Digital Transformation Basic Learning Path - Will my doctor soon turn into a robot?
No doubt that today, the entire society is going digital. Every single facet of our lives is being supported to a greater or lesser extent by information systems and underlying computing infrastructure. This digital transformation of society is global, and there is no wonder that all large consulting companies are offering a range of support services to help organisations make a smooth transition into the digital world. But what are the benefits of this transformation? What are the challenges? How do organizations and practices adapt to those changes? Can they get prepared and act proactively? Are there differences sector by sector? In this learning path, we first start by describing the general digital context, before providing one definition for the term ‘digital transformation’; opportunities and challenges are then presented, before having a closer look at different sectors of activities.
The Digital Revolution
Before talking about digital transformation, it is important to better understand the technologies that make it possible. This course presents in an accessible language a structured overview of the various technological building blocks that underpin today’s digital society: starting with a brief discussion of what digital transformation is, it then continues with an introduction to hardware and software aspects of information systems; it then covers the evolution of networks and their operating principles, before touching upon cloud computing and big data. The course includes examples and exercises that make things easy to grasp. It is an excellent foundation for the next steps of this learning journey.
What is digital transformation?
Now that we have a better understanding of the technological aspects that underpin our digital lives, it is time to learn more about their ‘digital transformation’. Digital transformation goes beyond introducing a computer or connecting a device. It refers to a complete overhaul of the way organizations organize themselves, their processes, their interactions. It is a profound rethink of the way of working, collaborating, living. This report by McKinsey aims at giving an accurate definition of the digital transformation, the conditions to engage into such process, the indicators of success, as well as a list of real-life experiences.
Industry is one of the sectors most impacted by digital transformation. This report published by the EU analyses the potential impact of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution in Europe” on industry, its benefits and negative effects on economies and societies, as well as different policy options. These policies mainly focus on taxation and labour regulations, and their possible influence on economic growth and social cohesion is assessed. It is a high-level, strategy- and policy-oriented analysis, and provides valuable insights into the evolution of our societies.
This interesting report carefully analyses the digital transformation of the labour market and how digitalization of the workplace is affecting the working conditions in terms of skills, flexibility, income, social protection, working time, surveillance and control. It includes a close look at the special conditions affecting women and young people, as well as at groups at risk of being marginalized in a digital economy.
MoreThanDigital Platform
This platform acts like a hub for information related to digital transformation; it collects articles and reports about the various dimensions of the phenomena: industries, technology, regulation, strategy. Resources are sorted by level, and include better practices.
Just search the portal with the “digital transformation” keywords and you will be presented with a long list of resources about the subject.
Impact from Digital Transformation (full course)
This short online course covers the subject of digital transformation, its origins, its implementation and its impacts. It then defines a path towards actually applying digital transformation to a process or organization, setting targets and taking actions. It illustrates the process by providing a couple of examples. The course is made of videos, reading and quizzes, and is made available by EIT Digital, a European education and innovation organisation, on the Coursera platform.
Shaping the digital transformation: EU strategy explained
As we have seen in the previous resources, an important part of a successful digital transformation is a strategy, that is next translated into policies. This article presents in a few pages the strategy of the EU with regard to the Digital Transformation in Europe, and what is put in place to drive and accompany it: developing standards, skills, infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity, establishing a framework for a trustworthy and ethical use of AI’s potential, development of a European Digital Identity for citizens… An interesting work to read to know more about how the EU plans to drive and frame its Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation Course (University of Virginia)
This online course is provided by University of Virginia; it goes deeper into the process of transforming an organization and bringing it into the digital age, by first analysing the impact of technological evolution on business and the disruptive effect it may have. Drivers, opportunities and challenges of digital transformation are then discussed, together with technologies that make it happen: Cloud computing, AI, Big Data, Cyber Security, Blockchain. Finally, the Boston Consulting Group’s proprietary framework is presented, that provides a practical strategic model for moving from a legacy to a digitized business. This course is clearly oriented towards strategy, but also integrates detailed implementation and management elements.
Diginno Tool - SME Digital Maturity Recommender
This online tool allows SME owners to assess their level of digital maturity by answering 10 questions, covering the various fields of activity of the organization. Each question is then subdivided in a set of sub-questions to refine the description of the context. It then provides a summary report with a set of recommendations and pointers. Overall, the tool provides an interesting first assessment of the digital transformation readiness of the company.
This MOOC is offered by the KULeuven university; it focuses on Cultural Heritage Institutions and provides guidance on the development of an appropriate strategy for steering their digital transformation. It covers a full development cycle, starting with a self-assessment, defining the role of digital platforms and media in culture 3.0, developing skills, fostering collaborations and evaluating impact.
Digital Transformation Insights by IBM
This resource is a collection of articles and reports about digital transformation provided by IBM’s Institute for Business Value. Worth mentioning, the reports about the Virtual Enterprise analyses key aspects of the digitalization process and its profound impact on organization and the society at large. Resources addressing specific sectors or dimensions are provided, like healthcare or petrochemical, retail stores and governments. A glimpse into the future of information technologies is also included, for instance introducing quantum computing.