Course content

The course offers knowledge concerning the interaction between four central themes of strategic management and development of businesses and public organizations that are dependent on digitalization of production and supply chains.

The four themes are:

Cyber security and artificial intelligence. This theme deals with security and cybertechnological activity, and the importance of integrating such knowledge in the strategic management of organizations. Problems concerning control of the organization’s boundaries are discussed as well as threats and destructive consequences of cyber activity, such as cybercrime, cyberterrorism, sabotage, and cyber crises.

Strategy management: This theme deals with the organization´s strategic direction in relation to technology and security issues. Of particular importance is the relationship between the top management and other parts of the organization in strategy formation and development of the organization. Furthermore, emphasis is on how different leadership practices can influence strategic management of technology driven organizations.

Change processes: This theme deals with development, adjustments, and innovation in the context of cyber security and AI, and how leaders and co-workers can work with such processes. Problems usually emerging in change work are also addressed.

Organizational understanding: This theme deals with human behavior in organizations, and how different cultures are created and work together. Emphasis is on how organizations develop relations between groups and individuals who cooperate to create changes in practice, and the role of technology in this.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student acquires:

• Cross disciplinary knowledge about cyber security and AI-technologies as strategic security themes in the development of organizations
• Understanding of new theories on complexity, strategic management, and change processes in organizations.
• Knowledge about leadership in strategy and development work in relation to cybersecurity and AI- technologies.
• Insight into threats and security consequences of cyber activity and AI-technologies in Norway, including cybercrime, cyberterrorism, sabotage, and cybercrises.

Skills

The student can:

• Apply knowledge from the course on relevant issues in organizations.
• Contribute to strategy work with knowledge from the course.
• Reflect on their own practice based on knowledge from the course.
• Integrate theory and practical issues from the course.
• Analyse professional and ethical issues concerning cyber security and AI-technologies in strategic development work.

General competence

The student can:

• Communicate their own work and master the language within the course subjects.
• Communicate to other professionals and leaders on the issues, analysis, and conclusions of the course with implications for strategic management.
• Participate in strategic discussion with updated knowledge and arguments about cyber technologies and security as strategic challenges for the development of digitalized organizations.
• Communicate academically solid and critical arguments in discussions about dilemmas with cyber and AI-technologies and the human environments in organizations.

Learning methods and activities

The course includes full day physical gatherings, online sessions, self-study, and a final assignment. Students are encouraged to do the assignment on issues in their own organisation focusing on strategic leadership challenges related to cyber security and AI-technologies.

NTNUs digital Learning Platform will be used.

The full course is conducted within 14 weeks. The total workload is approx. 180 hours. Half of the work is estimated to studies and discussions of recommended course literature, physical gatherings and online discussions, and half to planning, discussion, and working on the mandatory assignment.

There are two mandatory gatherings with physical participation at NTNU in Trondheim autumn 2025.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge with one or more of the four areas that are central to the course, see course content.

Required previous knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Working experience must be documented from employer, and describe the type of work, full time or part time position, and duration of position.
• If the candidate does not have a bachelor’s degree or similar approved education with a minimum of 180 credits, actual competence can be considered as basis for admission.

Course materials

To be announced at the beginning of the term.