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Course Description:

Sixty-six percent (66%) of global leaders say they would not hire someone without AI skills, and seventy-one percent (71%) say they would prefer to hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills rather than a more experienced candidate without them (Work Trend Index Annual Report, 2024). These are striking statistics, and they're real!

As AI technologies continue to transform industries and revolutionize how we work and live, understanding their potential, implications, and limitations has become essential for employees and leaders alike. This course is designed to help participants navigate a future increasingly shaped by AI. 

Led by Scott Oakes, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Love School of Business at Elon University, this course demystifies generative AI and equips learners with hands-on tools and strategies to enhance workplace productivity, creativity, and decision making. Professor Oakes draws on a rich professional background in software development, technical marketing, and innovation to provide an engaging and practical approach to AI in the modern workplace. 

Course Topics Include:

• Introduction to Generative AI: Core definitions and concepts; how generative AI differs from traditional AI 
• Applications Across Business Functions:  Case studies from marketing, operations, HR, and finance
• Natural Language Processing & Content Creation: Writing, summarization, communication and strategy
• AI-Assisted Decision Making: Data analysis, pattern recognition, and human judgment integration
• Creative and Innovative Uses: AI in design, multimedia, ideation, and prototyping 
• Ethics, Bias & Responsible AI: Addressing bias; promoting fairness, ensuring privacy and data integrity
• The Future of Work: Evolving job roles, collaborative intelligence; and lifelong learning 
• Practical Integration Strategies: Workflow optimization; change management, ROI evaluation
• Custom AI bots: Creating your own chatbots for task automation and support

Learning Outcomes:

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

• Clearly define generative AI and its key technologies
• Identify how generative AI is being used across industries
• Assess how AI enhances or impacts workplace effectiveness
• Evaluate and address ethical considerations surrounding AI
• Demonstrate use of leading generative AI tools
• Build and deploy basic AI chatbots for professional use

Instructor Information:

Scott Oakes
Assistant Teaching Professor - MBA, PMP, PSM

Scott Oakes is an Elon University alumnus who majored in Computer Science and built a successful career in the tech industry before returning to his alma mater as a professor three years ago. His professional experience spans software development, product marketing, technical sales, and corporate training, providing him with a uniquely well-rounded perspective on the role of technology in business. 

At Elon, Professor Oakes teaches a range of forward-looking courses including ENT-2500 Creativity and the Doer/Maker Mindset, ENT-3400 Tech Tools for Innovation, and MGT 3470 Agile Project Management, in addition to the foundational BUS 1110 - Gateway to Business course. In all these classes, he actively integrates AI tools to enhance learning and preparing students for a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Professor Oakes is known for his practical, student-centered teaching style and his commitment to helping learners apply technology in meaningful and innovative ways.