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Digital transformation topics featured prominently in the NIU Executive MBA Program

May 29, 2023

Senior leaders from industry deliver cutting-edge lessons on digital transformation.

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program at the NIU College of Business offers OMIS 697, a course on digital transformation that is frequently taught by senior leaders in industry. In the rapidly changing digital world, it is important that every leader understands the implications for organizations, industry and society. In this vein, senior leaders who have led digital transformation efforts in their organizations share their perspective on related issues and challenges in the course.

Mark McDonald

The OMIS 697 course was established several years ago and is currently offered to all MBA students in our global, online and one-year programs. The EMBA version of the course was redesigned by College of Business dean Balaji Rajagopalan to include real-world executives who share their experiences. Mark McDonald, an accomplished senior executive with extensive experience in the industry, will serve as the lead instructor for the course fall 2023.

A distinguished vice president and research fellow at global research and advisory firm Gartner, McDonald is a recognized thought leader, author, sought-after speaker and university lecturer. His thought leadership in digital business growth strategies across multiple industries has benefited many Fortune 500 firms. With a strong theoretical foundation of the discipline acquired during his doctoral work and research initiatives at Gartner, McDonald is known for his ability to analyze complex issues to gain the understanding necessary to drive innovative solutions.

“The issues these students will face now, and as future leaders, are not academic or static; their consideration and resolution is not simple or formulaic,” McDonald said. “Working with executives gives students the opportunity to explore the full range of issues and decisions involved in leading organizations forward. The class concentrates on how to assess, analyze and consider these issues in order to equip students for when they face similar challenges.”

While specific technology and business context will always be different in each case, McDonald hopes the course will reinforce structured thinking and diagnosis so that students gain the confidence to recognize and engage with their organizations.

He is eager to share the course with students, noting that it will offer a rare and impactful experience for executive MBA students.

“First, it brings together many of the challenges, tools and frameworks the students have learned to date,” he said. “The course seeks to give the students a way of thinking about technology and its role in the enterprise, its strategy and its future that cuts across organizational leadership, technology, application and business models.”

McDonald added that the course will also focus on applications of these ideas including the real challenges organizations face as they look to lead their business with technology.

“Students can expect to better understand how to think about information and technology and its role in a business and the business model,” McDonald said. “We will learn about what it means to be digital and the opportunities digital technology creates both now and in the future. We will also discuss new ways of thinking about security, regulation, compliance and related issues.”

With his extensive industry knowledge and experience, McDonald is the perfect instructor to provide students with real-time information and scenarios from senior executives at major corporations.

“This course is a classic example of how we connect theory to practice in delivering an exceptional learning experience for our students. Digital transformation is quickly changing business models and reshaping industries. By bringing the expertise of experts like Mark who have the academic background as well as the practice experience, we are able to deliver an exceptional course for our students,” says Rajagopalan. “We are excited to offer this course as part of our Executive MBA program and believe that it will provide emerging leaders in our program with highly relevant insights into the issues and challenges facing senior executives in today’s business environment.”

The course on digital transformation is just one example of the College of Business’s commitment to providing students with real-world learning opportunities. Many of the college’s alumni who are currently in senior leadership positions at major corporations, nonprofits and government can connect with the program to provide insights and guidance to students.

For more information about the Executive MBA program and the course on digital transformation, please visit go.niu.edu/MBA@NIU.