School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2006/07

MN20014 IT & its business context

Credits: 6

Level: Intermediate

Semester: 2

Assessment: CW30EX70

Requisites:

Before taking this unit you must take MN10004 or take MN10077

Aims: This unit aims to equip students with IT management skills for the workplace in order to make appropriate use of IT as general or functional managers in an information-based age. In particular, the course considers why IT is strategic and how it can affect the competitive environment, taking stock of the opportunities and problems it provides. It consists of lectures, discussion, and case studies. The objective is to investigate the business impact of IS. For example: in what ways are IS strategic? what business benefits can IS bring? how does IS transform management processes and organisational relationships? how can organisations evaluate IS? how should IS, which transform organisations and extend across functions, levels and locations, be implemented?
Learning Outcomes:

* To deepen students' understanding of the strategic importance of IT in organizations.
* To recognise the relationships between market pressures, organizational pressures and information systems.
* To develop understanding on the enabling role of IT in business transformation and the challenges involved.
* To appreciate the important role that end users could play in IS development and implementation.
Skills:
To develop in students a range of personal transferable skills appropriate to undergraduate students. Through diverse methods of implementation (case study analysis and presentations) it will foster interpersonal, communication, critical and analytical skills.
Content:
Core Topics:
* Strategic role of IT in organizations;
* IT-enabled organizational change;
* IS implementation and Evaluation;
* E-business practices;
* IT/IS outsourcing;
* Global IS Management.

University | Catalogues for 2006/07