Structure | The Warwick Executive Diploma in Digital Leadership

An innovative executive-level programme

The programme is delivered in four modules, each over four days at WBS London, so executives don’t need to divert from their usual responsibilities at work. Upon successful completion confers the qualification of Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Leadership from the University of Warwick.

The four Digital Leadership modules build and develop new leadership thinking and transform strategic understanding over one year, with new learning immediately utilised in your own organisation between modules as well as through your final Executive Case project.

Modules

Platform Strategy: 20-23 October 2021
Business Impacts of Artificial Intelligence: 26-29 January 2022
Business Analytics for Executives: 6-9 April 2022
Leading Digital Transformation: 25-28 May 2022

Click on the module links in the drop down below to see further details of the module content.

Individual project
The final component of your Executive Diploma is the individual project. The project is completed and submitted after the four core modules, though you will begin developing ideas for your project from the outset, as it is intended to be an integrating focus for your learning across the whole Diploma.

The scope of the project allows you to apply and develop your thinking from each Diploma module to a strategic challenge of your choosing. The Course Director and faculty will support you in developing the project outline and you will deliver the 6,000 word project report as the final assessment of your Diploma after completion of the modules and their assignments.

Assessment
You will be required to complete written assessments, plus a further project. All assignments are designed to be directly related to your own organisational context and challenges. In order to gain the qualification of Postgraduate Diploma awarded by the University of Warwick, you will need to attend all four taught modules, and pass the assessment in each module and your project.

How will we teach you?

Peer networks and debate: Questioning, discussion and debate with a support network of peers as well as truly interactive relationships with teaching faculty
Bespoke distance learning platform: Inter-modular support from the my.wbs platform, which is used to deliver our Distance learning MBA
Guest speakers and practitioners: relevant and relate-able speakers from industry and practice will feature within each individual module
Personal development and action learning: Utilising reflective practice, psychometric tools and analysis as well as learning through doing.

Learning in London, the financial capital of the world
Opened in June 2015 on the 17th floor of The Shard, WBS London houses a 100-seat lecture theatre and a smaller one at 80 seats, plus seminar rooms and space to network. In October 2017 we announced that WBS is expanding our London base to include the 13th floor, increasing our footprint at The Shard by 50 per cent.

The Shard is situated next to the London Bridge transport hub so getting to us from anywhere in London, the UK, and international locations, could not be easier.

Modules

Platform Strategy

Some of the most valued, yet short-lived, companies including Alibaba, Amazon, Facebook, and Google are platform businesses. At the same time, long-lived companies such as General Electric are considering how they can adopt platform thinking to improve performance. This means that there are high levels of interest in platforms and their strategic implications across all sectors.

The Diploma in Digital Leadership will enable participants to understand the nature of platform strategy, and the specific challenges of both launching a new platform business as well as developing platform thinking in a traditional business.

Business Impacts of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence and its relevance for contemporary businesses needs to be understood and analysed through a broad perspective including its potential impacts on competition, strategy and regulation, as well as jobs and skills. From building a conceptual understanding to critical analysis of real-world business examples, participants will be able to understand the implications and potential to leverage artificial intelligence developments for their industry, and particularly for their organisation.

Business Analytics for Executives

It is essential for senior executives to have a strategic understanding of the nature of business analytics and its ever-growing importance for organisations in the digital age. For senior managers and leaders this means having an up-to-date understanding of the relationship between the tools - for analysing big data, understanding digital innovation and new analysis techniques - and developing insightful managerial advice. In this module, participants will not only develop the ability to use analytics for improved decision-making but also learn to apply new techniques for the effective communication of results to stakeholders for greater impact and influence.

Leading Digital Transformation

This final module builds on the previous three to look comprehensively at digital transformation and its management. This includes debate, discussion and analysis of the roles of management, leadership and governance in digital transformation and the challenges that leaders face across sectors and functions. Participants will explore and unpack digital transformation, now working from an informed and knowledgeable position, to understand its implications, opportunities and challenges for their own individual business or organisation.

Module details