through economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable products for subsistence marketplaces.

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Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Approx. 45 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Instructor

Madhu Viswanathan

Diane and Steven N. Miller Professor in Business

Department of Business Administration

10,428 Learners

3 Courses

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 45 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Offered by

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

2 hours to complete

1 video (Total 2 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

1 video

Welcome to Subsistence Marketplaces1m

5 readings

Course Orientation10m

Syllabus10m

About the Discussion Forums10m

Updating Your Profile10m

Social Media10m

1 practice exercise

Orientation Quiz30m

6 hours to complete

Introduction to Subsistence Marketplaces Approach

In this module you will learn about the bottom-up approach to the study of subsistence marketplaces. The module will also discuss cognitive predilections engendered by low-income and low-literacy in subsistence marketplaces.

6 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 53 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

7 videos

Lesson 1-1.1 Introduction to Subsistence Marketplaces12m

Lesson 1-1.2 A Day in the Life of a Rural Homemaker7m

Lesson 1-1.3 A Day in the Life of a Family5m

Lesson 1-2.1 Thinking in Subsistence Marketplaces12m

Module 1 Live Session: January 18, 201410m

Module 1 Summary: June 16, 20142m

Module 1 Summary: January 20152m

3 readings

Module 1 Overview10m

Lesson 1-1 Readings10m

Lesson 1-2 Readings10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 1 Quiz30m

Week

Week 2

5 hours to complete

Consumers and Entrepreneurs in Subsistence Marketplaces

In this module you will learn about emotions and coping behaviors in subsistence marketplaces. The module will also expose you to the life circumstances of consumers and entrepreneurs in subsistence marketplaces.

5 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 41 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

7 videos

Lesson 2-1.1 Feeling and Coping in Subsistence Marketplaces4m

Lesson 2-1.2 A Day in the Life of an Urban Homemaker5m

Lesson 2-2.1 Subsistence Consumers and Entrepreneurs9m

Lesson 2-2.2 A Day in the Life of an Urban Shopkeeper6m

Lesson 2-2.3 A Day in the Life of a Rural Shopkeeper7m

Module 2 Live Session: January 25, 20145m

Module 2 Summary: June 23, 20142m

3 readings

Module 2 Overview10m

Lesson 2-1 Readings10m

Lesson 2-2 Readings10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 2 Quiz30m

Week

Week 3

6 hours to complete

Exchanges and Needs in Subsistence Marketplaces

In this module you will learn about unique aspects that characterize marketplace interactions between buyers and sellers in subsistence marketplaces. You will also learn about understanding needs and markets in subsistence marketplaces.

6 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 106 min), 4 readings, 5 quizzes

6 videos

Lesson 3-1.1 Exchanges and Relationships in Subsistence Marketplaces9m

Lesson 3-1.2 Shakti Rising52m

Lesson 3-2.1 Needs/Products, Relationships, and Markets in Subsistence Marketplaces11m

Lesson 3-2 Virtual Immersion Slideshow3m

Module 3 Live Session: February 1, 201426m

Module 3 Summary: June 30, 20141m

4 readings

Module 3 Overview10m

Lesson 3-1 Readings10m

Lesson 3-2 Readings10m

Lesson 3-2 Virtual Immersion Exercise: Instructions10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 3 Quiz30m

Week

Week 4

6 hours to complete

Gaining Marketplaces Insights

In this module you will learn about gaining marketplace insights in subsistence marketplaces. You will also learn about environmental issues in subsistence marketplaces.

6 hours to complete

16 videos (Total 137 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

16 videos

Lesson 4-1.1 Gaining Marketplace Insights in Subsistence Marketplaces14m

Lesson 4-1.2 Rural Conversation and Observation14m

Lesson 4-1.3 Urban Conversation and Observation15m

Field Immersion Clip 16m

Field Immersion Clip 212m

Field Immersion Clip 33m

Field Immersion Clip 43m

Field Immersion Clip 53m

A Visit to Tribal Communities in Tanzania2m

A Rural Community in Argentina2m

A Day in the Life of an Artisan in Mendoza, Argentina3m

Lesson 4-2.1 Local Environments in Subsistence Marketplaces9m

Lesson 4-2.2 Environmental Issues in Urban Subsistence Marketplaces4m

Lesson 4-2.3 Environmental Issues in Rural Subsistence Marketplaces3m

Module 4 Live Session: February 8, 201429m

Module 4 Summary: July 7, 20146m

3 readings

Module 4 Overview10m

Lesson 4-1 Readings10m

Lesson 4-2 Readings10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 4 Quiz30m

Week

Week 5

6 hours to complete

Identifying Needs and Generating Ideas

In this module you will learn about understanding needs in subsistence contexts. You will also learn about a structured approach to generating ideas for addressing the needs in subsistence marketplaces.

6 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 94 min), 5 readings, 5 quizzes

8 videos

Lesson 5-1.1 Identifying and Understanding Need, Drivers, and Context Elements13m

Lesson 5-1.2 Shakti Rising52m

Lesson 5-2.1 Generating Ideas and Designing Solutions12m

Lesson 5-2 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Water2m

Lesson 5-2 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Plowing1m

Lesson 5-2 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Technology Solutions1m

Module 5 Live Session: February 15, 20144m

Module 5 Summary: July 14, 20143m

5 readings

Module 5 Overview10m

Lesson 5-1 Readings10m

Lesson 5-2 Readings10m

Additional Resource: Examples of Needs Served10m

Lesson 5-2 Idea Generation Immersion Exercise: Instructions10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 5-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 5-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 5 Quiz30m

Week

Week 6

5 hours to complete

Evaluating Ideas and Designing Solutions

In this module you will learn about evaluating ideas and designing various aspects of the chosen solution.

5 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 37 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

4 videos

Lesson 6-1.1 Evaluating Solutions and Designing Ecosystems13m

Lesson 6-2.1 Designing, Communicating and Delivering the Value Proposition11m

Module 6 Live Session: February 22, 20145m

Module 6 Summary: July 21, 20146m

3 readings

Module 6 Overview10m

Lesson 6-1 Readings10m

Lesson 6-2 Readings10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 6-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 6-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 6 Quiz30m

Week

Week 7

5 hours to complete

Crafting an Enterprise Plan

In this module you will learn about how to craft a detailed enterprise plan for sustainably delivering a solution in subsistence marketplace.

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 53 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

9 videos

Lesson 7-1.1 Designing Elements of Enterprise Plan – Case Study of Sun Oven8m

Lesson 7-2.1 Designing Elements of Enterprise Plan – Case Study of Marketplace Literacy Project7m

Emmanuel Ole Kokan Masaai, Pastoralist Society4m

Ramadhani Kupaza, OIKOS East Africa3m

Peter Luswata, Uganda Rural Community Support Foundation2m

Jeannine Koninckx1m

Philip Fairweather, Bethel New Life Small Business Development Center2m

Professor Tejinder Sharma, Kurukshetra University2m

Module 7 Live Session: March 1, 201419m

3 readings

Module 7 Overview10m

Lesson 7-1 Readings10m

Lesson 7-2 Readings10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 7-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 7-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 7 Quiz30m

Week

Week 8

4 hours to complete

Course Summary and Conclusion

In this module we will recapitulate some key concepts we have learned in the course and offer concluding thoughts.

4 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 52 min), 2 readings, 4 quizzes

3 videos

Lesson 8-1.1 Summary11m

Lesson 8-2.1 Concluding Insights and Perspectives18m

Module 8 Live Session: March 8, 201422m

2 readings

Module 8 Overview10m

Lesson 8-1 and 8-2 Readings10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 8-1 Practice Quiz30m

Lesson 8-2 Practice Quiz30m

Module 8 Quiz30m

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Subsistence Marketplaces