Students work on a specific problem with two of Austria's leading corporations, OMV AG and Wien Energie, in the context of the seminar business project. The project's topic covers fundamental disruptions in the energy industry. The principal question to be addressed is: How to adapt to new forces driving the energy & mobility fields. 

Using the lasted theory on strategy & innovation combined with close interaction with the supervisors and the partner firms which are providing in-depth industry and company insights for students to generate viable solutions.  

1. An understanding of the firms as-is situation (its business model portfolio) is being created by mapping the current business models and their components operated by each firm. Furthermore, actual and potentially similar and complementary interactions are developed

2. Based on the components' potential white spaces in the business model portfolio new areas for business model development are identified   

3. In an intensive innovation workshop students create one or more viable business models beyond the existing business model portfolio of the partner firms

• organize and manage complex projects in the field of strategic management
• apply their theoretical knowledge from different fields to find viable business solutions
• understand the logic behind business model portfolios as corporate strategy 
  
• use design thinking in developing new business models

The course combines various teaching methods:

• In-class discussions 
• Group assignments 
• Presentations in front of senior executives 
  
• Pre-Reading & discussing the result
• 1-1 coaching 

• GroupPerformance 40%:  ExcelBM Component List, BMPortfolio, Interviews& Documentation, FinalReport
  
  
• PartnerFirm 40%: Mid-termPresentation, BMdevelopment workshop, FinalPresentation

• Classdiscussions 20%: Inputgiven to OTHER groups; Activityduring the sessions 

   

wolfgang.sachsenhofer@wu.ac.at

If you have any questions concerning this course then please feel free to contact me.

A course pack with the relevant reading assignments will be provided before the start of the project.