Module
Digital Business Models
Module description
The digital economy has created significant opportunities while generating new modes of competition in both ‘traditional’ and new sectors of the economy. Established businesses need to appreciate the capabilities of digital technologies within the organisational context in which they will be embedded in order to effectively capture value through digital innovation, while entrepreneurs have few such constraints.
Each week you will draw upon the combined expertise within the group to develop your own community of shared digital practice that can continue to evolve as a study resource beyond the module itself.
You will experience online collaboration and community building first hand through 1) participation in the collaborative development of module content and 2) subsequent reflection on its value in terms of your learning and future careers.
Full module specification
| Module title: | Digital Business Models |
|---|---|
| Module code: | BEMM129 |
| Module level: | M |
| Academic year: | 2023/4 |
| Module lecturers: |
|
| Module credit: | 15 |
| ECTS value: | 7.5 |
| Pre-requisites: | None |
| Co-requisites: | None |
| Duration of module: |
Duration (weeks) - term 1: 0 Duration (weeks) - term 2:9 Duration (weeks) - term 3:0 |
Module aims
This module examines the business models and strategies of a wide range of digital businesses, from start-up environments to the transformation of established organisations. By drawing upon a range of case study examples, you will critically evaluate the strategic decisions needed to convert digital opportunities into competitive advantage and reflect upon the role of technological innovation in the sustainability of society as a whole.
Please note this module was developed pre-covid19 with a focus on collaborative online study so that you can directly experience the opportunities and challenges of digital working environments. In recent months, the need for such skills has obviously increased significantly in all aspects of our lives.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Review the opportunities and challenges posed by new digital business models
- 2. Discuss the implications of technological innovation for how we live, learn and work
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 3. Explain how digital innovations can be developed in a variety of contexts
- 4. Reflect upon the culture changes required for effective business transformation in the digital age
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 5. Evaluate the challenges and opportunities associated with the social learning process
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 2 | Introductory face to face lecture (2 hours) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 24 | 24 hours of learning and teaching directed through content and activities within the Virtual Learning Environment (8 weeks x 3 hours) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 4 | 4 x 1 hour (fortnightly) face to face workshops to take questions, provide scaffolding and assessment feedback |
| Guided Independent Study | 120 | Reading, research, and preparation for tutorials |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formative exercises will be embedded during the sessions online and will take various forms including individual and group exercises, discussions, case studies and personal reflection exercises. There will be 2 set tasks per week. | 150 words | 1-5 | ELE |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 30 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio - End of module | 70 | 1000 words + 2-minute reflective video | 1-5 | ELE |
| Multiple choice quiz 1 -End of week 4 | 15 | 30 minutes | 2-3 | Automated online feedback |
| Multiple choice quiz 2 - End of week 8 | 15 | 30 minutes | 2-3 | Automated online feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1000 words + 2-minute reflective video | 1-5 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Multiple choice quiz | MCQ | 2-3 | Referral/Deferral period |
Syllabus plan
- Lessons from the history of technological change
- The "fourth industrial revolution"
- The changing nature and location of employment
- The blurring of physical and digital space
- The circular economy
- The sharing economy
- Digital business transformation within established organisations
- Entrepreneurial digital business models
- What does the future hold?
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Brown, A. (2021) Delivering Digital Transformation: A manager's guide to the digital revolution
Zuboff, S. (2019) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Profile books
Fry, H. (2019) Hello World: how to be human in the age of the machine, London: Penguin
Gowing, N. and Langdon, C. (2018) Thinking the Unthinkable: A new imperative for leadership in the digital age, John Catt Educational Limited
Hughes, C. (2018) Fair Shot: rethinking inequality and how we earn, Bloomsbury
Keen, A. (2018) How to Fix the Future: staying human in the digital age Atlantic Books
Mayer-Schönberger, V. (2018) Reinventing Capitalism in the Age of Big Data
Schwab, (2016) The 4th Industrial Revolution, Penguin
Stockwood, J. (2018) Reboot: A Blueprint for Happy, Human Business in the Digital Age, Virgin
Standage, T. (2013) Writing on the Wall: Social media – the first 2000 years, London: Bloomsbury
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Origin date
16/06/2015
Last revision date
18/08/2022