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BUS505 - Design Thinking for Sustainable Innovation

2025

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Business

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

Prerequisites

Incompatible

Coerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

Unit Description

Design thinking as a human-centred and solution-focussed approach is a proven tool used by successful organisations to drive innovation processes. For sustainable innovation, it delivers solutions to complex sustainability issues through the development of products and services that contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes. This unit introduces students to design thinking through highly interactive and experiential learning. By focussing on a current sustainability issue, students will participate in a 'design challenge' which includes defining the problem; identifying end-user needs; ideating a solution; creating and testing a prototype; and assessing and revising the innovation.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Critically analyse and discuss sustainability challenges and how they affect consumers, organisations, and societies.
2.	Apply design thinking processes to solve complex sustainability problems through creatively designed product or service innovation.
3.	Critically evaluate, revise, and justify a developed design solution.
4.	Collaborate as a team member to achieve the goals of a given substantial real-world business project.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Written Assessment (500-700 Words)	10%	1,2,3
2.	Presentation (10 mins)	20%	3,4
3.	Workbook (2,500-3,000 Words)	50%	1,2,3,4
4.	Written Assessment (1,000-1,300 Words)	20%	1,2,3

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2025	Semester 2	Internal	CDU Sydney	OLR	View
2025	Semester 2	Internal	Danala - Education and Community Precinct	OLR	View
2025	Semester 2	External	External Studies	OLR	View

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OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
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Student Services and Amenities Fees
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2025 Incidental Fees (PDF)