49-785 Special Topics: Leading Change for AI Business Transformation
6 units, Carnegie Mellon University
Digital Transformation (DTX) is among the most critical initiatives that every enterprise is undertaking today. These initiatives are driven by the need to achieve higher levels of process efficiency and significantly enhance the employee and customer experience. At the heart of this transformation are AI, Generative AI, and increasingly, Agentic AI—autonomous software agents that can reason, take action, and collaborate across complex workflows. These capabilities present unique opportunities to redefine how value is delivered, but they also bring significant changes to work processes, decision-making, and leadership experiences. For such technologies to succeed, they must be supported by significant human change for both internal personnel and customers alike. In this course, students will explore both the enabling technologies of digital transformation and the change management methodologies required to adopt them effectively. Special attention will be paid to the leadership challenges presented by Agentic AI, including organizational readiness, trust, workforce adaptation, and ethical risk. The course integrates the ADKAR model of individual change with the C-AQAL framework (Consciousness-Systems-Culture-Behaviors), which maps the systemic, cultural, and behavioral feedback loops that shape transformation success. Assignments will provide students with the opportunity to apply these frameworks to real-world DTX case studies and develop practical strategies for leading human-centered, AI-augmented transformations.
Prerequisites: none listed
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