M. A. Business Management - specialization in General Management & Entrepreneurship

Megatrends such as digitalization, climate change, social inequality and dwindling resources are intensifying international competition and therefore the speed at which companies are developing change processes. This poses major fundamental challenges for the management of companies. The way in which companies do business and consumers consume must be reconsidered. In particular, globalization in its current international division of labor for value chains / supply chains must be questioned with regard to economic, ecological and social sustainability. These aspects are complex, challenging and require management with a conceptually holistic understanding based on analytical-strategic thinking, innovative approaches and international cooperation. Due to their economic power and innovative potential, companies have a special responsibility to be a key driver in achieving sustainable economic and social development. Innovations and the entrepreneurship approach play an important role in this context. This content is comprehensively addressed, dealt with and critically reflected upon in an action-oriented manner in the Master's degree course with the specialization "General Management & Entrepreneurship".

The General Management and Entrepreneurship stream offers a holistic module portfolio that meets the complex challenges of the economic, social and ecological orientation of companies. Students are taught analytical skills in holistic strategy and value orientation. Innovative business models in times of digitalization are placed at the core of the course from a value and sustainability-oriented perspective. The stream conveys a holistic management perspective on the success of companies and focuses on necessary transformation processes as a result of changing framework conditions. In this context, the accelerated dynamics of the megatrends of digitalization, climate change, technological leaps and their effects on the strategic orientation of companies are given special consideration.

The Master's degree in Business Management with the General Management & Entrepreneurship stream is the ideal choice of study for students who, after completing their Master's degree, would like to help drive sustainable change in medium-sized companies, large corporations or consulting firms with well-founded specialist knowledge and skills.

• Application and practice-related instruments, methods and concepts of strategic management as well as the strategy development process against the background of current management challenges and megatrends such as digitalization, climate change, sustainability, scarcity of resources, etc.
• Objectives and principles of value-oriented corporate management and the spectrum of value-enhancing strategies
• Analysis, optimization and further development of business models from an economic, ecological and social perspective.
• The relevance of digitalization for the development of intelligent and sustainable business models.
• Cost management instruments and their design in the company with a view to success-oriented corporate management.
• Practice-oriented case studies and business game simulations to prepare, discuss and solve ambiguous decision-making situations in the corporate context, taking into account a variety of perspectives and conflicting objectives.
• Principles of corporate governance and the associated demands on companies as well as stakeholder management.
• Advantages and disadvantages of the international division of labor and the international orientation of the value chain / supply chain system; corporate management in globally and internationally active companies.
• Entrepreneurship: development of business ideas, modeling of business models with the help of the business model canvas, business and cash flow planning, founding a company.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): planning and implementation of company acquisitions/sales, principles of company valuation, success factors of M&A transactions and post-merger management.

• ... ... the necessary skills of strategic and value-oriented corporate management as well as the important approaches to mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and the start-up scene.
• ... holistic management skills for successful survival in international competition are addressed and deepened in an application and practice-oriented manner through case studies, business simulation games and project-oriented work.
• ... work with companies in an application-oriented manner.

Example: Three-semester study option

Anyone wishing to study this stream must have:

A Bachelor's degree in business administration or economics, business studies, economics, business informatics, business logistics or similar, with at least 75% of the Bachelor's degree being in economics.

• works in senior or upper management, in staff departments or as an assistant to the management of medium-sized companies and large corporations with an international focus and is jointly responsible for the design and implementation of corporate, business unit and functional area strategies.
• is a management consultant specializing in strategy consulting, business start-ups, innovation management, value-oriented corporate management, crisis and restructuring management and M&A issues.
• is a potential company founder or consultant in the start-up scene
• takes on initial leadership and management tasks in operational and strategic management, corporate development and corporate controlling.
• is doing a doctorate, e.g. cooperatively at Fachhochschule Dortmund.