Course syllabus

Course-PM

TEK600 Digitalisation and society lp2 HT19 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the Department of Technology Management and Economics.

Course is part of the Humans, Technology, Society (MTS) Program.

Contact details

Examiner and course responsible:

Erik Bohlin, erik.bohlin@chalmers.se and tel +46317721205

Teachers

Erik Bohlin (EB), Professor, Chalmers University of Technology, (examiner and course responsible)

Teodosio Pérez Amaral, Professor, Universidad Complutense Madrid

Peter Altmann (PA), PhD, Senior researcher, RISE

Anwesha Chakraborty (AC), PhD, Bologna University

Simon Forge (SF),  Ph.D, SCF Associates

Maude Hasbi (MH), PhD, Chalmers University of Technology

Maria Massaro (MM), Chalmers University of Technology

Christian Sandström (CS), Associate Professor, Chalmers University of Technology

Harald Øverby (HÖ), Professor, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Course purpose

The aim of this course is help students develop basic understanding of economic and governance principles, and analytical skills to conceptualise and critically assess the interplay between digitalisation and society.

Content

This course uses case studies from a wide range of sectors, such as telecommunications, manufacturing, , transport, to explain the ongoing fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0. Digital innovations in products and services, processes and business models have radically changed the way industries work. Next generation industries are characterised by countless interconnected devices, automated processes, and storage, analysis and use of massive amount of data. Students will hear about real experiences of companies which have been changing their business models and strategies to embrace the opportunities brought about by digitalisation. The course also discusses the role of governments and policy makers play to unlock the benefits of digitalisation, and prevent threats and challenges. In addition, this course wants to raise awareness of the complexity of a digital society, by addressing ethical concerns related to privacy, security and sustainability.

Learning outcomes

After completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Describe and analyze the interplay between digitalisation on the one hand and societal change on the other;
• Identify factors that influence digitalisation;
• Describe and analyze the mechanisms of digitalisation;
• Explain and interpret historical processes of digitalisation, and also make forecasts of future effects of digitalisation, both short-term and long-term;
• Describe and analyze theoretical concepts and explanatory models for the interplay between digitalisation and societal change;
• Problematize the societal consequences of digitalisation, then, now and in the future;
• Observe the ethical problems that digitalisation may involve;
• Write argumentative  text

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan

Text vs files: Syllabus, schedule and modules

Find attached the syllabus and schedule files, with the complete information.

For the same text, scroll further below,  and consult the course page modules for detailed information on the assignments. Readings and lectures slides are available in the modules per week. 

TEK600 SP2 2019_2020 - Syllabus-rev 9 Nov-1.pdf

Schedule TEK600, SP2, 2019_20-v 21 Oct.pdf

TimeEdit

Course material

Course literature is available on the course homepage at the start of the course. Lecture slides will be uploaded on the course homepage after each lecture. See applicable week modules for readings and slides. 

Group Registration

Group registration opens at the start of the course. Group registration provides access for the two group-based course assignments (project outline and project report). Each group has maximum of four students, and only one group slot is open per student. The students pick themselves which group they want to join. 

Examination

In order to pass this course, students are required to complete six assignments:

• Project outline;
• Project report;
• Three individual reflections connected to three study visits;
• Take-home

All six assignments are compulsory, which means that only students that deliver all seven assignments can pass the course. Students are asked to complete the first five assignments while the course lectures are ongoing. Only the deadline for the take-home is usually placed after the last course lecture. Project outline and project report are group-based assignments, while the individual reflections and the take-home exam are individual assignments.

These assignments are described below. Furthermore, handouts with additional instructions regarding take-home exam will be distributed during the lectures and later uploaded on the course homepage.

Written assignments have to be uploaded on the course home page, using their specific assignment slots. Deadlines  for uploading assignments on the course home page are mandatory. It is not possible to upload documents after deadlines are passed.

Grading

Each assignment gives students a certain amount of points. Students have to earn a minimum amount of points per assignment in order to pass the course. Minimum and maximum points per assignment are illustrated in Table 1. There are no points associated with the project outline, which, however, needs to be approved by your examiner.

Table 1. Minimum and Maximum amount of points per assignment

ASSIGNMENT	MIN AMOUNT OF POINTS	MAX AMOUNT OF POINTS
Project Outline	Approval	Approval
Project Report	20	50
Take-Home Exam	8	20
Individual Reflection 1	4	10
Individual Reflection 2	4	10
Individual Reflection 3	4	10
Total	40	100

 

The sum of all points earned gives the final grade. The final grade can be FAIL, 3, 4 or 5. The amounts of points which correspond to the various grades are illustrated in Table 2.

 

The sum of all points earned gives the final grade. Please have a look at the table below:

Table 2. Final Grade

SUM OF POINTS	FINAL GRADE
Below 40	FAIL
Between 40-59	3
Between 60-79	4
Between 80-100	5

 

Schedule

TimeEdit

Week	Date	Room	Time	Topics	Lecturer
1	Monday 4 November	SB-L216	09:00-09:45 10:00-11:45	•            Course introduction •            Network society •            Digital policy and regulation	EB
1	Wednesday 6 November	SB-L216	13:15-17:00	•            IT history and forecasting	SF
2	Monday 11 November	SB-L216	09:00-11:45	•            Digital transformation and strategy	HÖ/EB
2	Wednesday 13 November	SB-L216	13:15-16:00	•            Digital disruption	CS
3	Monday 18 November	SB-L216	09:00-11:45	•            Demand and digital services •            Project outlines •            Hand-out of take-home exam	TPA EB
3	Wednesday 20 November	SB-H7	10,00-11.45	•            Digital policy and social inclusion	AC
3	Wednesday 20 November		14:00-16:00	•            Study visit to SKF	AC
4	Monday 25 November	SB-L216	09:00-11:45	•            Blockchain	PA
4	Wednesday 27 November	SB-H7	10:00-11:45	•            Guest lecture with Kari Finnskog on digital transformation in Västtrafik	KF
			14:00-16:00	•            Study visit to Agency for Marine and Water Management
5	Monday 2 December	SB-L216	09:00-11:45	•            5G policy and radio spectrum management	EB
5	Wednesday 4 December	SB-L216	13:15-16:00	•            Broadband economy	MH
5	Friday 6 December	Vasa A	13:15-16:00	•            Ph.D. dissertation public seminar: Radio Spectrum Management in the European Union	MM
6	Monday 9 December	SB-L216	09:00-11:45	•            Study visit SAAB	EB
6	Wednesday 11 December	SB-L216	13:15-15:00	•            Wrap-up •            Take-home exam (handout)	EB
7	Wednesday 18 December	SB-H7	13:15-17:00	•            Group presentations	EB

 

Mandatory Assignments, Deadlines and Max Points

Group-based Assignments	Start Date	Hand-in written part	Oral Part	Max Points
Project Outline	4 November	16 November	18 November	Approval
P. Outline Re-sub.		22 November
Project Report	4 November	17 December	18 December	50
Individual Assignments	Start Date	Hand-in written part	Oral Part	Max Points
Individual Reflection 1	20 November	26 November	No oral presentation	10
Individual Reflection 2	27 November	3 December		10
Individual Reflection 3	9 December	16 December		10
Take-home exam	12 December	10 January		20

 

Make-up Assignment

In order to pass this course, all six assignments have to be completed. For the individual assignments, written texts have to be submitted via the course home page. If one of the written texts is not delivered, students cannot pass the course.

For the group-based assignments, both the written and the oral parts are mandatory for all students. Written texts have to be submitted via the course home page. If one of the written texts is not delivered, students cannot pass the course. Students who cannot participate in the presentation of the project outline or project report are asked to deliver an additional assignment. Make-up assignments are available on the course home page, in the folder “Make-up assignments”. Deadline for uploading make-up assignments on the course home page is 10 January.

Guest Lecturers

At least one guest lecture is usually included in the course programme. Students are kindly invited to participate in guest lectures, for two main reasons: firstly, for the sake of students’ own learning process, which can benefit from experiences and expertise of guest lecturers, and, secondly, as a form of respect towards time and effort of lecturers and administrators of this course. Furthermore, one or more of the six assignments of this course might be centred on the content of guest lectures. Extra guest lectures might be included in the course programme, in addition to the ones already indicated in the course schedule. In case of an additional guest lecture, the schedule will be modified accordingly and students will be informed using the course home page.

This year we have the pleasure to ask the students to join the public defense of Ph.D. dissertation by Maria Massaro, entitled “Radio Spectrum Management in the European Union”. Maria has been a very much appreciated teacher in this course, and the public seminar is directly relevant to the course. You will learn a lot! This will be an opportunity to learn from science in action and also to deepen your knowledge in a specific field.

Study visit

SKF AB (20 November, 14.00)

Hornsgatan 1

Västtrafik example from Chalmersplatsen (https://www.vasttrafik.se/en/travel-planning/travel-planner/)

 

Agency for Marine and Water Management (27 November, 14.00)

Gullbergs Strandgata 15

Västtrafik example from Chalmersplatsen (https://www.vasttrafik.se/en/travel-planning/travel-planner/)

 

SAAB AB

Solhusgatan 10 (9 December, 0900)

Västtrafik example from Chalmersplatsen (https://www.vasttrafik.se/en/travel-planning/travel-planner/)