Master Winter Semester

LEARNING OUTCOMES/SKILLS

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• explain characteristics and determinants of entrepreneurship,
• sketch stylized facts of growth patterns of newly founded firms,
• understand the entrepreneurial process within an established enterprise,
• apply microeconomic models of market power to evaluate the effects of a range of competitive behaviors by firms,
• use microeconomic models of market power to discuss recent topics of competition policy, review and evaluate public policies towards entrepreneurship.

CONTENTS

• Characteristics and Determinants of Entrepreneurship
• Taking Stock: New Business Formation in Germany
• Taking Stock: Investments in Innovation in Germany
• Theory Section: Strategic Behavior of Firms with Market Power
• Presentations: Competitive Strategies of (not so) Hidden Champions
• Evaluation of Public Policies towards Entrepreneurship

Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Written exam and presentation
Condition for the award of credit points
Passing the exam

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
Upon successful completion of the module, students are expected to

• be able to identify potential legal issues of international business transactions and international business structures,
• have an understanding of the main legal concepts to address the respective issue, and
• be able to outline proposals for solving a particular legal problem on a national and cross-border level.

CONTENT
Doing International Business is subject to numerous legal requirements and restrictions. This holds true for the contractual and the regulatory level, both of them becoming increasingly complex and intertwined. As an example, international supply chains
require sustainable and responsible corporate behavior throughout the global value chain as well as unambiguous and enforceable contract drafting.

This class will identify and deal with selected issues in the context of international business. Examples may be

• anti-bribery, anti-fraud, antitrust and other compliance rules,
• standards and concepts for the company-wide enforcement of such compliance rules,
• regulatory requirements of digitalization such as data protection, e-privacy, legal responsibility for AI applications etc.
• ESG responsibilities
• Choice of jurisdiction and choice of law in cross-border contracts
• General principles of contract drafting, including limitations resulting from Unfair Trade Terms Regulation

In the absence of binding international treaties or standards, the respective issue at hand will be discussed against the background of the rules applicable in selected jurisdictions of some importance in international trade.

Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Written exam or oral exam or presentation or paper
Requirement for the award of credit points
Passing the exam

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES

• Knowledge of international institutions with focus on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and their global interdependencies
• Competence in the application of international accounting regulations
• Competence to decide between different accounting options with regard to a special accounting goal

CONTENTS

• Global structure of institutions concerning accounting/audit and IFRS and their collaboration
• Aim and historical development of the International Accounting Standards Board and process to develop individual IFRS Standards
• Basic principles of accounting due to IFRS: e.g., framework of IFRS (e.g., structure of an IFRS balance sheet; definition and recognition criteria of assets/liabilities; realisation principle; fair value)
• Elements of financial statements due to IFRS, e.g., statement of financial position, statement of comprehensive income (profit/loss; other comprehensive income), statement of cash flows, segment reporting
• Accounting of assets, e.g.:
  • Property, plant, equipment; assets held for sale; investment property; government grants
  • Intangible assets, e.g., research and development, goodwill
  • Financial assets; subsidiaries, partnerships
  • Inventory
• Accounting of liabilities, e.g.:
  • Provisions; liabilities; contingent liabilities
• Other accounting topics, e.g.:
  • Impairment of assets; revenue realisation;
  • Foreign exchange rates; deferred taxes

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
Upon successful completion of the module, students have the knowledge and skills to develop a questionnaire according to a research objective and analyze the question hypotheses with selected statistical methods (see under content on learning outcomes), evaluate and prepare the results using R and Rmarkdown.

CONTENT
As part of the module, students will become familiar with the following content, contexts, and topics.

• Introduction to statistical software R
• Writing scientific texts with Rmarkdown
• Hypothesis-based questionnaire design
• Repetition of statistical principles
• Analysis of categorical data (contingency table analysis)
• Statistical tests
• Regression methods (- with dummy values, multiple -, logistic -)
• Data segmentation (cluster analysis, Anova)

Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Written exam, oral exam, term paper
Requirement for the award of credit points
Passing the exam 

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
On successful completion of the module, students have the following knowledge and skills:

• They are able to explain the meaning of and interdependencies between learning and innovation in companies and their effects on the various fieldsof action of company management, and in particular human resource management.
• They are able to analyse the status quo of learning and innovation in companies and derive necessary strategic and operational measures for their design.
• They are able to conceptualise and design individual process steps inhuman resources development in companies of various sizes andsectors.
• They are able to recognise barriers and resistance in the context of organisational learning and innovation work, and can deal with them appropriately.
• They are able to critically analyse, compare and apply various techniques and methods of organisational learning and innovation management.
• They are able to obtain and understand materials and information on topics from current specialist literature. They are able to classify researched information in the context of the course and present it to fellow students.

CONTENTS

• Principles of individual, group and organisational learning
• Design of learning in the context of human resources development – current trends, areas, and common techniques for various fields of competence
• Process steps for human resources development: educational needs analysis, target setting, planning, design and implementation of educational measures, education controlling, transfer security. Theoretical approaches and best
• practices
• Theories of organisational learning and their practical application in large companies and SMEs, and in manufacturing and service companies
• Innovation, innovation types and innovation strategies
• Design of innovation processes: actors, phases, success factors
• Open innovation and open learning in theory and practice

Participation requirements
Knowledge of human resource management from the bachelor’s degree and from “Strategic Human Resource
Management” is recommended.
Form of assessment
Written or oral exam or project work or combination of presentation and term paper or combination of written
exam and presentation or combination of written exam and term paper 
Condition for the award of credits
Module examination pass

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
The goal of this module is to provide a systematic presentation of the processes taking place while consumers are making purchase decisions, including perceptual processes, identification processes, motivational processes, and attitudinal processes. The course aims to link consumer behaviour theory with the real-life problems faced by practitioners.
Students are able to understand and analyse the nature of consumers and their environment from a micro to macro
perspective, as well as apply their knowledge to strategic and operative marketing.
CONTENTS
This course provides an introduction to the behaviour of consumers in Europe and around the world. It focuses on the
decision-making process of consumers including intra- and interpersonal factors. The main topics are consumer
culture, consumer decision-making, perception, self-concept, motivation, values and lifestyle, learning and
attitudes, social groups. The following topics will be included:

• Defining consumer behaviour
• Perception
• Motivation, values & lifestyle
• The self & personality
• Learning & memory
• Attitudes
• Decision-making
• Social group influence
• Intercultural consumer behaviour

Participation requirements
Basic knowledge in the field of marketing
Form of assessment
Presentation or written examination or project work
Condition for the award of credit points
Module examination pass

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
This course will provide students with an understanding of the relevance and impact of the digital transformation.
Students will be able to develop strategies for organisations to succeed in a constantly changing digital landscape.
This includes defining, explaining and implementing key concepts and techniques. They can analyse challenges,
opportunities and decision-making problems of managing digital business in an organisation. They are able to interlink the learned concepts and strategies to overall marketing theory and practice. Moreover, students are able to evaluate possible risks of different strategies and techniques. They are able to organise themselves and work in teams to solve problems,
develop outcomes together and present these to an audience.
CONTENTS
The course introduces students to current challenges and opportunities of the digital transformation on organisations
and consumers. It provides theories, concepts and techniques for the application of digital technology and media to enhance the competitiveness of an organisation and to operate successfully in a constantly changing digital environment.
The following topics will be covered:

• Digital business strategy
• Key concepts and techniques
• Digital marketing
• E-customer relationship management
• E-commerce
• Legal and ethical aspects

Participation requirements
Basic knowledge in the field of marketing
Form of assessment
Presentation or written examination or project work
Condition for the award of credit points
Module examination pass

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
After successfully completing this module, students are able to:

• assess the financial policies of companies and to develop them while taking into account economic and ethical objectives
• explain financial processes in an economic context, construct them with the help of new technologies and services, and develop them further in an interdisciplinary manner
• explain the purpose and functioning of major financial markets
• determine, quantify and examine financial risks
• identify appropriate financial instruments as part of risk-hedging strategies
• calculate and assess valuations for financial instruments based on financial theory
• design financial control options for a company using suitable methods
• collect, analyse and interpret data for the valuation of securities + investments

CONTENTS

• Basics of financial theory
• Principles of corporate finance
• Efficient financial processes
  • Limitation of risks
  • Ethical, ecological and social aspects and corporate governance
• Financial network organisation
  • Organising corporate financial management
  • Optimising + digitalising financial processes
  • Financial services, FinTech processes and blockchains
  • Financial network integration
• Market aspects
  • International markets and investments
  • Behavioural finance
• Financial risk management
  • Risk analysis, hedging and insurance
  • Derivatives (forwards + futures, swaps, options and others)
  • Solutions for credit risks
  • Risk strategy
• Financial controlling
  • Concepts, valuation and tools
  • Digital financial data analysis

Participation requirements
In-depth knowledge of finance and accounting, as acquired in a business-oriented bachelor’s degree.
Form of assessment
Written examination or oral examination
Condition for the award of credit points
Module examination pass
Other information
Compulsory specialisation module in Controlling Finance Accounting and International Business Management. Can be selected as a supplementary module in the Marketing and Sales, Production and Logistics Management, Human Resource Management and Organisation, as well as Taxation and Audit study programmes.

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
On successful completion of the module, students have the following
skills:

• Students are able to describe and define the basic terms of supply chain management.
• They know the challenges and risks of supply chain management and can identify and apply appropriate solutions.
• They are able to evaluate supply chains, their surroundings, performance and sustainability, and develop suggestions for improvement.

CONTENTS

• Significance of supply chain management
• Procurement
• Production
• Distribution
• Inventory management
• Network planning
• Integration
• Sustainability
• Assessment of supply chain performance

Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Written or oral examination or term paper or project work or presentation or combination of several of the above
Condition for the award of credit points
Module examination pass
Other information
This module pays particular attention to current issues in the field. Depending on the task, different forms of teaching and examination are to be provided. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
On successful completion of the module, students will have the following skills:

• Students are able to independently analyse and assess complex problems in the field of International Business Management.
• To do this, they are able to identify suitable methods and tools, apply them and, if necessary, develop them further.
• They are able to obtain, understand and evaluate materials and information on complex international problems from the current specialist literature.
• Furthermore, students are able to design appropriate solutions for international problems, compare them and make decisions based on International Business Management criteria.
• In addition, students are able to prepare their independently developed solution concepts to teach others, provide conclusive reasons, and present them.

CONTENTS
Changing tasks in the field of International Business Management, for example:

• International Business Environment
• Financial Management in International Business
• International Marketing and Research and Development
• Global Manufacturing and Logistics Management
• Global Human Resource Management
• Managing Multinational Enterprises

Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Written or oral examination or term paper or project work or presentation or a combination of several of the above
Condition for the award of credit points
Module examination pass
Other information
Within the scope of this module, current issues in the field of International Business Management are to be dealt with in a special way. Depending on the task, different types of teaching and types of examination are therefore to be provided.

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
On successful completion of the module, students have the following knowledge and skills:

• They are familiar with current leadership theories and approaches in the field of leadership research.
• You have an understanding of how to develop leadership skills in companies/organizations.
• You can transfer these topics to business-relevant contexts and questions and bring them into business contexts accordingly.
• You can develop practical solutions for businesses on these topics.
• They can develop concrete solutions for problems on the basis of sound (scientific) findings and are able to weigh and evaluate different solutions with regard to their advantages and disadvantages

CONTENTS
The module addresses current approaches to leadership research and current leadership theories and forms as well as evidence-based opportunities for leadership development. It is based on the contents of the bachelor’s program in human resources and organizational psychology as well as human resources.
Contents include:

• Current leadership theories and approaches
• (Motivational) Psychological foundations of leadership
• Managers’ behaviors, characteristics, personality traits and competencies, and how they measure them, and how
• they affect employees
• Forms of leadership against the background of current megatrends (e.g. sustainable leadership, self leadership, agile leadership, healthy leadership, Leadership in interdisciplinary or intercultural teams, gender differences in leadership behavior)
• Research on the interplay of leadership and followership as well as on leadership emergence and leadership effectiveness
• Develop leadership skills and behaviors

Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Essay or project work or lecture or oral examination or
combination of two of these examination forms

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
The overall goal is to provide knowledge and skills in identifying business opportunities and to develop and implement your own business ideas independently. Upon successful completion of the module, students will have the following knowledge and skills:

• They can develop their own business idea, think through it and assess their probability of success.
• They understand the (spin-off) start-up process theoretically, can implement it in practice and thus initiate and carry out start-up and spin-off processes.
• Understand and apply relevant content and methods of a business concept.
• You can apply methods that promote innovation through creativity and openness.
• You can apply specific entrepreneurship methods and tools such as Business Model Canvas and Lean Startup.

The theoretical and practical experience of a company start-up or spin-off from an existing company promotes basic
entrepreneurial understanding, creativity, self-initiative, stamina as well as independence and thus the basic competencies of entrepreneurial thinking and acting. Collaboration in small groups also promotes the ability of the participants to work in a team.

CONTENTS
The participants go through the typical (spin-off) start-up process in an action-oriented and application-oriented
manner based on a self-developed fictional or real idea. This includes the following core steps:

• Identification of a specific business idea for a start-up or spin-off
• Formulation of the business model
• Validate the business model
• Development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), if necessary Prototyping including relevant methods (e.g. rapid prototyping) and infrastructure (laboratories etc.)
• Pilot the MVP using the lean start-up method
• Written preparation of the business concept
• Create a pitch presentation and then present

The respective knowledge is taught theoretically and in an application-oriented manner. Business ideas and
concepts are developed and presented in small groups (2-4 people) during the semester. The audit consists of a
business concept and a presentation in which the founding idea and the final business concept are to be presented (pitch).
Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Combination of project work and presentation

LEARNING OUTCOMES/COMPETENCES
Upon successful completion of the module, students will have the following knowledge and skills:

• Students are able to classify, assess and ethically appreciate current issues in the scientific and practical context they have learned so far.
• Students are able to acquire knowledge with particular current relevance on a case-by-case basis and to bring these into context across all areas.
• The students are able to research scientific topics, find appropriate solutions for new problems, and to justify and adequately document these solutions.

CONTENTS
Within the scope of the module, the students work on issues with particular current relevance from a marketing theoretical and marketing practical perspective. These can come from different marketing-related topics, such as for example:
Effects of innovation and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence

Changing consumer behavior, such as new expectations for personalized customer experiences
Holistic stakeholder management, e.g. in relation to sustainability
Participation requirements
None
Form of assessment
Presentation or oral exam or combination of project work and presentation