Intellectual Outputs | Digital Platform Enterprise

O1: Report on scientific literature on (Digital) Platform Enterprise education (M1-M5)

This activity will analyze and compile the knowledge available in research and project. It serves as a preparation and basis for the focus of the training module (including case studies) and for the guideline for the Digital Platform Enterprise Master program. The report will compile information from a multitude of sources into a novel item of knowledge. The report can be used by other HEIs as a basis for curricular adaptation.

O1/A1: Definition of framework factors for analysis. During this activity, the responsible partner will define a) the keywords for research, b) the research methodology c) the sources for data collection (e.g. EconLit, JSTOR, Science Direct, Scopus, Research Gate etc.), d) the data collection template, e) analysis method and tool. The applied methodology is desk-based research.
O1/A2: Research and collection of data. Based on the framework defined in A1 partners will do the research, collect, and compile the data. The applied methodology is desk-based research.
O1/A3: Analysis of data and collation of report. The partner in charge will analyze the data and compile a first draft of the report.
O1/A4: Review and quality assurance of report. The two contributing partner organizations will review the report and provide their additional input where necessary.
O1/A5: Preparation of final report. The partner in charge will integrate the input from A4 and will compile the final report.

O2: Training methodology for summer schools (M3-M23)

This project result is composed of two training methodologies for summer schools, with the second one including the feedback and improvement suggestions received while applying the first one during summer school in 2023. While the concept of blended mobilities with a prolonged online learning phase and a short intensive presence phase using design sprints has been carefully elaborated during the project preparation, the implementation of the concept within each of the organization and the collation of the appropriate methods and steps to be undertaken during the training will require some testing and evaluation. The training methodology will be translated in all local languages of the partner organizations. The partners will apply agile working methods in the creation of the results of the activities, inspired by SCRUM.

O2/A1: Defining the structure and content of the methodology. This will provide the frame for the partners to provide their input in.
O2/A2: Input to methodology. The partners will prepare their input individually and then co-create the content of the methodology using tools like Padlet or Mural.
O2/A3: Writing the methodology text. The partner in charge will create the first version of the methodology for the summer schools. The partners will check it (in the sense of quality assurance).
O2/A4: Experience report on first methodology test. During the first summer schools, students and teachers will be required to evaluate the summer school via a questionnaire and a focus group. One section of the evaluation will pertain to feedback on the methodology. The partner in charge will prepare the questions for the questionnaire/focus group and will receive the collected data for analysis.
O2/A5: Analysis of feedback, adaptation of methodology. The partner in charge will incorporate the feedback received, will adapt the methodology accordingly and will deliver the final version.
O2/A6: Translation of methodology in local languages. All partners will translate the methodology into their local language.

O3: Training materials for Digital Platform Enterprise module (M5-M32)

The aim of this activity is to create teaching materials available for Digital Platform Enterprise. The materials will give students the theoretical basis to be able to follow the Digital Platform Enterprise module. The materials will be available in local languages, which facilitates the uptake of the participating universities in the regular teaching programs. They will also be made widely available and licensed under a Creative Commons License, which should increase their potential for transfer.

O3/A1: Creating the course outline and designing the learning experiences. This task will include the creation of a coherent topical syllabus based on the findings in O1. All partners will cocreate the course outline and design the learning paths for students. They will employ pedagogical and didactical instruments. Furthermore, they will create the slides template for the course slides and define the min./max. size of the materials.
O3/A2: Creation of training materials. Each partner will create 3 teaching units (each of 90 minutes). At the end, 15 teaching units of 90 minutes will be available, corresponding to a full semester course. The partners will cover the topics according to their competences.
O3/A3: Quality assurance and evaluation. The partners will use peer reviews to ensure the quality of the training materials. In addition, students who participate in the blended mobilities and the summer schools will evaluate the training materials.
O3/A4: Adaptation of the training materials. After the practical testing and the quality assurance, the partners will adapt the materials to better suit the learners’ needs.
O3/A5: Translation of materials in local language. The partners will translate the complete set of materials (15 units of 90 minutes each) in every local language. As a result, the materials will be available in German, Romanian, Bulgarian and Croatian in addition to English.

O4: Case studies (M5-M22)

Digital Platform design and management is a complex topic. Because many students are more inductive than deductive learners, case studies will be an effective technique to enable them to explore how what they have learned applied to real world situations. These cases will be used during summer school, requiring students to answer an open-ended question or develop a solution to an open-ended problem with multiple potential solutions. They will need to work in small teams, share the workload and collaboratively negotiate the best solution to their problem. The DEMO case studies will describe a decisionmaker who is dealing with a question or problem that needs to be solved. The problem will be described in context with supporting data, quoted statement and supporting documents. The case studies will be translated into every local language. The participating institutions will incorporate them in their regular educational activities. In addition, the case studies will be available on the internet on a Creative Commons License as a resource for other educators.

O4/A1: Define the case study framework. This includes: deciding on the case study topics, coordinating them among the partner institutions to avoid overlaps, defining the approach for analysis, which the students should follow when working on the case study solution, defining the case study depth and structure to ensure similar workloads across all case studies, deciding how case discussions will be lead, and how cases will be evaluated.
O4/A2: Develop case and select accompanying reading. Each partner will develop two case studies pertaining to his area of expertise. They will also provide accompanying reading materials, to aid students in their case discussions and solutions.
O4/A3: Test and evaluate the case studies. This activity will be done during the first summer school. Feedback and experience will be subsequently integrated into the case to improve it.
O4/A4: Translate case studies to local language. The partners will translate all cases into each local language.

O5: Joint Industry-Academia Master Guideline for Digital Platform Enterprise (M1-M4)

The work on this Project Result aims to develop a guideline for a Master program about the Digital Platform Enterprise. This is intended as a blueprint (reference curriculum) which the partner universities can gradually adopt and adapt according to their national legislation and organizational frameworks. This guideline will provide HEIs, or institutions interested a curriculum which has been internationally and interdisciplinary developed using an evidence-based methodology, aiming to provide a framework what a best practice education for Digital Platform Enterprise at Master level could mean. Because the guideline can be adapted to local needs and provides a reference for an educational program, European HEIs can use it as a roadmap for their own implementation of a Digital Platform Enterprise Master. Thus, the guideline has a high transferability potential and is expected to have a positive impact in network development between HEIs, who all have a common curricular basis.

O5/A1: Design of a draft Joint IndustryAcademia Master for Digital Enterprise (based on the findings of O1) Methodology: Using co-design methods the HEI partners will develop a reference curriculum which will contain all necessary information for implementation of a curriculum like target group, prerequisite knowledge, competences and skills to be delivered, types of courses, structure, syllabi.
O5/A2: Expert consultation on the Joint Industry-Academia Master for Digital Platform Enterprise Methodology: in order to better assess the transferability of the curriculum in practice the project partners will hold 4 focus group meetings at local/national level (with at least 7 participants each) and also will have at least 12 bilateral/multilateral discussions with industry representatives, HEI management, relevant network partners to collect feedback in a semi-structured manner; subsequently the feedback will be collated and analyzed; the findings will be used to adapt the curriculum accordingly.
O5/A3: Finalization of the Joint Industry-Academia Master for Digital Platform Enterprise. Using co-design methods the partner HEIs will adapt and finalize the reference curriculum based on the results of O5/A2. The result will be a reference curriculum document (English).
O5/A4: Translation of the Joint Industry-Academia Master for Digital Platform Enterprise. The HEI partners will translate the guidelines into local languages to improve visibility and the potential for adoption.

O6: Digital Platform Enterprise learning and design tool (M3-M34)

During the DEMO project student teams need to work mostly online (except during the design sprints) from different locations. They will work also on a complex topic, which has multiple perspectives, interrelated between them on several levels. Being able to create a potential solution needs an environment where designs can be facilitated easily and in a visually clear way, to aid with the complexity of the design but also as a rapid virtual prototype, as physical prototypes are not feasible for the topic of Digital Platform Enterprises. Furthermore, students need to be able to create the design and analysis collaboratively, to integrate data streams and have real time updates and synchronized visuals. The goal is to provide a cloud-based classroom tool to students, which enables them to work collaboratively on platform design and management. A platform canvas (graphic-based design template) including producer and consumer segments, interactions, value propositions for producers and consumers, metrics, cost models, monetization strategies, customer and producer substitutes, facilitation and stimuli will guide the platform design work. The canvas will be connected with a data analytics module (relevant for costs, monetization, and metrics), which will enable students to understand the decision of their managerial decisions for different scenarios. Visualization of data will be done in dashboards. The tool will also integrate teaching and reference material. A recommender system will provide contextual support to the learners during the design process. Guides and FAQs as well as a monitoring module visualizes the learners progress and enables teachers to support learners where necessary via chat functions. The tool is bult on an open-source core and will be made available under a Creative Commons License. It is usable and open to everyone. It can be applied both in an educational context in HEIs but also in a professional training environment.

O6/A1: Specification of the platform design and analysis tool (learning methodologies, personas, graphical design, and technical functionalities): all partner institutions will provide their requirements (functional and non-functional). The specification will be done as use cases (with roles, interactions, functionality descriptions) to make sure that as many usage scenarios as possible are covered and to ensure that the online environment created will not only have all the necessary features but is also a user-friendly environment.
O6/A2: Analysis of existing solutions (both at partner institutions and in general). MIDOR will conduct an extensive analysis of existing technologies, which enable the deployment of the learning tool but also permit integration/export into existing solutions like Moodle or Google G-Suite in order to ensure a long-term sustainability of the project results as well as flexibility in the integration.
O6/A3: Programing/customization of the selected platform to suit the specification of the DEMO partners defined in O6/A1.
O6/A4: Upload of training materials/case studies/reference materials etc.: all partner institutions will populate the platform with their training materials.
O6/A5: Testing of the platform: all partner institutions (both teachers, technicians, and a focus group of 20 students) will extensively test the platform (according to the specification of O6/A1) and give feedback to the developer.
O6/A6: Bug fixing and load tests. The partner in charge will be in charge of fixing the bugs that have been identified and run the load tests to make sure that the platform runs stable for a large number of users.

O7: Scientific/educational papers (M3-M32)

Research-based learning promotes and deepens student competencies and benefits students through activities linked to research. Using a collaborative methodology, the student interacts with his co-workers and with the teacher exchanging ideas and discussing and analyzing scientific advances or proposing on their own contributions to the state of the art of specific disciplines. It also teaches students how to systematically research a problem, formulate a research strategy, propose hypotheses and validate/invalidate these through research. The participating students will be able to transfer the competence and skills acquired during this activity to their professional life and for preparing their Master thesis.

07/A1: Select participating students. Each partner will select a group of students from the first summer school or from the second round of blended mobility. The selection criteria will be defined in the context of the training and teaching activities and communicated widely among students.
O7/A2: Initial session to define and structure topic. Each teacher will have a bilateral session with his/her team to define the topic of the research paper. It is intended to link the papers to case study topics, to enable students to have a better understanding of the topic. The teacher will also provide initial guidance to relevant literature and methodologies for doing research.
O7/A3: Ongoing mentorship and feedback on paper. Teachers and teams will meet regularly to discuss the progress of the papers. Teachers will provide guidance on how to improve the papers. The timeframe for the realization of the paper is ca. 8 weeks.
O7/A4: Final review and submission of paper to a scientific/educational conference Teachers will review and provide feedback for correction before submission of the papers.
O7/A5: Integrating reviewer feedback and submission for publication. Teams and teachers will work in adapting the feedback of the reviewers into the paper.