Students work in teams of five on project questions in the area of strategy and organization. Industry partners such as multinational corporations or hidden champions provide the project questions.The industry partners are often in the process of currently working on the topic they suggest. Hence, they are interested in the students’ research results and potential solutions. They provide relevant information regarding the project and give feedback on the students´ work. 

The project starts with a kick-off day. Our industry partners present their question and their company. Based on the available information the students plan their approach and create a project plan. Every team has to work empirically. Typical methods are:

• Interviews with employees or experts
• Survey based on a questionnaire
• Secondary data analysis
• Benchmark analysis
• Structured literature review

First results are presented during the interim presentation. The industry partners’ feedback allows the student teams to further improve or adapt their approach. The end-results are presented during the final presentation. The direct contact to industry partners allows for deep insights into the applied work field of strategy and organization as well as to build a network for future job opportunities.

The course has a pronounced focus on applied knowledge. The students have to build on the theories and concepts provided by the first four courses of the SBWL “Strategy and Organization” and apply them to the specific questions and problems of their industry “clients”.

After completing this course students will have the ability to: 

• Plan, execute, and present projects on strategic or organizational topics to industry partners
• Apply different research methods to gather information
• Analyze collected data and develop solutions to practical questions
• Manage their time, responsibility and manpower in a team of five students

Apart from that, completing this course will contribute to students' ability to:

• Efficiently work and communicate in a team
• Translate their knowledge to practical problems
• Structure and work collaboratively on a longer project
• Improve their oral and written communication and presentation skills

Attendance at the Kick-Off, interim and final presentation are mandatory. A minimum requirement of 70% has to be attended to pass the course.

• Working on real project questions provided by industry partners
• Workshops and coaching by the IOD team
• Peer-feedback
• Feedback by the industry partners during interim and final presentation

The focus of the evaluation is the value added for the students’ industry partner.

• 5% meeting with the project partners at the Kick-Off event and signing the non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
• 15% project plan (presentation slides)
• 40% interim presentation
• 40% final presentation

Students that wish to take the course have to have passed courses 1-3 of the SBWL “Strategy and Organization”.

All students have to participate in the Kick-Off event on October 7th.

The exact dates for the Kick-Off with the project partners, interim and final presentation will vary for each team. The IOD will coordinate with the industry partners and inform students (via the updated syllabus) about the chosen dates throughout the summer holidays 2019.

The project partner Kick-Off events will take place around Mid-October.
Interim presentations are most likely to be held at the beginning of December.
The final presentations will be held in the last two weeks of January.