Geospatial Data Analysis and Economic Evaluation of Companies for Sustainable Business Development—An Interdisciplinary Teaching Approach

Jarmila Zimmermannova, Andreas P. Redecker, Michal Mensik and Carsten Juergens
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Jarmila Zimmermannova: Department of Sustainable Development, Moravian Business College Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Andreas P. Redecker: Geomatics Group, Institute of Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44870 Bochum, Germany
Michal Mensik: Department of Economy and Management, Moravian Business College Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Carsten Juergens: Geomatics Group, Institute of Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44870 Bochum, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Sustainable business development is connected with environmental impact, natural resources and people. This makes the location a crucial factor for the operation of a business. Therefore, a combination of both geo-spatial data analysis and traditional economic evaluation of companies are advantageous. The consideration of geolocation is beneficial with calculations for process optimizations and cost efficiency as well as ecological and social compliance. Since integrating geospatial methods into economics is a rather new interdisciplinary approach, it seems necessary to establish innovative teaching concepts for the education of experts in this field. Creating and testing such new teaching concepts based on playful learning is the idea behind the ERASMUS+ project SPATIONOMY (“Spatial exploration of economic data—methods of interdisciplinary analytics”). An interdisciplinary team of teachers educates an interdisciplinary assembled group of international students. Hence, the fields of economics/business informatics and geography/geomatics are represented by participants and staff. Based on initial lessons about basic knowledge in the connected subjects, the central elements of the teaching concept are case studies and a simulation game, each with interdisciplinary challenges. The principal aim of the project—to educate students to become specialists in spatial economics—could be achieved. This paper aims to present, evaluate and discuss the methodological approach as well as the results from the application of the simulation game. The results show that the gamification of education is worthy. Simulation game-based learning appears to be more playful and experiential compared to traditional teaching approaches. Further research in this area should focus on the students’ engagement evaluation and attitude towards sustainable behaviour in their own business.

Keywords: geospatial data analysis; sustainable business development; interdisciplinary teaching; playful learning; simulation game; spatial economy; spationomy; game studies; gamification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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