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Course
GenAI in Organisations
3 ECTS
Date: Online introduction Sept 11th 12-13.30, 24-25 September in Stockholm, 1-2 October in Amsterdam, and online sessions
Location: Stockholm (Module 1) and Amsterdam (Module 2)
Examination: See below
Course coordinator: Anna Essén, Stockholm School of Economics, Marleen H. Huysman, Vrije University Amsterdam
Registration: Before 15 June 2026
Course information
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) (AI models that produce new content in the form of text, video, images, or other media in response to prompts (Benbya et al 2024)have received vast attention given the recent introduction of available and accessible tools. Excitement as well as fear about the potential negative consequences of GenAI is evident in public and scholarly debates, prompting research about the actual nature, potential use, and implications of these technologies.
This course provides researchers with insights into the organisational, governance and practice implications of GenAI in different work settings. Through interactive sessions, and online guest lectures in between, we will discuss theoretical and methodological approaches to studying GenAI in these areas. Leading researchers will provide examples of how they study GenAI at work, and with what consequences. Participants will also get the opportunity to work hands-on with GenAI tools in GenAI clinics. Field-visits providing rich insight into how organisations are currently trying to incorporate GenAI in their daily work also constitute an important element of the course. The course consists of two modules; one in Stockholm (3 ECTS) and one in Amsterdam (3 ECTS). Attending both modules (6 ECTS) is recommended, but students can choose to only attend one module.
After finishing this course, participants have gained:
- Insight into the theoretical and methodological approaches used in contemporary research on GenAI in organisations (work, management, business/strategy, professions)
- Insights from the field about current GenAI applications and developments and implications for theory
- Insight into how GenAI is changing teaching, and its ethical implications
- Hands-on experience of using GenAI in teaching
- A deeper understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with GenAI use in work and in teaching
ECTS points: suggested: 6 ECTS. If only one module, 3 ECTS
Examination: There are 3 main assignments of the course (2 assignments if students only attend 1 module). First, participants are to develop an individual reflection piece focusing on the use of GenAI in teaching (2000 words, individual assignment).
Second, participants will work in groups to critically analyze the field visit based on relevant literature focusing on a chosen theoretical angle on GenAI technology (5000 words). In case participants take the whole 6 ECTS course and visit both universities andvfieldtrips, a third assignment related to the second fieldtrip is required. They will submit their results as a video.
Grading: Attendance and active participation in the sessions is mandatory to pass this course. The requested readings are assumed to have been read prior to class. The grades are pass or fail.
Teacher(s):
Course directors: Anna Essén anna.essen@hhs.se and Marleen H. Huysman m.h.huysman@vu.nl and
Additional teachers:
- Sebastian Krakowski (House of Innovation, Stockholm School of Economics)
- Francesco Balocco (KIN Center for Digital Innovation)
- Ella Hafermalz (KIN Center for Digital Innovation)
- Guest lecturers including Vern Glaser, Georg von Krogh, Pamela Hinds, Joep Cornelissen, Paul Leonardi
- Guest lecturers during field trips to firms using GenAI
International element: The course runs in both Sweden and Amsterdam. Guest lectures from the Nordic countries, Europe and the US.
Tech moment: Hands-on clinics in Stockholm and Amsterdam guided by AI researchers.
Field visits providing deep insights into how GenAI is used by pioneering firms in various domains (e.g. professional services and creative industries).
Literature: List of readings will be sent closer to the date as we expect a lot of publications in the near future.
Some examples likely to be included are:
Benbya, Hind; Strich, Franz; and Tamm, Toomas (2024) “Navigating Generative Artificial Intelligence Promises and Perils for Knowledge and Creative Work,” Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 25(1), 23-36. DOI: 10.17705/1jais.00861 Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jais/vol25/iss1/13
Cornelissen, J., Höllerer, M. A., Boxenbaum, E., Faraj, S., & Gehman, J. (2024). Large Language Models and the Future of Organization Theory. Organization Theory, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/26317877241239056
Dell’Acqua, Fabrizio and McFowland III, Edward and Mollick, Ethan R. and Lifshitz-Assaf, Hila and Kellogg, Katherine and Rajendran, Saran and Krayer, Lisa and Candelon, François and Lakhani, Karim R., Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier: Field Experimental Evidence of the Effects of AI on Knowledge Worker Productivity and Quality (September 15, 2023). Harvard Business School Technology & Operations Mgt. Unit Working Paper No. 24-013, The Wharton School Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4573321 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4573321
Glaser, V.L., Sloan, J. and Gehman, J. (2024), Organizations as Algorithms: A New Metaphor for Advancing Management Theory. J. Manage. Stud.. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.13033
Hannigan, T, McCarthy, I, Spicer, A. (2024). Beware of botshit: How to manage the epistemic risks of generative chatbots, Business Horizons, forthcoming
Meincke, L., Mollick, E and Terwiesch, C. (2024). Prompting Diverse Ideas: Increasing AI Idea Variance, The Wharton School Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4708466 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4708466
Park, JS., et al (2023). Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior, arXiv:2304.03442, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2304.03442
Retkowsky, J., Hafermalz, E., Huysmann, M Managing a ChatGPT-empowered workforce: Understanding its affordances and side effects, Business Horizons, volume 67 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681324000545?via%3Dihu
Preliminary Schedule
Location: Stockholm (module 1), Thursday Sept 17- Friday Sept 18th, and Amsterdam (module 2) Thursday Oct 1st -Friday Sept 2nd, and online sessions.
Format: Online introduction Sept 11th 12-13.30 on the sociotechnical view on organisations and technology.
Stockholm (module 1), Thursday Sept 17- Friday Sept 18th
GENAI at work in education and professional firms
Thursday:
AI clinic about GenAI in education
Lunch
Lecture and interactive session on GenAI in professional firms
Dinner
Friday:
Preparation for fieldtrip
Lunch
Field trip Familjens Jurist
Reflection
Online lectures September 24 and 25
Amsterdam (module 2) Thursday Oct 1st-Friday Oct 2nd
GENAI at work in research, creative industry and software development
Thursday:
Presention/lecture – Clinic about GenAI in research
Lunch
Lecture on GenAI in software development and creative industry
Boattrip
Friday:
Preparation for fieldtrip
Lunch
Field trip TBD – creative industry
