University of California, Davis
Digital Strategies: Managing Sociotechnological Co-Evolution

Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.

University of California, Davis

Digital Strategies: Managing Sociotechnological Co-Evolution

Martin Hilbert

Instructor: Martin Hilbert

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

13 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

13 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Digital Technology and Social Change Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate
Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

There are 5 modules in this course

After this module, you will be able to review how the social construction of technology requires proactive change management and be able to define what technology is and learn how this organismic system evolves. You'll be able to analyze the historical evolution of technology and its impact on society from the Stone Age to the digital age and develop a working definition of technology that allows you to understand its different aspects and roles in society. You'll also be able to discover why ‘things are getting faster and faster’, by exploring the mathematical logic behind the unavoidable accelerating nature of technological change.

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment2 discussion prompts

After this module, you will be able to analyze the nature of technological evolution, identifying key patterns and contours in its progression. You will be able to differentiate between continuous and disruptive innovation, recognizing their impact on the technological landscape, as well as evaluate the impact of disruptive innovations using examples from various industries. You'll be able to review the implications of Moore's Law on computational technology as an example of continuous innovation and recognize how exponential technological progress can help us to navigate an uncertain future even if we cannot make specific predictions about what will be. You'll also be able to speculate about the technological singularity, the moment when progress will become too fast for human understanding and be able to explore what past technological revolutions taught us about the question if machines will replace us and envision what the future might hold.

What's included

7 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt

After this module, you will be able to proactively manage digital change and analyze the co-evolution of technology and society, exploring their reciprocal influence over time. You will be able to evaluate the impact of technological diffusion on social systems and propose policy solutions to address resulting inequalities. You'll be able to examine the interdependent relationship between human society and technological advancements, as well as explore the emergent construction of human progress through the infinite number of evolving waves building on top of each other, from product cycles on the micro-level, to technological revolutions on the macro-level. You'll be able to assess the theories of economists like Kondratiev and Schumpeter on long waves of societal development and technological innovation and be able to identify and discuss the crucial role of financial bubbles and governmental regulation in the adoption of technological revolutions in the economy.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt

After this module, you will be able to examine why and how every technological innovation inevitably creates a new kind of inequality in society and discover Rogers model on the diffusion of innovations and about the importance of being an early adopter. You'll be able to compare and contrast the trade-off between progress and diffusion, considering standardization and societal adoption challenges, as well as analyze how innovations spread through social networks, and explain how social network structure influences innovation diffusion, including the role of connectivity and influencers. You'll be able to analyze social interventions and regulations shaping innovation diffusion, like vaccination campaigns and financial regulations and explain the digital divide's concept and inevitability within social network diffusion. You will be able to analyze the multidimensional aspects of the digital divide and develop strategies to address it and evaluate technological progress's impact on the digital divide, considering access and utilization efficiency.

What's included

9 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt

After this module, you will be able to discuss the crucial importance of social guidance in the social construction of any technology and manage technological change in companies and government. You will be able to analyze socio-technological constructs and policies from public and private sectors, as well as examine the AI alignment problem, its definition, challenges, and its importance for human development. You'll be able to recognize traditional ethical frameworks' role in AI alignment, addressing biases and promoting inclusivity and evaluate ethical implications of unintended consequences in AI alignment. You'll be able to recognize the necessity of defining clear objectives for AI systems to mitigate risks and be able to analyze the interplay between cultural values and AI development for addressing diverse ethical perspectives.

What's included

15 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts

Instructor

Martin Hilbert
University of California, Davis
9 Courses61,126 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Education

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions