Online Course Guide of WHU –
Find all modules and courses of our degree programs.
Please use the filters below to select the term (spring or fall) as well as the respective program (BSc, MSc, MBA, Exchange, Doctoral) of your choice for an overview of all modules offered at WHU. The courses are listed under the modules. Please click on a module to see which courses are part of it. If you would like to find out more about a certain course, click on the name of the course to see detail information. The location of the lecture will be revealed after your course registration on myWHUstudies.
Spring term counts from January - August, fall term counts from September - December.
Important for Exchange Students: As the Full-Time and Part-Time MBA Programs utilize a modular course structure, the dates on which students begin and end the exchange are flexible. Please find here a chronological overview of the preliminary course offering for Fall and Spring.
Developing Novel Business Models
(Please note that exchange students obtain a higher number of credits in the BSc-program at WHU than listed here. For further information please contact directly the International Relations Office.)
Course Content
Class Dates
Date
Time
Learning Outcomes
Creativity methods and tools
Business idea pitching and business pitch videos
Evaluation methods and tools
Business Model Canvas method
Lean startup approach
Literature
In this first module, we discuss the fundamentals of business model development and introduce the group assignments. Several case examples will be provided to illustrate the nature and content of the different assignments.
Background reading:
- Teece, D.J. (2010) Business Models, Business Strategy and Innovation. Long Range Planning, 43: 172-194.
- Chesbrough, H. (2010) Business Model Innovation: Opportunities and barriers. Long Range Planning, 43: 354-363.
Module 2: Identifying painpoints and formulating value proposition canvas
In this workshop, students will be challenged to identify and develop a particular customer painpoint. Subsequently, students will start developing a value proposition to address this painpoint.
Background reading:
- Osterwalder, A. and Y. Pigneur. 2010: Subsection on Customer Insight (pp 126-133).
Module 3: Developing the Business Model Canvas, formulating hypotheses and testing by means of minimal viable products
In this module, we discuss the different aspects of the business canvas model and resulting business model patterns. We also look into the lean startup approach and evidence based entrepreneurship.
Background reading:
- Eisenmann, T., Parker, G., and Van Alstyne, M.W. (2006) Strategies for two-sided markets, October 2006.
- Osterwalder, A. and Y. Pigneur. 2010: Section on Canvas (pp 10-51) and section on Patterns (pp 52-121)
- Steve Blank. 2013. Why the Lean Start-Up Changes Everything. Harvard Business Review, May.
- Eisenmann, T. R., Ries, E., & Dillard, S. 2012. Hypothesis-driven entrepreneurship: The lean startup. (Harvard Business School 9-812-095)
Module 4: Pitching and defending your business model
In this module, we provide an overview of best practices in pitching and defending a new business models.
Background reading:
- Osterwalder, A. and Y. Pigneur (2010) Subsection on Sorytelling (pp 170-179
Module 5: Mock Pitch
In this session, each group will individually conduct a pitch of their business model in front of a mock jury. Each group will get extensive feedback to prepare for the final pitch.
Module 6: Pitching Business Model
In this module, all groups will conduct an in-class pitch of their business model in front of a professional jury.