Strategy, Disruption and Business Transformation (MSc Business Administration)
The study programme
This track offers a carefully designed and well-balanced selection of modules, providing you with a solid foundation in key theories and practices. You will gain insights into essential business strategies, digital economies, and the processes behind business transformation. The programme equips you with the skills needed to successfully lead and manage digital business transformations in a rapidly evolving landscape.
The programme
Strategy, Disruption and Business Transformation is one of the tracks of the Master's Business Administration. During your Master's you will follow 5 general courses and 3 track-specific courses. You will finish with a thesis. If you have a fundamental drive to challenge the corporate environment, you can participate in one of our Honours programmes.
COURSES
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
EC
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Ethics and the Future of BusinessPeriod 14
The purpose of this course is to explore the trends, core concepts, theories, and approaches of business ethics and corporate sustainability. The course is divided into a general part and a track-specific part.
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Theories of Strategy, Disruption and Business TransformationPeriod 16
This course covers key theories on strategic management, emerging technologies, disruptive innovation, and business transformation.
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Business Seminar and Managerial SkillsPeriod 1Period 2Period 34
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Digital Economies and PlatformsPeriod 26
Explore the evolving landscape of digital economies, platform-centric ecosystems, and the socio-economic implications of digital advancements. This includes topics like network effects, platform competition, AI strategy, open innovation, and regulation.
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Leading Digital Business TransformationPeriod 26
This hands-on course covers leadership and management in digital business transformation. Explore change management, organisational redesign, and digital tech integration, while learning to analyse and propose strategies for successful transformation and business model innovation.
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Research Foundations & Thesis ProposalPeriod 34
This course is meant to support you in writing you research proposal for you Master's thesis. During the course, you will learn how to change a general topic into a specific research proposal.
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Business Seminar and Professional SkillsPeriod 4Period 52
To prepare you for your professional career, this course is a combination of a series of corporate guest lecturers in Royal Theatre Carré and an offering of professional skills training e.g. Presentation Skills, Programming with Python and more.
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Restricted-choice electives: Methods-WorkshopsPeriod 42
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Restricted-choice electives: Analysis-WorkshopPeriod 52
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Restricted-choice electives: Business Lab ElectivesPeriod 4Period 512
In The Business Lab, you can choose from a wide selection of electives we call business labs. Each one is connected to a corporate partner. You will be challenged to solve real-world business issues, working in international teams and presenting your solution to the company.
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Master's ThesisPeriod 4Period 5Period 612
The Master’s thesis is the final requirement for your graduation. It is your chance to dive deep into a topic that you are enthusiastic about. A professor in your field of choice (track) will supervise and support you in writing your thesis.
Compulsory course
Elective
Specialisation
Honours programmes
Highly motivated students can participate in the Master's Business Administration Honours programmes Sustainability or Data Driven Management. These challenging programmes are a great chance to stand out for future employers.
Real Life Case: Strategies for OpenAI’s transformation to a platform business model
Before OpenAI's full business model transformation, we studied its strategic evolution, comparing its visionary framework with a market-oriented approach. In our courses, we explored its new ecosystem, identified key roles, and suggested collaboration strategies for growth. We also examined competitor strategies like Google Bard’s market entry and mapped OpenAI's future considering technology, management style, identity, and organisational dynamics. Finally, we debated whether a strategy-driven or customer-driven approach would best drive OpenAI’s growth and innovation. Join us to unravel the complexities of OpenAI's strategic evolution and digital innovation path.
What can students expect in class?
Copyright: UvA
Through group projects and dynamic discussions, we aim to create a collaborative atmosphere where diverse perspectives are valued and innovative solutions are encouraged.Dr. Zahra Kashanizadeh
Copyright: Taghi Ramezan Zadeh
Learning starts before the course begins and continues through exam time, driven by your enthusiasm.Dr. Taghi R. Zadeh
Copyright: UvA
In this track, we invite students to critically thinkProf.dr. Henk W. Volberda
Frequently asked questions
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When do I need to select a specialisation track?
A specialisation track must be chosen when applying for the Master’s programme. However, track modifications are still possible until late October. The criteria for all tracks are identical and do not impact the likelihood of being accepted into the programme.
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How many students are in the programme?
Our Master’s programme is selective and admits between 60-120 students per specialisation track.
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What are the weekly contact hours?
Most courses have one 2-3 hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial per week. Generally students take 3 courses at a time, so count on about 12-15 contact hours per week.
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Will all lectures be held in person, or will there be options for online attendance?
Our preference is for in-person lectures. Certain sessions may be pre-recorded or follow a hybrid format. This entails preparing for Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions through video clips and readings, with subsequent discussions during meetings.
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Is attendance compulsory for lectures, tutorials, and other sessions?
Attendance is usually not compulsory for lectures, but commonly for tutorials and other sessions. Students greatly benefit from being present and engaging in discussions with both the instructor and their classmates.
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What is the typical method of assessment for most courses?
The majority of courses have a written on-site exam, which counts for a large percentage of the final grade. Most courses have additional assessment methods, including oral presentations, developing research proposals, conducting experiments and writing up results. Finally, some courses grade attendance, which is reflected by presence and activity in tutorials and online assignments.