Current Issues - Strategy in Action: A Business Simulation
This seminar offers an action-based learning experience of strategy making and execution. In a multiple-round web-based simulation, you and your fellow team members will lead a fictitious firm in the electronic sensors industry. As executive decision makers, your task is to ensure that your company survives and strives in a dynamic competitive environment. To do so, you will analyze your firm and the competitive environment, and then formulate, implement, monitor, and adjust your strategy. Your decisions will cover major business functions, such as R&D, Procurement, Production, Marketing, and Finance. As socially responsible managers, you will also consider the community in which your company is embedded. Apply your strategy knowledge, team skills and business insights gained from earlier Strategy & Organization seminars and demonstrate your ability to outcompete other companies. Accompanying seminar sessions serve as recap on strategic management concepts and forum to review and analyze the performance of your firms.
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Hendrik Wilhelm
Language: English
Module number(s): MS-WSt-1806; MS-WOr-1806; MS-WFW-1808; MG-WFW-1805
Inter-Organizational Alliances and Networks
Inter-organizational relations (IORs) are increasingly important in our times, because it is impossible more than ever to integrate all required capabilities or simply buy them on the spot in markets. But what exactly are the reasons for linking up with other organizations, which forms of collaboration are common, and how are networks of organizations to be managed? The module addresses these questions from a management and organization studies perspective, considering four main types of IORs: 1) Strategic Alliances and Networks, 2) Regional Networks and Clusters, 3) Global Production and Supply Networks, and 4) Innovation and Project Networks.
Instructors: Prof. Dr. Guido Möllering, Raphaela Fritz
Language: English
Module number(s): MS-WOr-1804
International Strategy
International Strategy concerns the opportunities and challenges arising from doing business across borders and within a globalized economy. This seminar provides an introduction to theories and concepts of international management—for example, options for organizing and managing international operations—with a focus on real-world examples and case studies. In doing so, it raises awareness for the diversity that characterizes an international competitive environment. It also builds intuition about the nature of existing and newly emerging threats and opportunities that define business success and how to compete effectively in international markets.
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Hendrik Wilhelm
Language: English
Module number(s): MS-WSt-1802; MP-EFE-1803; MG-WFW-1802
Ethical Issues in Organizations
Complementing the study of business ethics and corporate responsibility at large, this module focuses on ethical issues occurring within organizations and emphasizes the students’ own ethical awareness and personal development. We cover ethical foundations in philosophy, ethical decision making, communication, leadership, diversity and organizational implications. Students learn how to identify and deal with the many ethical dilemmas occurring in organizations. They work on a project tracing a real-life ethical issue in an organization and develop their moral standpoint as well as ethical management skills. The seminar usually includes input from practitioners experienced in this topic area.
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Guido Möllering, Nicole Steller
Language: English
Module numbers: MS-WOr-1802; MG-WFW-1804; MP-EFE-1805; EO-C3
Organizational Culture and Change Management
Managers often stress two issues when talking candidly about their organizations: problems related to their organization’s culture and failed organizational change. In this seminar we will uncover what makes these two phenomena so important and troublesome for managers. We will critically evaluate the notion of organizational culture and its implications for management. To do so, we uncover mechanisms of culture emergence and transmission and explore how researchers capture organizational culture. Building on these insights, we connect culture to organizational change. We will discuss different approaches in change management, and critically discuss managers push towards cultural change.
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Hendrik Wilhelm
Language: English
Module number(s): MS-WOr-1801
Strategizing Corporate Social Responsibility
During this seminar, we aim to develop an understanding of three general questions: (1) What is the social responsibility of corporations? (2) Why do corporations assume social responsibility? (3) And how do they become socially responsible entities? To understand what the concept includes, we will start by looking into the history of social responsibility and into the changing role of corporations in a globalized world. We will learn about the reasons for firms to engage in socially responsible activities, as these have been addressed by various approaches: stakeholder theory, institutional theory, and strategic CSR. We will also discuss the role of social movements and NGOs as a central driver for CSR engagement. In the third part of our course, we will explore the ways of how firms become socially responsible by learning about their role as political actors, about collaboration with civil society actors (SMOs/NGOs), self-regulation and their managing of labor rights. We will also gain an understanding of the differences of CSR activities across countries. In our final wrap-up, we will discuss how becoming a responsible firm presupposes a certain understanding of CSR strategy, namely that of the strategy-as-practice perspective. .
Instructors: Prof. Dr. Guido Möllering, Dr. Leona Henry
Language: English
Module numbers: MS-WSt-1805; MG-WFW-1803; MP-EFE-1804
Strategisches und Internationales Management
Das Seminar gibt einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Konzepte und Anwendungen des strategischen Managements mit einer besonderen Berücksichtigung internationaler Managementstrategien. Betrachtet werden generelle Fragen der strategischen Analyse, Ausgestaltung und Umsetzung. Darauf aufbauend wird der Blick auf die Möglichkeiten, Formen und Herausforderungen der Internationalisierung von Unternehmen gelenkt. Strategisches und internationales Management werden zudem als verantwortungsvolle Aufgabenfelder reflektiert, die das Unternehmen mit seiner vielfältigen Umwelt verknüpfen.
Dozent: Prof. Dr. Hendrik Wilhelm
Unterrichtssprache: Deutsch
Modulkennung(en): MG-PGM-1808
Social and Political Activism in and by organizations
Instructors: Prof. Dr. Guido Möllering, Nicole Steller
Language: English
Module numbers: MS-WOr-1806; MG-WFW-1805; MP-EIP-1805
Strategic Human Resources Management
The megatrends of demographics and digitization are having a massive impact on the human resources management (HR management) of many companies. On top the pandemic leads to massive challenges on the people side. Strategic HR management is becoming a key factor. The seminar will focus on the following aspects in particular: Basic Elements of a Human Resources Strategy, Demographic Risk Management, Strategic Workforce Planning, Performance Management, Incentive Programs, Recruiting and Employer Branding, Talent Management, Leadership, Retention Management, Managing Human Capital, HR Analytics, Diversity, Digital HR, Digital Talent Management, Future of Work and New Ways of Working.
Instructor: Hon.-Prof. Dr. Rainer Strack
Language: English
Module number(s): MS-WOr-1806; BM-WWM-1607; BM-WFW-1601; BM-WFW-2208
Theories of Strategic Management
This module traces the theoretical foundations of strategy (such as competitive forces, resources and capabilities) and core strategic issues in organizations (such as innovation, collaboration, internationalization, governance, change). We will also consider the latest developments in strategic management theory regarding strategy as process and practice. Throughout the course, theoretical concepts will be investigated regarding their practical and organizational implications, based on numerous real-life cases discussed in class.
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Guido Möllering
Language: English
Module number(s): MS-PSO-1802
Theories of Organization
Managers rely on theories of organizations to guide their day-to-day decision-making, for example, on how to implement a sustainability program. Because these theories often result from personal experiences, they draw on limited and biased data. To provide you with a systematic foundation on how to address problems in organizations, this seminar introduces you to major classic and contemporary organization theories covering a broad spectrum of organizational phenomena. To achieve this goal, the seminar blends conceptual input, student presentations on case studies showcasing the application of each theory, and cutting-edge research advancing theories of organizations.
Instructors: Prof. Dr. Hendrik Wilhelm
Language: English
Module number(s): MS-PSO-1803
Unternehmensethik und Vertrauen
Unternehmensethik wird in diesem Seminar anhand grundlegender Kategorien wie Verantwortung, Freiheit, Kooperation, Vertrauen, Regeln, Werte, Moral, Interessen im speziellen Kontext von Unternehmen erörtert. Die zentrale These, dass es letztlich um das Erhalten von Vertrauen als Grundbedingung für gelingende Kooperationen geht, wird im Seminar auch aus Sicht der Vertrauensforschung beleuchtet. Zahlreiche Fallbeispiele verdeutlichen Unternehmensethik als Herausforderung, der man sich im eigenen Interesse und für das Gemeinwohl stellen muss, und Vertrauen als lohnende Investition, in die kontinuierlich reinvestiert werden muss. Die Studierenden bringen ihre eigenen aktuellen Fragen und Beispiele aktiv ein.
Dozent: Prof. Dr. Guido Möllering
Unterrichtssprache: Deutsch
Modulkennung(en): M6-2/ FBM