Abstract
Public organizations are undergoing profound AI-driven transformation, creating an urgent need for competencies that integrate technical, organizational, and societal perspectives. Existing educational programs primarily target technical specialists, leaving a gap for domain experts responsible for leading and managing AI initiatives. This study adopts a Design Science Research (DSR) approach to develop a master’s program for non-technical public-sector professionals. The program is grounded in a sociotechnical information systems perspective and structured around the AI system development life cycle. Its design is informed by literature on AI in public organizations, policy and industry reports, and empirical data from workshops, discussions, and interviews with key stakeholders. The program blueprint was evaluated through comparison with existing AI-related programs, alignment with the WASP-ED curriculum, workshop discussions, and expert review. The study contributes by identifying and structuring competence needs for AI-driven transformation and translating them into an educational artifact that supports organizational digital transformation.
Paper Type
Full Paper
DOI
10.62036/ISD.2026.169
Beyond Technical Expertise: Designing a Sociotechnical Master’s Program for AI-Driven Transformation in Public Organizations
Public organizations are undergoing profound AI-driven transformation, creating an urgent need for competencies that integrate technical, organizational, and societal perspectives. Existing educational programs primarily target technical specialists, leaving a gap for domain experts responsible for leading and managing AI initiatives. This study adopts a Design Science Research (DSR) approach to develop a master’s program for non-technical public-sector professionals. The program is grounded in a sociotechnical information systems perspective and structured around the AI system development life cycle. Its design is informed by literature on AI in public organizations, policy and industry reports, and empirical data from workshops, discussions, and interviews with key stakeholders. The program blueprint was evaluated through comparison with existing AI-related programs, alignment with the WASP-ED curriculum, workshop discussions, and expert review. The study contributes by identifying and structuring competence needs for AI-driven transformation and translating them into an educational artifact that supports organizational digital transformation.
Recommended Citation
Kolkowska, E. & Lagsten, J.(2026). Beyond Technical Expertise: Designing a Sociotechnical Master’s Program for AI-Driven Transformation in Public Organizations. In M. Valenta, B. Mannová, R. Pergl, A. Przybylek, M. Lang, H. Linger, C. Schneider, N. Iivari, & E. Insfran (Eds.), Making ISD Sustainable: Reloaded with AI and Automation (ISD2026 Proceedings). Prague, Czech Republic: Czech Technical University in Prague. ISBN: 978-80-01-07585-2. https://doi.org/10.62036/ISD.2026.169