EDI 3500 Digital Problem Solving and Task Automation

EDI 3500 Digital Problem Solving and Task Automation

Course code: 
EDI 3500
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Ragnvald Sannes
Course name in Norwegian: 
Digital Problem Solving and Task Automation
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor of Digital Business - Programme course
Semester: 
2023 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

The increasing capabilities of modern digital technologies to automate task, workflows and processes enable organizations to free employees from tasks that are boring, repetitive and labour intensive. The rapid development in new capabilities combined with reductions in price have made such tools affordable and practically available to the extent that we in many cases find an order of magnitude change in the cost/benefit-ratio of using technology compared to human labour.  

Automation capabilities is increasingly integrated into common business application software and technology platforms such as Microsoft 365 there is also a market of specialised software for automation, including Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and other types of bots.

The course will provide students with an overview of approaches to automation of tasks, workflows and processes. This includes concepts and practices for process automation, including hands-on experiences with relevant tools. 

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

After completing the course, the candidate will have acquired knowledge about:

  • Problem-solving and problem-solving processes
  • Teamwork in problem solving
  • The mutuality of people, processes and technology in an organization
  • Task automation as a concept
  • Common tools for task automation
Learning outcomes - Skills

After completing the course, the candidate is able to:

  • Work in teams to solve business problems
  • Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to solve business problems
  • Apply automation tools that are feasible for the problem at hand
  • Develop and implement an automated solution for a (part of a) task or a process
  • Evaluate of the effect of the implemented solution
General Competence

The candidates should be able to reflect on their own role in a problem-solving process, being part of a team and how one’s own behavior contributes to team success. They should also be able to reflect on ethical, legal and sustainability implications of task automation.

Course content
  • Problem-solving; methods and processes
    • Problem-solving techniques
    • Teamwork in problem solving
  • Understanding business processes
    • Tasks, workflows and business processes
    • Process mapping and analysis
  • Task automation: concepts, tools and techniques
    • Automation capabilities in software
    • Tools for automation - overview and introduction
    • Feasibility assessment
    • Developing and implementing a solution
Teaching and learning activities

The course includes a combination of lectures, case discussions, and "lab"-sessions with workshops and hands-on exercises.

Classes are designed to be interactive - small group activities, student-led discussions, and peer feedback exercises. Attendance and participation in class are expected.

Software tools

Students will have access to a variety of software tools in the course, including:

  • Virtual desktop (VDI) to run the software used in the course
  • Tools within the Microsoft 365 platform and other automation tools
  • Online whiteboards with templates (e.g. Miro or Mural) and drawing applications (e.g. draw.io)
Software tools
Software defined under the section "Teaching and learning activities".
Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Students are expected to have a basic skills in coding and data management.

Mandatory courseworkCourseworks givenCourseworks requiredComment coursework
Mandatory53The course includes lab-sessions, workshops and other exercises to develop knowledge and skills in task automation. The coursework requirements is to hand in documentation on the result from five of these activities. More information will be given at the beginning of the course.
Mandatory coursework:
Mandatory coursework:Mandatory
Courseworks given:5
Courseworks required:3
Comment coursework:The course includes lab-sessions, workshops and other exercises to develop knowledge and skills in task automation. The coursework requirements is to hand in documentation on the result from five of these activities. More information will be given at the beginning of the course.
Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Handin - all file types
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Group (2 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
The exam project is a group activity where students are expected to find a solution for automating a business activity or process. Their work should be documented in a written document that should be handed in tighter with an access to the technical solution and a multimedia production (e.g. video) that demonstrates the solution.
Exam code: 
EDI 35001
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
20 Hour(s)
Participation in lectures
Seminar groups
10 Hour(s)
Lab-seminars. Hands-on introductory training in tools and techniques
Seminar groups
15 Hour(s)
Participation in workshops
Prepare for teaching
20 Hour(s)
Reading and preparing for lectures and “lab”-sessions
Examination
90 Hour(s)
Work on the exam project, including preparing for workshops
Student's own work with learning resources
45 Hour(s)
Work with online content and assignments to develop skills in automation tools
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.