Business Development and Digitalisation

Introduction

The course provides students with practical knowledge and understanding of how organizations can use data, digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, theoretical concepts, models, and tools to strengthen value creation. Our perspective is that the right focus and good use of digital technologies can make organizations more efficient and serve as an important factor in innovation processes, or become a central component of the products and services the organization delivers.

Value creation is increasingly data-driven, through process efficiency and as a foundation for faster and better decision‑making. The course therefore provides a perspective on how data is generated and structured in databases and business systems, and then refined, restructured in data warehouses, and used both for analysis and as training data in machine learning. Data exists both inside and outside organizations, and added value can be created by combining data from different sources and by sharing data with others. Such sharing introduces challenges related to data integrity, security, privacy, and organizational data culture. These challenges are also addressed in the course.

Students will learn how business processes are described, modeled, improved, and leveraged using digital technologies. They will also learn how digital services are developed through a structured innovation process. The course includes hands-on experience with databases, development tools, and analytical work with datasets. This is a demanding course requiring significant effort and motivation. It is also worth noting that much of the learning will take place through practical work during the sessions.

Value creation is increasingly data-driven, through streamlining of processes and as a basis for faster and better decisions. The course, therefore, provides a perspective on how data is created, structured, refined, analyzed, and used. Data exists inside and outside the companies and added value can be created by combining data from different sources and by sharing data with others. This sharing entails challenges regarding data integrity, security, and privacy, and these challenges are also discussed in the course.

Students will learn how business processes are developed, improved, and utilized using digital technologies. They will also learn how digital services are developed through a structured innovation process. The course also includes the hands-on experience working with well-known business systems in the market and working analytically with various data sets.

Course content

Data and digital technologies in organizations

• The role of small and large datasets in value creation
• Insight, analysis, and data‑driven decision‑making
• Data‑driven business models

Machine learning and artificial intelligence

• Principles behind machine learning
• Artificial intelligence and business development
• AI assistants and AI agents

Information systems and technology

• Technological development
• Hardware and infrastructure
• The role of digital systems in an organization
• Different types of business systems

Business systems and digital platforms

• Processes, technology, and people
• Technology platforms, cloud services, and ecosystems
• Internet of Things
• Data integration and interfaces
• Data security and vulnerabilities

Business development with digital technology

• Strategic, tactical, and operational changes
• Situational understanding
• Business processes: description, analysis, and change
• Data structures and information flow

Privacy and ethics

• Privacy and GDPR
• Digital dilemmas
• Sustainability
• Circular economy

Digital innovation

• Innovation processes and uncertainty
• Digital service development
• Prototyping

Disclaimer

This is an excerpt from the complete course description for the course. If you are an active student at BI, you can find the complete course descriptions with information on eg. learning goals, learning process, curriculum and exam at portal.bi.no. We reserve the right to make changes to this description.