Sustainable and responsible digitization in Service BusinessLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

Aim of the course
Until now, digitalisation has been examined largely through the opportunities and benefits it brings. Themes related to sustainability and responsibility force us to examine the prevailing operating models more critically than before. In this course, phenomena and impacts related to the digitalisation of society are discussed at the level of individuals, organisations, societies and the living environment. Key themes include energy consumption and emissions in the ICT sector, life cycles of hardware and software, indirect impacts of the ICT sector in different sectors, vulnerabilities in electricity and telecommunications networks, the emergence and development of digital gaps, as well as health impacts and well-being at individual and societal levels. All of these are also examined in relation to the societally necessary service provision.

Objective of the course
Students are able to examine the trends in the digital society with regard to factors related to the well-being of people, organisations and societies, as well as nature and living environments. Students can assess the potential of digitalisation against potential disadvantages and threats. Students have capabilities to contribute to promoting sustainability and responsibility themes in a digitalising society. Knowledge-based capabilities help students assess the sustainability and responsibility of service production and also provide the basis for developing sustainable and responsible solutions in their field.

Content

Content
- direct impacts of digitalisation from the perspective of energy and raw material consumption
- indirect impacts of digitalisation outside the ICT sector
- risks posed by vulnerabilities in electricity and telecommunications networks
- formation of digital gaps from the perspective of the individual and society
- privacy protection and data security challenges
- health and well-being related challenges of digitalisation

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1 - the student is able to adequately describe the basic concepts of sustainability and responsibility related to digitalisation
2 - the student recognises the areas of sustainable and responsible digitalisation and the connections between them

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 - the student is able to create an overall picture of sustainable and responsible digitalisation
4 - the student is able to assess the sustainability impacts and responsibility of digitalisation in their own field as an example

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 - the student is able to comprehensively assess the sustainability impacts and responsibility of digitalisation on a general level, as well as by applying these to their own field