Digital Transformation Management Master's Degree (M.A.) in Germany
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-01-29 | 2024-06-28 |
| 2024-09-09 | 2024-12-21 |
Program Overview
What is a Master's in Digital Transformation Management? And why should you study it?
As one of the largest transformation processes in the history of mankind, digitalization is changing the demands placed on companies and business processes. In order to successfully shape digital change within companies, managers with extensive process management and IT know-how are needed.
The master's Degree in Digital Transformation Management offers you well-founded specialist knowledge on the opportunities and challenges of digitization as well as the efficient use of new IT technologies in companies. You will develop digital strategies and business models and gain insight into processes of innovation and change management.
With this degree, you acquire the competence profile to drive digital transformation in international companies.
International Business Management Training at the Interface to IT
In the master specialisation “Digital Transformation Management” you will deal with theoretical, strategic and technological aspects of digital change in companies. You will learn the characteristics of digital organisations, develop strategies for digital business models and learn how to implement them in companies. The basics of digital marketing will also give you an insight into the possibilities and limitations of online marketing activities. How do you establish a unified communications policy? And which technologies can be used resource-efficiently?
Program Outline
Study Course Plan
Some information about the study plan for the study programme Masters in Digital Transformation Management:
- 1. Semester
- 2. Semester
- 3. Semester
- 4. Semester
General business teaching units
Business Economics3 ECTS
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Demand analysis & estimating demand
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Supply and market equilibrium
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Production economics
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Cost analysis
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Estimating cost functions and production functions
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Economies of scale
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Prices, output and strategy in different markets
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Game theory models of oligopoly
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Pricing techniques and analysis
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Government regulation
Empirical Research Methods3 ECTS
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Quantitative and qualitative methods
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Development of a research question
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Steps of research process
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Methods of data collection
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Sampling
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Data analysis using statistical software programs (SPSS or R)
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Writing a research report
Strategic Analysis & Management3 ECTS
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Strategy making process and strategic reasoning
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Cultural and institutional context of strategic management
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Network-level strategies
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Corporate development and configuration
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Strategic change and corporate restructuring
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Strategy evaluation and strategic controls
Innovation Management & Digital Transformation3 ECTS
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Dynamics of innovation & their implications for change management
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Individual creativity and invention
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Corporate creativity & intrapreneuring
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Technology management
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Innovation and technology strategies
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Managing innovations
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Diffusion of innovations
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Cultural differences in innovation capability
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Contemporary trends in innovation management
Programme specific teaching units
Business Models & Systems in a Digital Era3 ECTS
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In this course, students acquire skills to develop and evaluate digital business models and learn how selected business systems and applications can improve a company’s performance.
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Students know the function, structure and types of business models and selected systems and can describe and explain how and to what extent business models change.
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They understand the impact of digital technologies and business systems and the relevance of data for high performing business models.
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They can explain the need to adapt existing business models or develop new ones in the face of the growing importance of digitalization in diverse industries.
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Students are familiar with state-of-the-art business model frameworks and apply them to support digital business model development.
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They develop their own digital business models, present their ideas in a pitch format and evaluate their results.
Business Coding3 ECTS
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Introduction to software development
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The Internet (components, client-server-database communication)
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Understand how to modularize a business problem into components (front-end, back-end, databases, APIs)
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Coding in JavaScript, or Python
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Understanding data assignment/updates, data types, loops, selection statements, structured data, functions and methods)
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Documenting, testing, and debugging of scripts
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Data privacy and security (authorization, authentication, and encryption)
Digital Strategizing3 ECTS
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Fundamentals
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Starting points for digital strategies (selection)
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Challenges in introducing digital strategies – four fights
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Identification of success factors for digital strategies (selection)
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Agile strategy management
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Social and ethical aspects of digital strategies
Digital Organization, Automation & Technology3 ECTS
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Basic concepts
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Fundamentals
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Characteristics of the digital organization
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Digital maturity models, digital maturity assessment
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Summary: Capabilities of digitally transformed companies
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Digital transformation of the organization – Case studies: Born-digital companies Digitally transformed companies
Interdisciplinary competencies
International Project Management2 ECTS
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Social competence: Communication, motivation, groups and team structures, leadership, conflict management
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Methodological competence: Structural aspects, time management, cost management, human resource management, creativity and problem solving
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Organisational competence: Quality management, documentation, risk management, project start and closure
Language & Communication Skills2 ECTS
The “Scholarly Writing and Analysis” course is offered for German native speakers. German as a foreign language is offered as an obligatory course for Non-native German speakers.
General business teaching units
Corporate Social Responsibility3 ECTS
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Cornerstones of sustainable management
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CSR as management approach
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Practical approaches of organizational effectiveness
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Tools for CSR implementation
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CSR and financial performance
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Life cycle assessment
Corporate Governance3 ECTS
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Historical developments around the world
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Directors and board structures in different parts of the world
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Family business governance
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Role of institutional investors
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Corporate governance in mergers and acquisitions
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Socially responsible investments
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Corporate governance in different regions
Value Based Management3 ECTS
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Financial measurement of corporate strategies: the principles
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Traditional value-based systems and their link with financial models
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Cash flow return on investments (CFROI)
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Customer life-time value
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Corporate financial & compensation design
Sustainable Supply Chain Management3 ECTS
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Defining a sustainable supply chain
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Discussion of various theoretical concepts and their implications for sustainable supply chain management
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Green marketing
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Green logistics
Programme specific teaching units
Strategic Digital & Social Media Marketing 3 ECTS
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Concepts: Online Marketing/ Digital Marketing
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Digital marketing sub-disciplines and major activity areas
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Performance measurement using Web analytics (e.g. Metrics and Tools)
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Data-driven Advertising
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Programmatic Advertising
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Legal and ethical aspects of digital marketing (e.g., EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR))
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Strategic planning and design of a social media marketing campaign
Experience Lab: Search Engine Marketing3 ECTS
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Introduction: definition
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Search Engine Optimization / SEO
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Keyword research
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On-page SEO
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Web analytics and SEO tools
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Search Engine Advertising/ SEA
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Campaign settings
Business Project6 ECTS
The overall objective of this course is to provide students with possibility of applying their business knowledge on concrete business situation, related to the field of their specialization.
By the end of the module students should be able to:
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Define project goals for the “client”.
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Work under the set timeframe and agreed project scope.
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Cooperate in the international project teams.
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Evaluate markets/ industries/ competitive landscapes.
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Develop possible strategic directions for the “client” business.
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Formulate recommendations.
Elective area
Business Elective3 ECTS
By choosing Business Electives in the second and third semester you can personalize your degree course and extend your management knowledge. The following are examples of the types of courses on offer. Typically you have the choice between two or three different electives:
-
Corporate Strategy and Renewal
-
Digital Network Economy
-
Digital Leadership
-
Portfolio Theory
-
Power Pricing
-
Finance & Growth
-
Advanced Portfolio Management
-
Branding
-
International HRM
-
Start-up Management & Business Modeling
-
Trader in Capital Markets
Interdisciplinary Elective3 ECTS
By choosing Interdisciplinary Electives in the second and third semester you can personalize your degree course and extend your management knowledge. The Interdisciplinary Electives usually include subjects like. Typically you have the choice between two or three different electives:
-
Chat Bot Design
-
International Competitiveness
-
Omni-Channel Commerce
-
International Trade and Emerging Markets
-
Bitcoin and the Market of Cryptocurrencies
-
Business Process Modeling
-
Design Thinking & Adobe Creative Cloud
-
SAP S/4 Hana in Controlling and Finance
-
App Development in JavaScript
-
East Asian Culture and Business
-
Cultures of Consumption
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SPSS
*Instead of the interdisciplinary elective, German as a foreign language is offered as an obligatory course for Non-native German speakers.
Interdisciplinary competencies
Event Management (Ted Talk) Seminar2 ECTS
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Basics of event management
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Objective of the event and different types of events
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The event as a marketing and communication tool
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Planning and preparation
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Event execution
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Tasks and role of the event manager
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Choosing the right venue
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Personnel selection
Programme specific teaching units
Data & Analytics3 ECTS
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Data- and evidence-based decision making
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Differentiation between data, insight and evidence
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Characteristics of data
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Relevance and consequences of data quality
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Use case analysis for data-driven decisions
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Sampling, statistical significance, statistical methods
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Data visualization and report building
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Behavioral foundation of human decision making
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Errors and flaws in human information processing and decision making
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AI and automation
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Current business applications for AI and automation
Applied Business Programming & Analytics3 ECTS
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Business problem analysis, complexity reduction and modularization
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Designing a software solution process
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Understanding the data flow
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Software evaluation and effort estimation
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Software progress reporting and tracking
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Software selection
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Requirements document or wireframe
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Programming and implementation solution
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Versioning, incremental refinement and development of solution
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Testing of solution
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Bug fixing of solution
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Preparation of demoing
Mastering Change Management3 ECTS
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Definition and context
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Organizations and the environmental change
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The formal and informal subsystem of change
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Forms of change
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Frequency and magnitude of change
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Organizational responses to change
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Resistance, commitment and readiness to change
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Implementing change management
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Change Funnel
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Change Communication
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Culture and the organizational change
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Politics and the organizational change
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Power and the organizational change
Agile Mindset & Agile Methods3 ECTS
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Agile Foundations (theory & practice, incl. examples and mini tasks
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Agile Mindset
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Agile Practices and software fostering agile methods
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Agile Methods
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Agile Transformation of Organizations
Venture Lab4 ECTS
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Discovering and evaluating entrepreneurial opportunities
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Developing business ideas from opportunities (e.g. based on using Design Thinking, Personas and User Stories).
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Feasibility analysis of business ideas
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Transferring the idea into a Business Model
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Business Model and its building blocks (value proposition, customers segments, channels, customer relationships, revenue model, key partners, key activities, key resources, cost structure)
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Business Plan: Introduction, Sample Case and General Outline
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Developing the details of the business plan
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Finding sources of financing: Business angels; Private equity; Start up financing; Venture capital investors
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Preparing a pitch deck for successfully presenting the new venture business plan
Integrative Case Studies3 ECTS
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Focused review of the curriculum content
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Pre-assessment quiz/ content area assessment as benchmark for students’ status quo
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Guide and Strategic Plan to Case Study Analysis
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Writing a proper Case Study Analysis report
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Developing proper answers to Case questions, applying the relevant theoretical knowledge and frameworks
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In-depth Case Study Analysis with focus all subject areas of the curriculum
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In-depth Case Study Analysis with special focus on Strategic Management
Business Simulation Game3 ECTS
In a business simulation game participants have to manage their own virtual company which operates in the same market as other participant-operated competitors. This involves making typical management decisions in realistic environments. Beside the deepening and active examination of subject-specific knowledge the simulation games also include the team environment, where interaction, communication and prioritization are of paramount importance. Participants learn how to manage risk and uncertainty while time is limited and information constrained. Group-reflections help to take over different perspectives and to discuss pros and cons of content- as well as behavior-related actions.
Master Thesis Tutorial2 ECTS
During the Master Thesis Tutorial you will learn the fundamentals for your Master thesis: Defining the topic as well as structuring the thesis and you will learn the theoretical knowledge for scientific working.
Elective area
Business Elective3 ECTS
By choosing Business Electives in the second and third semester you can personalize your degree course and extend your management knowledge. The following are examples of the types of courses on offer. Typically you have the choice between two or three different electives:
-
Corporate Strategy and Renewal
-
Digital Network Economy
-
Digital Leadership
-
Portfolio Theory
-
Power Pricing
-
Finance & Growth
-
Advanced Portfolio Management
-
Branding
-
International HRM
-
Start-up Management & Business Modeling
-
Trader in Capital Markets
Interdisciplinary Elective3 ECTS
By choosing Interdisciplinary Electives in the second and third semester you can personalize your degree course and extend your management knowledge. The Interdisciplinary Electives usually include subjects like. Typically you have the choice between two or three different electives:
-
Chat Bot Design
-
International Competitiveness
-
Omni-Channel Commerce
-
International Trade and Emerging Markets
-
Bitcoin and the Market of Cryptocurrencies
-
Business Process Modeling
-
Design Thinking & Adobe Creative Cloud
-
SAP S/4 Hana in Controlling and Finance
-
App Development in JavaScript
-
East Asian Culture and Business
-
Cultures of Consumption
-
SPSS
*Instead of the interdisciplinary elective, German as a foreign language is offered as an obligatory course for Non-native German speakers.
Interdisciplinary competencies
Assessment Center Bootcamp2 ECTS
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Consulting Industry: Sector Overview Company Profiles – Job Opportunities and Consulting Careers
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Job profile: Characteristics of capabilities and skills needed as a consultant
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Job application and interview training
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Consulting (mini) case study training
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Framework for processing case studies
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Brain Teaser Training
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Case Simulation (Individual and Group Cases)
Programme specific teaching units
Master Thesis18 ECTS
During your 4th semester you are working on your Master thesis. You have 19 weeks to complete your thesis and the subject is freely selectable. A supervisor from CBS will support you and you can write the thesis in collaboration with a company as well. Or you can write your thesis in connection with a stay abroad.
Internship or Study Abroad10 ECTS
You can choose between an internship (lasting at least eight weeks) or a semester abroad at one of our partner universities.
High practical relevance within the digital transformation management master's programme
Specific basics on the topic of innovation management are already taught in the first semester. You will also learn how business models are changing in the digital age and how to develop a digital business strategy.
The second semester gives you an insight into the success factors with subjects such as Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Supply Chain Management.
You will learn how to convince investors, partners and managing directors in the Innovation Lab - Business Plan Writing and Pitching in the third semester and optimise your practical application in the Capstone Simulation Game. In this digital business game, you take business decisions with your team and put your business skills into practice.
From the third to the sixth semester, you will acquire specialised knowledge about financial contexts and processes. The curriculum focuses on topics such as the models of capital market theory, the presentation of financial instruments and the connection between risk and return on financial investments.
The fourth semester: room for initiative
In the fourth semester, you work on your Master's thesis. You can choose whether you write your Master's thesis in cooperation with a company during an internship or during a semester abroad at one of our partner universities.
High practical relevance within the Digital Transformation Master's programme
Theory meets practice: To gain work experience as a digital transformation manager at an early stage, there is the option of a practical semester during the Master's thesis. Whether in the marketing department of a start-up or in the human resources management of a large corporation - with this specialisation, you can gain practical experience in various fields of activity.
In order to prepare you for your career entry in the best possible way during your studies, the CBS focuses on you, the student. In practical projects and experimental learning formats, such as simulation games, you learn to develop your own take on management decisions. You learn what is important in business and convince future employers with your experience.
Through various networking and recruiting events, you will get to know well-known companies during your studies. With this support, you can focus entirely on your personal career goal. Your Master's degree in Digital Transformation Management will help you to effortlessly enter and advance in the business world.
Specialised but flexible
As a facilitator for digital change processes, many paths are open to you after graduation, be it employed or self-employed. With the help of the career events at the CBS and during internships, you can get to know various professional fields at an early stage and already lay the foundation for your career during your studies. The Master's programme also enables you to embark on an academic career.