Module: AI & Leading Sustainable Innovation

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	AI & Leading Sustainable Innovation
Module Code	ENI1009 (ITS: MT341)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This course focuses on how to leverage new technologies to build a future-proofed social, economic and environmental sustainability roadmap for your organization. In today’s (VUCA) volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous business environments, organizations need to understand how they can harness the capabilities of new technologies, using the lens of the SDG’s to address ongoing wicked problems. AI is the technology which has not only the potential to disrupt the tech industry, but practically every other industry as well. This module provides students with the necessary insights for strategically managing new technologies in a way that is environmentally compelling, competitive and distinctive. This module combines the areas of new product development in corporate innovation, sustainability, the circular economy and green IT.

Learning Outcomes

1. Use the tools and principles of design thinking to solve problems and exploit opportunities in academic and organisational settings.
2. Synthesise technical written information from various sources and present it visually as a poster or infographic.
3. Demonstrate, through reflection, a critical understanding of key concepts around environmental and social sustainability, from the headline UN SDGs to organisation-level science based targets.
4. Students will develop a critical understanding of key concepts around environmental and social sustainability, and the UN SDGs
5. Students will develop a critical understanding of how technology can enhance sustainability and its associated challenges, applying this to an organisational context.
6. Students will develop technology roadmaps to improve sustainability in an organisational context.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Independent Study	70	Students will be expected to complete the readings and read the case studies provided in advance of each class.
Lecture	28	This module is delivered over a series of bi-weekly half day lectures. The material lends itself to studio-based, group learning and hence the classes are longer than normal. Teams will be working on innovation projects in groups.
Group work	27	Students will be working in groups on assignments based around design thinking and sustainability.
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10102	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Peter Robbins	Module Teacher	Fernando Forattini, Regina Connolly

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Poster presentation	Group Assignment: Students will be asked to administer a sustainability audit on a semi-state organisation in Ireland for which there is ample secondary data. They must convert their key findings into a poster or infographic.	20%	Week 9
Reflective journal	Individual: Students will originate, maintain and submit an e-portfolio through Loop reflect where they reflect on the elements of their learning - the developments, their impact and their consequences for organisations, for society and for individuals.	50%	Week 12
Loop Quiz	Students will take an invigilated, in-person MCQ to test their learning of the key concepts from the module.	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

What is and what if?
Innovation: Types and sources of innovation; types of Business Model Approaches to Innovation - Design thinking Design Thinking - the Mindset - rules and tools Principal models of design thinking Wicked Problems and Design Thinking Key concepts in sustainability, including: Triple Bottom Line; Doughnut Economics: planetary and social boundaries, Economics of innovation and new technology; Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions

What technologies and how?
Digital with Purpose - Delivering a SMARTer2030 Identifying technologies with traction and power for sustainability (Smart tech, AI, Cognitive, Machine Learning, cloud computing, Blockchain, Quantum) Green IT readiness: Sustainable IS and Green Metrics Enterprise Green IT strategy Green data strategy: Storage, networks and communications Digital solutions for the Circular Economy: From planetary boundaries to information flows Associated challenges of using digital technologies for sustainability: AI for sustainable social and environmental value creation Ethical algorithms and decision making accountability Harnessing semantic web technologies for social and environmental sustainability.

What works and why?
Leading organizations undergoing digital disruption towards sustainable solutions Mastering Disruptive Business Models - (The Disruptive Business Model Roadmap/The Disruptive Response Planner) Sustainable Business Model Canvas

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Rodgers, D.: 2016, The Digital Transformation Playbook: Rethink your business for the digital age., Columbia Business School,
Russell, S.: 2020, Human Compatible AI and the Problem of Control, Penguin Press,
Kearns, M. and Roth, A.: 0, The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware AI Design, Oxford University Press,
Criado Perez, D.: 2020, Invisible women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Menâ€™, Vintage Press,
Eubanks, V.: 2019, Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police and Punish the Poorâ€™. Picador press., Picador Press,
O' Neill, C.: 2017, Weapons of Math Destruction, Penguin Press,

Articles:

Karim, F. A., Zo, H. & Chiravuri, A.: 2021, Digital Transformation and Environmental Sustainability: A Review and Research Agenda., Sustainability, 13, 1530, 517572
2020: Reaching sustainability during a digital transformation: A PLS approach, Reaching sustainability during a digital transformation: A PLS approach, Vol. 12 (1), 5259, 517573, 1
On Organisational Resilience: HBR Must Reads,

Other Resources

None