This course will delve deeper into questions of digitalisation within large and small organisations from the perspectives of information systems, knowledge management, and digital ecosystems. In concrete projects and driven by specific research questions within organisations, we will touch on one or several of the following umbrella topics (which might be subject to extensions):

• Impact analysis of digital transformation projects in the public sector: Impact measurement of public sector projects is increasingly gaining importance, not least driven by heightened accountability expectations by stakeholders such as taxpayers and courts of audits. Organisations thus have started applying more or less known concepts of outcome and impact analysis and measurement. This lab focuses on the measurement and evaluation of the impact generated by a project run by a public sector innovation agency. Further details will be refined in the first sessions of the lab.
  
  Contact: tobias.polzer@wu.ac.at
   
• WKÖ Industry Lab: Digital Transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises: Digitalization provides unprecedented opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Although structurally flexible, many SMEs lack the  organizational resources (e.g., capital, knowledge) necessary to leverage digital technology compared to large enterprises. Therefore, SMEs must not only build digital dynamic capabilities and establish corresponding business models and strategies, but also nurture a supportive corporate philosophy and organizational culture, which are prerequisites for a profound digital transformation of the company.
  
  Semester topic (WS24/25): 
  Practical insights into the circular economy - online training for apprentices
  Your task will be to develop, pilot and evaluate the content and technology of a curriculum and training programme consisting of digital microlearning content for apprentices in the metal technology industry. Following the principles of design science, this project will involve different stakeholders and collect empirical data.
  
  Contact: florian.kragulj@wu.ac.at
   
• [Lab 3]
   

Upon completion of the course, students are able to

- Critically evaluate a research question in the broad topic of Digital Economy from the view of (micro)economics and information systems
- Plan a research project to answer such a research question
- Perform a structured literature search on a given topic
- Design an experiment or empirical study for a specific research question
- Identify appropriate analysis methods
- Conduct appropriate statistical analyses for said data
- Interpret the results of said analyses and evaluate them critically
- Write a research paper according to current academic standards from the relevant disciplines describing the research project and its outcomes

Attendance is mandatory.

Students conduct an interdisciplinary research project spanning all stages: from defining a research question, doing a literature research, to stating hypotheses, implementing an experimental or empirical study, analysing the experimental or empirical data and interpreting and critically reflecting the findings. Besides acquiring methodological knowledge, students gain practical experience in planning and carrying out a research project and also take the perspective of a project manager. Students work in groups and are coached regularly by the two lecturers.

1. Research project plan incl. tasks, responsibilities and milestones (15%)
2. Intermediate result report incl. update of research project plan, draft of research paper (15%)
3. Peer review (10 %)
4. Final report (40%) incl. research paper, critical reflection of project plan and project work („lessons learned“), project result poster
5. Final presentation (20%)

Grading scale:

90% to 100% Excellent (1)

80% to <90% Good (2)

70% to <80% Satisfactory (3)

60% to <70% Sufficient (4)

<60% Fail (5)

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