Syllabus

Title
0273 Governance, Regulation, Compliance
Instructors
Dr. Alexander Novotny, MSc.
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/16/25 to 10/07/25
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Friday 10/10/25 02:00 PM - 06:30 PM TC.3.10
Friday 10/24/25 02:00 PM - 06:30 PM D1.1.078
Friday 11/07/25 02:00 PM - 06:30 PM TC.5.14
Friday 11/14/25 02:00 PM - 06:30 PM TC.4.16
Friday 11/21/25 02:00 PM - 06:30 PM TC.3.03
Contents

This course discusses the responsible control and regulation of the design and use of digital technologies in information-based organizations, which are essential for the functioning of the information society. It provides a comprehensive overview of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) for organizations acting in cyberspace. The course equips participants with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to address organizational challenges in a digitally transforming world and successfully implement GRC initiatives, such as the EU AI Act. Students will examine the foundations of GRC, organizational governance, compliance frameworks, risk assessment, and auditing methodologies. Participants will gain hands-on experience by working on case studies and applying their knowledge to a capstone GRC project, ensuring they are prepared to implement governance strategies effectively in real-world scenarios of digital transformation.

Learning outcomes
  • Understand internal and external compliance requirements for organizations operating in cyberspace
  • Know the regulatory landscape relevant to the cyberspace
  • Apply risk management methods and GRC tools in an organization
  • Understand organizational culture and institutional structure as key success factors for GRC initiatives in organizations operating in cyberspace
  • Being able to introduce and operate management systems for controlling risks and chances of  the organization in cyberspace
  • Acquire communication skills necessary for implementing a GRC initiative in an organization
Attendance requirements

Attendance in the first unit and overall for 80% of the time is required. Attendance in the first unit is mandatory (unqualified absence will result in deregistration from the course).

Teaching/learning method(s)

The course will include interactive teaching, video expert interviews and group work. Moreover, students will work on a GRC project applying the knowledge acquired throughout the course to a coherent corporate case. Teaching will be research-driven based on multiple levels of analysis:

 

 Level of analysis

Teaching design

Theoretical level

Discussing theories with underlying cause and effect relationships for explaining and predicting the agency of organizations and regulatory bodies in cyberspace.

Social level

Discussing models of organizational culture and social norms related to GRC in cyberspace and video interviews with experts in politics, of regulatory bodies, and NGOs.

Institutional level

In-class exercises and discussion on standards, regulation, management frameworks and best practices for implementing GRC initiatives in organizations.

Pragmatic level

Application of selected management systems in a contextualized corporate GRC project. Working on case studies in groups.

 

Assessment

The grade will be based upon the following components:


55% Deliverables on applied GRC project
35% Exam on the concepts discussed in class
10% In-class exercises and participation

Readings

Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.

References

Nonaka, I. (1991). The knowledge creating company. Harvard Business Review, 69, 96–104.

Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (2011). The wise leader. Harvard Business Review, 89(5), 58-67.

Last edited: 2025-04-30



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