Data and Digital Transformation

Session 1 - Thursday 1st October, 12:00 - 13:00

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Delivered by Simon Read - USW Intensive Learning Academy for Leading Digital Transformation

We all seen or heard the news in the last couple of weeks:

‘Top Ai Developers warn technology is developing too rapidly’

‘How do we stop AI before it takes over’

‘AI experts warn about imminent catastrophe’

And so it goes on…… But are the headlines we see the reality for us, right now, in the workplace?

Session Aim

Understand the stories we hear about AI, explore the genuine opportunities and risks, and learn what legal, ethical and governance frameworks already exist to protect society.

1. Opening: Why Myth Busting Matters
There is a lot of noise around AI. New technologies often go through a cycle where expectations rise very quickly, are followed by disappointment when reality falls short, and then gradually settle into practical use. The aim is not to dismiss AI, but to make better decisions beyond the hype.

2. AI Does Not Think Like a Human
AI can sound convincing without understanding what it is saying.

3. Bigger Does Not Mean Better
Giving AI access to larger amounts of information also does not guarantee it will identify or use the most important details effectively.

4. Capability Is Not Reliability
In longer AI workflows, small errors can build on each other, and one AI system checking another may repeat the same mistake.

5. Focus on Today's Risks, Not Science Fiction Why it matters
Technology often develops faster than laws, policies and governance arrangements can keep up. Rather than becoming distracted by science fiction scenarios, we need to focus on current issues such as misinformation, deepfakes, cybercrime, privacy, bias, changing skills and overreliance.

6. AI Does Not Automatically Create Value
Real value depends on redesigning work, developing skills and changing governance, not simply buying the tool.

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Session 2 - Wednesday 7th October, 11:00 - 12:00

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As AI becomes more integrated into everyday work, the key question is no longer whether it will replace people — but how people remain in control.

This session explores the critical role of human oversight in AI-enabled workplaces. Building on our AI Myth Busting session, we will focus on how managers can confidently direct, challenge and take responsibility for AI-supported decisions.

As AI becomes part of the workflow, what new responsibilities do we need to take on as leaders?

Join this session to build a practical, grounded approach to staying in control of AI.

Session Objective

To help managers understand that the key question is not whether AI replaces people, but how people oversee, direct and challenge AI systems to achieve better outcomes.

Participants leave with a practical framework for deciding:

• What AI can do
• What people should do
• What must never be delegated entirely to AI
• How to build effective checks and safeguards

Why Human Oversight Matters

Key messages from the myth-busting session:

• AI can appear intelligent without understanding
• AI can be capable without being reliable
• Technology alone does not create value

"If AI gets something wrong in your organisation, who is accountable?"

What Does Human-in-the-Loop Actually Mean?

Human-in-the-loop means people remain responsible for directing, reviewing, challenging and approving AI outputs.

Key message: AI can assist judgment but should not replace accountability.

The Four Levels of Human Oversight

Level 1: Manual -Human does everything.

Level 2: Assisted - AI helps but humans review all outputs.

Level 3: Supervised Automation - AI performs most tasks.

Level 4: Full Automation - No meaningful human oversight.

‘Which activities in your organisation belong in each category?’

Where Should Humans Stay in Control? 

Managers often assume AI needs checking everywhere equally.

It doesn't.

"What would happen if AI got this wrong?"

The bigger the consequence, the more human involvement required.

Building Good AI Habits – A practical checklist

Never outsource responsibility, even when you outsource part of the work.

Close: A New Role for Managers

Closing reflection

"As AI becomes a colleague in the workflow, what new responsibilities do managers and professionals need to develop?"

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Session 3 - Wednesday 14th October, 12:00 - 13:00

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From Copilot to Co-worker

Most organisations are using AI to do old work slightly faster. The real opportunity is to redesign the work itself.

Many people currently use AI as a better search engine, writing assistant or meeting summariser. Useful, but these are incremental improvements. Greater value comes from rethinking processes end-to-end.

Session Objectives

By the end of the session participants will be able to:

• Identify work that should be automated, augmented or redesigned.
• Recognise where AI creates genuine value.
• Distinguish between efficiency and effectiveness.
• Understand the manager's role in redesigning workflows.
• Take practical first steps towards AI-enabled process improvement.

The Productivity Trap

Start with a challenge: If AI helps you produce reports twice as fast, what happens?

Most people answer: " I save time."

In reality many organisations experience:

• More reports
• More emails
• More meetings
• More checking
• More information overload

The question is not: How can we do the same work faster?

The question is: Should we still be doing this work in the same way?

Three Ways AI Changes Work

Level 1: Automate - The task remains the same.

Level 2: Augment - AI supports people.

Level 3: Transform - The process itself changes.

This is where the biggest gains occur.

Finding AI Opportunities - simple process mapping

• Repetitive
• Rules-Based
• Information Heavy
• High Volume but Low Risk

The Hidden Work Problem

Most organisations contain significant amounts of hidden work.

For example:

• Copying data between systems
• Searching for information
• Re-entering information
• Chasing approvals
• Reconciling spreadsheets
• Producing reports nobody reads

If we were designing this process from scratch today, would we build it this way?

This question often reveals the biggest opportunities.

Designing an AI-Enabled Process - practical framework.

Step 1: Remove - Stop unnecessary activities.

Step 2: Simplify - Reduce complexity.

Step 3: Automate - Automate routine steps.

Step 4: Augment -Use AI where human capability can be enhanced.

Step 5: Govern - Identify where human oversight remains essential.

This helps avoid the common mistake of automating bad processes

The New Role of Managers

The first wave of AI is about helping people work faster. The second wave is about helping organisations work differently. The greatest value comes not from automating tasks, but from redesigning how work flows across people, processes and technology.

This session will focus on improving services, reducing administrative burden and freeing professional staff to spend more time on high-value human activities rather than simply cutting costs.

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Intro
Leadership Essentials for Digital Transformation is a four-day leadership programme designed to build the skills, confidence, and strategic mindset needed to lead successful digital change. It focuses on leadership, organisational transformation, and culture change, helping participants turn digital ambition into practical action.

Who’s it for?
Mid-senior leaders, heads of service, change agents, and managers in decision-making roles across public, private, and third sector organisations.

What will you learn?
The course will develop your understanding of why digital transformation matters and how to lead it effectively. You will learn how to create a clear digital vision, engage stakeholders, build an innovative and inclusive culture, and deliver sustainable change through agile leadership, governance, and accountability.

Why choose this course?

• Designed for leaders who need practical skills to drive digital transformation, not technical expertise
• Combines leadership tools, workshops, peer learning, and real-world case studies
• Builds confidence to lead teams through technological and cultural change
• Supports organisations to strengthen digital capability and readiness

Price
Price - £200pp
This is being offered as a fully funded course for public and third sector organisations in Wales until March 2027

Upcoming course dates
4-day course

30 September, 7 October, 14 October , 21 October 2026 (face-to-face, Newport)

17 February, 24 February, 3 March, 10 March 2027 (face-to-face, Newport)

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Intro
Designing Change: Human-Centred Innovation for Wales is a four-day, practice-based programme that equips leaders and managers with design thinking and UX skills to improve services, policies, and processes. Participants work through the full innovation cycle, including understanding user needs, defining problems, generating ideas, prototyping, and testing solutions, all whilst using real organisational challenges. The course builds confidence to lead change, foster collaboration, and embed more user-focused, innovative ways of working across organisations.

Who’s it for?
Leaders, managers, and decision-makers in both public and private sector organisations who are seeking to innovate processes and improve access to products and services.

What will you learn?
On this course, you will learn how to apply human-centred design thinking and UX principles to real organisational challenges, from understanding user needs through to testing and refining solutions. You will develop practical skills in user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and iterative improvement, using tools such as empathy mapping, journey mapping, and “How Might We” statements. You will also build confidence to lead collaborative, evidence-based innovation and embed more user-focused approaches to change within your organisation.

Why choose this course?

• Build practical capability in leading user-centred innovation to tackle complex organisational challenges
• Gain confidence using proven design thinking and UX methods to improve services, policies, and processes
• Apply structured, creative approaches that strengthen collaboration and drive a culture of continuous improvement
• Work on real-world challenges to ensure learning is directly relevant and immediately usable in your organisation

Price
Price - £200pp
This is being offered as a fully funded course for public and third sector organisations in Wales until March 2027

Upcoming course dates
4-day course
11 November (face-to-face, Newport) 18 November, 25 November, 2 December 2026 (face-to-face, Newport) 

24 March (face-to-face, Newport), 31 March, 7^th April, 14^th April 2027 (face-to-face, Newport)

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Intro
Digital Horizons: Threads, Twins, Technology, and Transformation is a four-day leadership programme that builds digital understanding, confidence, and capability in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. It equips leaders to navigate emerging technologies, lead transformation effectively, and turn digital opportunities into real organisational value.

Who’s it for?
Leaders, managers and decision makers in both public and private sector organisations who are seeking to innovate processes and improve access to products and services.

What will you learn?
The course will aim to develop your understanding of the digital ecosystem, including data, AI, and emerging technologies, and how to apply these tools to improve decision-making and organisational performance. You will build your confidence in leading digital transformation, using platforms like Microsoft Copilot and Power Platform, while addressing key issues such as data ethics, culture, and cybersecurity.

Why choose this course?

• Designed specifically for leaders who need to understand digital change at a strategic and organisational level rather than a technical one
• Combines real-world case studies, expert input, and a live cybersecurity simulation to bring learning to life
• Helps organisations reduce risk and improve decision-making in fast-changing digital environments
• Supports professional development by strengthening leadership confidence in navigating complex digital and AI-driven change

Price
Price - £200pp
This is being offered as a fully funded course for public and third sector organisations in Wales until March 2027

Upcoming course dates
4-day course

2 September, 9 September, 16 September (virtual) and 23 September 2026 (face-to-face).

13 January, 20 January, 27 January 2027, 3 February (face-to-face)

28 April, 5 May, 12 May, 19 May 2027 (face-to-face)

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Intro
Digital Storytelling is a practical five-day course designed to build the confidence and skills needed to help people share their stories and experiences through digital media. It combines storytelling techniques with hands-on audio and video editing skills, enabling participants to create meaningful and engaging digital stories from start to finish.

Who’s it for?
Anyone with an interest in storytelling for change, communication, engagement, or research across public, private, and third sector organisations.

What will you learn?
The course will develop your understanding of how stories create impact and how to use digital storytelling effectively. You will learn how to structure compelling stories, capture stories through one-to-one conversations, record and edit audio, combine images with sound, and understand key areas such as consent, ethics, and governance.

Why choose this course?

• Practical, hands-on learning with the opportunity to create your own digital story
• Develops both technical skills and interpersonal storytelling techniques
• Covers ethical considerations, consent, and good practice when working with stories
• Ideal for professionals using storytelling for engagement, research, or organisational change

Price
£395pp

Upcoming course dates
5-day course
10 November, 11 November, 17 November, 18 November and 25 November 2026

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Unlock the power of data to drive smarter decisions with our 1-day Data Leadership course, tailored specifically for leaders and managers. This hands-on workshop equips you with the strategic insight and practical tools needed to harness data effectively, improve service delivery, and foster a culture of data-informed decision-making.

Course Overview

This 1 day course aims to provide participants with a foundational understanding of data leadership, focusing on data-driven decision-making, data management, and fostering a data-centric culture within organisations.

Course Topics

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Definition and benefits

• Case studies and examples

• Interactive activity: Analyzing data to make a decision

Data Management

• Data quality, governance, and security

• Tools and best practices

• Challenges in data management

Creating a Data-Driven Culture

• Building a data-literate team

• Encouraging data usage in daily operations

• Promoting data-driven initiatives

Enabling Foresight with Data

• Using analytics for strategic planning

• Responding to industry trends

• Developing a data-driven strategy for a hypothetical company

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of data leadership in modern organisations.

• Implement data-driven decision-making processes.

• Manage data quality, governance, and security.

• Foster a data-driven culture within their teams.

• Utilise data to set strategic goals and respond to industry trends.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for managers, team leaders, and professionals seeking to enhance their strategic decision-making through data, improve data governance, and foster a data-driven culture within their organisations.

Course Date and Times

No upcoming course dates. Please register your interest if you would like to book a place on this course.

Course Tutor

Dr Rebecca Peters is Head of Subject for Computer Science and Mathematics at USW, leading academic innovation across both disciplines. Her research focuses on data science and predictive analytics, with strong industry collaboration across South Wales.