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Global Business Administration (MBA)
Specialise in Design Management
The Design Management specialisation in the Global Business Administration (MBA) programme combines strategic management with creative and scientific approaches to design. You will gain a deep understanding of how design processes can be specifically controlled, integrated into corporate strategies and used as a competitive advantage. The focus is on the ability to understand design not only as an aesthetic element, but as a holistic instrument for innovation, customer orientation and sustainable value creation.
You will deal with central topics such as design strategy, decision-making processes in complex environments, and the theoretical and scientific foundations of design. You will learn to combine creative processes with management methods, systematically analyse design decisions and embed them in corporate contexts. Through practical case studies, sound theory formation and scientific work, you will develop the competence to use design as both a cultural and economic control instrument.
This specialisation will qualify you to operate successfully at the interface of management, innovation and design and to professionally manage design processes in a global competitive environment.
Module content
You will deepen your specialist knowledge in the modules of the Design Management specialisation of the Global Business Administration distance learning MBA programme.
Module content
The Design Management Strategy module provides you with in-depth insight into the development and implementation of design strategies in a corporate context. You will learn why design management is crucial for long-term competitiveness and examine its historical development and current requirements. Key topics include identifying opportunities for design, analysing markets and target groups, and understanding customer and client needs. With the help of established models such as SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces and Mintzberg's 5 Ps, you will learn to evaluate external and internal influencing factors. In addition, you will deal with different strategic approaches – from cost leadership and differentiation to blue ocean strategies and business model innovation. There is a particular focus on the connection between management and corporate culture, as well as the translation of strategic concepts into concrete implementation measures. Through practical case studies, you will develop a deep understanding of the successful implementation and communication of design strategies.
Skills taught
After completing the module, you will be able to precisely define the term design strategy and confidently classify key elements such as mission, vision and goals. You will learn to identify strategic problems, formulate them as questions and systematically develop possible solutions. You will use analytical tools such as SWOT-Analyses or competition models to make informed decisions. You will be able to develop strategies for competitive differentiation or cost leadership and derive recommendations for proactive and defensive measures, for example in areas such as first-mover or winner-take-all strategies. In addition, you will acquire the ability to recognise ethical challenges in strategic decision-making processes and evaluate them responsibly. In addition to analytical skills, your ability to reflect critically, present solutions with confidence and develop viable decisions in interdisciplinary teams will be strengthened. This will prepare you to communicate strategic design decisions professionally and put them into practice.
Module content
In the Decision Making, Management and Design module, you will deepen your understanding of decision-making processes in complex environments. You will learn to distinguish between different types of decisions – strategic, tactical, operational, organisational and personal – and to classify them in the context of design and management tasks. The entire process, from team composition to the briefing phase, the selection and coordination of design consultants, to project management, contract strategies and post-project reviews, will be systematically examined. Another focus is on the theoretical foundations of decision theory, including Bayesian networks, Markov decision processes, multi-attribute utility theory and logical decision tree analysis. This is supplemented by practical methods such as preference modelling, risk and uncertainty analysis, and the application of formal and cognitive approaches. Through a combination of scientific models and practical case studies, you will develop a sound understanding of how decisions can be structured, communicated and applied to real-world projects.
Acquired competences
After completing the module, you will be able to analyse and systematically design decision-making processes. You will acquire knowledge about different decision-making styles and learn how they can be applied to management and design tasks. In the process, you will develop the ability to recognise distortions and biases in judgement processes and avoid them with the help of structured methods. You will be able to clearly formulate problems, assess risks and select appropriate decision-making strategies – whether based on quantitative models such as expected utility theory or qualitative approaches. In addition, you will strengthen your ability to communicate decisions within a team, incorporate different perspectives and combine facts and intuition in a meaningful way. This is complemented by the ability to monitor implementation, evaluate successes and initiate improvements. This means you will be well prepared to make decisions in complex design and management contexts in a professional, responsible and goal-oriented manner.
Module content
In the Design Theory, Scientific Design Concepts & Design Science module, you will explore the theoretical foundations and scientific concepts of design. You will learn to understand key definitions of design and their historical development and to place them in a broader context. Topics such as design discourses, discourse modalities, and epistemological, methodological and phenomenological approaches will be covered. There is a particular focus on design science and the distinction between the science of design and design as science. You will also examine the construction of design taxonomies and their significance for the systematic classification of design artefacts. Critical perspectives, as discussed in Critical Design Studies, enable you to classify current research literature and reflect on the influence of theories on concrete design decisions. Through the analysis of texts, discourses and historical developments, you will develop a deep understanding of how theoretical frameworks shape design practice and research.
Acquired competences
Upon completion of the module, you will have comprehensive knowledge of design theory and be able to critically evaluate and apply various design methods. You will be able to systematically classify design artefacts, understand their origins and embed them in theoretical concepts such as taxonomies or methodological approaches. In addition, you will learn to read and summarise complex texts on design research and interpret them in relation to management and innovation issues. You will develop the ability to model design as a strategic tool that promotes innovation processes and links design with business processes. You will also be able to create meaningful texts, documents or visualisations that illustrate the connection between theory, design and project results. This is complemented by the ability to reflect on the limits of your own knowledge, use critical feedback productively and actively participate in discourse. In this way, you will strengthen your scientific professionalism and your ability to apply design theories in complex decision-making contexts.
Career prospects in Design Management
Specialising in design management in the MBA programme opens up a wide range of career paths at the interface between management, strategy and creativity. Companies are increasingly looking for specialists and managers who are able to strategically apply design processes and integrate them into global business models.
Typical positions include design manager, who coordinates design processes and aligns them with corporate goals, or brand manager, who consistently develops brand identity and perception. As an Innovation Manager, you can also use design methods to successfully introduce new products, services and business models. In addition, there are opportunities to work as a Creative Director, leading creative teams and developing visionary concepts, or as a UX/Service Design Lead, designing and optimising customer experiences. The international focus of the MBA also qualifies you for roles such as Strategic Design Consultant, in which you advise companies on the implementation of design-driven strategies.
With this profile, you will be well prepared to take on responsibility in global corporations as well as innovative agencies or start-ups and position design as a key success factor.