There are two business projects available- students will be allocated to a project prior to the commencement of the course.

Project 1 (Prof. Chapple):

Business Partner: CO2 Management AS, Bergen, Norway

Title:  The impact of the political shift in Europe on Carbon Management Strategies. Expected changes in legislation and companies' responses.

Objective: This project aims to evaluate the effect of the changing political situation in Europe on Carbon Management legislation and Carbon Management strategies of companies. With a change of the parties in power, a different perspective on the importance of climate change can be expected in Europe. By conducting a thorough strategic analysis, this project will provide insights on which changes in legislation on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can be expected over the next years and how companies are preparing to meet these changes.

Focus Areas: 

1. Analyzing the impact of the (expected) political shift in National Parliaments and the European Parliament, especially with regard to the stance of populist parties on the left and right on CCS.
2. Understanding how the increased political uncertainty affects companies' CCS projects and how they hedge these policy risks.
3. Developing different political scenarios and mapping out potential for CCS applications in Europe.

Project 2 (Prof. Dimitrova): 

Business Partner: Beiersdorf

Title: Designing, implementing, and managing diversity initiatives at Beiersdorf

Objective: Students will determine the specific objectives and goals of the project in cooperation with Beiersdorf during a visit to the Vienna office on April 2nd. 

No late assignments will be accepted under any circumstances. 

Presence in sessions is mandatory, given the importance of personal interaction between students, corporate partner and faculty. More than two absences will lead to exclusion from the seminar. 

To participate, students will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. 

Teaching and Learning Methods:

The business project uses a combination of discussions with company representatives and faculty, feedback sessions, presentations, group coaching as well as work outside the classroom. 

In the first kick- off session with faculty, the challenges and milestones of the case will be outlined, At the same time, students will be familiarised with the guiding principles of project work, with the project plan and rules in the handling of faculty/ company. 

Afterwards, the students will officially kick off the project in collaboration with their company. In a plenary session, the organisation will outline the challenges from their perspective and provide useful input for the project and will provide input for the project and the specific challenges to be dealt with. As a result of this, students will come up with the precise scope of the project. 

Throughout the process, coaching and feedback sessions with faculty/company will take place to make sure that the students are on track and get the relevant input needed at each project phase. During the project, you will be supported by company representatives and faculty. 

Assessment:

Results will be presented to the company mid-term and at the end of the process.  Verbal and printed presentations will be assessed. 

Assessment will be based upon the quality of the mid-term and end-term presentation, the final report, participation during classes and group members peer review.  

Group level (80%): mid- term presentation (20%) end –term presentation (30%) Final report (PPT) (30%) 

Individual level (20%): Peer review (20%), 

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