This course offers a comprehensive exploration of digital leadership dimensions, with a specific focus on navigating business models within the digital landscape. Leaders and managers today confront the dual challenge of cultural transformation within organizations and the integration of digital elements, while also adapting to evolving ecosystems and effectively addressing the demands of the digital era and technological advancements.

Understanding the pivotal role of business models in the digital realm and translating that understanding into practical implementation is of paramount importance. Many companies still struggle to swiftly and adeptly leverage these competencies, hindering their ability to attain the requisite level of digital maturity essential for staying abreast of rapid progress. This challenge is compounded by a deficiency in grasping the essence of innovation and the resultant lack of innovative capacity.

In this course, we will therefore deal intensively with the following main aspects:

Session 1: The ongoing technological progress and digital competencies

Session 2: Digital Leadership

Session 3: Creating digital Business models

Session 4: Startups vs Corporates: Innovation mindset as baseline for digital transformation

Session 5: Turning your own idea into a venture (group work & presentation)

By the end of the course, participants should have developed a solid understanding of digital competencies essential for navigating the business world, as well as practical skills for leading digital transformation initiatives and creating innovative digital ventures.

Potential learning outcomes for each session of the course "Digital Competencies in the Business World":

Session 1: The Ongoing Technological Progress and Digital Competencies

·       Gain an understanding of the latest technological advancements shaping the digital landscape.

Session 2: Digital Leadership

·       Analyze the characteristics of effective digital leaders.

·       Develop strategies for leading cultural transformation within organizations to embrace digital change.

Session 3: Creating Digital Business Models

·       Understand the concept of digital business models and their importance in the digital era.

·       Analyze different types of digital business models and their respective advantages and challenges.

Session 4: Startups vs Corporates: Innovation Mindset as Baseline for Digital Transformation

·       Compare and contrast the innovation ecosystems of startups and established corporations.

·       Understand the importance of fostering an innovation mindset within organizations.

Session 5: Turning Your Own Idea into a Venture (Group Work & Presentation)

·       Apply knowledge gained throughout the course to develop a digital venture concept.

·       Collaborate with peers to refine and validate digital venture ideas.

·       06.10.2025 / 15-19:30 Uhr

·       20.10.2025 / 15-19:30 Uhr

·       27.10.2025 / 15-19:30 Uhr

·       10.11.2025 / 15-19:30 Uhr

·       24.11.2025 / 15-19:30 Uhr

1 session can be missed, but a substitute assignment must be completed

Impulses, Discussion, Peer Feedback, Self-Learning, “Fireside-Talk”, Reflection

Part 1/ 20%: individual pitch in the first session on the topic “What makes me special, what skills do I bring to the course and why do I want to learn something here in this course?

For this purpose, a short text of max. 500 words should be submitted in advance until October 3, 2025 via email: helga.pattart-drexler@wu.ac.at

Part 2/ 40%: active participation in all sessions, i.e. asking questions, providing input, sharing experiences, giving feedback, active involvement in group work

Part 3/ 40%: 1 Group-Pitch in the last session

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·       Openness to new topics

·       Pleasure to work with others in a team

·       be able to see mistakes as opportunities

Readings ( no prerequisites)

 The Infinite Game, by Simon Sinek

-          Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers" by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur

-          The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail" by Clayton M. Christensen

-          Innovation Emergent Futures: The Innovation Design Approach for Change and Worldmaking by Iain Kerr & Jason Frasca

-          Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses" by Eric Ries