• Identification of a research problem and development of a research question
• Thematically formulating a problem and developing a solution through application of scientific methods
• Independence in handling a research problem determined in the course of an assessment. Discussion with the advisor about methodological and content issues in solving a research topic.
• Completion of a comprehensive assignment where the students deal with a theoretical or practice-oriented problem in their area of specialisation by drawing on scientific work methods.
• Mid-term report about the current stage of the progress during the Colloquium.
• Completion of presentation documentation on a research problem within their specialised area.
• Defense of the elaborated research topic and in-depth discussion with the examination board.

After completion of the module, the students have acquired a detailed knowledge and a critical understanding of their research topic. They have at their disposal specialised knowledge of methods and procedures for processing data and explaining it in a structured manner. Furthermore, they exhibit originality and creativity in the application of their knowledge.

The students complete research and development projects, applying specialised research methods, survey and development techniques by drawing on their previously acquired skills. Additionally, they present the significant findings of their project to academic and real economy specialists, thereby utilising various communication methods in order to illustrate complex data on a scientific level.

Upon positive evaluation of the thesis module the Master's degree is awarded to the candidate.

Expose and thesis template are available here: Regulations and Guidelines

• Colloquium presentation (attendance at Colloquium day obligatory)
• Evaluation of the written thesis paper
• Presentation and defense in front of the examination board

Web-based online evaluation upon completion of module

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

Final Exposé: 28.02.2014 / 30.06.2014

Start of Master Thesis: 01.03.2014 / 01.07.2014

Colloquium: 14.03.2014

Deadline Master Thesis: 01.08.2014, 8.30 - 11.30am at the Central Services Desk at latest

Presentation and Defence: 29. +30.08.2014

Graduation Cermony: 04.04.2014 / 26.09.2014

• Foundations of Entrepreneurship & Family Firm Research (new venture creation, SME management, entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial mindset, opportunity recognition, exploration vs. exploitation, entrepreneurial behavior in family firms).
• Building Blocks of "Corporate Entrepreneurship" (definitions, general frameworks, differences between Corporate Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Entrepreneurship, process of Corporate Entrepreneurship, forms of Corporate Entrepreneurship).
• Creating an entrepreneurial organization (human resource management in entrepreneurial organizations, personality of corporate entrepreneurs, motivations for entrepreneurial behavior, corporate strategy and entrepreneurship, elements and development of an entrepreneurial culture, innovation management).
• Entrepreneurial Performance (constraints on entrepreneurial performance, leading an entrepreneurial organization, assessing entrepreneurial performance, sustaining entrepreneurial performance).

The following conditions need to be met prior to registering for the module:

• successful completion of English I
• successful completion of additional first year programme modules amounting to at least 45 credit points.

Exception for SS 13: only 39 additional credits.

Grundlagen und Abgrenzung des Controlling (Funktion und Rolle des Unternehmens, Konzepte der Unternehmensführung, Unternehmen als komplexes System, Steuerungsmechanismen für Unternehmen), Grundlagen der Bilanzanalyse, Kennzahlensystem ROI, finanzielles Rechnungswesen als Analyse- und Informationsinstrument (Bewegungsbilanz, direkte und indirekte Cashflow-Ermittlung, Kapitalflussrechnung, Fallstudien), operative Steuerung mit Finanzkennzahlen (Liquidität, Stabilität, Rentabilität), Kapitalbedarfs- und Gründungsplanung, zukunftsgerichtete finanzielle Steuerung (Planungsinstrumente, Abgrenzung der operativen Planung, Leistungsbudget, Finanzplan, Planbilanz), wertorientierte Unternehmenssteuerung, Kostenplanung und Abweichungsanalyse.

Technik des Jahresabschlusses (mit/ohne Abschlusstabelle), Elemente des Jahresabschlusses (Bilanz, Gewinn- & Verlustrechnung, Anhang, Lagebericht), Bilanzierung im Allgemeinen, Bewertungsmassstäbe (Anschaffungskosten, Herstellungskosten, beizulegender Wert,) Bilanzierungsgrundsätze (Vorsichtsprinzip, Realisationsprinzip, Niederstwertprinzip, Höchstwertprinzip), Gewinn- & Verlustrechnung nach Gesamtkosten- und Umsatzkostenverfahren , Ergebnisverwendung bei Kapitalgesellschaften (mit/ohne Ausschüttungssperren) und bei Personengesellschaften, Aktivierungswahlrechte, Passivierungswahlrechte, Anlagenspiegel, Forderungenspiegel, Fremdwährungsforderungen und -verbindlichkeiten, Rückstellungenspiegel, Verbindlichkeitenspiegel, ausgewählte Sonderformen der Rückstellungen, Eventualverbindlichkeiten, Verbuchung verschiedener Zuschüsse, gewinnabhängige Steuern und Mehr-Weniger-Rechnung, Unternehmen in der Krise (Überschuldung), latente Steuern (aktive und passive latente Steuern) .

The following conditions need to be met prior to registering for the module exam:

• successful completion of all first year full-time programme modules

Additionallly:
For students who started their studies in 2008:

• succesful completion of the module "Communication in English for Business"

or, alternatively,

• BEC II certificate

For students starting their studies in 2009:

• succesful completion of the module "Communication in English for Business"

Das Modul wird aus Lehrveranstaltungen des Nachfolgecurriculums gebildet. Es gilt die SPO für C12.

This module prepares students for communication in academic and professional contexts.

Interaction, study skills

Using English effectively in a variety of contexts
Communicating spontaneously and fluently
Understanding and discussing complex issues
Expressing yourself in clear and well-structured writing
Writing about complex issues

Das Modul wird aus Lehrveranstaltungen des Nachfolgecurriculums gebildet. Es gilt die SPO für C12.

• Introduction to international management
• Key challenges to the global environment
• The cultural context of global management
• International and global strategies
• Organizational structures and strategic alliances in a global

environment

• Global human resources management
• Leadership and control systems in global companies

The interactive course introduces the basics of international management through core lectures, which will be critically considered and discussed afterwards. Case studies, papers, and other student activities which will be done in different forms of group work, facilitate the understanding of the theory.

The course "International Management" will give an introduction into core management and leadership functions of a global company, such as strategy, organization structure, human resources management, etc. Afterwards students will be able to understand better the specifics of international management against the background of global change and the cultural context. This will enhance their ability to manage strategic and structural processes in global companies.

Introduction to international management:

• Students will know the fundamental terms in international management and will be able to distinguish them from each other.
• Students will gain an overview of the key challenges in a global environment and will be able to connect them to the tasks they will have to cope with in global companies.
• Students will understand the important role of the cultural context and will be able to distinguish different cultural dimensions and regions.

International management and strategy:

• Students will recognize the theoretical basics of strategies in an international context and will be able to integrate them into a strategic framework.
• Students will be able to create a consistent global strategy and to adapt this strategy to specific situations.

International management and organization:

• Students will learn about different forms of organizational structure and process organization in the international context and will be able to connect them to different types of global strategies.
• Students will recognize the importance of networks and strategic alliances in the international context and will be able to analyze them systematically as well as to work out recommendations to develop them further.

International management and human resources:

• Students will learn about different forms of international human resources strategy and development and will be able to connect them to the strategic and structural context of the organization.
• Students will be able to distinguish between different leadership styles in global companies and will recognize the decisive interplay between leadership, motivation, and control systems.

The following conditions need to be met prior to registering for the module exam:

• successful completion of all first year full-time programme modules

Additionallly:
For students who started their studies in 2008:

• succesful completion of the module "Communication in English for Business"

or, alternatively,

• BEC II certificate

For students starting their studies in 2009:

• succesful completion of the module "Communication in English for Business"

Theories of International Trade and International Finance aim at explaining underlying dynamics of economic and social developments in a global context. They also allow to investigate relations between market and industry structures and flows in goods, services and financial flows. Furthermore they serve in designing and evaluating the impact of macro-economic policies, currency fluctuations and trading regimes on economies, business strategy and operations.

The module aims at examining how national policies can, in theory, shape international trade and finance, and constrain the climate for international business. It extends this analysis to the international system discussing the role of international arrangements and institutions, e.g. the WTO, on international trade and investment.

Using a series of country-based case studies, students will have the opportunity to investigate how firms feel and master the impact of government policy and institutional set-ups in a specific nation state or economic region, for example China, India, the Arab World and South-America.

Contents of the module are:

• Sources of international comparative advantages (differences in natural resources, technology and factor endowment)
• Principles of strategic trade theory and geographic economic integration
• Goals, instruments and impact of modern international trade policy in industrial and emerging economies
• International trade agreements and organisations

Interactive lectures, exercises

The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand the challenges of international trade and investment and to analyse the opportunities they represent concerning a specific nation state or a wider economic region.

• Explain fundamentals of neo-classical and strategic trade theories
• Distinguish implications for national trade policies
• Illustrate main themes and debates in international economics
• Assess the impact of macroeconomics, political forces and international agreements on firm strategies and competition in a specific nation-state or economic region

Written term paper

Web-based online evaluation upon completion of module

This module consists of elective courses. Please register for one of the lectures offered.