• It’s your professional, competitive advantage. You can expect to study a unique combination of subject areas ranging from digital business management to leadership skills.
• A unique format. Earn a European MSc degree in just two semesters of full-time study, complemented with a virtual "summer school", and completing a Master's thesis after successful completion of the courses.
• Qualified for business. Our faculty members are leading academics and business professionals and can help you hone your professional, analytical, social, and intercultural skills.
• Personal contact and interaction. As each cohort is only a maximum of 40 students, you have direct, personal contact to the Business School as well as to your fellow classmates.
• A unique learning experience. Our use of advanced interactive and digital educational methods guarantee an enriching, well-coordinated learning experience.

The graduate degree program LIO consists of a pre-term "Summer School" session (remote learning), a 9-month on-site, in-person phase at the JKU (September - June), and successfully completing a Master's thesis between July and September. You decide how you would like to add the electives to your schedule.

Program Information

If you would like to learn more about the Master's degree program in Leading Innovative Organizations, we strongly recommend taking a look at the curriculum. In addition, we have summarized some of the program details separately for you.

We focus on a sound, holistic educational program in management and scientific methodology that includes deeper insight into the following subject areas:

• Organization & Leadership: Strategic organizational design; organizational cultural dynamics; developing creative teams; managing innovation networks; human resource management and development;
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Organization and innovation; entrepreneurial activities for start-up companies and establishing organizations; agile and community-based management approaches; sharing economy; designing innovation processes; modern marketing approaches for the digital age; open strategy
• Digital Economy and Data-Driven Management: Digital business models; programming and data management, business intelligence and algorithms

Program Director Univ. Prof. Dr. Elke Schüßler and Sandra Suleiman, BSc., a student in the program, talk about the LIO program at the Johannes Kepler University:

We provide you with research-driven, experience-based, practice-oriented and corresponding insight that enable you to become a knowledge-broker between current research and business practices, exploitation and exploration, growth and sustainability, as well as individuals, and groups.

• Leadership, Intercultural Management, Group Dynamics: How can I be a better leader? How do I get a team to achieve its goals? How do I deal with employees who have diverse backgrounds and/or different cultural backgrounds?
• Leadership, Innovation and Organization: How can I create an organization that encourages and supports innovation and creativity? How do I lead and manage creative teams and individuals? How can I harness inter-organizational relationships to foster innovation?
• Entrepreneurship: What makes an entrepreneur successful? What are the social impacts of entrepreneurship? In both economic and social terms, how can entrepreneurial ventures remain sustainable?
• Understanding Digital Transformation: What kind of technical, organizational, social, and economic foundations support a digital economy? How exactly do digital business models work? How are digital platforms organized? How can I use big data to make forward-looking management decisions? How is software developed and applied?
• Scientific Methods: How do I develop a research question? How do I find information to support my research? How do I collect and analyze empirical data using accurate, state-of-the-art scientific methods? How do I use scientific methods to improve my ability to systematically address complex real-world issues?
• The Fundamentals of Business Administration: What are the foundations of corporate governance and control? How do I read a balance sheet? What are corresponding financial ratios, particularly in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship? How do I develop a successful strategy involving various stakeholders?
• Analytical Skills: How do I develop programs and data models to support making better decisions and streamline business processes? What kind of software tools can I use effectively to help make decisions and find solutions? What are some heuristics I can use to address specific management situations?

As the graduate degree program Leading Innovative Organizations is primarily intended for driven, ambitious students aspiring to management positions and/or an entrepreneurial career in both the profit and non-profit sectors, we welcome applications from:

• Students who have an academic background in business administration, but also graduates in other majors, and who show a high level of commitment and interest in developing and growing innovative, successful, and sustainable organizations.
• Young professionals who
  • are about to complete a trainee program and who are eligible to take a one-year leave of absence
  • are currently working at a company and are eligible to take a one-year educational leave of absence
  • have professional experience and are looking to change careers

Whether at a start-up company or at large companies, you can use your expertise and acquired skills as:

• a leader responsible for driving innovation in dynamic business departments or divisions
• a project manager or expert in the areas of innovation, business development, and change projects
• a business consultant responsible for organizational and strategic development, either independently or at large consulting firms
• an intrapreneur at companies and at other organizations, such as NPOs, non-profit organizations, social companies, think-tanks, or other interest groups

On average, graduates in this field find a job immediately after completing the program. After 3 years on the job, their average monthly gross salary is € 3.625.

Apply Now - A Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a step-by-step guide to the admissions procedure beginning with entering your personal information to paying tuition fees! We have also summarized all of the important information about the admissions procedure for you.

Program Management

Are you interested in the Master's degree program in Leading Innovative Organizations? Please make an appointment in advance for individual consultation:

Christian Hölzlwimmer
Management Center, 2^nd Floor, 211B
+43 732 2468 3073
lio(at)jku.at

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After successfully completing the Master's degree program, you can opt to pursue a doctorate degree:

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