English   Danish

2025/2026  BA-BDMAO2024U  Technology and Societal Transformations

English Title
Technology and Societal Transformations

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as elective)
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Service and Markets
Course coordinator
  • Mikkel Flyverbom - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Main academic disciplines
  • Information technology
  • Methodology and philosophy of science
  • Sociology
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 27-06-2025

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • develop, formulate and design an academic analysis of the intersection of digital technology and social transformations
  • develop a research question and research design for a project on digital technology and society
  • argue for the relevance of the chosen theories for the focus of the paper
  • use theories about digital technology and societal transformations from the course readings as a starting point for empirical research
Examination
Technology and Societal Transformations:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 15 pages
Assignment type Project
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 external examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Taking an encompassing and interdisciplinary approach to the study of technological and socio-political transformations, this course brings together a range of theoretical and analytical perspectives. The course both zooms out to offer more theoretical accounts of digitalization and datafication, and zooms in on the importance of theory in empirical and strategic work.

This course focuses on questions about the intersection of technology and societal transformations and offers students an opportunity to develop, formulate and design an academic analysis based on a research question of their own choice. The course provides an overview of theoretical discussions about digital transformations and societal developments, and uses these as a starting point for developing research questions, project designs and theoretical and methodological frameworks for the study and analysis of digital transformations. The focus on linking theories to research project design and analysis means that the course opens up questions about research methods and theories of science.
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • New theory
  • Teacher’s own research
Research-like activities
  • Development of research questions
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
  • Students conduct independent research-like activities under supervision
Description of the teaching methods
The course is organized around theory-focused lectures, student-led discussions and more operational and practical parts, where we focus on the development and design of empirical projects and research strategies. On top of these, the course contains a number of workshops focusing on students' own projects.
This course is interactive and case-based, and will involve extensive participation by students.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback is an integrated part of the course, and students will get feedback on both their ideas for written the exam paper and in the class discussions, as well as supervision on how to carry out the exam assignment.
Feedback takes the shape of the lecturer commenting on class discussions, and students offering feedback to each other. Also, students receive feedback on their ideas for exam assignments. Finally, the lecturer is available for office hours if students have further questions or need for feedback.
Student workload
Readings 130 hours
Course participation 30 hours
Exam preparations 46 hours
Expected literature

Bandinelli, C., & Gandini, A. (2022). Dating Apps: The Uncertainty of Marketised Love. Cultural Sociology, 16(3), 423-441. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1177/​17499755211051559

Ess, Charles (2020) Digital Media Ethics, London: Polity (selected chapters)

Flyverbom (2019) The Digital Prism: Transparency and Managed Visibilities in a Datafied World, Cambridge University Press

Hjarvard (2017): Mediatization: Critical Theory Approaches to Media Effects, in The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects, edited by Rössler, Hoffner, and van Zoonen, Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell

Jarrahi, M. H., Lutz, C., & Newlands, G. (2022). Artificial intelligence, human intelligence and hybrid intelligence based on mutual augmentation. Big Data & Society, 9(2).

Katzenbach, C. & Ulbricht, L. (2019). Algorithmic governance, Internet Policy Review, volume 8, issue 4

Leybold, M., & Nadegger, M. (2023). Overcoming communicative separation for stigma reconstruction: How pole dancers fight content moderation on Instagram. Organization, 0(0). https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1177/​13505084221145635

Mejias and Couldry (2019) Datafication, Internet Policy Review, volume 8, issue 4

O’Neil (2016) Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy, New York: Crown

Rienecke, Jørgensen and Skov (2017) The Good Paper, Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur

Sobieraj, S., & Humphreys, L. (2021). Forced Empowerment and the Paradox of Mobile Dating Apps. Social Media + Society, 7(4). https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1177/​20563051211068130

Savigny (2013): Chapter 2. The Media, Political Participation and Empowerment, London: Routledge

Treem Jeffrey W. & Leonardi Paul M. (2013) Social Media Use in Organizations: Exploring the Affordances of Visibility, Editability, Persistence, and Association, Annals of the International Communication Association, 36:1, 143-189, https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1080/​23808985.2013.11679130 

West (2019) Data Capitalism: Redefining the Logics of Surveillance and Privacy, Business & Society, Volume: 58 issue: 1, page(s): 20-41

Zuboff (1985) Automate/Informate: The Two Faces of Intelligent Technology, Organizational Dynamics, 14(2), 5–18

 
Last updated on 27-06-2025