Specialisation Digital Management

Module content

In the Digital Leadership & Transformation module, you will take an in-depth look at the challenges of leadership and management in a digitalised economy. You will analyse how digitalisation is changing the world of work and what new demands this places on managers. The focus is on dealing with modern collaboration technologies, designing virtual organisations and the impact on corporate culture and workplace design. In addition, you will learn which leadership principles are relevant in a digitalised world and how the skill sets of managers are changing. Another key aspect is the design and management of digital transformation processes. You will examine their special characteristics, typical starting points and elements such as cultural change, employee training, communication strategies and the role of external experts. You will also reflect on the integration of digital and non-digital business models and learn about various transformation measures such as acquisitions and incubators. Practical case studies will give you the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life transformation situations and develop concrete solutions.

Acquired competences

After completing the module, you will be able to analyse the effects of digitalisation on working environments, organisational structures and management tasks in a differentiated manner. You will be able to identify the most important factors influencing digital transformation processes and systematically classify management challenges. You will also acquire the ability to select and justify appropriate measures for Change Management and apply them to specific situations. You will develop a deep understanding of the importance of governance issues, cultural change and new competence requirements for managers. In addition, you will critically reflect on your own role in transformation processes and your attitude towards change in the digital working environment. There is a particular focus on your communication and cooperation skills: you will learn to adapt leadership principles to the requirements of the digital economy, motivate employees and successfully accompany change. This will leave you well prepared to actively shape digital Transformation in organisations and lead responsibly.

Module content

In the Digital Strategies and Business Models module, you will examine the key impacts of digitalisation on corporate strategies and business models. You will learn how digital goods, processes and technologies are changing existing structures and what opportunities and challenges this presents. The module focuses on the development and transformation of business models, the development of platform approaches as opposed to pipeline approaches, and the distinction between innovation and transformation. In addition, you will analyse the role of digital capabilities as the basis for sustainable competitive advantages and examine theories such as the capabilities-based view and transaction cost theory. Another focus is on the development and implementation of digital strategies: you will learn to assess the digital maturity of organisations, identify starting points for strategies, and understand ways of developing strategies between planning and emergence. Through a combination of theory, case studies and practical discussions, you will develop a deep understanding of how digital transformation can be successfully achieved.

Acquired competences

After completing the module, you will be able to explain and evaluate the design and transformation of business models in a digitalised world. You will be able to analyse the significance of different business model patterns and critically discuss their success factors using methods such as the Business Model Canvas. In addition, you will learn to identify an organisation's digital capabilities and assess their impact on long-term competitiveness. With the help of strategic management approaches, you will be able to understand the emergence of competitive advantages and apply them in a practical manner. You will develop the ability to determine the degree of digitalisation of organisations, derive appropriate change measures and integrate them into the professional context. In addition, you will reflect on the requirements for leadership and change management in digital transformation processes and learn how to comprehensively mobilise organisations for digital change. This will equip you with both analytical and practical skills to successfully develop digital strategies and implement them in different business contexts.

Module contents

In the Digital Processes module, you will learn about the fundamental importance of digital business processes for efficient, scalable and sustainable corporate structures. The focus is on how targeted process digitisation can create competitive advantages and overcome classic conflicts of interest. You will analyse the differences between analogue and digital processes and examine their use in different application contexts. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between business processes and IT systems, the relevance of master data, interface and architecture management, and the objectives of the ‘dual IT’ concept. In addition, you will examine criteria for selecting suitable software solutions and develop ways to design effective business process management (BPM). Another focus is on modelling business processes with BPMN 2.0, critically reflecting on costs and benefits, and the organisational implementation of process management. Through case studies and practical tasks, you will deepen your knowledge and learn to understand digital processes as the foundation of a successful digital transformation.

Acquired competences

After completing the module, you will be able to explain the significance of digital processes for the development of modern business models and evaluate their potential for sustainable competitive advantages. You will master the central steps of process design and be able to model processes in a structured manner and reflect on them critically with the help of BPMN 2.0. In addition, you will acquire the competence to apply criteria for selecting suitable software solutions and to classify the challenges of interface and architecture management. You will develop an understanding of how digital processes contribute to overcoming classic conflicts and enable new forms of design. On a methodological level, you will be able to analyse practical use cases, develop solutions and document them in a comprehensible manner. In addition, you will reflect on your own role in process design, engage in constructive discussions with IT experts and effectively bring together specialist and technical perspectives. This will enable you to professionally manage digital process design and communicate across organisations.