Digital Transformation

Course Director: Bomi Kim

Content
This course sits at the intersection of innovation and digital technology and aims to offer a broad understanding of how organizations undergo digital transformation of work and business. Through the incorporation of organizational and strategic perspectives, exposure to real-life case studies, and the exploration of broader societal and ethical considerations related to digital transformation, the course effectively prepares students for leadership roles in the rapidly evolving business landscape.

This course provides students with conceptual vocabulary and frameworks to understand how emerging digital technologies such as robots, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence tools impact organizational processes, products, and strategies. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge by analyzing and consulting on a real-life digital transformation case through an engaging live project with a partner organization.

Format and structure
The course draws on the “flipped classroom” model, where most individual reading and learning takes place outside of the course sessions, while the sessions focus on interactive learning and group work, with coaching from the teacher. Because the course is designed to foster student learning through in-class participation and interaction, attendance and active participation are crucial for students to develop an understanding of the course contents and accomplish the intended learning outcomes.

The course sessions are made up of lectures, guest lectures, and live project consultations. The lectures and guest lectures are designed to comprehensively address what digital transformation is, how it occurs, and what are its implications, as well as to acquaint students with various cases that encompass key digital technologies and industries related to digital transformation. The lectures combine theoretical literature with practical cases, while the guest lectures are intended to introduce students to real-life tales of digital transformation more from a practitioner angle and some of the course sessions will include hands-on group exercises and case-based learning. Finally, to support students with the live project, which runs parallel to the course sessions, the course also offers consultation sessions.

Course Administrator: Titus.Mathew@hhs.se

After successfully completing the course, students should be able to:

• Understand the pervasiveness of digitalization and digital technologies, and critically assess their implications for organizational processes, products, strategies, as well as everyday life and society at large.
• Grasp key emerging digital technologies and articulate their functions, characteristics, use cases, and value for organizations in different industries and contexts.
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the key theoretical concepts and frameworks discussed in the course and their relations with digital transformation.
• Design and implement change initiatives that drive digital transformation, considering organizational contexts and prerequisites.

General entry requirements

Each module consists of around 3 mandatory articles and supplementary materials that will be made available on Canvas.

Assignments and examination

Group assignment

To foster practice-based learning, this course offers students an opportunity to engage in a case study with a Partner Organization. The case study aims to help students apply and enrich their knowledge and understanding of digital transformation and their implications for work and business.

The report should demonstrate a) your understanding of the key concepts, frameworks, and perspectives introduced in the course, b) your ability to relate these concepts, frameworks, and perspectives to one another, and c) your ability to creatively apply these concepts, frameworks, and perspectives in different contexts.

Active participation

While there is no mandatory attendance (except for the in-class project presentation session, although attendance is strongly encouraged), each student’s active contributions to class sessions will be noted and combined when forming the final grade.

Individual essays

Two individual essays will cover all course materials, including readings and the topics discussed in class. You will be asked to answer one or more questions that assess your ability to critically evaluate, apply, and build on the course materials. The essays will be open-book, but will have a time constraint to reward prior familiarity with the materials.

More information about the examination will be provided in the syllabus.

Composition of the final grade

• Active participation (ILO 1-4): 15 points
• Group assignment (ILO 3-4): 45 points
• Individual essays (ILO 1-3): 40 points

Total: 100 points

Find the course schedule in TimeEdit

Have you been granted educational support because of a documented disability? If so, please contact the course director as soon as possible so that adequate accommodations can be made.

Contact specialneeds@hhs.se if you have questions about being granted educational support or need a copy of your educational support certificate.

For more information, visit the Specific Educational Needs page on the Student Hub (login required).