Curriculum Information

The emergence of the digital economy has unlocked new opportunities for businesses, while simultaneously creating new modes of competition in both ‘traditional’ and new sectors of the economy. Many organisations are becoming increasingly more ‘digital’, in order to capture value from new innovations, by cutting costs, enhancing performance and delivering new services. This has certainly lead to Digital disruption when new digital technologies and business models affect the value proposition of existing goods and services.

Future managers need to be able to appreciate the capabilities of digital technologies, but also the organisational context in which they will be embedded. The challenges and opportunities arising from rapid digital technological change (e.g. Industry 4.0) will vary tremendously depending on business sector/business structure and industry. For example:

• A public sector organisation may be grappling with the balance between efficiency and effectiveness when considering the implementation of e-government activity.

• A SME, may be best placed to benefit from opportunities created by digital disruption, but may be limited by issues relating to logistics and digital payment systems.

• A corporate retailer may have to come up with a strategy for ensuring the integration of an increasing range of channels, including social media.

• A charity may have to develop social media expertise in order to get their voice heard in a very crowded market.

Therefore, the Digital Workplace module will use different business structures/sectors (e.g. public sector, third sector, SMEs, corporate, manufacturing, retailing, service etc.) as a lens to explore key digital technologies and how they impact upon people, organisations and industry sectors.