Course Syllabus

DSCI-49910 / DSCI-59910
Spring 2016

Digital Strategy: Embracing Emerging Technologies

Synopsis
This class will explore how the cloud and mobility have built a foundation for new and emerging
technologies that impact digital sciences including mobile devices, wearables, connected vehicles and
homes, and other digital devices.

The class will examine these technologies from the point of view of the customer, business, and IT
departments. We will look at how technologies like GPS, tap-to-pay, beacons, predictive analytics and
social media integration are impacting the consumer experience. We will explore the opportunities
these technologies are creating for companies, both in terms of customer engagement and revenue
growth, but also in terms of improvements to internal processes and cost savings. Additionally, we
will examine how IT departments are responding to these trends, and develop strategies to ensure
organizations build, support and govern solutions that leverage these emerging capabilities.

Students will work on case studies throughout the semester to develop strategies to apply these
emerging technologies to real world business scenarios and determine how to implement the solutions
they design.

Class Schedule
Date

Lecture Topic

1/18/2016

Martin Luther King Jr. Observance - No Class

1/25/2016

2/1/2016

2/8/2016

2/15/2016

2/22/2016

2/29/2016

3/7/2016

3/14/2016

3/21/2016

Mobile Opportunity

Mobile Business Models & Industry Disruption

Guest Speakers: Wheedle Founders

Social Media & Managing your Digital Brand

Individual Case Study: Discovery Session

Mobile Engagement Models & Adapting the User Experience & Interface

Guest Speaker: Anthony Crimaldi, Digital Marketing Manager, Cleveland Clinic

Individual Case Studies Write-Ups Due

Geo-Location, Payments, Wallets and other Transactions Enabled by Digital Technology

Industry Impact Discussion Financial Services
Team Case Study Exercises: Discovery Phase Interviews

Wearable, the Internet of Things, and Other External Device Interactions

Industry Impact Discussion: Travel

Case Study Exercises: Strategy Phase Presentations

Spring Break

3/28/2016

4/4/2016

10

4/11/2016

11

4/18/2016

Marketing with Mobile

Guest Speaker: Anne Marie Thomas, Digital Marketing Consultant

Case Study Exercises: Solution & Implementation Approach Presentations

Building Digital Solutions & Developing the Organizations to Support It

Industry Impact Discussion: Retail
Mobile Monday Cleveland - OH Tec Tech Week

4/25/2016
5/2/2016

Overview & Introduction

Class Canceled

12

Employee Empowerment: Sales and Field Services

Future Considerations & Wrap Up

Grading Policy

Class Participation 35%

o
o
o
o

Class participation will be determined based on the quality of your contributions to the
discussions during each weeks class

A students lowest participation score will be discarded and the remaining scores will be
averaged over the term
As a result, students should not expect their great contributions during one or two
discussions to carry them for the remainder of the class

Participation in online forums (LinkedIn, etc.) may help bolster your class participation
score, but will not be given equal consideration to in class participation

Individual Case Study Exercise

Group Case Study Exercise
o

50%

Students performance will be assessed and weighted equally across each of three mock
client meetings / presentations

Discovery Phase

15%

Solution Phase

15%

Strategy Phase

15%

20%

Projects are team based, and the expectation is that everyone on the team will
contribute equally and receive the same grade

Exceptions to this policy can be requested by the majority of the team should one
individual not carry their weight

Student proficiency in coursework is recorded by the following letter grades:

Course Average and Corresponding Letter Grade

92

82

72

88

B+

78

C+

68

D+

90

A-

80

B-

70

C-

60

< 60

D
F

University Policies
Students are required to be aware of and follow all general and academic policies established by Kent
State University. A list of the general academic policies is listed on the online version of the Kent State
University Catalog. Specific policies related to the successful completion of this online course can be
located and reviewed in your Blackboard Learn course. University policies are located in the Syllabus,
Course Schedule and University Policies folder contained within the START HERE folder in your
Blackboard Learn course.

Subject to Change Statement

The syllabus and course schedule may be subject to change. Changes will be communicated via email or
Blackboard Learn announcement tool. It is the responsibility of students to check email messages and
course announcements to stay current their online course.

Regarding Students with Disabilities

(Revised 6/01/07) University policy 3342-3-01.3 requires that students with disabilities be provided
reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented
disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to
make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your
eligibility for these through Student Accessibility Services (contact 330-672-3391 or send us an e-mail at
sas@kent.edu or visit http://www.kent.edu/sas for more information on registration procedures).

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Students enrolled in the university, at all its campuses, are to perform their academic work according to
standards set by faculty members, departments, schools and colleges of the university; and cheating and
plagiarism constitute fraudulent misrepresentation for which no credit can be given and for which
appropriate sanctions are warranted and will be applied. For more information:
http://www.kent.edu/plagiarism