Study Guide

Objective

Having completed the course, the student is able to
- develop profitable, customer oriented and innovative solutions
- apply product and service differentiation as a competitive edge
- apply product development process models in practice.

Content

- Product and product development as competitive edge
- Customer needs and competitive situation as a basis for product development
- Using product development process models

Materials

Trias de Bes, F. & Kotler, P. 2015. Winnig at Innovation: the A-to-F model, pp. 13 - 19 (see the scanned document in Itslearning)
Kotler, P., Bowen, J.T.& Baloglu, S. 2022. Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism. Eighth edition, pp. 32 - 38, 63 - 75, 188 - 199, 239 - 249, 259 - 267, 274 - 281 (see learning circle instructions), available at:
https://turkuamk.finna.fi/Record/turkuamk_electronic.995658891805970 (information about how to use an ebook: https://libguides.turkuamk.fi/e-kirjaopas/ulkomaisete-kirjapalvelut), instruction for ebooks käyttöohjeista: https://libguides.turkuamk.fi/e-kirjaopas/ulkomaisete-kirjapalvelut
Additionally some videos and blog texts about service design (see 3rd learning circle).


Key notes and other learning material in Itslearning
Additionally independent information seach needed to reach the objectives of the project (independent information search by the project teams)

Teaching methods

Innopeda (see below) as well as following learning approaches:
Flipped learning & active learning (see e.g. https://flippedlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/FLIP_handout_FNL_Web.pdf).
Project-based learning (see e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCZvGesRz8).

Exam schedules

Exam 31 March at 12.15, two retake possibilities to be announced later.

International connections

Studying at TUAS is based on #Innopeda, a learning method developed at TUAS. It is a learning approach based on experimentation, sharing knowledge and expertise and combining different perspectives. Innovation pedagogy is based on workplace orientation and cooperation, internationality, entrepreneurship and systemic thinking.

In the future, you will need not only professional skills, but also innovation competences. During the course you will be expected to actively practice creativity and initiative, but also critical thinking and the ability to work in teams and networks. See more: https://innopeda.turkuamk.fi/language/en/first-page/.

Student workload

Four learning circles and presentations
Project group work:
- project plan & summary of theoretical or practical knowledge needed (cf. learning circle instructions, especially following: "list the aspects which you think you have to take into account when working later with the project", be prepared to search for some additional theoretical or practical knowledge needed in the project)
- project report & pitch for the project client
Exam, self and peer evaluation


Turku UAS uses ECTS credits measuring workload in courses. One ECTS credit is equal to 27 hours of student work. 5 credits = 135hrs of student work ( totally 15 weeks => 9 hrs per week on average)
Contact hours: 44hrs on Thursdays
Independent/remote work: learning circle, project team work, online tutoring, preparing for the exam etc. 91hrs

Content scheduling

Reading tasks (remote or in class) & discussions, key notes
Four learning circles (given learning material & preparing presentation in small groups; working remote and in class)
Project group work (project plan, project report & pitch/presentation to the project client; working remote and in class)
Exam, feedback discussion, self & peer review

Timetable:
Thursday afternoons there will be learning circle presentations and discussions as well as discussions on reading tasks, teacher key notes, project work, project tutoring, project presentations etc. Additionally there are online teacher tutoring on some Monday afternoons, when needed. The course is a mix of "classroom learning" and independent individual and team learning.
20 Jan 12 - 16, course information, getting to know each other, experiences on good products/services or on product/service development, reading task for next week
27 Jan 12 - 16, business model innovation (based on reading task), customer trends, learning circle information and instructions for the 1st learning circle process
3 Feb 12 - 16, 1st learning circle: presentations & discussions (customer orientation, buying behavior), tourism and leisure trends, instructions for the 2nd learning circle
10 Feb 12 - 16, 2nd learning circle: presentations and discussions (products and services), what is project based learning, project ideas, instructions for the 3rd learning circle
week 8 independent learning
17 Feb 12 - 16, 3rd learning circle: presentations and discussions (new product development), product development models, forming project groups & drafting project plans, instructions for home work: service design videos
3 Mar 12 - 16, service design approach and service design process model (discussion based on videos), finalizing project plans, instructions for the 4th learning circle
10 Mar 12 - 16, 4th learning circle: presentations and discussions (differentiation, segmentation, postioning, quality etc.), service design tools, project work
weeks 11 and 12: independent project work (e.g. idea generation, information search like reading relevant literature, benchmarking, meeting with the project client; creating customer understanding)
31 Mar 12 - 16, exam and after that project work
7 Apr12 - 16, short (10 min. per group) interim project presentations, discussion on project outputs for the project client, project work & tutoring
14 Apr 12 - 16, project work, tutoring
21 Apr 12 - 16, project presentations, deadline for written project reports for the project clients

On Mondays teacher tutoring available online (TEAMS), when needed (pls researve an appointment per email)
7 Feb 12 - 14 (e.g. questions regarding learning circle)
14 Feb 12 - 14 (e.g. questions regarding project work)
28 Feb 12 - 14 (e.g. questions regarding project plan)
7 Mar 12 - 14 (e.g. project tutoring)
28 Mar 12 - 14 (e.g. project tutoring)
11 Apr 12 - 14 (e.g. questions regarding project outputs)
Late April/early May remote work if needed: finalizing the project outputs for the client after teacher comments, self and peer review, feedback discussion, deadline to be announced later.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Turku UAS grades courses on a scale from 0–5; 5 = excellent, 4 good, 3 = good, 2 = satisfactory, 1 = satisfactory, F = fail.

Objects for assessment:
Four learning circles and presentations, pass/fail
Project group work:
-project plan & summary of theoretical knowledge 25 %, scale 1 - 5
-project report & pitch 50 %, scale 1 - 5
Exam 25 %, scale 1 - 5

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

The student has not completed all the outcomes of the course with approved grade.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

1:
Project: The student/project group acts independently, but not completely according to the curriculum targets. The learning materials and teacher feedback are poorly utilized. The project plan is superficial, the knowledge basis one-sided and its application is insufficient with regard to the project commission. Own ideation, research or development activities are inadequate.The presentation of the project outcome and own conclusions are weak and some of the project targets are not reached.
The output does not contain much critical thinking and the usefullness of the output is low for the project client.
Exam: about 50 % of maximum points.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

3:
Project: The student/project group takes initiative, is to some extent innovative, dialogic, critical and utilizes the learning materials and chosen development process model as well as teacher feedback. The project plan, utilization of the theoretical knowledge basis and own ideation and research/development activities are to some extent versatile and suited for the project targets.The conclusions are mainly presented in a logical and clear manner, some own reflections are included. The final report is understandable and contains exploitable suggestions for the project client.
Exam: about 70 % of maximum points.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5:
Project: The student/group utilizes the entire group’s resources and competence in a creditable manner to achieve or even exceed the project targets. Based on relevant theoretical knowledge on product development process model(s) and own research/development activities the student/group can analyse different solution alternatives critically and can structure the output in a harmonious entity, taking the different viewpoints into account. The student/group has received feedback in a constructive manner and utilized the feedback during the project work. The group’s working is dialogic and it develops all participants’ competence and know-how. The output is clearly beneficial for the project commissioner.
Exam: 90 - 100 % of maximum points.