|
 Academic Year:
| 2013/4 |
| Owning Department/School:
| School of Management |
| Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Intermediate (FHEQ level 5) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 30%, EX 70% |
| Supplementary Assessment: |
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| In taking this unit you cannot take MN20014 or take MN20032 |
| Description:
| Aims: Information Technology (IT) is ubiquitous in the workplace. All areas of business are investing huge sums of money in IT. Within this changing environment, several key trends have defined a new role for computer systems: a) New forms and applications of IT are constantly emerging. IT has become a strategic resource with the potential to affect competitive advantage: it transforms industries and products and is a key element in determining organisational success or failure. b) Computers have become decentralised within the workplace: PCs sit on managers desks, not in the IT Department. The strategic nature of technology means that managing IT has become a core competence for modern organisations and is an important part of the task of general and functional managers. Organisations have created new roles for managers who can act as interfaces between IT and the business, combining a general technical knowledge with knowledge of the business. This course addresses the above issues, and, in particular, aims to equip students with IT management skills for the workplace. By this, we refer to those attributes that they will need to make appropriate use of IT as general or functional managers in an information-based age. Learning Outcomes: The course provides the knowledge from which students should be able to make appropriate use of computing and information technology in forthcoming careers. This necessitates some technical understanding of computing, but not at an advanced level. This is a management course: not a technical computing course. By the end of this unit, the student should be able to: * display a sound understanding of managing ICT in different contexts * be able to analyze how different ICT have different characteristics and work out in practice * display a sound understanding of the elements of an ICT infrastructure (networks, storage, applications, etc.) in context * be able to identify threats and risks to day-to-day ICT operations and their implications for business operations and strategy * be able to understand the intricacies of organizational interaction, communication and negotiation surrounding ICT development, implementation and use. Skills: The course will provide specialist knowledge of information systems in a business context. The lectures, group work and presentations will develop students’ analytical skills and will assist in enhancing their competence in personal and interpersonal skills and their ability to work effectively with others. Intellectual Skills * a systematic understanding of ICT, organisations, the internal and external context in which they operate and how they can be effectively managed (TA); * the facility to apply subject-specific knowledge into a range of complex situations, taking into account the overall implications for the other areas of the business (TFA); * a critical awareness of current issues and frameworks in ICT management (FA) * a conceptual understanding of theoretical concepts and frameworks that enables the student to meaningfully link theory and practice and the ability to critically appraise both theory and practice (TFA); Professional and Practical skills * evaluate the current standing of an ICT within an organisational context (A); * operate effectively both independently as well as within teams and assume leadership roles where appropriate (F); * apply practical ICT planning tools and methods at strategic and tactical levels (TFA) * be self-directed and able to act autonomously in planning and implementing projects at professional levels (F). Transferable/Key skills * an openness and capacity to continue learning with the ability to reflect on earlier knowledge and practice and integrate the new with past experience and effectively apply it to the present situations (TFA); * an appreciation and in-depth understanding of the resources and competences required for successful cross-functional management in organisations inclluding enterprise skills (TA); * ability to conduct in-depth research into management and business issues (FA). Personal/Interpersonal * an ability to manage and work in teams with an awareness of issues such as culture, gender, working styles etc. and to use these to the benefit of the individual and the team (F); * the facility to communicate including presenting and marketing themselves and their ideas; preparation and production of effective business plans and reports (FA). Content: The course is divided into two main parts: * ICT in organizations (internal development, implementation and use) * Strategic ICT and competitive advantage * ICT development * Business Transformation * ICT Failures * Communication and Negotiation. |
| Programme availability: |
MN20074 is a Generally Available Unit which is available to all students of the University (subject to the usual constraints) to take either as a Director of Studies approved option within their programme of study or as an 'extra' unit which does not count towards a final award.
MN20074 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Biology & Biochemistry
|