Digital technologies create an impetus for organizations to implement responses to gain or maintain their competitive advantage (Vial, 2019). They change the way firms are organized, what products they offer, how these products are created and delivered, and how firms relate to their environment of customers, suppliers, universities, other firms.
The goal of this seminar is to examine the relationship between digitalization and multinational enterprises (MNEs) and in more detail. Starting from some theoretical perspectives on the topic, the seminar will examine how enterprises meet this challenge. We will cover technologies such as the Internet of Things (or Industrie 4.0 in the German context), 3D printing, advanced robotics, platforms, blockchains, as well as new IT-enabled management systems such as real-time enterprise resource planning, data analytics, or applications of artificial intelligence.
The seminar will kick-off with an introduction into the topic and the recent literature. Students will work on case studies on various aspects of the topic and present the results in the seminar.

Topics include:
•    An overview of digital technologies
•    Economic aspects of digital technologies
•    Sources, determinants, and effects of innovation
•    Firm strategy, business models and digitalization
•    Digitalization and global value chains

The course will help students to understand better what challenges enterprises are facing in developing and applying digital technologies, as well as how new technologies shape the activities of MNEs and global value chains. They will gain this knowledge by applying recent theoretical concepts to real-life cases.

Students may miss one session, but it should not be the first session and the session when they present.

The course format combines introductory lectures with student presentations and discussions. Students will work on various case studies in teams.

20% In-class Participation
40% Presentation
40% Written case study

bernhard.dachs@ait.ac.at