This class sets the stage for a real-life business project. Together with a selected partner firm (Austrian drugstore retail market leader), students will identify topics and trends of stategic importance to this firm and present them to its management. Specifically, the project will focus on digital and data-driven process transformation of the partner firm.

In this part of the project, students will analyze both theoretical and practical literature and will give presentations on a range of different topics.

Attendance: In order to successfully pass this course, your absence is limited to 20% of our appointments.

• Coachings
• Group discussions
• Group assignments
• Individual assigments

The course uses a collaborative project- and problem-based learning approach. This implies that students will need to develop solutions to complex questions on an individual and/or group level. To support this process, a mix of instruments will be used: Input lectures will provide basic concepts for the next steps, coaching sessions will provide early feedback and presentations and reports will demonstrate the ability of students to successfully structure problems and provide meaningful answers. Practitioner input will give students guidance and feedback on their progress.

The course grading system is based on:

• Kick-off presentations, incl. peer evaluation: 30% 
• Mid-term presentation and coachings, incl. components of grading carried out by partnering company: 50%
• Project management objectives-reporting: 10%
• Participation: 10%

Grading scheme

• Excellent ≥87,5%
• Good ≥75,0%
• Satisfactory ≥62,5%
• Passing ≥50,0%
• Fail <50,0%

The first session on Mar 2 as well as the two-day kick-off event Retz (lower Austria) from Mar 9, 08:00  to Mar 10, 14:00 are compulsory! More information will follow at the first meeting.