Introduction to Digital Transformation (MNG287)

This course on Digital Transformation in Management provides a thorough introduction to the implications of digital transformation for the students. We learn what new or enhanced roles and activities digital transformation requires of them. We will take a practical approach and develop an actionable guide that students can take with them into their future careers as managers themselves. With core theoretical grounding, we discuss how the digital transformation imperative requires all organizations to continuously undertake digital business transformation to adapt to ongoing digital disruption and to effectively compete as digital businesses. We also look at the critical roles managers need to play in establishing, facilitating, and accelerating the day-to-day activities required to build and continuously upgrade these capabilities.

Specifically we aim to:

• Explain how digital technology advancements drive digital disruption and why digital business transformation and operating as a digital business are critical to organization survival
• Unpack the different digital business capabilities required to effectively compete as a digital business
• Consider the new or digitally enhanced competencies required of leaders, managers, and their supporting professionals to effectively play their roles in digital transformation
• Discuss how leaders, managers, and their supporting professionals can keep up with digital technology advancements
• Unpack key digital technology advancements, providing a plain language understanding of what they are, how they work, and their implications for organizations
• Enrich with pedagogical features to support understanding and reinforce learning and enable students to compete and thrive in the contemporary business environment.

• Ability to directly transfer their knowledge to practice: Students learn about digital transformation in general and apply the knowledge to the selected company in particular (as part of the course project).
• Ability to analyze micro (market) and macro environments, implement an industry analysis and be able to apply strategic evaluation tools to understand business environment.
• To be able to develop a digital strategy for the company, assess digital risks and defend the proposed recommendations.
• Ability to work in and lead a team virtually and in-person, to present work results in written or oral form, to be able to argue decisions.
• Develop personal and professional abilities, critical thinking, and creativity.