RiBL Colloquium: Learning and Skills in the Digital Workplace

VENUE: Department of Digitalization, Howitzvej 60, 2000 Frederiksberg, Room 5.23

SPEAKERS:

IRIS VAN DER BURG, Learning Advisor – Early Career & Onboarding, Shell

Title: Learning in an Age of Digital Transformation

Abstract: The world is changing. As the world accelerates toward a future of clean energy, the importance of the difference we can make is clear: through our goals, our strategy, our pillars – but mostly, through our people. Our people are our greatest asset. How can digital technologies and innovations in the learning space support and enable the rapidly changing skills requirements in the workplace? Iris will share some ideas and experiments from Shell’s OD & Learning team for discussion and consideration.

Bio: Iris van den Burg is a learning & development professional with an MSc in Education Technology, a BSc in Communication & Management and 20+ years of experience in corporate workplace learning. She is passionate about performance consulting and learning innovation, with a desire to focus on pragmatic impactful solutions that meet the learners where they are: in the workplace. Iris’ current role is learning advisor for Early Career & Onboarding at Shell International B.V. The type of projects and work activities that keep Iris busy include leading design projects, businesses partnering and performance consulting, learning innovations, vendor management, knowledge management, advising on the use of Blended Learning principles, methodologies and tools, online facilitation, informal capability building options and performance support. Full CV is available on her LinkedIn profile.

KASPER MUNK, Training Partner, Novo Nordisk
Title: Digital Training Through Standardisation of Competences at Novo Nordisk

Abstract: Rapid expansion of advanced production facilities at Novo Nordisk has made augmented and virtual reality an attractive innovation for practical skills training. A core learning from this journey is that a fine-grained standardisation of work processes and related human competences is an important stepping stone towards digitalisation of training. This insight resembles lessons from learning technologies previously implemented within Novo Nordisk, including the use of video, iPads and job aids on the shop floor. When a work process has been broken down and described step-by-step, our digital technology can assist communication of what it takes to do the job. However, even with an extensive knowledge management system in place, and with work processes formally standardised, the production of digital content (VR, AR, video, written instructions) is highly labour intensive and the media is inflexible and thus vulnerable to continuous process changes. In light of new developments within generative artificial intelligence, it is timely to consider nascent AI-based opportunities for overcoming the workload and inflexibility of creating learning content; and to explore ways to circumvent the need for fine-grained standardisation of target work competencies.

Bio: Kasper Munk is Training Partner in the Emerging Technologies section of Novo Nordisk. His current work focuses on workplace learning within production settings. Kasper has a special interest in speeding up the green transition through training and learning, which has led to his involvement in the implementation of the Novo Nordisk Circular for Zero strategy. Previously, Kasper researched and taught at the Department of Digitalization at CBS, where he established the course Designing the Future of Learning and conducted a large-scale experiment on digital learning of complex concepts. Kasper holds a PhD in Education from the University of Oxford, where he focused on decision-making within teaching and on improving support for educators. Kasper also taught extensively at the University of Copenhagen, from which he holds a BSc and MA in Psychology.

ANOUSH MARGARYAN, Professor, CBS
Title: Artificial Intelligence and Skills in the Workplace

Abstract: The development and diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in workplaces are transforming the nature of work practices and their constituent skill requirements. This dual transformation is challenging for workers, organisations, and societies, who are faced with the need to develop and enhance extant and new skills required to succeed in increasingly AI-mediated work settings. Although literature has recognised skills as a key factor in the development and uptake of AI technologies, there has been paucity of empirical research on the precise nature of skill requirements in AI-mediated workplaces. This talk will highlight some of the key issues in the current debate on AI and workplace skills and outline an agenda for future research in this societally-important but poorly understood area.

Bio: Anoush Margaryan is Professor and Endowed Chair in the Department of Digitalization at Copenhagen Business School. She studies how people learn and develop skills in the workplace and how digital technologies and learning practices are mutually shaped and reshaped within emergent forms of work including AI-mediated work practices. Her research draws on theories and approaches from learning sciences, psychology, sociology, and organisational studies, with a particular focus on the application of theories of human agency, self-direction and self-regulation, and the life course in learning and development in the workplace. She has over 130 scientific publications, including 2 books, co-authored with over 55 collaborators internationally and has led over 20 collaborative, interdisciplinary, intersectoral, international research projects funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Shell, BP, Energy Institute, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the Volkswagen Foundation and World Bank.

Registration is required. Please sign up by emailing Lena Hercberga at lehe.msc@cbs.dk.