Practical Project I: Entrepreneurship

In this course students learn the practical implementation of a start-up project on the basis of a real business plan or by developing a start-up concept. They are able to carry out a current case study in the field of entrepreneurship in cooperation with companies/entrepreneurs willing to start a business. The students independently develop problem-solving approaches and strategies for problems relevant to start-ups from business practice.

The students acquire detailed knowledge of the possibilities of modelling, planning, controlling and implementing alternative business and decision models in the sense of application-oriented management instruments in management practice. This knowledge is acquired in the course of a practical project or in the context of cooperation with a real project partner from industry.

The students
• are able to carry out a project on the basis of professional project management.
• understand the systematic, technically sound and on-schedule handling of projects.
• know the specific roles within a project.
• know the importance of project communication in all directions (conversations, documentation, descriptions, presentations) and know how to act accordingly.
• have expertise to solve specific problems.

None

In this course, current and company-related case studies from the field of business start-ups, takeovers or successions are addressed in cooperation with, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises or start-up companies. The students independently develop problem-solving approaches and strategies for problems relevant to management from business practice. Possible problem areas are: Analysis and conception of business models, preparation of business plans, processing of subtasks from the field of start-up management with special attention to a holistic-systematic reflection of the level of knowledge acquired up to then.

The students contribute their acquired knowledge and compare it with observations and experiences in the context of the practical project. While students can deepen and improve their subject-specific competences, complementary competences such as social competence, risk management, budgeting competence and economically responsible decision-making competence are also solidified.

Based on a client briefing (by the course instructor or external partners such as associations and companies), the students work on the presented projects independently, only guided by the course instructors if necessary: Planning, coordination, budgeting, control, evaluation and final reporting are in the hands of the students. The role of the course leader is focused on project coaching.

• Fueglistaller, U., Fust, A., Müller, C., Müller, S., & Zellweger, T. (2020). Entrepreneurship: Modelle – Umsetzung – Perspektiven Mit Fallbeispielen aus Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Wiesbaden: Springer Verlag.
• Kreuser, K., & Robrecht, T. (2019). Professionelle Beratung: Menschen und Unternehmen kompetent begleiten. Unterföhring: SOKRATeam.
• Lippold, D. (2022). Einführung in das Consulting: Strukturen – Trends – Geschäftsmodelle. Berlin/Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
• Pfannstiel, M. A., & Dautovic, A. (2023). Transferinnovationen und Innovationstransfer zwischen Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft. Wiesbaden: Springer Verlag.

• Final report and
• Final presentation

• Working on a real problem with a company using the instruments and techniques learned during the studies.
• Accompaniment of the project by an experienced coach/project manager
• Preparation of a final report which can be handed over to the company
• Holding of a final presentation with the participation of the client