This course is a practice-oriented business project organized by WU’s Energy & Strategy Think Tank (ESTT) in cooperation with leading Austrian energy companies, Verbund and Wien Energie. The course addresses strategic challenges related to the Twin Transition, defined as the simultaneous and mutually reinforcing management of sustainability and digitalization within incumbent organizations.

Students work in consulting-style project teams and analyze how established firms in the energy sector can integrate sustainability and digitalization into their corporate strategy, innovation activities, and product and portfolio decisions.

The course is structured into two consecutive phases:

Phase 1 – Strategic Analysis
Students analyze industry trends, regulatory and technological developments, and firm-specific strategic challenges. Using state-of-the-art strategic and innovation management tools, teams identify problem areas, strategic options, and value creation potentials for the corporate partners.

Phase 2 – Strategy Implementation
Based on the analytical insights, students develop and evaluate strategic options, and design concrete implementation roadmaps including actionable recommendations, which are presented to senior executives of the partner organizations.

Throughout the course, students apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems and receive continuous feedback and coaching from the course instructor team.

Similar to managerial practice, every business project hosted by the Energy & Strategy Think Tank is unique, resulting in unique learning experiences every semester. Reflecting the approach of top management consultancies, teams will be compiled based on individual background, competence, and industry experience. To that end, each student that is successfully registered to (and thereby can take this course) is asked to 1) submit his/her CV and 2) fill out a short survey until Tuesday, 24th February 2026 2pm. Details will be provided in time to registered students.

Compiled teams will be announced at the first class that provides tools and background information as well as lays the ground for successful and joyful teamwork. Each team will have a team leader who will receive an individual certificate that states his/her leadership skills and tasks in the project, thus receives a valuable signal for the job market. As this person focuses on leadership tasks, he/she will be less involved in other tasks. Every registered student can state if he/she wants to assume the role of the team leader.

This course expects students to dedicate to constant high performance and to create excellent deliverables. In return, students participating in this course will receive a hands-on training pivotal for becoming a(n) (innovation) manager or a top management consultant with an entrepreneurial mindset. Students will also acquire in-depth knowledge of the energy industry and thereby of an industry that is pivotal for sustainability transitions. Students from previous business projects were recruited by firms such as BCG, Novartis, IBM, and innovation consultancies.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Strategic Management

• Analyze the strategic implications of sustainability and digitalization for incumbent firms
• Evaluate innovation and strategic potential using state-of-the-art theoretical concepts and analytical tools
• Develop coherent strategic options and implementation roadmaps tailored to client needs
• Build and apply industry-specific knowledge in the context of the energy transition

Consulting & Project Management

• Work professionally with high-profile corporate clients in consulting-style projects
• Apply consulting methods to structure, manage, and execute complex client projects
• Organize and coordinate project work in heterogeneous and virtual teams

Team Management & Communication

• Collaborate in interdisciplinary and international teams
• Communicate complex analyses and recommendations in a clear, structured, and professional manner
• Deliver persuasive, audience-appropriate presentations to senior decision-makers

• Mandatory attendance is required for all students at:
• The kick-off sessions (first two course days)
• The mid-term presentation
• The final presentation
• For the remaining sessions, a minimum number of team members must be present; detailed requirements will be communicated during the kick-off.
• Each student must attend at least 80% of all course sessions.

Failure to comply with the attendance requirements may result in exclusion from the course or a negative assessment.

The course follows a student-centered, practice-oriented learning design that integrates theory and application as well as reflects professional consulting and managerial practice. Teaching and learning methods include:

• Interactive theory inputs and structured best-practice examples
• Guided in-class discussions and reflections
• Project-based intra- and inter-team collaboration
• Team coaching and structured feedback sessions
• One-on-one coaching with instructors
• Collection and analysis of secondary and archival data
• Conducting and analyzing expert interviews
• Professional presentations to senior executives

This design supports the development of analytical, methodological, social, and communication competencies.

Student performance is assessed based on the following components:

• 50% Project Deliverables (Group Assessment)
  Evaluation of analytical rigor, strategic coherence, feasibility of recommendations, and professional quality of deliverables.
• 15% Mid-term Presentation (Group Assessment)
  Assessment of problem structuring, analytical depth, and clarity of presentation.
• 15% Final Presentation (Group Assessment)
  Assessment of strategic logic, managerial relevance, and executive-level communication.
• 20% Professional Growth and In-class Contributions (Individual Assessment)
  Evaluation of preparation, active participation, collaboration, leadership/team behavior, and responsiveness to feedback.

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