| Program length | Format | Session start date | Program fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks (Five hours per week) |
Online with live discussion sessions | October 13, 2023 | $2,195 + applicable taxes |
As disruptive innovations and new technologies continue to shape our world, being prepared to adapt is more important than ever. To keep up, your organization must have a strategy that enables your business to respond to our changing landscape and embrace emerging technology. From mastering new technologies to ensuring your teams can successfully adapt to technological change, avoid future roadblocks by strengthening your knowledge of digital transformation today.
This eight-week online course, developed in partnership with the Ontario Engineering Academy and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), addresses the impact that technology is having on our workforce, and helps you discover new technologies and develop a plan for their integration into your workplace. It covers current digital transformation models, examples of new technologies and their applications, and offers unique case studies from a wide range of organizations that have undergone their own successful digital transformation.
You will also be able to interact with professionals from various industries through peer learning and a facilitated open forum. As millions of jobs are displaced by the division of labour between humans and technology, this course prepares you to balance your technology, people, and processes, so your organization can remain competitive and agile in today's marketplace.
Who should enrol
- Professionals who lead or influence their organization’s digital transformation.
- Business and technology leaders seeking to innovate or adopt new technologies for their workplace.
- Project managers.
Interested in bringing our existing programs to your organization?
We can provide a custom learning experience for large groups from any single organization. Register three or more employees from the same organization and receive 15% off. Contact our team at watspeed@uwaterloo.ca for more info.
What you will learn
- Examine the impact that technology will have on your career.
- Discover emerging digital opportunities and explore the technology that will be the best fit for your organization.
- Understand the common challenges that organizations face with digital transformation.
- Balance the human and organizational aspects of digital change.
- Develop a comprehensive plan to guide your digital transformation.
- Explore innovative solutions to avoid potential roadblocks to your own digital transformation plans.
- Utilize practical tools and techniques to continuously improve your digital strategy.
- Develop your skills and digital literacy and build a compelling case for your business to implement a new digital strategy.
1:1 coaching for all learners
For the duration of the program, the instructor offers one hour of individual 1:1 coaching to each participant in addition to the scheduled program sessions. Use this time to discuss your ideas to help your organization achieve digital change. Receive expert feedback and insight that you can implement into your plan.
Did you know?
of transformation projects fail
The academic research is clear that when corporations launch transformations, roughly 70 per cent fail.
McKinsey, 2019
of companies have stalled in digital transformation
Some top challenges organizations face include skills gaps, cultural differences, and struggles from traditional teams.
McKinsey Global Survey, 2020
of organizations have accelerated transformation
47 per cent say the pandemic has permanently accelerated digital transformation and the adoption of emerging technologies.
KPMG CIO Survey, 2020
Course details
- Expert instruction from University of Waterloo faculty.
- Live discussion sessions via Zoom every Friday from 12 – 1 p.m. ET (also available as recordings).
- Peer discussions and networking opportunities.
- Case studies from well-known organizations in a variety of industries.
- Four hours of independent work online each week (including graded assignments and activities).
- Capstone project that integrates your learning.
- Attendance requirement: It is highly recommended that participants attend live sessions, but it is not required. Live discussion sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing.
Get your professional development hours
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For project management professionals: The curriculum for this certificate program is relevant for experienced project managers tasked with guiding digital transformation projects. If you are a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), completing this course may qualify for required professional development units as part of your Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.
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For professional engineers: Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive 40 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours from the Ontario Engineering Academy, part of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). Also, it may qualify to receive the mandatory CPD hours for the Practice Evaluation and Knowledge (PEAK) program for Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) licence holders.
Benefits for your organization
- Improve your chances of success, including obtaining stakeholder buy-in, when adopting or implementing new technology.
- Modernize your systems, processes, operations, and customer service.
- Strengthen your resource management to improve productivity and increase profitability.
- Increase your business' digital agility for faster innovation, adaptation, and continuous improvement.
Your instructor
Peter Carr, PhD, P.L.Eng.
Peter Carr is a continuing lecturer in the Department of Management Sciences, and has been consulting on the topic of digital transformation for 18 years. He is an expert on the use of technology in business and society. His key areas of focus for research and teaching include: technology innovation and entrepreneurship, the strategic management of technology, project management, the use of social media to improve business performance, technology in developing countries, the social impact of information technology, and online learning.
Carr works on the use of technology in developing countries. Most recently this work has included the creation of the Technology Enabled Education Resource Library, with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi. Prior to that, he contributed to over 20 projects with NetHope and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. He was the Technical Editor of the book “PMP Professional Study Guide, 3rd edition” by Joseph Phillips (McGraw Hill, 2009). He has taught Project Management and Operations Management courses internationally, and has been featured in case studies by Microsoft and BlackBerry. He has created two project management based online simulations. He recently completed contributions to a report on digital transformation in the manufacturing sector in Canada.
Carr holds a PhD in lean transformation of traditional manufacturing organizations from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. He also has strong ties to industry. Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, he was executive director at the Centre for Innovative Management at Athabasca University.
Sign up to receive the course brochure
In the brochure, you'll find a full week-by-week breakdown of the curriculum and more details about your learning experience!
