Entrepreneurship – cooperative (M.A.)

This module equips students with the strategic management tools required to run, grow, transform and turn round an international company. Students learn to analyse a company’s environment and resources, develop competitive advantages and decide between organic and external growth. Using real-life case studies and guest lectures from international corporations, they practise structuring complex decisions and presenting solutions to boards of directors. Sustainability, stakeholder value and restructuring are also covered.

Business Psychology explores how people in organisations form judgements, make decisions and can be influenced in their behaviour. Students gain in-depth knowledge of key concepts such as cognitive biases, choice architecture, persuasion and group dynamics, and learn how this research has shaped behavioural economics. The module also covers consumer behaviour, the psychology of pricing and purchasing, and resilience, including how to cope with and learn from failure.

This module introduces the main theories and approaches to leadership, ranging from small teams to large organisations. Students examine leadership styles, team leadership, group dynamics and change processes, with a focus on acting responsibly in difficult situations. Particular emphasis is placed on the challenges of leading and resolving conflicts in multicultural teams and global business environments.

This module prepares students to develop innovative solutions to complex problems, particularly in the context of (digital) transformation. Based on a business design approach that combines human needs, business viability and technical feasibility, students learn to create new products, services and business models. They work with a wide range of creative methods, including business model innovation, design thinking, service and experience design, ideation and LEGO Serious Play.

International Entrepreneurship lies at the intersection of entrepreneurship and international business and focuses on ventures that create value across national borders from the outset. Students learn what makes for a convincing business plan and business model, and what investors expect from founders. The module also covers how new ventures can internationalise and grow, and how to develop a global entrepreneurial mindset.

In the first practical module of the work-study programme, students get to know their partner company in depth following the first semester’s on-campus phase. They prepare an overview of the company and compare its needs – for example, in logistics, international trade or digitalisation – with the content of their studies. Together with the company and their academic supervisor, they draw up a plan setting out the focus of the subsequent practical phases.

In the second semester, students choose one compulsory elective module to give their entrepreneurship studies a personal focus. The options include, for example, E-commerce, Advanced International Controlling, Strategic Marketing and Relationship Marketing, International Supply Chain Management, and Analytics and Digital Consulting. All electives have an international focus and are taught in small groups with a strong practical focus. The modules on offer are announced at the start of each semester.

This module provides an overview of intellectual property (IP) rights and their economic significance for businesses. Students learn how patents, trade marks and design rights work, how they are applied for and enforced at national and international level, and how they can be used strategically. Further topics include the use of patent information, patent evaluation tools, alternatives to formal protection and the fight against product piracy.

This module focuses on modern financial instruments and the financial and value planning of companies. Topics include project valuation, portfolio theory, the CAPM, optimal capital structure and raising equity and debt. Particular attention is paid to start-up finance, including crowdfunding, venture capital, private equity, financing growth and exit strategies, as well as mergers and acquisitions.

‘Managing Family Businesses’ examines the distinctive features of working in and managing family-owned companies, with a focus on smaller enterprises. Students explore the strengths and weaknesses of family businesses, how conflicts arise within and between generations, and how growth and long-term planning operate in this context. Particular emphasis is placed on succession and the transfer of the business to the next generation, including the legal aspects involved.

This module presents current theories and concepts in the management and marketing of innovations, with a particular focus on SMEs and the knowledge-based economy. Students learn how technological innovations are developed, protected and brought to market, and which strategies – such as ‘first mover’ or ‘fast follower’ – are appropriate. The module also examines how start-ups can grow successfully after entering the market by establishing a clear development strategy, building effective teams and implementing sound project management.

In the second practical module, students update their plan for the practical phases based on their experience and choice of elective modules. They analyse their day-to-day work within the company in relation to the theoretical knowledge acquired in the first two semesters. The results are presented and discussed in a practical report and a presentation.

During the work placement semester, students spend at least 20 weeks working in a company in Germany or abroad. They undertake specific business tasks, which may include project work as well as day-to-day operations in one or more departments. Students reflect on how the theoretical knowledge gained during their studies applies in practice and document their experience in a work placement report.

Social entrepreneurship is about setting up and growing ventures – both for-profit and non-profit – that use innovative solutions to bring about social change. Students learn the tools and mindset required to create economic, social and environmental value. The module covers the social economy and its policy framework, key success factors for social enterprises and methods for measuring impact, such as the social return on investment.

Corporate Entrepreneurship examines how established organisations can foster entrepreneurial thinking and behaviour from within. Students learn how companies create an intrapreneurial culture based on innovation, ownership, creativity and openness to change. The module explores how organisations can encourage new ideas, experimentation and accountability in order to remain competitive in a rapidly changing environment.

In the Master’s thesis, students independently investigate a complex management problem – ideally one with practical relevance – using scientific methods. They apply the knowledge and problem-solving techniques acquired during their studies and relate their findings to current research. The thesis is written over a period of five months and concludes with a colloquium at which students present and defend their findings.