IB2C7-15 Work in the Digital Era
Introductory description
This module is available as an elective for both WBS and non-WBS students and Exchange students.
The rapid acceleration of new digital technologies in the workplace commensurate with the expansion of new working patterns requires deeper managerial understanding of how the “fourth industrial revolution” affects and shapes work and organisations. Advancement in digital and social technologies are shaping and changing the organisation of the workplace, as well as the nature and meaning of work. As such, students will have the opportunity to explore a digitally transformed landscape of work. Students will analyse the opportunities, as well as debate the risks of the digital workplace and, in doing so, further develop their critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills.
Module aims
This course focuses on the digital transformations taking place in contemporary workplaces and will offer students:
A multi-perspective analysis of digital technologies increasingly used in the organisation of work;
Tools to navigate the world of work as employees, managers, and entrepreneurs in the digital era;
Understand how the acceleration in technological change impact the design, sustainable development, ethical, and strategic dimensions of work;
In-depth analysis of management theories in relation to contemporary digital workplace developments;
Use of gamification, high-profile examples, and case studies of managerial practice to better understand the legal, ethical and managerial effects of digital technologies on the workplace.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
The ‘Digital Workplace’
- Theories of work and management
- Human capital theory in the digital era
Algorithmic Technologies in the Workplace: Opportunities and Challenges - AI decision-making and the changing relationship between managers and employees
- Ethics and the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics in workplaces
- Impact of robotization and task automation on the future of work.
Management for the Digital Age - Exploring digital technologies: the design, implementation and promotion of data-driven management practices
- Utilising technologies in sustainable and responsible employing organisations
- Opportunities and implications for management in relation to technology in diverse business organisations, including start-ups, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed
Digitalisation, Inclusion, and Diversity - Impact of new technologies and new forms of organising on diversity and inclusion Employment status and the new platform economy e.g. found in platform work, crowdwork and Elancing
Legal Implications of a Digitalised Workplace - Changing workplace regulation (e.g. Data Protection)
- Surveillance, privacy, and regulation of technology in the workplace (e.g. Article 22 GDPR)
- Working From Home: implications for the intersection of professional and personal
The future of work: Digital Practices and Changing Workplace Demographics - Technology and the trajectory of automation’s impact on future employment
- New work practices in response to environmental and sustainability challenges (e.g. SDG 8)
- Young workers and the new normal of the digital workplace
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Identify, explain and assess the key drivers, current practices and implications of digital technologies in the workplace
- Recognise and assess the mediating effect of the legal and economic context on the implications of digitallybased innovations at work
- Recall, critique and analyze the legal dimensions of digital transformations
- Application of theories to practical cases in a way that demonstrates nuanced judgment and ethical decision-making;
- Critical thinking in relation to the multi-stakeholder perspective in decision making and implementation of technology in organisations;
- Personal reflection on contemporary technological developments within broader legal, business and management contexts
Indicative reading list
Adler PS, du Gay P, Morgan G and Reed M (2014) The Oxford Handbook of Sociology, Social theory and organisational studies, Oxford University Press.
Blackman A et al (2019) (eds) Theorising Labour Law in a Changing World. Towards inclusive labour law, Hart.
BiliÄ P et al (2018) Technologies of labour and the political of contradictions, Palgrave Macmillan.
Crawford K, Atlas of AI. Power, Politics and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence, Yale University Press
M. D. Dubber, F. Pasquale, & S. Das (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Ethics of AI. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Edoardo A (2018) Working in Digital and Smart Organisations: Legal, Economic and Organisational Perspectives on the Digitalization of Labour Relations, Palgrave Macmillan.
EIGE (2020) Gender Equality Index 2020: Digitalisation and the Future of Work. Vilnius: European Institute for Gender Equality.
Fleming, P. (2019) Robots and Organization Studies: Why Robots Might Not Want to Steal Your Job, Organization
Studies, 40(1), 23–37.
Will-Zocholl M and Roth-Ebner C (eds) (2021) Topologies of Digital Work, Springer
Subject specific skills
Critically assess and analyse the effects of digital technologies from a multi-stakeholder perspective, keeping in mind consequences for sustainable and ethical work, toward developing digital literacy.
Evaluating the complexities of digitally mediated work related design and decision making processes within organisations
Transferable skills
Analytical and debating skills in oral communication;
Develop critical thinking and writing skills;
Critically evaluate ideas and practices in relation to the digital transformation of business toward developing
nuanced personal digital literacy.
Study time
Type | Required |
---|---|
Lectures | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
Online learning (independent) | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
Private study | 49 hours (33%) |
Assessment | 72 hours (48%) |
Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Private Study.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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Individual Assignment | 75% | 54 hours | Yes (extension) |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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Learning log | 25% | 18 hours | No |
E-learning log submission. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
Feedback on assessment
Feedback via my.wbs.
Courses
This module is Optional for:
-
UIBA-N20B BSc in Management
- Year 2 of N20B Management
- Year 2 of N20B Management
- Year 2 of N23K Management with Accounting
- Year 2 of N234 Management with Digital Business
- Year 2 of N235 Management with Entrepreneurship
- Year 2 of N232 Management with Finance
- Year 2 of N252 Management with Marketing
- Year 2 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
- Year 1 of UIOA-VEU Undergraduate EU Visiting
- Year 2 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
- Year 2 of UIPA-L8N1 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business
- Year 2 of UIPA-L8N2 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
-
UIBA-N20F Undergraduate International Management
- Year 2 of N20F International Management
- Year 2 of N20F International Management
- Year 2 of N20S International Management (with Accounting)
- Year 2 of N20T International Management (with Chinese)
- Year 2 of N20P International Management (with Entrepreneurship)
- Year 2 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
- Year 2 of N20U International Management (with French)
- Year 2 of N20L International Management (with Marketing)
- Year 2 of N20V International Management (with Spanish)
- Year 2 of N20W International Management (with Strategy and Organisation)
- Year 2 of N20N International Management with Digital Business
- Year 2 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 2 of N234 Management with Digital Business
-
UIBA-N220 Undergraduate International Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N220 International Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N221 International Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N226 International Management with Chinese (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N223 International Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N224 International Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N222 International Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N227 International Management with French (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N225 International Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N228 International Management with Spanish (with Foundation Year)
- Year 4 of N229 International Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
-
UIBA-N20E Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23N Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
- Year 3 of N23M Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23E Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23F Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23D Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N252 Management with Marketing
- Year 3 of N254 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23P Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
-
UIBA-N20C Undergraduate Management (with Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
- Year 2 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
- Year 2 of N20B Management
- Year 2 of N20D Management (Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
- Year 2 of N20C Management (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of N20Q Management with Accounting (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of N236 Management with Digital Business (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of N237 Management with Entrepreneurship (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of N232 Management with Finance
- Year 2 of N233 Management with Finance (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of N253 Management with Marketing (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
- Year 2 of N20R Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Placement Year)
-
UIOA-VOS Undergraduate Overseas Visiting
- Year 1 of UVOS Undergraduate Overseas Visiting
- Year 1 of UVOS Undergraduate Overseas Visiting