MMM140-Leading in the Digital Organization

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Email: n.morawetz@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

The aim of this module is to explore the role of leadership and frontiers in leadership practice in a pervasive digital environment. The module builds awareness of key digital technologies and discusses their impact on managerial practices, processes and strategies. 

Summary module description:

As digital technology moves from being disruptive to becoming pervasive, the breadth and depth of digital change transforms entire systems of production, management, and governance. 

This poses a dual challenge to leaders who must not only be able to understand how digital technologies continuously reshape their competitive environment and devise strategies to keep their organisation ahead; but also need to be able to continuously rethink organizational processes and their own role within them: What is the role of leadership in an emerging work environment where advances in automation and machine-learning mean that core functions such as organising information flows, delegating and prioritizing work and even high-level decision-making can now be assumed by systems? How does the ubiquity of connected data affect organizational power structures, leadership legitimacy, ethics and governance? How can leaders build a company culture that embraces continuous individual and organizational development? 

Drawing on leading-edge case studies, theory and industry guest speakers, this module critically explores the role and opportunities for leadership in the context of the emerging Digital Organization paradigm. 

Aims:

The aim of this module is to explore the role of leadership and frontiers in leadership practice in a pervasive digital environment. The module builds awareness of key digital technologies and discusses their impact on managerial practices, processes and strategies.

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the completion of this module, students will gain a sound knowledge of digital leadership and building and enabling digital organisations. Specifically, students will be able to: 

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  Understand the evolving digital landscape including key technologies underpinning the Fourth Industrial Revolution such as automation, machine-learning, Big Data, Internet of Things, Cloud Environmental Intelligence, Augmented and Virtual Reality, blockchain etc. 

  
  


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  Understand and critically discuss the changing role of leadership in a pervasive digital environment 

  
  


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  Understand the role of software systems as active actors in shaping organizational information and communication flows, enabling new networks and adhocracies, distributed work patterns, decision-making and governance. 

  
  


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  Understand key concepts of data and predictive data science, and its application in informing and legitimizing leadership decisions. 

  
  

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  Critically discuss the benefits and ethical implications of using data in key leadership functions such as for example setting performance goals, selecting candidates in recruitment, building high-performing teams, etc 

  
  


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  Analyse organizational and managerial processes with regards to their potential for automation, and critically appraise the impact on the nature of work, leadership, company culture and society. 

  
  


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  Understand and discuss digital techniques used by entrepreneurs to rapidly iterate business models and test new processes and products. 

  
  


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  Understand and discuss practices of leading change with respect to embedding digital mindset/culture throughout an organisation and implications for talent development and employee engagement. 

  
  


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  Embedding digital capability 

  
  

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  Understand and critically appraise own behaviour with regards to managing digital productivity, managerial work practice and continuing professional development 

  
  

Additional outcomes:

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  Entrepreneurial skills including networking, team building, creativity and presentation skills  

  
  


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  Baseline knowledge on accessing resources to make your ideas a reality  

  
  


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  Inspiration and confidence to consider creating your own venture as a future career option  

  
  

Outline content:

1. The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Automation, machine learning and digital everywhere 


2. Leading the digital organization: communication, configuration, control and governance 


3. Understanding data, and data-driven decision making for digital leaders 


4. Leadership as practice in algorithm design: designing automated processes 


5. Digital leadership and ethics: key issues and challenges 


6. Leading digitally – the changing role and identity of the leader in the digital organization 


7. Leadership lessons from digital startups: rapid business model innovation and experimentation 


8. Building the digital organization: Facilitating digital competences and culture 


9. Managing yourself: Optimizing own digital productivity 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module is interactive. Sessions are comprised of a combination of formal lectures, case studies, guest speakers and student-led learning sessions. 

A laptop is required for some of the sessions. 

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Essay + Personal Digital Productivity Plan (70%) - Week 32.

Team presentation (30%) - Weeks 27 - contains an element of peer marking.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment by coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 20 September 2019