Students will learn about a wide range of business models beyond the standard firm, including different forms of non-profits, co-operatives (workers', consumer), employee-owned firms, and social enterprises. Examples will be drawn from international and local approaches, synthesising learning from across the globe. The strengths and limitations of each approach will be explored in-depth, linked to current societal challenges, and explore the student's own interests and career aspirations. The assessment will be on the development of a co-operative or social enterprise business idea, offering the potential for students to create new firms in this mould on leaving the university. The course can be run for a large number of students and will be relevant for students from across several programmes (including in ASBS).

1 hour lecture x 10 weeks

1 hour seminar x 10 weeks

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The summative assessments for this course will be:

1. Development of a logic model for a proposed business (20% of the total marks).

1. The development of a 2,500 word business plan for a new plurally-owned enterprise (e.g. workers' co-operative, social enterprise, consumer co-operative, municipal enterprise), or a detailed critique of an existing business model (80% of total marks).

The first aim of this course is to enhance the capacity of students to understand the potential role of a wide range of business models beyond the standard private firm, including non-profits, co-operatives (workers', consumer), employee-owned firms, and social enterprises. This recognises that many aspects of the current polycrisis we face is a consequence of an over-reliance on markets to solve our problems, and will provide students with the ability to understand how different approach to business can contribute to a healthier, more equitable and ecologically sustainable future.

The second aim of this course is to provide students with the skills to create credible proposals for creating new types of business which embrace different forms of economic ownership, and which address current and future societal challenges. In so doing, students will develop important skills that will allow them to progress towards creating new businesses of their own, and allow them to demonstrate abilities that are in demand by employers in this space (including critical thinking, idea generation, planning, testing assumptions, problem-solving).

The course is organised so that students experience the entire process of creating a business plan from idea generation to finalisation. Each week will provide a mix of core learning materials and the space to apply this to the students' own ideas. This will also allow students to work towards their assessment materials each week, and to learn from their own experiences and the experiences of their fellow students.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the contribution of different models of economic organisation.

2. Generate and apply insights into how current societal challenges may be effectively tackled by rethinking business models.

3. Develop credible proposals for new firms which can take advantage of plural ownership models and address societal challenges.

4. Synthesize complex ideas about the organisation of firms.