Program design and contents
Realism in AI
In 6 weeks: from AI hype to realistic value creation in your organization
In the Realism in AI master module, you explore how artificial intelligence truly impacts decision-making, processes, and business models. You examine where AI demonstrably adds value today—in analysis, forecasting, automation, and decision support—and where promises are mostly hype and marketing. The module consistently looks at the interplay between data, technology, organization, and governance.
The learning journey begins with the real capabilities of AI: beyond buzzwords, with concrete applications and critical success factors. Next, you focus on AI’s impact on strategy and value creation: how it changes business models, economies of scale, and market dynamics. Finally, you examine costs and benefits, make strategic trade-offs regarding make-or-buy and platforms, and broaden your perspective to the implications for sectors, the economy, and society.
Over 6 weeks, you complete an online kick-off, three intensive on-campus days, and a deepening phase. The module concludes with an assignment based on your own organization or client case. By combining theory, frameworks, practical cases, and reflection on your context, you develop a clear and realistic understanding of where AI should—and should not—be applied in your organization, and how to translate this into concrete decisions and next steps.
Online kick-off
During the online kick-off, you meet the instructors and fellow participants and receive an overview of the module’s content and structure. You explore your learning objectives and initial ideas for a practical case so that you enter the on-campus days with a clear understanding of the AI challenges you want to assess and apply more realistically.
Day 1 – AI capabilities and concrete applications
The first day explores the real capabilities of AI, beyond the hype. You investigate how organizations use AI to improve processes, support decision-making, and accelerate innovation. Using practical examples, you analyze which applications work, the critical success factors, and where to realistically start within your own organization.
Day 2 – AI’s impact on business and the business of AI
The second day focuses on the strategic impact of AI on business models and value creation. You explore how AI not only optimizes processes but also changes how organizations create value, shape their propositions, and position themselves within ecosystems and value chains. You examine the economic side of AI: investments, economies of scale, returns, and implications for competition and market dynamics.
Day 3 – Costs and benefits of AI and implications for organization and environment
The third day zooms in on financial, organizational, and societal considerations related to AI. You examine how organizations make strategic choices between developing internally or collaborating with external partners (make-or-buy), and the roles of platforms, data ownership, and intellectual property. You then broaden your perspective to sectors and economies: what does AI mean for work, innovation, regulation, and the roles of public and private stakeholders?
Deepening after the on-campus days
After the on-campus days, you work independently with literature, (micro)lectures, and assignments. You apply frameworks and models to your own organizational context, refine your case step by step, and develop a consistent vision of AI’s role in your strategy and operations.
Assessment in your own practice
You complete the master module with an assignment directly connected to your work environment and learning goals. You demonstrate that you can translate the key insights and tools from the module into a concrete and realistic action plan for your organization or client. You leave the module not only with new insights but also with a substantiated AI roadmap and implementation plan that can be applied in practice.
