The CBS de­part­ment of di­git­al­isa­tion - Lead­ing Europe

The 5th industrial revolution is in full swing, and enterprising business professionals are grasping advanced technologies like AI powered robots, in order to reach cemented sustainable development targets. The value of digitalising is indisputable, leading to increased productivity and agility, improved customer experience, and maintaining competitive advantage.

Copenhagen Business School has incorporated digitalisation in its teaching and research agenda. The Department of Digitalisation consists of 60 full time academics and holds some of the brightest academics in the cross fields between IT and business. Their research has been published in the eight most trendsetting academic journals at the intersection of IT and business. The focus lies on how digital technologies are developing business and society via teaching, research activities, externally funded research projects and ongoing consultations with external partners. According to the “Top Rankings of Schools in the ‘basket of eight’ (Bo8) journals”, covering the past three years, CBS is ranked number one in Europe and number four in the world.

“When we are teaching or consulting on artificial intelligence, for example, we can source an expert from the department that is not only an academic expert but has the practical know-how expertise specifically in that area.”

Through a two-month digitalisation module, participants of the Copenhagen MBA programme, business professionals are enhancing their digital leadership and digital capabilities.

In the classroom, participants range from those with little experience to experts in the field like data scientists and digital transformation managers. Some participants have even pivoted their career to work directly in the digitalisation space after choosing the digitalisation concentration.

The digitalisation department engages in many research and development projects that transform society with the help of advanced technology. Examples include, the building of a cybersecurity simulator for training of board members, the use of virtual reality in the Danish design industry, and employing digital technologies to enable a circular economy. The department also engages with specific organisations to further their digital ambitions, including LEGO’s adoption of digital platforms, NETS and the future of money, and FOSS’ exploration of how technology and data can foster a green transformation throughout the entire food supply chain.

MBA participants complete a strategy project towards the end of the one-year programme. This year, LEGO and FOSS both participated as company hosts for the strategy project this year.

“Business leaders with deep digital knowledge is something that almost every organisation is missing. So, if you revolutionise your organisation with digitalisation, it can really set the framework for building a new prospective route in your career.”

During the course, participants learn about what makes digital technologies valuable, and how to implement them in a business context. However, the course content changes from year to year, as the industry is adapting and continually growing. Therefore, many big companies, like Novo Nordisk and Mærsk, create new positions on a day-to-day basis.

In fact, the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, which measures the capacity and readiness of 63 economies adopting and exploring digital technology as a key economic driver for business, government and wider society, Denmark is number one in Europe and number three in the world.