MANAGING IT IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Christoph Mueller-Bloch

Introduction

L’esprit pionnier
ABOUT ME

• Christoph Mueller-Bloch
• Assistant Professor of Informa8on Systems,
Decision Sciences & Sta8s8cs
• Before joining ESSEC:
• Ph.D. from the IT University of Copenhagen
• Visi9ng Scholar at NYU Stern School of Business
• M.S. from Copenhagen Business School
• B.S. from the University of GöDngen

• Teaching and research on blockchain,

cryptocurrencies, social media

2
GOALS OF THIS SESSION

After this session, you should be able to…

• understand the teaching philosophy of this course
• memorize the rules of the course
• describe the learning goals of this course
• explain why these goals are important for you
• explain the general structure of the course and the content
of the different sessions
• explain what information systems (IS) and digital
transformation are
• describe relevant IS topics in the digital age

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Teaching
Philosophy
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: CONSTRUCTIVE ALIGNMENT

Tell me and I will forget,

Show me and I may remember,
Involve me and I will understand.

9
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: CONSTRUCTIVE ALIGNMENT

Learning
Goals

Constructive
Alignment

Teaching
and
Assessment
learning
activities

10
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: CONSTRUCTIVE ALIGNMENT

Explicitly stated at the

Learning beginning of each
Goals lecture: Describing,
applying, evaluating,
creating, etc.

Constructive
Alignment

Teaching
and
Assessment
learning
activities

11
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: CONSTRUCTIVE ALIGNMENT

Explicitly stated at the

Learning beginning of each
Goals lecture: Describing,
applying, evaluating,
creating, etc.

Construc8ve
Alignment

Teaching
and
Assessment
learning
activities

12
TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES

• In each session, we will have lecturer input (video and/or lecture) in the
form of…
• models/frameworks/theories
• summary of research findings
• These inputs will …
• provide you with some information systems and digitization background
• facilitate communication with others
• give you the tools to structure your own thinking
• Enable you to dig deeper into phenomena and understand why things
happen
• In each session, you will have to apply knowledge through participative
approaches such as
• group assignments
• in-class discussions
• Overall, participative approach:
• Share ideas, thoughts, and experiences
• Creation and (critical) evaluation of content with your input (co-creation)

13
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: CONSTRUCTIVE ALIGNMENT

Learning
Goals

Constructive
Alignment

Teaching
and
Assessment
learning
activities

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ASSESSMENT

• What is assessed?
• Degree of learning goal achievement
• Important: Not just describing but also applying,
evaluating, creating!
• Grading
• EXAM: 45% for a written online exam (Moodle online quiz
with both closed and open questions)
• ESSAY: 20% for after-class group assignment
• GROUPWORK: 15% for the in-class group assignments
(assignment / presentation / discussion)
• ORAL PARTICIPATION: 20% for in-class participation

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Course Rules
BEHAVIORAL RULES

• Your presence is mandatory

• No more than 1 class missed  no validation
• No need to excuse yourself  no negotiation
• Be on time
• Our sessions start on time
• Be back from the break in time (exact time announced
individually before each break)

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EXPECTED BEHAVIOR

• Participate actively (questions, comments, opinions, experiences,

etc. always welcome)
• Take notes (slides will be uploaded before class)
• Come prepared (watch videos, prepare readings, etc.)
• If you have a problem, ask for help quickly
• Bring your own device (laptop, tablet, etc.)
• Feedback is always welcome

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MOODLE

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MOODLE--SIGNIFIERS

This means you should take care of

this BEFORE class

This means we will work on this

DURING class. No need to prepare or
even take a look at.

This means you take care of this

AFTER class.

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 COURSE CONTENT—TOPIC AREAS AND SESSIONS

Topic Date Time Prepare*

1 Introduction & Digital Transformation February 19 09.00-12.00 Video 1

2 Managing the Digital Transformation: IS strategy and the Digital February 19 13.15-16.15 Videos 2+3
Matrix
3 Managing IT Vendors: IS Sourcing, Cloud Computing, and Sourcing February 20 09.00-12.00 Nothing
Governance
4 Managing IT projects: Classic and agile IS project management I February 20 13.15-16.15 Reading assignments

5 Managing IT projects: Classic and agile IS project management II February 21 09.00-12.00 Nothing

6 Managing through Enterprise IS February 21 13.15-16.15 Nothing

7 Managing through Analytics: Utopian promises vs dystopian February 22 09.00-12.00 Videos 4+5+6 & Reading
surveillance Assignments

8 Managing platforms and ecosystems + Exam prep February 22 13.15-16.15 Videos 7+8+9

9 Managing Platforms and ecosystems + Wrap-up February 23 09.00-12.00 Nothing

10 Final Exam February 23 13.15-16.15

*see Moodle for details

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GROUP ASSIGNMENTS

• You will be randomly assigned to a fixed group

• Random assignment to maximize diversity of experiences
• Important: No switching between groups
• Groups will work on…
• In-class group assignments
• After-class group exam assignment
• Details about assignments are announced in class and via
Moodle.

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 ?
What do you expect from this
course?
What this course
is about
COURSE CONTENT—TWO BROAD TOPIC AREAS

Managing IT in the Digital Age

Managing Managing
of IS through IS

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COURSE CONTENT—TOPIC AREAS AND SESSIONS

Part Topic

1 Introduction & Digital Transformation

1 Managing IT in the Digital Age 2 Managing the Digital Transformation: IS
2 strategy and the Digital Matrix
3 Managing IT Vendors: IS Sourcing,
Cloud Computing, and Sourcing
4 Governance
3 4 5 6 7 Managing IT projects: Classic and agile
5 IS project management I
8 Managing IT projects: Classic and agile
Managing Managing
IS project management II
of IS 9 through IS 6 Managing through Enterprise IS
7 Managing through Analytics: Utopian
promises vs dystopian surveillance
8 Managing platforms and ecosystems I +
Exam prep
10
9 Managing platforms and ecosystems II
(+buffer)
10 Final exam

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HOW THIS COURSE WILL HELP YOU SUCCEED IN YOUR CAREER

• Ubiquity of IT in today’s workplace (IT projects, IT applications, IT

essential for any product/service)  computer/IT literacy as key
competency
• You will be managing the digital transformation  new skills
required
• IT & technology skills are among the Top10 skills employers look
out for (Forbes 2019)
• Several IT-related business skills are among the “Top 10 high
income skills” (LinkedIn, Most in-demand skills)
• (6) Mobile application development (105k)
• (5) UX-Design (80-110k)
• (2) Artificial Intelligence (130k)
• (1) Cloud Computing (200k)

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COURSE CONTENT—TOPIC AREAS AND SESSIONS

Part Topic

1 Introduction & Digital Transformation

1 Managing IT in the Digital Age 2 Managing the Digital Transformation: IS
2 strategy and the Digital Matrix
3 Managing IT Vendors: IS Sourcing,
Cloud Computing, and Sourcing
4 Governance
3 4 5 6 7 Managing IT projects: Classic and agile
5 IS project management I
8 Managing IT projects: Classic and agile
Managing Managing
IS project management II
of IS through IS 6 Managing through Enterprise IS
7 Managing through Analytics: Utopian
promises vs dystopian surveillance
8 Managing platforms and ecosystems I +
Exam prep
10
9 Managing platforms and ecosystems II
(+buffer)
10 Final exam

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Information
Systems
 INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Employees,
People managers, etc.

Information
System

Manufacturing,
Technology Tasks marketing, sales,
accounting, R&D, etc.

Information Technology (IT)

• Software, Hardware
• Techniques, Methods, Tools
• Algorithms, programming languages, etc.

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INFORMATION SYSTEMS

People

Information
System

Technology Tasks

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The Digital
Transformation
 ?
What is the Digital
Transformation and Why Does
it Matter?
THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION—DEFINITION

Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology

(often referred to as SMACIT) into all areas of a business
resulting in fundamental changes to how businesses operate
and deliver value to customers.

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THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION—SMACIT TECHNOLOGIES

Internet
Social Mobile Analytics
Testo
Testo Cloud
Testo
Testo of Things

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THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION—DEFINITION

Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology

(often referred to as SMACIT) into all areas of a business
resulting in fundamental changes to how businesses operate
and deliver value to customers.

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 KEY OBJECTIVES OF DIGITAL BUSINESS STRATEGY IN
ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE AS OF 2019

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0%

Create better customer experiences 67%

Improved process efficiency through automation 53%

Drive new revenue 48%

Staying ahead/on pace with competition 47%

Keep up with customer expectations 45%

Reduce complexity 45%

Improve security 42%

Improve employee productivity 23%

Maintain overall revenue, give market shifts 22%

Improve staff retention rates and team morale 11%

Note: Worldwide; 2019; 702 Respondents; survey respondents are within

organizations that have plans to adopt/or already launched a "digital first"
approach
Further information regarding this statistic can be found on page 8.
Source(s): IDG Research Services; ID 1017623

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 EXPECTED PACE OF CHANGE IN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Significant increase Some increase

120.0%

100.0%

59% 38% 43%

80.0%
Share of respondents

60.0%
62%
57%
40.0%
41%
20.0%

0.0%
Americas Europe Asia Pacific

Note: Worldwide; 2020; 302 Respondents; Majority of respondents are C-suite

executives (CIOs and senior IT executives) from organizations with at least 2,000
employees
Further information regarding this statistic can be found on page 8.
Source(s): Flexera Software; ID 1106132

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 WORLDWIDE SPENDING ON THE TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES
THAT ENABLE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

4.00

3.50 3.40

3.00 2.92
Revenue in trillion U.S. dollars

2.51
2.50
2.16

2.00 1.85
1.6
1.50 1.31
1.18
0.96 1
1.00

0.50

0.00
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022* 2023* 2024* 2025* 2026*

Note: Worldwide; 2019 to 2026

Further information regarding this statistic can be found on
page 8.
Source(s): IDC; Statista estimates; ID 870924

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THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION—DEFINITION

Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology

(often referred to as SMACIT) into all areas of a business
resulting in fundamental changes to how businesses operate
and deliver value to customers.

It matters because it…

• …promises fundamental changes in how businesses are
operated and deliver value to customers
• …operates at fast pace and requires fast responses
• …entails major investments
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IN-CLASS REFLECTION:
Characteristics of Change
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS ABOUT COMPLEX CHANGE

 Bob Dylan – The times they are a changing’

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90WD_ats6eE
 Think about:
 What fundamental truths about change does the song reveal?
 And how may these apply to the Digital Transformation?
 Lyrics: next page

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LYRICS

Come gather 'round, people Will be he who has stalled

Wherever you roam The battle outside ragin'
And admit that the waters Will soon shake your windows
Around you have grown And rattle your walls
And accept it that soon For the times they are a-changin‘
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin' Come mothers and fathers
And you better start swimmin' Throughout the land
Or you'll sink like a stone And don't criticize
For the times they are a-changin‘ What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Come writers and critics Are beyond your command
Who prophesize with your pen Your old road is rapidly agin'
And keep your eyes wide Please get out of the new one
The chance won't come again If you can't lend your hand
And don't speak too soon For the times they are a-changin‘
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who The line it is drawn
That it's namin' The curse it is cast
For the loser now The slow one now
Will be later to win Will later be fast
For the times they are a-changin‘ As the present now
Will later be past
Come senators, congressmen The order is rapidly fadin'
Please heed the call And the first one now
Don't stand in the doorway Will later be last
Don't block up the hall For the times they are a-changin'
For he that gets hurt

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IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT
GO TO MOODLE FOR DETAILS ABOUT THESE ASSIGNMENTS

• GroupA-GroupD: Do the “IN-CLASS reading assignment:

Sloan Management Article”
• GroupE-GroupH: Do the “IN-CLASS reading assignment:
McKinsey Quarterly Article”
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

• Teaching Philosophy: Constructive Alignment

• General structure of the course: Digitization as a bracket to delve into
the newest developments around to topic areas:
• (1) Managing of IS
• (2) Managing through IS
• Learning goals of this course: Make informed recommendations on how
• technical issues/domains can be addressed through managerial action
• managerial issues can be addressed through technologies
• IT Skills: Career boosters
• Rules: In-class group work (15%), in-class participation (20%), written in-
class exam (45%), after-class group assignment (20%); be around, be on
time, come prepared
• Information systems: More than information technology; complex
interrelationship between tasks, technology, and people
• Digital Transformation: The integration of digital technology (often
referred to as SMACIT) into all areas of a business resulting in
fundamental changes to these businesses and how they deliver value to
customers.

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