Course Topics
Digital technologies are disrupting organizations of every size and shape all around the world. Assumptions about strategies, processes, operations, finance, and leadership all change. By exploring the what, how and why this course provides a general overview of the scientific contents of digital transformation in a first step. In a second step the course is designed for acquiring professional skills and capabilties. Following the idea of turning threats into opportunities the course develops a practical understanding of managing the digital transformation in order to help organizations to survive and thrive in the digital age. Given the multifaceted nature of digital transformation the course addresses managerial issues related to strategy, processes, technology, innovation, marketing, finance, leadership, and culture in a digitalized economy.

Teaching format
Frontal lectures and team-based project work (case-based)

Educational objectives
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO) ILO 1: KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ILO 1.a The student acquires advanced knowledge and understanding of the models and tools of economic-business analysis for the management of a new enterprise, from the financial and organisational point of view and with respect to the dynamics of growth and development; ILO 2: ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ILO 2.a Ability to acquire and select information that may be relevant from an entrepreneurial point of view, also in economic-productive contexts different from those studied; ILO 2.b Ability to select the tools for the strategy and management of the enterprise, consistent with the enterprise economy models considered appropriate; ILO 2.c Ability to propose and implement strategic and operational courses of action conducive to the creation of a new enterprise; ILO 2.d Ability to acquire and select relevant information to frame cases of innovation (product, service, social, managerial organisational), also different from the studied contexts; ILO 2.e Ability to classify, analyse specific innovations and assess their potential; ILO 2.f Ability to propose and implement strategic and operational courses of action to foster the development of innovations by a company; ILO 3: AUTONOMY OF JUDGEMENT ILO 3.a Acquire the ability to analyse complex entrepreneurial problems, such as the elaboration and evaluation of an entrepreneurial project (business plan) or the development of a new product; ILO 3.b Acquire the ability to make predictions, such as analysing the future consequences of entrepreneurial, managerial and operational choice; ILO 3.c Autonomy of judgement is developed in the training activities carried out for the preparation of the thesis, as well as in the exercises that accompany the lectures and that involve group discussions and the comparison of individual analyses carried out by students in preparation for the lecture. ILO 4: COMMUNICATION SKILLS ILO 4.a Acquire the ability to describe and communicate in an intercultural context, in a clear and precise manner, problematic situations typical of the management of a new enterprise and the development of innovation, such as, for example, the conditions for the validation of a problem or solution, the prospects and risks associated with a business model or an innovation project. The development of communication competences assumes heterogeneous situations such as, for example, the presence of internal stakeholders (e.g. colleagues, managers, owners), or external stakeholders (e.g. potential investors, suppliers and other business partners) and the ability to sustain an adversarial process; ILO 4.b The achievement of these objectives is assessed in the course of the training activities already mentioned, as well as in the discussion of the final thesis. ILO 5: LEARNING SKILLS ILO 5.a Acquire the ability to study independently, to prepare summaries; ILO 5.b Acquire the ability to identify thematic connections and to establish relationships between different cases and contexts of analysis; ILO 5.c Acquire the ability to frame a new problem systematically and to generate appropriate taxonomie; ILO 5.d Acquire the ability to develop general models from the phenomena studied.

Assessment
For attending students: The achievement of the learning objectives is assessed through three outcome measures: • Written exam (45%): A written exam is designed to measure the knowledge of the contents and their deeper comprehension. It consists of approximately 4 to 6 questions of varying weight, to be completed within 60 minutes. (ILOs: 1a, 2c, 2e, 2f, 3a-3c) • Project work (45%): Students will directly apply the knowledge and skills acquired to tackle digital opportunities and transformation challenges through multiple case studies, with three of their choice being graded. The demands of this team-based project work go beyond the mere application of previously learned content. They require the development of a new mix of activities: transitioning from course-prepared to self-directed learning, mastering tools and their practical application, and exercising critical judgment in evaluating various approaches. The outcomes of the group project work will be presented and documented in written case analyses. (ILOs: 1a, 2a-f, 3a-3c, 4a-b, 5a-d) • Class participation (10%): Assessment of participation in class and accompanying project units will relate to oral and written (e.g., team discussions) contributions by students. (ILOs: 1a, 2a-f, 3a-3c, 4a-b, 5a-d) For non-attending students: The achievement of the learning objectives is assessed through a single outcome measure: • Written exam (100%): A written exam is designed to measure both the knowledge of the contents and their deeper comprehension as well as the application of what has been learned. (ILOs: 1a, 2c, 2e, 2f, 3a-3c, 4a-b, 5a-d) NOTE: Project work and classroom contributions are valid for 1 academic year and cannot be carried over beyond that time-frame.

Evaluation criteria
For attending students: The final grade results from the addition of the following partial achievements (1) Written exam (45%), (2) Project work (45%), (3) Class participation (10%) The following evaluation criteria are essential for the assessment: • Correctness and reliability of the statements • Structure and clarity of the statements • Logic and coherence of the statements • Integration and interconnectedness of the learned content • Quality and extent of the research • Choice and application of the learned content • Quality, applicability, and innovativeness of the results • Activity and proactivity regarding the contributions For non-attending students: The final grade results from the (1) Written exam (100%). The following evaluation criteria are essential for the assessment: • Correctness and reliability of the statements • Structure and clarity of the statements • Logic and coherence of the statements • Integration and interconnectedness of the learned content • Choice and application of the learned content • Quality, applicability, and innovativeness of the results