Course Catalogue

1. DESCRIPTION
This ENGAGE seminar deals with strategic and organizational questions mostly in the context of internationally operating firms and organizations.

This includes topics such as

• Strategic management (e.g. strategic problem solving, AI in strategic decision making, ESG and corporate strategy; international strategy)
• Organization design and structures (e.g. corporate intervention behavior, headquarters structures and value added, multiunit organizations such as MNCs, self-governance/holocracies)
• Corporate entrepreneurship (Corporate accelerators, corporate-startup collaboration)

A particular focus will be set on discussing theoretical contributions, which are universally important for all areas of business and management and the quality of ¿theory¿ is among the most important issues for top level publications.

Furthermore, a second point of emphasis will be on empirical designs, particularly quantitative ones. Designs discussed will cover for example experimental approaches (RCTs) and DiDs.

The seminar offers PhD Students a forum to discuss their concepts, research proposals or paper ideas. Academic guest talks from top scholars will contribute to the learnings.

Nota bene: The seminar size is restricted to 12 participants. ENGAGE participants need to apply with a CV and a PhD paper that is meant to be presented and discussed during the seminar.


2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
The goal of the course is to train students in

• Understanding and assessing contemporary research in the above-mentioned fields,
• Presenting and discussing this research in front of an academic audience
• Further developing their own empirical research projects
• Developing a deep understanding of theoretical mechanisms, theoretical contributions and an ability to improve the theoretical
contributions of their own projects
• Understanding the link between empirical designs and theoretical contributions

3. TEACHING METHODS AND EVALUATION

• The course is taught using a combination of lectures, class discussions, and presentations.
• The sessions will be conducted in a highly interactive manner where PhD students will prepare short memos or presentations on papers or their own research and lead discussions.
• Full attendance at all sessions is expected. We require an attendance of minimum 80% of all sessions (both in-person and online, if applicable) in order to successfully complete the course. If you are unable to attend a session due to unforeseeable circumstances, you need to inform your lecturer before the session takes place.

Evaluation:
- Participation: 33% (individual) - Presentation of own research project: 34% (individual) - Presentation document: 33% (individual or group ¿ depending on size of the PhD seminar) Please note that students must participate in all three grading components in order to pass the course.

4. COURSE STRUCTURE AND READINGS (Subject to modifications)

Overview
Part I: Kick-Off Workshops, face-to-face in Vienna
- Thursday, October 02, 14:00-18:30.
- Friday, October 03, 09:00-18:00
Part II: Hybrid seminar series (face-to-face + online option); 90 minutes each.
- Friday, Oct. 17, 12:00-13:30
- Thursday, Oct. 23, 13:30-15:00
- Thursday, Nov. 06, 09:00-10:30
- Friday, Nov. 14, 12:00-13:30
- Friday, Nov. 28, 15:30-17:30

Detailed Structure (Subject to modifications)

Part I: Kick-Off Workshops, face-to-face in Vienna
Thursday, October 2, 14:00-18:30
Session 1: Welcome and Introduction
- Short introduction on what is theory
- Boxes-and-arrows models and mechanisms
- Mandatory readings:
o Makadok, R., Burton, R., & Barney, J. (2018). A practical guide for making theory contributions in strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 39(6), 1530-1545.
Session 2: Mechanisms and Methods
- Class exercises on Mechanisms
- Some high-level insights on methods and endogeneity
- Mandatory readings:
o Paper by Decreton et al. ¿ working paper on Canvas.
o Cerar, J.; Reiche, S., Nell, P.C. (2025): Critical Look at Hypothesis-Testing Research in International Business: Progress, Pitfalls, and a Way Forward; working paper
o Graebner, M. E., Knott, A. M., Lieberman, M. B., & Mitchell, W. (2023). Empirical inquiry without hypotheses: A question¿driven, phenomenon¿based approach to strategic management research. Strategic Management Journal, 44(1), 3-10.
Session 3: PhD student Presentation 1 and 2
Afterwards (~18:30): Dinner on Campus and Networking
- Participants who are not from Team Nell can join
- Dinner costs: lump sum of EUR 40 to be paid on the first day of the seminar.
- Location tbd.

Friday, October 3, 09:00-18:00
Session 4: Senior Researcher Presentation, 9:00-10:00
o Prof. Dr. Sebastian Reiche, IESE
o Mandatory reading
. Tbd.
Session 5: 10:15-12:00
- Individual presentations of research papers of the PhD or overall PhD projects
o PhD student Presentation 3
o PhD student Presentation 4
Lunch Break Session 6: 13:00-14:45 - Individual presentations of research papers of the PhD or overall PhD projects
o PhD student Presentation 5
o PhD student Presentation 6

Session 7: 15:00-16:45
- Individual presentations of research papers of the PhD or overall PhD projects
o PhD student Presentation 7
o PhD student Presentation 8
Session 8: 17:00-18:00 Wrap UP

Part II: Hybrid seminar series (face-to-face + online option); 90 minutes each.
1. Friday, Oct. 17, 12:00-13:30, PhD student Presentation 9

2. Thursday, Oct. 23, 13:30-15:00, PhD student Presentation 10

3. Thursday, Nov. 06, 09:00-10:30, Senior Researcher Presentation
1. Prof. Michael Etter, Kings College
2. Mandatory reading
. Tbd.

4. Friday, Nov. 14, 12:00-13:30, PhD student Presentation 11

5. Friday, Nov. 28, 15:30 ¿ 17:30, Senior Researcher Presentation: Publishing in AMJ and SMJ
o Prof. Benoit Decreton, Nova Business School
o Mandatory reading
. Decreton, B.; Hittmair, F.; Almeida Costa, A.; Nell, P. C.: ¿Which startups benefit from corporate accelerator participation¿.
o Wrap-Up
o Afterwards: Christmas Dinner in Vienna and Networking
. Participants who are not from Team Nell can join
. Dinner costs: lump sum of EUR 40 to be paid on that day in cash.
. Location tbd.