Bachelor of Digital Business
Bachelor of Digital Business
The Bachelor Programmes are three-year full-time studies, each of which comprises 60 credits. In total, a Bachelor's degree program comprises 180 credits. The credits are in accordance with the European ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) system.
This program is aimed at developing candidates who can make an active contribution in businesses that are, or aspire to be, digital by being a bridge builder between business and digital technology. The candidates shall be able to analyse the potential impact of digital technology on operational performance, work practices and organization of a business as well as finding opportunities to develop new businesses or make strategic changes to existing businesses. There are potential synergies with the Bachelor in Entrepreneurship programme offered at all BIs campuses. Partly because there are several common angles on pedagogy and topics / course content. Conversations on potential synergies have started, and a potentially smart initiative will be to develop a common elective that in return may strengthen the existing bachelor portfolio with reference to the project for new electives model.
The candidates will be able to contribute to digital business development by:
- Knowing how to apply methods, processes, and tools for digital innovation
- Acting as valuable members in teams on digital projects
- Facilitating and leading an experimental and explorative innovation practice
The candidate profile is founded on the following capabilities:
- A clear understanding of what a business is and how it operates
- Familiarity with digital technology, how it evolves, and the opportunities enabled
- A clear conception of how to combine business and digital technology
- An ability to communicate with stakeholders across the business and technology domain
- A broad understanding of issues such as digital security and privacy, sustainability and its effect on business continuity, and ethical choices.
A Digital Business candidate:
- has developed significant business knowledge, specifically as it relates to what a company is, how to it creates value, and how it operates. This includes knowledge in core disciplines, such as accounting, finance, economics, marketing, organizational behaviour, management, and strategic management as well as knowledge related to the role of innovation, business models, and business development.
- has developed significant knowledge related to data and digital technology. The candidate is able to understand the fundamentals of digital technology, including technical infrastructures, emerging technologies, cloud computing platforms, enterprise systems, automation technologies, security, as well as how to build applications. A candidate will also have knowledge of common computing platforms and tools, digital infrastructures and open data.
- has developed significant knowledge about how to organize and lead digitally, including knowledge about digital transformation. A candidate has a deep understanding of digital operating models, principles of organizing in a digital firm, and digital innovation. This also entails an understanding of complex problem solving and methods and frameworks for business analysis such as business process management and change management.
- Has gained a general understanding of the key legal issues affecting the use of digital technologies, in particular rules and regulations related to data privacy and intellectual property appropriation
A Digital Business candidate:
- will be able to analyse business problems and challenges in a multi-disciplinary context
- will be able to combine business and technology knowledge to develop solutions for real business needs and communicate with different stakeholders
- will be able to plan and manage digital innovations processes, using methods and techniques feasible for the problem’s complexity and uncertainty
- will be able to acquire, implement and manage digital solutions such as cloud platforms, enterprise systems, automation tools and build small applications
- will be able to identify core legal problems related to offering goods and services online and discuss possible solutions.
- will be able to apply legal methodology to recognize and resolve problems stemming from the use of digital technologies.
- will be able to reflect on sustainability issues in digital business. In particular, candidates will be able to use digital solutions to develop sustainable business models and enhance the sustainability of products and services.
A Digital Business candidate:
- will have strong communication skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills. The ability to build and nurture relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
- will be able to understand the central regulatory instruments affecting the digital world.
- will be able to critically reflect on ethical and legal dilemmas stemming from use of emerging technologies, such as machine learning and AI.
- will be able to work effectively in teams as well as individually. This includes the ability to take responsibility for their own work and team deliverables.
- will have strong general presentation skills, both orally as well as in written work.
- will be able to work together with people from different cultural backgrounds. The candidate has the ability to work effectively in international environments and be sensitive towards cultural differences, and how to adjust an approach to the cultural environment. The students will develop a high cultural intelligence.
The Bachelor Programmes at BI Norwegian Business School are, as a rule, composed of 75 credits with Basis courses (common courses for all or more programmes), 75 credits with Program courses adapted to the individual study program, and 30 credits with elective courses. The minimum course size is 7.5 credits.
As a general rule, it is possible to change the bachelor's program after the first year of study. However, it may be necessary to take additional courses.
Students can enter the programmes after the 1st and 2nd year from other colleges, provided that they have covered the necessary subject areas or undertake to take necessary courses as well. Specific requirements for the subject composition are prepared for each study program.
To obtain a Bachelor's degree from BI, at least 60 credits must be acquired at BI Norwegian School of Management.
For students who are admitted to full-time multi-year programmes, there is a requirement for study progression in order to be able to move on to the next academic year. The requirements are:
A minimum of 30 credits (50%) must be completed and passed after the first year of study in order to be approved to the 2nd year.
A minimum of 60 credits (50%) must be completed and passed after the second year of study in order to be approved to 3rd year.
Some studies may require higher progression than this. The requirements for study progression for each study program are specified in the study contract. Students who do not satisfy the requirement for study progression are offered a one-year stay to address missing subjects and exams.
Workload
BI Norwegian Business School has set the norm that a full-time student should spend 1,600 hours per year. years of their studies. This means that a course of 7.5 credits will require a work effort of 200 hours including teaching, supervision, self-effort and examination. This is in line with the European standard set out in the Bologna Declaration. One of the key criteria is that credits can only be achieved through completed and passed work with an associated assessment of the performance and the learning outcome in relation to learning goals (= expected learning outcomes).