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Responsible Digital Innovation

Module description

This module will introduce you to the significant role technological innovation plays in society. You will gain the relevant knowledge and skills to analyse technological innovation responsibly across a range of sectors from both a theoretical and practical perspective.  Designed to engage you in discussions about emerging technologies, you will be challenged to think independently and comprehend the dynamic landscape of responsible innovation and change in increasingly technology-rich environments.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will introduce you to the significant role technological innovation plays in society. You will gain the relevant knowledge and skills to analyse technological innovation responsibly across a range of sectors from both a theoretical and practical perspective.  Designed to engage you in discussions about emerging technologies, you will be challenged to think independently and comprehend the dynamic landscape of responsible innovation and change in increasingly technology-rich environments.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Identify new digital opportunities and lead responsible, innovative digital solutions
• 2. Explore how digital technology innovations can be implemented in digital environments in a responsible manner
• 3. Evaluate cutting-edge technological innovations and the ethical questions they raise
• 4. Critically reflect on responsible digital innovation from political, business, ethical and societal dimensions

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Work independently, reflect, analyse and communicate critically in both oral and written forms

Syllabus plan

• Introduction to technology and responsible innovation concepts
• Technology innovation –types on innovation, disruptive technology innovation, including Internet of Things, 3D printing, Robotics. 
• The Ethics of Technology
• Innovation Governance
• Development and Innovation
• Knowledge Co-production
• Impacts on Technology Innovation and Digital Ethics
• Responsible Digital Innovation and the Environment

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment.. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Brigham, M. and Introna, L. (2007). Invoking politics and ethics in the design of information technology: Undesigning the design. Ethics and Information Technology, 9, 1-10.
• Cheney-Lippold, J. (2017). We Are Data. NYU Press.
• Cybulski, J.L. and Scheepers, R. (2021). Data science in organizations: Conceptualizing its breakthroughs and blind spots. Journal of Information Technology, 36(2), 154-175.
• Freeman, R. E. (2004). Stakeholder Theory and “The corporate objective revisited,” Organization Science, 15(3), 364-369.
• Gray, M. L., & Suri, S. (2019). Ghost work: How to stop Silicon Valley from building a new global underclass. Eamon Dolan Books.
• Kaplan, S. (2019). The 360° Corporation: From stakeholder trade-offs to transformation. Stanford University Press.
• Noble, S.U. (2018). Algorithms of Oppression: How search engines reinforce racism. NYU Press.
• Stahl, B.C. et al. (2014). From computer ethics to responsible research and innovation in ICT: The transition of reference discourses informing ethics-related research in information systems. Information & Management 51, 810-818.
• Stilgoe, J., Owen, R., and P. Macnaghten (2013). Developing a framework for responsible innovation. Research Policy, 42(9), 1568–1580.
• Tidd, J. & Bessant, J. (2021). Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change, Wiley (7th edition).
• Trott, P. (2016). Innovation Management and New Product Development. Prentice Hall (6^th Edition).
• Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y., Etiemble, F., & Smith, A. (2020). The Invincible Company. Wiley.
• Chesbrough, H. (2006). Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology. Harvard Business School Press.
• Schwab, K. (2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. World Economic Forum.
• Contemporary sources such as Harvard Business Review e.g. https://hbr.org/topic/entrepreneurial-management and Sloan Review: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/ 

Key words search

Responsible Digital Innovation, Digital Technologies, Innovation, Ethics