Introduction
Dear students,
welcome to the Module W002 - Introduction to Business in Germany.
This is a self-study course with some online meetings and excursions. The first lesson takes place online on Tuesdays from 13:45 to 15:15. Herewith is the link:
In case you are not in Germany because of Visa regulations: Please use the Zoom-link above to attend all lectures and meetings.
The first short introduction will be on Oct 1, 2024.
In order to pass the exam, you have to attend two excursions, pass the final examination on tba (50% of your final grade) and have to hand in a scientific paper (50% of your final grade). You have to write the paper in a team with one or two fellow students. You have to include either an expert interview or a questionnaire. Please find further information in the linked course Analysis Tools.
Topics of the scientific paper could be:
Social market economy in Germany – an outdated economic model?
The mining industry in Saxony – what are the historical roots and future challenges?
The so-called Gründerzeit in Dresden – an unseen heritage?
Pentacon, Robotron and others – what happened to former VEB after 1989?
Shortage of skilled labour in Germany – an ubiquituous and enduring problem?
Dual education in Germany – an export hit with weaknesses?
Labour migration into Germany – do bureaucractic hurdles limit its success?
The automotive industry in Germany – a lead industry in crisis?
Small but beautiful? Success factors and challenges for the German Mittelstand
No interest to found a business? Reasons for stagnation in the German start-up scene and possible counter-measures
Stiff, punctual, obsessed with details – what are the challenges in dealing with Germans in a business context?
Please hand in a 16 - 20 pages paper, including title page, context, introduction, body, expert interview or questionnaire, summary, references, and affidavit. Deadline is Jan 14th, 2025. Please upload the completed paper to Opal and drop it in the mailbox of Prof. Richter on the 6th floor.
Present your topic/idea (title, research question, methodology, rough table of contents of your paper) online on Nov 19, 2024, and hand in this draft (just one page) on Nov 19th, 2024 beforehand on Opal. Please use the following link to form a group, choose a topic you want to work on, and get registered for your slots on November 19: https://yopad.eu/p/W002_Excursions-365days
We will use the same link to collect our impressions and learnings from excursions. Please let me know what you learned and what was surprising and interesting. Please provide also some interesting numbers, figures, and facts. Here is the link: https://yopad.eu/p/W002_Excursions-365days
If you want to know more about scientific writing, please work through the OPAL course (in German) and read in Unit 0.
Some excursions are offered during the semester - the information will be provided later.
Yours in lifelong learning
Julia Krause