About this course: In this course you will learn how to use theories and methods to make predictions of the potential impact of new technology – in general, as well as for a specific application. This will prepare you for the changes that we are facing in society, and also help you take advantage of transformations which are driven by technology. The course takes a broad approach, including social and economic factors. You will study historical examples and learn to recognize recurring patterns and cycles. The curriculum includes general innovation theories, foresight methodology, value chain disruption and strategy. The general process is as follows. First you to learn how to draw a map of the potential future business landscape. After that, you get to identify interesting future business roles in emerging value networks. Finally, we find a path from where we are today to a desired end state. You will analyze how an industry or market may change if the technology which is available today is fully implemented in a 10 to 20 year perspective. In addition, you will identify barriers to such a development and make estimates regarding the timing. The course includes a number of assignments to facilitate your learning – some of them compulsory. The largest assignment is about the introduction of self-driving cars (hence the course icon; source and credit to Google). We all know that the future can’t be fully predicted in detail. However, the methods presented in this course will help you identify potential consequences. In this way, you will get a toolbox for decision making in the areas of technology, investments, career path, research & development or portfolio management.
Who is this class for: This course is meant for first year Master students. Note that as a consequence, quiz questions are more like exam questions where you have to construct the answer based on the principles that are taught in the web lectures, rather than to recall the literal text of the teacher.
Created by: EIT Digital
Taught by: Martin Vendel, Dr
KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Industrial Economics and Management
| Level | Intermediate |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to The Impact of Technology
Welcome to the course! We start with a short introduction module where you will get a general introduction, a description of the overall process we will follow, a historical example and an assignment. You will after this module have a good general overview of the course and knowledge about what you will learn and what to expect.
3 videos
- Video: Course introduction
- Video: The full process
- Video: A historical example
Graded: Analyzing a historical case
Theory and models - practical use
Relevant theories will help us in estimating the impact of technology. In this module three key innovation theories are included and by the end a more broad perspective is introduced.
5 videos
- Video: Introduction to theory and models
- Video: Dynamics of innovation
- Video: Diffusion of innovation
- Video: Disruptive innovation
- Video: A wider perspective
Graded: A wider perspective - case solar cell price drop
Graded: Theory and models
WEEK 2
Technology delta and barriers
When estimating the potential impact of a technology, it is essential to understand the technology delta: How much better is the new technology and is this delta significant enough to overcome the barriers to implementation and realise its full potential?
We will in this module look at both the technology delta and the barriers to implementation. Supporting this analysis, the Gartner hype cycle, megatrends and industry transformation are given special attention.
6 videos
- Video: Introduction to tech delta and barriers
- Video: The tech delta
- Video: The hype cycle
- Video: Megatrends
- Video: Barriers to change and diffusion
- Video: Industry transformation
Graded: Tech delta - comparing two technologies
Graded: Analyzing a technology in a megatrend perspective
Graded: Technology delta and barriers
WEEK 3
Foresight
Foresight in general, and backcasting in particular, is included in this module. After a general overview this module is built around one interactive sequential backcasting case.
6 videos
- Video: Introduction to foresight
- Video: Sequential backcasting
- Peer Review: Sequential backcasting case - part 1
- Video: Sequential backcasting - Debrief 1
- Peer Review: Sequential backcasting case - part 2
- Video: Sequential backcasting case - Debrief 2
- Peer Review: Sequential backcasting case - part 3
- Video: Sequential backcasting case - Debrief 3
- Video: Sequential backcasting - The complete picture
Graded: Sequential backcasting case - part 4
Graded: Foresight
WEEK 4
Value networks
Technologies with a significant impact put existing value networks out of balance. New value networks are emerging around new technologies. This module covers value networks basics and let's you practice how to predict potential new value network roles and structures.
5 videos
- Video: Introduction to value networks
- Video: Value networks - basics
- Video: Value network disruption
- Video: Relationship technology - need
- Peer Review: An emerging value network
- Video: Value network prediction
Graded: Illustrating an existing value network
Graded: Value networks
WEEK 5
Business roles and ideas
Roles within value networks are further studied in this module. The role, its relationships and dependencies are analyzed. You will learn how to assess, chose and develop a, for you, interesting value network role.
5 videos
- Video: Introduction to Business roles and ideas
- Video: Strength of a role
- Peer Review: Porter's 5 forces
- Video: Partnerships
- Video: Stakeholder analysis
- Peer Review: Stakeholder analysis
- Video: Matching business role and idea
Graded: Role assessment
Graded: Benchmarking roles
Graded: Business roles and ideas
WEEK 6
Strategy
It's not enough to identify potential roles, we also need to know how to get from where we are today to a desired position. The impact of a technology depends on how it is implemented. This module gives you some basic insights regarding strategy and what to consider regarding its formulation and implementation.
4 videos
- Video: Introduction to Strategy
- Video: Strategy formulation
- Video: Capabilities and actions
- Video: Role development
Graded: Strategy development
Graded: Role development
Graded: Strategy
Finale - The Impact of Technology
We have come to the end of the course. This video and the exam are the final elements included.
1 video
- Video: Finale
Graded: Final exam
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
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Creators
EIT Digital
EIT Digital is a pan-European education and research-based open innovation organization founded on excellence. Its mission is to foster digital technology innovation and entrepreneurial talent for economic growth and quality of life. By linking education, research and business, EIT Digital empowers digital top talents for the future.
EIT Digital provides online "blended" Innovation and Entrepreneurship education to raise quality, increase diversity and availability of the top-level content provided by 20 reputable universities of technology around Europe. The universities all together deliver a unique blend of the best of technical excellence and entrepreneurial skills and mindset to digital engineers and entrepreneurs at all stages of their careers. The academic partners support Coursera’s bold vision to enable anyone, anywhere, to transform their lives by accessing the world’s best learning experience. This means that EIT Digital gradually shares parts of its entrepreneurial and academic education programmes to demonstrate its excellence and make it accessible to a much wider audience. EIT Digital’s online education portfolio can be used as part of blended education settings, in both Master and Doctorate programmes, and for professionals as a way to update their knowledge.
EIT Digital offers an online programme in 'Internet of Things through Embedded Systems'. Achieving all certificates of the online courses and the specialization provides an opportunity to enroll in the on campus program and get a double degree. These are the courses in the online programme:
Ratings and Reviews
The course supported me to form and refine my opinions over various topics of life, world industries.
It weavers unique vision of philosophy, analytical frameworks, studies, history, modern perspectives towards the upcoming feature.
It was a great joy and honor being part of that course.
Thank You!
The peer graded assignments can be a drag to completion, otherwise an excellent course
I enjoyed it. Fun and relevant.
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AS
Great course! Completely changes my perspective on the impact of new technologies!