This course is part of the Global Challenges in Business Specialization

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Madhu Viswanathan

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Part of the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) degree
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Global Challenges in Business SpecializationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

About this Course

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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 these markets, we use exercises to that enable learners 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 constraints  to learn about the bottom-up approach pioneered through the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative   and apply it in broadly. A parallel project will focus on understanding a specific need in a subsistence marketplace, and designing a solution and an enterprise plan for implementation.
You will be able to: 

• Develop an understanding of subsistence marketplaces 
• Design solutions for subsistence marketplaces 
• Develop enterprise plans to implement solutions for subsistence marketplaces 
• Apply the bottom-up approach for subsistence marketplaces and other contexts

This course is part of Gies College of Business’ suite of online programs, including the iMBA and iMSM. Learn more about admission into these programs and explore how your Coursera work can be leveraged if accepted into a degree program at https://degrees.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/idegrees/.

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Shareable Certificate

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 1 of 7 in the

Global Challenges in Business Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 35 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 1 of 7 in the

Global Challenges in Business Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 35 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

3.8/5 (15 Ratings)

Madhu Viswanathan

Professor, Department of Marketing, College of Bus. Admin., Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles Professor Emeritus, Department of Bus. Admin., Gies College of Business, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Department of Business Administration

18,019 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Start working towards your Master's degree

This course is part of the 100% online Master of Business Administration (iMBA) from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted to the full program, your courses count towards your degree learning.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating94%(1,021 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Course Orientation

3 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 12 min), 11 readings, 1 quiz

3 videos

Welcome to Sustainable Innovation for Subsistence Marketplaces9mMeet Prof. Viswanathan1mLearn on Your Terms30s

11 readings

Course Orientation10mSyllabus10mePub10mAbout the Discussion Forums10mGlossary10mLearn More About Flexible Learning Paths10mSubsistence Marketplaces Website10mResources - 360 Videos Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion In Subsistence Marketplaces10mResources - Day in the Life Videos10mResources - Immersion Exercises 10mUpdating Your Profile10m

1 practice exercise

Orientation Quiz30m

10 hours to complete

Module 1: Introduction to Subsistence Marketplaces and Bottom-Up Immersion

10 hours to complete

16 videos (Total 133 min), 7 readings, 8 quizzes

16 videos

Lesson 1-1.0 Introduction to Subsistence Marketplaces13mLesson 1-1.1 A Day in the Life of a Rural Homemaker7mLesson 1-1.2 A Day in the Life of a Family in a Refugee Settlement5mLesson 1-1.3 Day in the Life of a Woman Farmer in Rural North India5mLesson 1-2.1 Thinking in Subsistence Marketplaces12mLesson 1-2.2 Feeling and Coping in Subsistence Marketplaces4mLesson 1-2.3 A Day in the Life of an Urban Homemaker5mLesson 1-3.1 Gaining Marketplace Insights in Subsistence Marketplaces13mLesson 1-3.2 Rural Conversation and Observation14mLesson 1-3.3 Urban Conversation and Observation15mLesson 1-4.1 Identifying and Understanding Need, Drivers, and Context Elements13mLesson 1-4.2 Why Virtual Immersion?5mLesson 1-4.3 Immersion: Africa2mLesson 1-4.4 Immersion: China2mLesson 1-4.5 Immersion: South America2mProject Resources10m

7 readings

Module 1 Overview10mModule 1 Readings10mVR Lecture: 1-1.4 A Subsistence Marketplace In Rural Tanzania - Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion12mVideo: Cooking A Meal In Rural Tanzania10mLesson 1-1 Supplemental Video Playlist10m360 Video Interview With A Rickshaw Puller10mVideo: A Day In the Life of a Dairy Farmer10m

5 practice exercises

Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz30mLesson 1-2 Practice Quiz30mLesson 1-3 Practice Quiz30mLesson 1-4 Practice Quiz30mModule 1 Quiz30m

Week2

Week 2

7 hours to complete

Module 2: Bottom-Up Immersion and Emersion

7 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 81 min), 10 readings, 6 quizzes

12 videos

Lesson 2-1.1 Subsistence Consumers and Entrepreneurs8mLesson 2-1.2 Exchanges and Relationships in Subsistence Marketplaces9mLesson 2-1.3 A Day in the Life of an Urban Shopkeeper6mLesson 2-1.4 A Day in the Life of a Rural Shopkeeper7mLesson 2-1.5 A Day in the Life of a Refugee7mLesson 2-1.6 A Day in the Life of a Woman Entrepreneur in Urban North India9mLesson 2-2.1 Needs/Products, Relationships, and Markets in Subsistence Marketplaces5mLesson 2-2.2b Virtual Immersion Slideshow4mLesson 2-3.1 Local Environments in Subsistence Marketplaces8mLesson 2-3.2 Environmental Issues in Urban Subsistence Marketplaces4mLesson 2-3.3 Environmental Issues in Rural Subsistence Marketplaces3mLesson 2-4.1 Bottom-Up Immersion and Emersion4m

10 readings

Module 2 Overview10mModule 2 Readings10mResources - 360 Videos Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion In Subsistence Marketplaces10mResources - Day in the Life Videos10mResources - Immersion Exercises 10mLesson 2-1 Supplemental Video Playlist10mLesson 2-2.2a Virtual Immersion Exercise: Instructions10mLecture 2-3.4 360 Videos- Local Environments in Subsistence Marketplaces - Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion12mLesson 2-3 Supplemental Video Playlist10mLecture 2-4-2 360 Videos - Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion10m

4 practice exercises

Quiz: Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz30mLesson 2-2 Practice Quiz30mLesson 2-3 Practice Quiz30mModule 2 Quiz30m

Week3

Week 3

8 hours to complete

Module 3: Bottom-Up Design

8 hours to complete

18 videos (Total 164 min), 7 readings, 5 quizzes

18 videos

Lesson 3-1.1 Generating Ideas and Designing Solutions12mLesson 3-1.2 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Water2mLesson 3-1.3 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Plowing2mLesson 3-1.4 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Technology Solutions2mLesson 3-1.5 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Cooking1mLesson 3-1.6 Idea Generation Exercise Slideshow – Education and Schooling1mLesson 3-2.1 Evaluating Solutions and Designing Ecosystems13mLesson 3-2.2 Shakti Rising52mLesson 3-3.1: Case Studies in Bottom-Up Design30mLesson 3-4.1 Bottom-Up Design4mA Visit to Tribal Communities in Tanzania2mA Day in the Life of an Artisan in Mendoza, Argentina3mA Rural Community in Argentina2mField Immersion Clip 1 - Cultural Issues6mField Immersion Clip 2 - Chennai12mField Immersion Clip 3 - Medical Applications Group Project3mField Immersion Clip 4 - Solar Appliances Group Project3mField Immersion Clip 5 - Soy Based Food Group Project3m

7 readings

Module 3 Overview10mModule 3 Readings10mResources - 360 Videos Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion In Subsistence Marketplaces10mResources - Day in the Life Videos10mResources - Immersion Exercises 10mAdditional Resource: Examples of Needs Served10mLesson 3-1 Idea Generation Immersion Exercise: Instructions10m

3 practice exercises

Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz30mLesson 3-2 Practice Quiz30mModule 3 Quiz30m

Week4

Week 4

8 hours to complete

Module 4: Bottom-Up Enterprise

8 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 121 min), 8 readings, 6 quizzes

12 videos

Lesson 4-1.1 Designing, Communicating and Delivering the Value Proposition10mLesson 4-2.1 Designing Elements of Enterprise Plan – Case Study of Sun Oven8mLesson 4-2.2 Designing Elements of Enterprise Plan – Case Study of Marketplace Literacy Project6mLesson 4-3 Summary10mLesson 4-4.1 Bottom-Up Enterprise5mA Conversation about Bottom-Up Enterprise Introduction1mCharting a Bottom-Up Journey19mImplementing Bottom-Up Enterprises19mSustaining Bottom-Up Enterprises17mGuiding Values & Lessons Learned13mEssence of the Bottom-Up Approach5mGies Online Programs3m

8 readings

Module 4 Overview10mModule 4 Readings10mResources - 360 Videos Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion In Subsistence Marketplaces10mResources - Immersion Exercises 10mResources - Day in the Life Videos10mLecture 4-4.2 Bottom-Up Virtual Immersion In Subsistence Marketplaces25mGies Degrees10mGet Your Course Certificate10m

4 practice exercises

Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz30mQuiz: Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz30mLesson 4-3 Practice Quiz30mModule 4 Quiz30m

Reviews

4.1

23 reviews

5 stars
62.60%
4 stars
15.65%
3 stars
3.47%
2 stars
6.95%
1 star
11.30%

TOP REVIEWS FROM SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION FOR SUBSISTENCE MARKETPLACES

by RRJun 17, 2020

Wonderful presentation, this course truly gives the insight to subsistence living around the world that is not the topic of kitchen table conversations but ought to be!

by BMAug 23, 2020

I will carry this experience with me throughout the rest of my career and life. This was a touching and fulfilling class and I highly recommend it to any professions.

by RSAug 23, 2020

The subject is very relevant in view of the SDGs and the instructor is passionate, involved, dedicated and interesting. But it is a bit repetitive and the grades take too long too come.

by GPApr 14, 2019

Great course with multiple great learning resources. The professor is passionate and goes above and beyond to present the course and experience.

View all reviews

About the Global Challenges in Business Specialization

Learning Outcomes for the Specialization:

Upon completion of this specialization, you will be able to: Understand how businesses function in the global marketplace. Make ethical decisions to run a responsible business in the global marketplace. Understand the role of business in addressing global challenges such as poverty and the environment. Understand how business can pursue opportunities and confront challenges in the complex global marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Sustainable Innovation for Subsistence Marketplaces

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