Digital business strategy: the MIT approach
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Table of Contents
General Information
Course type:
Executive Education – intended for:
• Senior and mid-level managers
• Entrepreneurs
• Strategic leaders in companies facing digital challenges
Lecturer:
Petr Štěpán, Ph. D., MBA – graduate of MIT Sloan Executive Education
Rajeh Khazaal, BBA, MBA – graduate of the American University in Dubai, entrepreneur, and lecturer.
Learning Approach:
Action Learning – emphasis on applying theory in practice through concrete tasks, real company data, and the House of Quality methodology.
Course format:
• 6 in-person workshops (4–6 hours per week)
• Online assignments with personalized feedback
• Assignments submitted via a shared digital platform
• Timely participation required
• Final presentation and certification
Language of instruction:
50% Czech / 50% English (depending on participants’ needs)
Certification:
Completion of all assignments. Final action plan presentation
Course structure by weeks
WEEK 1: Digital Disruption & Strategic Thinking
Goals:
- Understand the impact of digital transformation on business models
- Learn strategic thinking frameworks
- Analyze disruptive technologies
Content:
- Definition of digital transformation
- Examples (Amazon, Tesla, Airbnb)
- SWOT and PESTLE analysis
- Key technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT)
Assignment:
SWOT analysis of your company focused on digital challenges. Inspired by HubSpot.
MIT Case Study Company:
HubSpot – a company born out of the MIT ecosystem and a model of digital disruption
Founded: Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah, 2006 (MIT Sloan)
Focus: Inbound marketing, CRM, and marketing automation (SaaS)
Success: Created a new market segment (“inbound marketing”), serves over 150,000 customers, publicly traded
Why it’s included: A great example of how to disrupt traditional sales and marketing models using a simple, scalable digital platform.
WEEK 2: Data-Driven Decision Making & AI
Goals:
- Make decisions based on data
- Understand AI applications in business
- Evaluate the value of data analytics
Content:
- Principles of data-driven decision-making
- Data types and quality
- AI applications in practice
- Automation of decision-making processes
Assignment:
Design an AI use case for your company inspired by Kensho.
MIT Case Study Company:
Kensho Technologies – a company born out of MIT and a model for data- and AI-driven decision-making.
Founded: Daniel Nadler, MIT alumnus, 2013.
Focus: Predictive analytics and data automation in finance.
Success: Acquired by S&P Global (~$550M), integrating AI into traditional finance.
Why it’s included: Shows the power of big data + machine learning + business use case. A model for transforming data into strategic advantage.
WEEK 3: Business Model Innovation & Platforms
Goals:
- Design innovative business models
- Understand the power of platform-based solutions
- Apply the House of Quality methodology
Content:
- Business model innovation
- House of Quality methodology
- Platform strategies
- Case studies (Uber, Netflix, Spotify)
Assignment:
Design a new digital business model or platform for your company.
MIT Case Study Company:
Akamai Technologies – a company born out of MIT, an example of platform infrastructure innovation
• Founded: Prof. Tom Leighton (MIT) and Daniel Lewin (MIT student), 1998
• Focus: Digital content delivery, edge computing, internet security
• Success: Handles ~30% of global internet traffic
• Why it’s included: Exemplifies a scalable B2B platform model based on network effects and digital infrastructure.
WEEK 4: Leadership in the Digital Era
Goals:
• Strengthen leadership through change
• Support digital culture
• Lead teams through uncertainty
Content:
- Role of leaders in digital transformation
- Building a digital culture
- Communication and motivation
- Crisis leadership
Assignment:
Assess your company’s leadership. Suggest improvements inspired by Formlabs.
MIT Case Study Company:
Formlabs – born out of MIT, a model for digital leadership and innovation culture
Founded: Maxim Lobovsky, Natan Linder, David Cranor (MIT Media Lab), 2011
Focus: Accessible, high-precision 3D printing (hardware + software)
Success: 100,000+ printers in 190+ countries, $250M+ in funding
Why it’s included: Combines technological innovation with agile leadership. Great example of building an innovation-driven organization.
WEEK 5: Cybersecurity & Digital Ethics
Goals:
- Understand cybersecurity risks
- Explore ethical use of data
- Protect digital assets
Content:
- Cybersecurity for managers
- Security mechanisms and governance
- Ethics and digital responsibility
- Case study analysis of real incidents
Assignment:
Evaluate your company’s cybersecurity policy and suggest improvements inspired by Cybereason.
MIT Case Study Company:
Cybereason – a company born out of MIT, exemplary in managing cybersecurity and digital trust
Founded: MIT alumni and ex-Israeli intelligence officers, 2012
Focus: AI-powered threat detection and response
Success: Global clients, $700M+ in funding
Why it’s included: Cybersecurity as a strategic pillar. Not just IT — it’s about trust, accountability, and long-term reputation.
WEEK 6: The Future of Work & Digital Strategy
Goals:
- Understand key shifts in the labor market
- Create a digital strategy action plan
- Prepare teams for future changes
Content:
- Trends: AI, hybrid teams, gig economy
- Change management
- Strategy implementation
- Action plan (mission, goals, metrics)
Assignment:
Develop a digital transformation plan for your company. Inspiration: Ginkgo Bioworks.
MIT Case Study Company:
Ginkgo Bioworks – founded at MIT, a deep-tech model of digital transformation
• Founded: Jason Kelly, Tom Knight, and MIT Synthetic Biology team, 2008
• Focus: Programming living organisms (synthetic biology as digital engineering)
• Success: IPO in 2021, valued at $15B+, partnerships with Bayer, Moderna, and others
• Why it’s included: Shows how digitization can redefine industries from the core. A blueprint for deep strategic transformation.
Recommended Czech literature
Mařík, Vladimír et al.: Artificial Intelligence 1, 2, 3
Topic: AI foundations, development, applications.
Annotation: Three-volume series covering AI theory and applications in healthcare, industry, and services, including ethical and security implications.
Recommended for weeks 2, 5, 6
Dvořák, Jiří: Cybersecurity in Business Management
Topic: Cybersecurity for executives.
Annotation: An overview of threats, protective strategies, and risk management tailored for leadership.
Recommended for weeks 2, 5, 6
Sedláčková, Hana: Ethics and Responsibility in the Digital Age
Topic: Digital ethics and corporateaccountability.
Annotation: Explores how technology affects trust, reputation, and social responsibility.
Recommended for week 5
Procházka, David: Corporate Economics and Digital Transformation
Topic: Digital impact on business strategy and operations.
Annotation: Combines economic principles with transition to digital management models.
Recommended for weeks 1, 3, 6
Kříž, Radim: Strategic Management – New Approaches and Trends
Topic: Strategic thinking in uncertainty and digital context.
Annotation: Offers dynamic methods for business leadership under transformation.
Recommended for weeks 1, 6
Mařík, Vladimír; Lažanský, Jiří: Industry 4.0 – A Challenge for the Czech Republic
Topic: Industrial digitalization and automation.
Annotation: Guide for Czech managers and engineers involved in digital transformation.
Recommended for weeks 1, 3, 6
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Download information PDF
Follow Our Social Media :
Ready to launch a digital strategy?
Fill in the application form or contact us – we will be happy to advise you if the course is suitable for you.
