Technology

The course is a compulsory course in Digital Leadership Master's Programme (N2DGL).

Bachelor’s degree 180 credits including an independent project (degree project) of at least 15 credits or equivalent and English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School or equivalent.

Digital leaders have to make sense of a broad range of interrelated and rapidly evolving subjects, including product design, organizing, governance, and strategizing. In many respects, digital leadership is a social skill. At the same time, the digital economy makes social and technological matters deeply intertwined. Platforms and infrastructures define how we socialize, purchase, work, exercise, etc. Therefore, digital leadership skills require an understanding for the basic premises of digital technology and how they shape human action.

This introductory course discusses what digital technology is, what unique properties it hold, and how these properties can be creatively leveraged for design and innovation. It puts particular emphasis on the concept of generativity. The overall objective is to set the stage for coming program courses, introduce key concepts, and offer hands-on design experience of digital technology. However, the course also aims to make the subject of technology less ‘dramatic’ and build self-confidence among students.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

1. explain the notion of digitalization and compare it with digitization;

2. explain the idea of material agency and relate it to human agency;

Competence and skills

3. assess the generative capacity of a digital innovation environment;

Judgement and approach

4. compare and distinguish the materiality of digital and non-digital technology;

5. evaluate generative features of digital artifact designs.

The course includes lectures, seminars, and workshops, and relies on formative as well as summative assessment. Students are expected to engage actively in discussions and contribute to their own and other students’ learning. A blend of in-person and online teaching is used.

To underline that digital innovation is a practical endeavor, the course includes a design task were students collaboratively explore the materiality of digital technology. It is primarily a formative assignment, where student engage with and recombine digital artifacts to get first-hand experience of generativity.

Language of instruction: English

The course relies on recurring formative tests, integrated in each module. These test are limited in scope and given in relation to readings, lectures, and group discussions. They are designed to capture learning outcomes: #1, #2, #3, #4.

The design task makes a second form of assessment. The design process will be examined in relation to assignment instructions. This examination is designed to capture learning outcomes: #3, #4, #5.

Finally, the course includes a summative, final examination. This assessment is implemented as a combination of multiple-choice questions and open questions. It is designed to capture all learning outcomes.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass (G) and Fail (U). For the grade Pass on the course, Pass is required on all assignments.

After completion of the course the students are to be given the opportunity to participate in a course evaluation electronically. The result of the course evaluation is to be made accessible to the students. The next time the course is given the processed result of the course evaluation is to be presented to the students including possible changes brought about as a result of the course evaluation.

The course cannot be included in a degree together with the course TIA301 Technology, 7,5 hp.