EEU411 Leading in the Digital Age

• Topics

  Leading in the digital age means more than adopting the latest technologies; it requires rethinking how organizations create value, how leaders make strategic choices, and how core functions adapt to continuous disruption. Organizations that embrace digital change can drive innovation, strengthen customer-centricity, and build resilience, while those that fail to adapt risk becoming irrelevant. This course explores how leaders can navigate the challenges and opportunities in this digital age. In this module, we unpack key concepts, examine disruptive technologies and trends, and analyze the role of leadership and governance:

  • Digital concepts and technologies
  • Digital trends
  • The Digital Manager and Strategy
  • The Digital organization

  The first day, we will uncover what we mean by phenomena such as digitization, digitalization, digital innovation, and digital transformation. We will discuss characteristics of digital technology and how it is deconstructing the value chain.

  On the second day, we will examine different "digital" trends, e.g., trends that drive changes in business models and are enabled by digital technologies, such as digital platform ecosystems, the sharing economy, and AI in business.

  On the third day, we will discuss what it implies to be a "digital manager" and their evolving roles in guiding transformation. We will compare digital business strategies with digital transformation strategies, examine the "digitalization paradox," and use digital maturity models to assess organizational readiness for change.

  On the fourth day, we explore how digital transformation is reshaping core management functions. We analyze its impact on marketing management, financial management, human resources, and supply chain management. This module emphasizes how leaders can align functional strategies with digital opportunities to build integrated, future-ready organizations.

• Learning outcome

  Upon completion of this course, the students can:

  Knowledge

  • Identify relevant and recent research on digital transformation
  • Name emerging digital technologies and digital technology-enabled trends
  • Identify the evolving role of digital managers and business strategies
  • Describe the concept of digital maturity and its relevance for organizations

  Skills

  • Analyse how emerging digital technologies and digital technology-enabled trends might enable organisational change
  • Analyse an organisation’s current digital trends
  • Illustrate how digital transformation impacts marketing, finance, human resources, and supply chain management
  • Evaluate cases where organizations failed or succeeded in adapting to digital transformation

  General competence

  • Understand digitalization, digital transformation, digital trends, and their effect on management

• Teaching

  The teaching consists of online sessions and group work.

  The course is structured in the following four parts:

  Friday 10 April 2026: Digital concepts and technologies

  Saturday 11 April 2026: Digital trends

  Friday 17 April 2026: The Digital Manager and Strategy

  Saturday 18 April 2026: The Digital organization

• Restricted access

  This course is part of the ENGAGE.EU Joint Programme in Digital Transformation. Access is restricted to matriculated students.

  The course is also offered as an Online Exchange Course to students from the ENGAGE.EU alliance (University of Mannheim, the University of Toulouse Capitole, LUISS University, Tilburg University, University of National and World Economy in Sofia, Vienna University of Economics and Busines, Ramon Llull University and Hanken School of Economics).

  Enrollment capacity is limited to 35 students in total.

• Compulsory Activity

  Course approval will be based on the student’s individual, active participation in the course. This includes the student’s attendance (minimum 80%), active participation in plenary and group discussions throughout the course, and the sharing of personal reflections.

• Assessment

  The grade will be based on a term paper written in pre-defined groups of 2-4 students (100%). The groups can choose from different alternative assignments related to the topics addressed in the sessions and in the course literature. More details on the topics and content of the alternative assignments will be announced during the course.

  The term paper should be written in English, and be approximately 15-20 pages, with 1.5 line spacing, Calibri pt.11 font, and normal margins. The assignment for the term paper will be announced in mid-April, and the students have approximately two months to hand in the term paper.

• Grading Scale

  A-F

• Literature

  Mandatory Readings:

  • Selected chapters from Heggernes, T.A. (2024) Understanding the digital in business. Fagbokforlaget, 1st ed.
  • Bygstad, B., & Iden, J. (2024). Digital management in the public sector-a framework. Electronic Government, an International Journal, 20(4), 442-458.