This module examines how green and sustainable business models address global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequalities. It introduces the core concepts of developing sustainable and circular business models and explores the role of digital technologies in enabling their transformation and implementation. Students learn how sustainable business practices reshape industries while creating environmental and social value. The course equips participants with business model development tools and sustainability frameworks to design innovative and agile business models.
- Understand how sustainability and circularity concepts and principles can be incorporated in the development
of business models - Develop and pitch a green and sustainable business model based on state-of-the-art tools and frameworks (e.g., Business Model Canvas, Value Proposition Canvas, Sustainability and Circular Economy Frameworks)
- Understand product-market fit and how it can be achieved with facilitating tools (e.g., Value Proposition Design, Personas, Customer Journeys, Minimum Viable Products, Experimenting/Testing)
- Design operating models with the Operating Model Canvas
- Assess the potential of foundational digital technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence) for green and sustainable business models
This course is only available as part of the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Sustainability & ESG when combined with other courses from our Goethe MBA Digital Transformation | Data Science | Sustainability program. For more information, please visit the certificate program page.
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Prof. Dr. Alexander Benlian
Prof. Dr. Alexander Benlian is Director of the Endowed Chair for Information Systems & E-Services at TU Darmstadt. He received his PhD from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and previously worked as an Assistant Professor. His research focuses on digital transformation phenomena, entrepreneurship, service research, behavioral economics, and psychology. He has published in leading journals and has been teaching IT Architectures & Business Models in the Digital Transformation MBA since its inception.
Candidates with an undergraduate degree (i.e., bachelor or equivalent) of 180 credit points (CP) based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) can apply for our Open Programs. The allocation of credit points for work experience will appear on the Academic Transcript of Records and be titled ‘Prior Learning Assessment’.
CAS applicants must submit a recent proof of English language proficiency at the higher B2 level per the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The GBS Office of Admissions will accept test results of the following tests, taken no longer than two years ago upon the date of submission:
- TOEFL iBT®
- TOEFL iBT® Home Edition
- IELTS
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
- English Language Level Test (ELLT) - Oxford International Digital Institute
Applicants may request a waiver of proof of proficiency in English in case one of the following conditions applies. The applicant
- is a native speaker of English;
- has graduated from an international baccalaureate program
- has completed their undergraduate or master-level studies in a program taught entirely in English;
- has worked in an English-speaking country for at least one year.
If the applicant has not taken any of the above tests when submitting the application, the applicant can upload a confirmation of the test registration to the online admissions portal.
Applicants who submit a language certificate older than two years but without an expiry date will be invited for an additional interview with a native speaker of English.
Proof of relevant post-undergraduate work experience of at least one year is to be submitted, e.g., a performance review, reference letter, or written confirmation from your employer.