The course addresses the challenges organizations face in responding to sustainability pressures, resilience demands, technological transformation, and geopolitical uncertainty under conditions of societal transition. The course provides participants with conceptual understanding, strategic tools, and practical capabilities for developing sustainable and resilient business approaches under changing economic, technological, and institutional conditions. 

The course combines a macro-level perspective on societal transition and systemic change with a micro-level perspective on strategic tensions between sustainability, resilience, and profitability, and the role of innovation and business model redesign in addressing these tensions. 

Academic content and key topics include: 

• societal transition and systemic change 
• sustainability, resilience, and strategic trade-offs 
• ESG and SDG frameworks 
• paradox perspectives on competing organizational demands 
• innovation, digital transformation, and AI-supported innovation processes 
• platform-based business models and organizational adaptation 
• the twin transition and technology-enabled sustainability 
• geopolitical uncertainty, international regulation, and organizational resilience 
• challenge-based, AI-supported application through an AI-accelerated Innovation Sprint workshop 

Upon successful completion of the course, candidates will have achieved the following overall learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence: 

Knowledge 

• has advanced knowledge of societal transition processes and how technological, geopolitical, and environmental developments shape the context for organizational strategy and value creation. 
• has advanced knowledge of key concepts and frameworks related to sustainability, resilience, innovation, and business model development. 
• has in-depth understanding of strategic tensions and trade-offs related to sustainability, resilience, and economic viability under conditions of uncertainty. 

Skills 

• is able to analyse sustainability and resilience challenges and assess their implications for organizational strategy and business development. 
• is able to apply relevant frameworks and concepts to identify and address tensions between sustainability, resilience, and economic viability in practical organizational contexts.
• is able to develop, justify, and present sustainable and resilient business under changing technological and geopolitical condition.

General competence 

• is able to reflect critically on organizational responses to societal transition and the implications for sustainability and resilience.
• is able to apply AI-tools to support innovation processes. 
• is able to communicate and discuss sustainability and resilience challenges with relevant stakeholders in a structured and professionally grounded manner.

The course is developed and delivered in collaboration between Ramon Lull University (IQS), University Toulouse Capitole, and NHH. Itis organised as a part-time, session-based programme over one semester. The course consists of three modules combining asynchronous online learning, synchronous online sessions, and one intensive in-person workshop module. 

The first two online modules combine pre-recorded video lectures, readings, quizzes, and reflection exercises with live online sessions and guest lectures (per module: 4 online live session of 1h each; each of these online live sessions is accompanied by 2-3 pre-recorded videos preparing the participants for the live session and self-learning tasks).  
The final module consists of a three-day, challenge-based in-person workshop in Bergen at NHH Connect. 

The course uses an experience-based continuing education approach emphasising relevance, interaction, and transfer to practice. Teaching and learning methods include: 

• pre-recorded video lectures and readings 
• live online sessions and guest lectures 
• case-based discussions 
• facilitated peer learning and structured reflection 
• group work and workshops focused on innovation and business model development
• experience-based learning and application within the participants’ own organisational contexts 
• challenge-based, AI-supported learning through NHH’s AI-accelerated Innovation Sprint methodology 

The course combines conceptual learning with practical application through collaborative work on real-world sustainability and resilience challenges. 

Assessment is based on a pass/fail structure. The assessment is designed to evaluate the candidate’s ability to apply concepts, frameworks, and methods related to sustainability, resilience, innovation, and societal transition in practical organizational contexts. 

Students are assessed through: 

• individual quizzes and reflection assignments related to the online modules 
• a group-based presentation developed and presented during the AI-accelerated Innovation Sprint workshop 

Passing the course requires that all assessment components are passed. 

Course assessment overview

Quizzes and reflection assignments (Module 1 and 2, online)

Assessment form: Written

Grade: Pass / fail

Individual / group: Individual

AI accelerated innovation sprint workshop at NHH Connect (in-person) 

Assessment form: Oral presentation

Grade: Pass / fail

Individual / group: Group

Passing the course requires that both assessment components are passed.