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2023/2024  KAN-CINTO1017U  Advanced Strategic Information Management

English Title
Advanced Strategic Information Management

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as elective)
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Attila Márton - Department of Digitalisation (DIGI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Information technology
  • Organisation
  • Strategy
Teaching methods
  • Online teaching
Last updated on 31-01-2023

Relevant links
Learning objectives
By the end of the course students should demonstrate an ability to
  • describe concepts of digital ecosystems
  • elaborate on strategic approaches to digital ecosystems orchestration and illustrate them with examples
  • apply ecosystemic concepts to challenges of strategic information management
  • compare and contrast theories and concepts
  • assess and criticize the scope of theories and concepts as well as their relevance for practice
Examination
Advanced Strategic Information Management:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Release of assignment Subject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Students can submit the same assignment or they can choose to submit a revised assignment.
Description of the exam procedure

The written assignment is case study project and is "free" to be written throughout the semester.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

In today’s digital economy, information management has evolved into a strategic necessity for orchestrating radically complex and wide-reaching digital ecosystems. Hence, this course is not about how to program or manage databases for purposes of operational efficiency. Rather, we focus on alternative viewpoints on digital strategizing that are more appropriate for the challenges posed by an emerging digital world. To this effect, we focus on the notion of digital ecosystems by combining ecological and systemic thinking (e.g. resilience, system dynamics) with key concepts of digitalization (e.g. platforms, digital innovation) into a contemporary framework of strategic information management. As a result, students will learn new approaches to digital strategizing in the 21st century and how they, as digital ecologists, can orchestrate (digital) ecosystems in favour of sustainable growth and adaptive capacities rather than reckless blitzscaling.

 

This course is purposefully designed to address all nine core values of CBS, as it...

  1. places digitalization in the broader context of contemporary socio-ecological developments;
  2. conveys analytical skills of systemic thinking and causal feedback loops to engage with the rising complexity and ambiguity of (digital) ecosystems;
  3. discusses socio-ecological challenges of digitalization and how to resolve them;
  4. demystifies the delusion of maximizing profits through competition as the only purpose of business in order to understand the wider repercussions of digitalization for society and ecology;
  5. forefronts ethical dilemmas of quick-fixing symptoms with digital technology vs. addressing underlying root problems;
  6. engages students to be critical about digitalization and its runaway dynamics from an ecosystemic perspective;
  7. challenges students to think long-term and holistic about the impact of digitalization and digital strategy;
  8. offers the option for students to collaborate on weekly exercises and provide peer-feedback;
  9. invites students to think systemically with regards to digital strategy and how its local implementation can have global consequences.
Description of the teaching methods
Based on the principles of student-centred learning, the methods will be primarily geared towards self-directed learning, mixing pre-recorded mini-lectures with interactive discussions, quizzes, collaborative exercises and podcasts.
Feedback during the teaching period
Students receive continuous feedback (a) from the teacher by attending seminars and online discussion fora and (b) from fellow students by participating in group exercises and peer-feedback. At the end, the course offers a series of workshops, in which students get feedback on their projects. Finally, the teacher is also approachable in their office hours.
Student workload
Lectures 24 hours
Workshops 6 hours
Preparation for Lectures 48 hours
Preparation for Workshops 14 hours
Preparation of Project Report 90 hours
Preparation of Exam 24 hours
Total 206 hours
Expected literature

Examples of expected readings. Students are advised to find the final literature list on Canvas.

 

Márton (2021) Steps toward a digital ecology: Ecological principles for the study of digital ecosystems. Journal of Information Technology. Online First: https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1177%2F02683962211043222.

 

Mikołajewska-Zając et al. (2021) Couchsurfing with Bateson: An Ecology of Digital Platforms. Organization Studies. Online First: https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1177%2F01708406211058628.

 

Ens and Márton (2021) “Sure, I saw sales, but it consumed me”. From Resilience to Erosion in the Digital Hustle Economy. New Media & Society. Online First: https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1177%2F14614448211054005.

 

Holling (2001) Understanding the complexity of economic, ecological, and social systems. Ecosystems 4(5): 390-405.

 

Jacobides et al. (2018) Towards a theory of ecosystems. Strategic Management Journal 39(8): 2255-2276.
Last updated on 31-01-2023