Digital Business and Emergent Technologies

Self-funded applicants with a minimum of a second-class Honours degree or equivalent are also welcome to apply.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

Scottish Funding Council (SFC) fully funded places are available for this short course. These will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants. Please submit your application as soon as possible to secure your funded place.

On successful completion of the module, you should be able to:

• synthesise knowledge and information from a range of, often contradictory, sources to identify trends in the fields of business and management 
• critically analyse, evaluate and make judgements on predictions from established technological futurologists 
• analyse the wider legal, ethical, social, political, economic, environmental, demographic, philosophical and cultural issues related to emerging and future technologies 
• make, present and justify informed predictions relating to future computer-based systems 

This course will help you develop individual skills such as:

• systems thinking
• business acumen
• senior management pitching
• report writing
• linking technology to business strategy

The module is delivered entirely online through our intuitive learning platform iStirling which is accessed through the University Portal. You’ll have access to a wide range of resources, including:

• video lectures
• day-to-day support from online tutors
• collaborative activities with fellow students
• core module materials, documentation and reading lists
• journals, ebooks and software

Topics we will cover include:

1. Review of Strategy, Strategic Management, Data and Information / IT/IS/IM 
2. Why and how business use IT/IS/IM (digital business models) 
3. Strategic Information Systems Planning Methodology and IT/IS Alignment (Zachman and TOGAFF) 
4. Emerging technology landscape and evaluating emerging technologies (predicting new emergent technologies and evaluating technological investments) 
5. Internet of Things  
6. High Performance Computing (HPC) including Big Data technology, Visualisation and collaboration including data visualisation, virtual and augmented reality (& mixed reality), crowd sourcing  
7. Cloud computing, Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies 
8. Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning and Robots 
9. Cyber-security: social engineering 
10. Industry 4.0  

You will be taught through a combination of online lectures and workshops, guided reading, and independent and group working. We expect students to prepare in advance of all sessions and come ready to fully engage and contribute. You will also be expected to put in significant independent work and study time outside of class sessions to fully meet the Learning Objectives of this module.

This module is structured around theoretical foundations, empirical evidence and practical cases. It features an overview of theoretical building blocks necessary to understand digital transformations (including network effects, information markets, and platforms), an advanced view on actors’ opportunities and strategies across core digital technologies.

The management of technological innovation is inherently interdisciplinary and multi-functional, so we will provide an integrative approach to the management of innovation, and how this influences and is influenced by business models and value propositions.

The assessment, taken as a whole, requires students to conduct an in-depth investigation into a topic within the broad scope of Emerging and Future technologies. You will create a 3,000-word individual report (100% of the mark) with an emphasis throughout on the future development of the subject.

The most current, up-to-date, emerging and future research areas in digital business (possibly including aspects of wider technology) will be considered in this module. Naturally, these fields will change rapidly and have to be reviewed on a regular basis. However, at the time of submission, examples areas could include:

• intelligent computing, artificial intelligence and robotics 
• technological singularity 
• future safety, security and privacy 
• assistive living and ambient technology 
• smart environments 
• Internet of Things and Big Data 
• science in harsh environments e.g. outer space, deep sea scenarios
• optical computing  
• quantum computing 
• biological computing 
• e-learning / m-learning advances 
• high performance computing (including PRC) and applications of HPC 
• biometrics and Transhumanism 
• future entertainment, leisure, health, employment, etc. 
• future wireless and mobile communication; PANs, BANs, etc. 
• Artificial Intelligence 
• forecasting techniques and predictive research methodology 

To be confirmed. In the meantime, queries can be directed to Kevin Grant.