Change is constant and inseparable from life.

Survival in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, chaotic and accelerating (VUCCA) world calls for continual adaptations to change.  In response, companies increasingly rely on digital transformation to redesign their business processes, revisit their value propositions and recalibrate their business models.  But transformation initiatives are difficult to implement and prone to failure as they entail a host of technological, organizational and human issues. Digital transformation success revolves around the degree to which a company can tightly align its strategy, systems, processes and people with its business model.  More importantly, success hinges on how a company’s workforce adapts to change, thinks outside the box to see fleeting opportunities, and leverages emerging technologies to design, innovate and market high-margin products and services. Building on two interlaced strands of inquiry this course relies on the principles of cognitive science, organizational behavior and strategy to examine the role of change as a strategic imperative.  It explores the nature of change, complexity, chaos and failure to highlight the importance of adaptation and transformation. First, we examine the central role of human cognition in digital transformation.  We show that in spite of the importance of technology, the success of digital transformation is largely dependent on human factors.  By studying the inner workings of the brain, we demonstrate that resistance to change and inability to adapt are manifestation of cognitive biases that adversely engulf our thinking and behavior.  We highlight the pernicious effects of digital devices on our ability to focus without being distracted.  We also underline the role of mindfulness in transforming mind, unleashing cognitive potentials, fostering creativity and thus enhancing quality of our lives. In tandem with the first objective we show that competitive advantage is by definition temporary because people and companies are subject to continual disruption.  We provide a roadmap for transforming companies into agile enterprises where customers, suppliers, partners and employees are linked together to create superior economic value.  In the process we explore how best to avoid the pitfalls of digital transformation.

# Pending for University approval