CBE - Competitive Business Environments

WU students are cordially invited to consider Competitive Business Environments, which is a case-based discussion course that examines the competitive basis of firms, industries, regions and nations and which will be taught in conjunction with the course "Microeconomics of Competitiveness",  taught by Prof. Michael Porter and by professors at business schools in more than 70 other countries. All enrolled WU students have password-protected access to joint Harvard Business School/WU web-pages, research archives, downloadable readings and cases, directory for project/other contacts with students at affiliated universities, video streaming of Prof. Porter/featured guest lectures, burnable CD copies of lectures/slides, etc.  (See also: Harvard Business School, Course description at Harvard Business School, HBS case-method)

WU offers this intensive case-based course, which is based on materials developed by the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. It was originally designed and taught by Prof. Michael Porter for both Harvard MBA and Kennedy School public policy students. The seminar examines questions of competitiveness and productivity that are of strategic importance to firms and economies throughout the world, based on Porter's point-of-view and typical interests of internationally-oriented MBA students. 

Professor Porter actively supports the widespread adoption of this course in universities throughout the world. Financial support from Prof. Karl Sandner (Vizerektor für Lehre) pays the affiliation fees to the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. WU students must only pay for HBS case studies, to be among the first in Europe to participate in this course with business and economics students and future leaders from every continent.

Competitive Business Environments is made available at WU as:

1. Vertiefungskurse of RUW Wahlfach "Globalisierung und Regionalentwicklung" within the Institute for Regional Development and Environment,

2. "Freies Wahlfach"- course for other advanced WU students seeking internationally-oriented, English-language MBA course opportunities, and

3. WU English Program MBA course for qualified exchange or visiting students.

Enrollment is limited, with slight preference to "Globalisierung und Regionalentwicklung" students.  Student requirements include complete attendance, prior preparation, active case discussions, team projects, and purchase of all required reading and case materials.  Enrollment depends upon RUW registration and attendance at the preliminary discussion (Mo., 05.10.2009 2 p.m UZA4 (Nordbergstraße 15, 1090 Wien), Room-No. A208), and prior agreement to comply with all CBE requirements.

Please check: registration at RUW, list of RUW requirements, "The case method of learning", Case Method - Richard Ivey School of Business)

Important links:

• Registration at RUW - http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/inst/iir/Abteilung_SRE/Lehre/Harvard/Fragebogen.htm
• List of CBE requirements - http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/ruw/lehre/moc_requ
• Prof. M. Porter -  http://dor.hbs.edu/fi_redirect.jhtml?facInfo=bio&facEmId=mporter
• Richard Ivey School of Business - Case Method - http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/inst/iir/Abteilung_SRE/Lehre/Harvard/case_method.htm
• The case method of learning - http://python.rice.edu/~arb/Courses/750_03_chapt3.pdf

More information about teaching at RUW - see "Lehre"

The seminar is part of the CEMS Study Program at WU Wien. For more information see http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/cems