Master Course | Limited Places | German & English
3 ECTS | MGT001535
📕 Description of coursework
This course addresses the practical question of how sustainability moves from a reporting obligation to a genuine source of business model innovation — and how its value contribution can be demonstrated in a robust way.
The module examination takes the form of project work as group work with presentation.
Starting situation: teams of three to five students take on the role of the ESG office of a company that is transforming one of its business units. Their task is to develop a business model innovation for that unit and to demonstrate its sustainability value contribution in a robust manner.
Simulation: during the third on-site block, each team presents its business model in a simulated board meeting. The role of the CEO is taken by the teaching staff. Within the team, each student assumes a fixed functional role and represents the business model consistently from that perspective: Chief Risk Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Innovation and Head of Sustainability. Roles are assigned at the beginning of Block 2.
Written report: 12 to 15 pages, submitted one week before the third on-site block. It covers the analysis of the starting situation, the business model developed, the derivation of the sustainability value contribution including the underlying metrics and assumptions, and a reflection on their robustness.
Presentation: 18 minutes per team including questions from the CEO.
Weighting: analysis of the starting situation and materiality 20 %, quality and consistency of the business model innovation 30 %, demonstration and critical reflection of the sustainability value contribution 30 %, role-appropriate presentation and defence 20 %.
Individual attribution: each student is responsible for a clearly attributed section of the written report and the corresponding part of the presentation.
Through the examination, students demonstrate that they can assess ESG-related innovation approaches (learning outcome 3), develop a business model (learning outcome 4) and defend their solution against critical questioning (learning outcome 5).
🙇♂️ Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, students are able to:
- Explain the regulatory and market-driven forces behind ESG in a corporate context;
- Analyse the mechanisms linking ESG practices and corporate innovation activity;
- Assess whether the ESG-related innovation efforts of real companies represent substantive transformation or symbolic conformity;
- Develop an ESG-driven business model for a specific company;
- Defend their own solution before a critical expert audience.
📖 Teaching methods
The module is delivered as a block seminar comprising three on-site blocks running from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with supervised self-study phases in between.
Teaching and learning methods comprise input lectures, moderated plenary discussion, case study work, simulation of a supervisory board meeting addressing a trade-off, supervised team work with coaching by the teaching staff, peer feedback on the final presentations, and guided self-study based on academic literature and video material.
💡 Application
Please refer to TUMonline.