Digital Transformation (DT, or DX) is one of the most important aspects of our time. Humans (i.e. end-users, customers, employees, citizens, etc.), communities, cities, environments, governments, enterprises, corporates, industries, organisations, societies and economies are affected (transformed, reconstructed) by digital transformation.

This course covers the following topics:

• The main concepts of digital transformation such as "digital", digitisation, and digital transformation,
• Opportunities and challenges of digital transformation,
• Future-ready corporates,
• Pathways to digital transformation,
• IT strategies, digital transformation management
• Emerging trends and digital disruptions (e.g. Cloud Computing, 5G Mobile broadband, 3D printing, Automation and Robotics, AI and data analytics), with a focus on:
  • Internet of things (IoT), 
  • Machine learning, 
  • Cognitive computing,
  • Blockchain,
• The European Next Generation Internet (NGI), 
• Human-centric digital transformation, end-user empowerment, responsible computing 
• Security, privacy, lawfulness (the GDPR, ePrivacy, etc)
• Transparency, understandability, and accountability in digital transformation,
• Pluralism, inclusion, and fairness in digital transformation,
• Ethical and value-based digital transformation 
• Actor–network, co-production, and socio-technical imaginaries in digital transformation
• Sustainable digital transformation

A set of case studies will discuss the challenges of implementing this emerging practice.

The focus of the course is on theoretical concepts as well as practical knowledge on digital transformation. The structure, flow, modularisation of the content, and the case-based nature of the course allow the participants to engage intensively and closely with the target topics. 

After attending this course, students will be able to understand, describe and evaluate the state-of-the-art development in the area of digital transformation and its potential for corporates, as well as end-users, and societies.

Attendance in class is mandatory

• Courses: Course I of the SBWL: Foundations in ICT (Grundzüge der ITK) for WU students attending the specialisation - this is a fixed restriction in the SBWL that cannot be waived under any circumstances!
• Administrative: Registration in the LPIS, attendance and participation (quiz) in the first unit

Please note:

• The number of available places is limited and there is often a list of students waiting for free places. If you have signed up for the course and during the registration period find out you will not attend, please remove your name from the list via LPIS. This will make your place available to others.
• The assignment of available places in the course is based on the „first-come, first-served" principle.
• The participation in the first unit is mandatory; students who fail to come lose their place in the course. This place will be allocated to students in the waiting list who come to the first session according to the waiting list order. Students can excuse themselves from the first unit by contacting the instructor with a valid reason; they can only keep their place if the reason for missing the first unit is serious and will concern only the first unit.