Certified in Strategy & Organization

The Certified in Strategy & Organization Program gives you a comprehensive overview of strategy at both company and a competitive level and familiarizes you with the important functions within an enterprise.

This program consists of the following courses (you choose 4 out of 5 courses): Economics of Corporate & Competitive Strategy, Operations Management, Strategic Sourcing, Organizational Behavior, Innovation Management.

To receive a certification, you must participate in 4 courses with a total of 12 teaching days, and successfully pass each course’s examination. The certificate grants 8 ECTS credits (13% of an MBA).

Economics of Corporate & Competitive Strategy

• Understand how enterprises can create value and position themselves within the arena of markets
• Examine how changes in economic or industry conditions affect business strategy and how to reduce uncertainty by anticipating the future evolution of the external environment

Operations Management

• Learn how to effectively analyze, manage, and improve the processes within manufacturing or service companies
• Analyze the essentiality of manufacturing in Europe

Strategic Sourcing

• Acquire in-depth knowledge about the main theories, concepts, and tools needed for successful global sourcing/supply management
• Receive a set of concepts and practical tools to use in support of your supply management decision making

Organizational Behavior

• Develop a critical understanding of the key issues and concepts in organizational behavior
• Hone capabilities for leadership roles that require management of relationships, teams, and organizations

Innovation Management

• Get an overview of fundamental aspects of innovation management as part of a general management program at master’s level
• Understand strategic, organizational, and procedural aspects of managing product, process, and business model innovation across different industrial and competitive environments

Ideal candidate profiles include

• Participants with a first degree in engineering, law, social sciences, humanities, foreign languages etc. will benefit from this program.
• Participants with a first degree (Bachelor) in Business Administration or International Business will benefit from this program, as it is very practice-oriented and looks at (maybe) known topics from a different perspective.
• Participants who are aiming at broadening and deepening their business / management knowledge at MBA-level, while fully working.
• Participants with a minimum of two years of professional experience who are moving into a leadership position.
• The participants come from diverse industry and organizational backgrounds, further enriching the learning experience, and creating a valuable network of peers.
• Candidates should be willing to travel to WHU Campus Düsseldorf for the lectures, to actively participate during lectures and to engage in groupwork outside of lectures.

Admission requirements

• Proof of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent first degree is necessary.
• Minimum of two years of post-graduate professional experience.
• Proficiency in English.
• Participants should be willing and able to actively participate in lectures and groupwork, as these make up a substantial part of the programs and course gradings.

Participation in course examinations is mandatory in this program. You can find the complete certificate regulation here.

The program language is English.

The program consists of 4 courses. Each course consists of 3 days (12 total). The courses are held on Saturdays and Sundays at WHU Campus Düsseldorf. Registration is possible until 6 weeks before the start of the course.