English   Danish

2026/2027  KAN-CPOLV2601U  Global Digital Transformation: Opportunities and Risks

English Title
Global Digital Transformation: Opportunities and Risks

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Autumn, Second Quarter
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Max. participants 80
Study board
Study Board for Global Business and Politics
Programme MSc in International Business and Politics
Course coordinator
  • Faith Hatani - Department of International Economics, Goverment and Business (EGB)
Main academic disciplines
  • CSR and sustainability
  • Globalisation and international business
  • International political economy
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 03-02-2026

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To facilitate learning and achieve a good grade, students should work diligently on the course contents and in-class activities. The main learning objectives are as follows;
  • Explain academic concepts and theoretical frameworks and apply them to the actual context and provide your analysis.
  • Understand the major driving forces and challenges to digital transformation in different contexts, which firms and societies may face.
  • Identify key actors and contextual issues related to digital transformation in the sectors and countries under consideration.
  • Critically analyse how their interactions promote or hinder responsible and sustainable digital transformation.
  • Develop and demonstrate your own arguments and suggest the managerial and policy implications.
  • Structure your arguments/discussions logically and present them in a proper academic style throughout.
Course prerequisites
No prerequisite is required. However, a good understanding of the nexus between business strategy and government policies is preferable. Prior knowledge of international business—particularly, institutional perspectives and global value chains—is advantageous.
Examination
Global Digital Transformation: Opportunities and Risks:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
The detailed guidance/additional rules will be explained during the course. (For general information, please see "Formalia/Formal Requirements" on my.cbs.dk.)
Assignment type Written assignment
Release of assignment The Assignment is released in Digital Exam (DE) at exam start
Duration 7 days to prepare
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the student fails the ordinary exam or is absent due to illuness, a new exam question (different from the ordinary exam) will be given.
Description of the exam procedure

The exam question will indicate a general setting/issue that students must address in their answers. Each student should design their own analytical focus, which must address the exam question directly and clearly. Students are expected to draw upon the course materials and also conduct a literature search to identify additional relevant academic sources for in-depth analysis and discussion. The written work should consistently follow an appropriate academic writing style.

 
 
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

This course provides a critical examination of the advantages and, more importantly, potential risks associated with digital transformation.

 

Digital transformation is a global phenomenon that compels actors at all levels—firms, societies, and nations—to challenge existing paradigms and adopt new practices. While technological innovations offer significant opportunities, they also raise ethical concerns and intensify debates regarding their broader social impacts. Accordingly, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive understanding of both the direct and indirect, as well as the long-term, implications of digital transformation.

 

The diffusion of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, has accelerated across diverse industries and into daily life. This process encompasses not only corporate strategies but also government policies, such as regulatory compliance, governance, and societal adaptation. In the international context, digital transformation also intersects with pressing issues such as cybersecurity, sustainable development, and the persistence of the digital divide, in addition to global competition in the marketplace.

 

Through engagement with theoretical frameworks, such as institutional theory, global value chain analysis, and national innovation systems, this course analyses the multifaceted dynamics of digital transformation across different contexts. The focus of the course is on the normative dimensions, rather than the technical side.

 

 
 
 
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
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
Description of the teaching methods
The course consists of lectures, mini-case studies, discussions, and exercises. Students’ active interactions and knowledge sharing relevant to the course contents will form an integral part of the course.
Feedback during the teaching period
- Oral feedback on in-class activities and discussions.
- Q&A in the Discussion Forum on the Canvas platform.
Students can obtain continuous feedback through proactive participation in class activities. Thus, attendance is important. Students should be well-prepared to participate in each session effectively.
Student workload
Lecture (class participation) 30 hours
Class preparation & reading 134 hours
Exam (including preparation) 42 hours
Further Information

 

 
 
 
 
Expected literature

The main reading materials of this course are academic journal articles, supplemented by reports and case studies, as well as short videos. A complete reading list will be provided in Canvas.

 

The following materials can be useful as background readings:

 

 
 
Last updated on 03-02-2026