Introduction to Digital Transformation from Coursera

This course is primarily for professionals, college students, and advanced high school students who are interested in driving the digital transformation by integrating automation, software, and cutting-edge technologies.

This course represents a foundational introduction to Digital Transformation, appropriate for learners with a basic familiarity with common business terms and concepts and an interest in digital technology. To succeed in this course, learners should bring their curiosity about how new developments in technology are shaping the way businesses and entire industries operate. This course has no formal prerequisites.

This course focuses on how technology can be used as a competitive advantage in today’s business environment. First, current trends in computing, visual, connectivity and artificial intelligence are outlined with an emphasis on their impact to businesses. Next, we look at digital tools for design, manufacturing, and usage of products. Finally, we look at the applications of these technologies and digital tools across eight key industries.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

Summarize digital transformation - what, how and why

Outline important technical trends within today’s economy

Identify digital tools that can be applied to transform business processes

Apply digital transformation to a variety of industries

Course developed in partnership with Fram Akiki of Joun Technologies.

What's inside

Syllabus

An Introduction to Digital Transformation

In this module, you will be introduced to structure and format of the course. You will learn about course resources. Then, you will be introduced to an overview of digital transformation. At the end of the week, you will be introduced to how digital transformation operates in the Automotive and Heavy Machinery industries.

Technology Trends - Computing & Visual

During week two of the course, you will begin your examination of some key digital transformation trends. You will begin with computing and visual trends this week. Then, you will examine technologies related to these key trends. At the end of the week, you will be introduced to how digital transformation operates in the Aerospace and Defense Industry.

Technology Trends - Connectivity

During week three of the course, you will be introduced to another key trend in digital transformation: connectivity. You will explore key technologies related to connectivity. At the end of the week, you will examine how digital transformation operates in the Electronics and Semiconductors Industry. At the end of this week is also our mid-course exam. This will cover all instructional information from weeks one to three.

Technology Trends - Artificial Intelligence

During week four of the course, you will finish your examination of the key digital transformation trends. The final trend you will review is Artificial Intelligence (AI). You will explore some AI technologies. At the end of the week, you will be introduced to how digital transformation operates in the Medical , and Energy and Utility industries.

The Product Lifecycle - Ideation, Realization, and Utilization

During the final week of the course, you will learn about each step in the product lifecycle. You will examine how digital transformation occurs during product ideation, realization, and utilization. At the end of the week, you will examine how digital transformation operates in the Consumer Produces and Marine industries. At the end of this week is also our final course exam. This will cover all instructional information from weeks four through five.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores technology trends that are shaping business practices, providing learners with knowledge that is highly relevant to industry

Provides foundational knowledge on digital transformation, an essential topic for evolving business models and processes

Examines the application of digital transformation principles across multiple industries, broadening learners' perspectives

Offers a course structure that includes a mid-course and final exam, demonstrating an emphasis on knowledge assessment

Incorporates a multi-modal approach to content delivery, including videos, readings, and discussions, enhancing engagement

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Digital Transformation with these activities:

Personalized IoT Study Pack

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Organize and review course materials to enhance retention and understanding.

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Gather course notes, assignments, and additional resources.
Summarize key concepts and create flashcards for quick review.
Develop a study schedule to review the materials regularly.

AWS IoT Core for Beginners

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Familiarize with one of the leading cloud platforms for IoT, AWS IoT Core, to enhance practical knowledge.

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Create an AWS account and set up the necessary services.
Follow the AWS IoT Core tutorials and documentation.
Complete the hands-on labs to gain practical experience.

IoT Discussion Group Participation

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Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share insights with peers to enhance understanding and build a network.

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Identify or join an IoT discussion group or forum.
Actively participate in discussions by posing questions, sharing ideas, and providing feedback.
Respectful and professional communication and etiquette in the group.

Five other activities

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Cisco IoT Fundamentals Specialist Certification Preparation

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Review the fundamentals of IoT and prepare for certification to enhance credibility and knowledge in the field during the course.

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Enroll and start the Cisco IoT Fundamentals Specialist certification preparation course.
Review the course materials, including videos, articles, and quizzes.
Complete the practice questions and labs to gauge understanding and prepare for the exam.

IoT Blog or Article

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Develop written communication skills by creating an IoT-related blog or article to reinforce understanding and share insights.

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Choose a topic related to IoT that aligns with course content.
Research and gather information from credible sources.
Write a well-structured and informative article or blog post.
Proofread and edit the content before publishing.

IoT Device Simulator

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Gain practical experience by building an IoT device simulator to deepen understanding of IoT concepts.

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Choose a programming language and development environment.
Design and implement a model for the IoT device.
Create a user interface for the simulator.
Test the simulator and make adjustments as needed.

IoT Network Simulation Exercises

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Enhance understanding of IoT networking concepts through simulation exercises, solidifying knowledge.

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Select an IoT network simulation platform.
Design and configure a simulated IoT network.
Run simulations and analyze the results.
Troubleshoot and optimize the simulated network.

Contribution to an Open-Source IoT Project

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Gain real-world experience and contribute to the IoT community by participating in open-source projects.

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Identify an open-source IoT project that aligns with interests.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Make a code contribution or documentation improvement.
Submit a pull request and engage with the project maintainers.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Digital Transformation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Digital Transformation Consultant

Digital Transformation Consultants help organizations adopt new technologies and processes to improve their operations. This course can help Digital Transformation Consultants build a foundation in the key trends and technologies that are driving digital transformation.

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IT Architect

IT Architects design and implement IT infrastructure. This course can help IT Architects learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to design and implement infrastructure that can support digital transformation initiatives.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course can help Software Engineers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to develop software that can help businesses digitally transform.

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Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design and implement computer systems. This course can help Systems Analysts learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to design and implement systems that can support digital transformation initiatives.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. This course can help Product Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to develop products that meet the needs of digitally transformed businesses.

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Project Manager

Project Managers lead and manage projects. This course can help Project Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to manage projects that involve digital transformation initiatives.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. This course can help Data Scientists learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use data to drive digital transformation initiatives.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts help businesses identify and solve problems. This course can help Business Analysts learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use digital tools to analyze business data.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a business. This course can help Operations Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use digital tools to improve operational efficiency.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. This course can help Marketing Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use digital marketing to reach target audiences.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources of a business. This course can help Human Resources Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use digital tools to improve HR processes.

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Chief Technology Officer

A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of technology within an organization. This course may be useful for CTOs who want to learn more about the latest digital transformation trends and how to apply them to their businesses.

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Finance Manager

Finance Managers are responsible for managing the finances of a business. This course can help Finance Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use digital tools to improve financial management.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading sales teams and developing sales strategies. This course can help Sales Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use digital tools to improve sales performance.

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Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers are responsible for ensuring the quality of products and services. This course can help Quality Assurance Managers learn about the latest digital transformation trends and how to use digital tools to improve quality assurance processes.

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