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2026/2027  KAN-CINTO2601U  Digital Business Analysis

English Title
Digital Business Analysis

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Digitalisation, Technology and Communication
Programme MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems
Course coordinator
  • 100%
    Philipp Hukal - Department of Digitalisation (DIGI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Managerial economics
  • Information technology
  • Strategy
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 19-01-2026

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or omissions:
  • Understand and apply value configurations as a resource-based lens to describe four broad classes of business models
  • Use quantitative-descriptive models to assess drivers of cost and value in modern organizations
  • Conduct analysis to provide solutions to questions of effective digital technology use in business
  • Discuss the implications of digital technology use for the economic sustainability on a firm-level of analysis
  • Reflect -- both conceptually and analytically -- on the promises and pitfalls of digital technology for different kinds of businesses.
Prerequisites for registering for the exam (activities during the teaching period)
Number of compulsory activities which must be approved (see section 13 of the Programme Regulations): 3
Compulsory home assignments
The students have to get 3 out of 4 assignments approved in order to participate in the final exam.

Each assignment is max. 3 pages and covers one case related to the four broad business models that will be presented and discussed during classes; (1) a manufacturing firm, (2) a service provider, (3) a multi-sided business, and (4) a commodity resource developer.

Assignment submissions can be completed in groups of 1-5 students.

Each case will require students to address questions using concepts and ideas covered in class as well as quantitative-descriptive analysis using excel spreadsheets.

There will be no additional attempts provided to the students before the ordinary exam. If a student cannot hand in due to documented illness, or if a student does not get the activity approved despite making a real attempt, then the student will be given one extra attempt before the re-exam. Before the re-exam, there will be one home assignment (max. 10 pages) which will cover 3 mandatory assignments.
Examination
Digital Business Analysis:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 1 page
Prior to the oral exam, students will submit a short (1 page) analysis of one out of ten cases presented in class.

The submitted document will draw from the "Value Configuration" Framework by Stabell & Fjeldstad introduced in class an can be of any format (word-file, presentation slide, spreadsheet, etc. ) as well as use any content (text, visuals, tables, etc.) the student deems appropriate for their case analysis.

The page limitation is a firm constraint.
Assignment type Project
Release of assignment An assigned subject is released in class
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
15 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
the re-exam will follow the same procedure as the ordinary exam with a set of ten new cases to choose from will be released by the instructor.
Description of the exam procedure

The oral exam will be a discussion of concepts, ideas, and methods introduced during the semester applied to two cases: 

 

1) the analysis of one of the ten cases chosen by the student and submitted as a written product prior to the oral exam. 

 

2) the analysis of one of the nine cases not chosen by the student. (All cases will be known to students before the exam and the choice of case to be discussed can be made jointly with examiners) 

 

 
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

What creates and captures values in organizations was long determined by firms’ ability to integrate links between personnel, location, assets, and activities -- often under one roof. Digital technology unbundles flows of material and flows of information, thus reconfiguring how firms organize people, things, processes and partners. As a consequence, the firm as the central unit of analysis for understanding economic activity is undergoing fundamental changes.

 

To engage with these issues, this course examines the impact of digital technology on the economics of value creation and value capture in modern organizations. The course applies a resource-based view for a firm-level analysis of how digital technology shapes resource use, access, and availability. Using Stabell & Fjeldstad’s (1998) value configurations framework, the course evaluates the changes to cost structures and revenue drivers in four broad classes of established business models i.e., manufacturers, service providers, network operators, and resource developers.

 

The course will equip students with a deep understanding of the consequences of digital technology use in organizations combined with hands-on analytical skills to quantitatively describe the changes in established business models. 

 
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
  • Teacher’s own research
  • Models
Research-like activities
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
Description of the teaching methods
Teaching will be delivered through a mix of lectures, interactive workshop / case discussions, and hands-on analysis labs. 

During the lectures, instructors will cover core concepts, ideas, and methods necessary to engage the course content.

During interactive workshops and analysis labs, students will apply ideas and concepts covered in class to work on solutions to different cases discussed in class.
Feedback during the teaching period
Verbakl feedback will be given face-to-face during the interactive workshop / lab sessions.

Written feedback will given on the submitted assignments and is available on request.
Student workload
Lectures 20 hours
Interactive Workshops 20 hours
Individual Preparation/Revision of Instruction 20 hours
Reading 50 hours
Mandatory Assignments 80 hours
Preparation for Exam 16 hours
Total 206 hours
Expected literature

The course draws from literature on digitalization and managerial econimics, including but not limited tl:

 

Øverby, H., & Audestad, J. A. (2021). Introduction to Digital Economics: Foundations, Business Models and Case Studies. Springer

 

Stabell, C. B., & Fjeldstad, Ø. D. (1998). Configuring value for competitive advantage: on chains, shops, and networks. Strategic Management Journal, 19(5), 413-437

 

Varian, H. R., Farrell, J., & Shapiro, C. (2004). The Economics of Information Technology: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.

 

Varian, H. R. (2010). Computer Mediated Transactions. The American Economic Review, 100(2), 1-10.
Last updated on 19-01-2026