SM9737 - Digital Business Challenge

An interactive approach to lecture sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of participation, both individually and within small teams. You can expect the reflective-practitioner approach to learning to be embedded in all lecture sessions. Your teams will be supported via seminars as they come up with solutions to each challenge.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and working with your teams on each of the challenges. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to the subject area.

The first challenge will occur as part of an intensive residential experiential learning event. This will provide you with opportunities to interact in group-based activities with your peers on the programme. The individual work, alongside the skills incrementally developed during the first 3 challenges will all contribute towards the final challenge, which you will be assessed on.

Formative feedback will be provided to you as part of the residential learning event and during the challenges.

The module takes place across the whole first semester. Every two weeks the focus will change, so after the initial introductory lecture and residential, you can expect a lecture and seminar every week, with 2-weekly blocks focusing on: ethical issues related to digital business and innovation, organisational barriers related to adoption of digital business, characteristics of digital innovation, digital market and industry structure, and/or digital governments and digital public services. These sessions will incrementally build upon each other, supporting you with your final assessment.

The teaching is supported by a teaching and learning plan which sets out independent learning, directed study, session recordings, reading and activities prior to, and for, each of those sessions. All learning and teaching materials are available to you in various formats on our Electronic Learning Platform. As well as developing your digital mindset, we also want you to develop your skills of critical evaluation. To this end, there will be an early essay based assessment, which will help you understand the level required for assessments in other modules.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading and preparation for interactive activities. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to the subject area.

Formative feedback will be provided to you during seminars and based on your self-reflection and work on the challenges. Formative feedback helps you to reflect on your progess in developing your capabilities as well as ensuring that you understand the assessment criteria and tutor expectations.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Develop an understanding of the key challenges businesses face in leveraging the advantages/benefits of digital business. (MLO1)
• Appreciate the roles of social, cultural, and organisational aspects for a successful digital transformation. (MLO2)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Demonstrate ability to work in culturally diverse groups and teams and make appropriate and personal contributions to team effectiveness. (MLO3)
• Skills of critical and systemic thinking. (ML04)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Have critically reviewed the development of inter-personal and intra-personal skills in relation to digital competencies. (MLO5)

Formative Assessment:
The formative assessments will be provided during weekly seminar sessions. [MLO1, 2, 4 and 5]

Summative Assessment:

The module will be assessed by an individual essay and a team presentation.

In the first assignment you will critically reflect upon digital mindset and your digital business capabilities. [MLOs 1, 3 and 4]

In the second assignment your team will present the solution to challenge. [MLO 2, 4 and 5] (30 minute presentation)

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This module uses digital business challenges to develop your professional mindset, capabilities and attributes. Each challenge will involve you working in teams to achieve specified aims and will focus around contemporary real world socio-economic digital problems identified in the local community, internationally and within the business community. During the module you will analyse your digital mindset and capabilities and develop key skills around digital business learning. This will set the foundation for professional life following graduation and set you up for personal and professional learning during and after the programme.

An interactive approach to lecture sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of participation, both individually and within small teams. The reflective-practitioner approach to learning is embedded in all sessions. Your teams will be supported via seminars as they come up with solutions to each challenge.