SBM2401 Strategic Information Systems: Managerial Perspective

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1 SBM2401 Strategic Information Systems: Managerial Perspective UOS CODE SBM2401 UOS NAME Strategic Information Systems: Managerial Perspective CREDIT POINTS 6 STATUS Elective SUMMARY COURSE CONVENOR COURSE TUTOR ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE APPROXIMATE WORKLOAD PRE-REQUISITE (course name) OBJECTIVES Information and Communication Technologies have enabled efficient data processing and analyses beyond imagination, and become an inseparable part of managing businesses in many areas: accounting, internal and external communication, integration of operational units, etc. Consequently, today s managers need to understand these strategically critical systems and the ways how to benefit from them. This unit will introduce the role of Information Systems within a business environment, and equip students with the necessary basic knowledge and competencies to utilise strategic information systems effectively and efficiently. It aims to provide a thorough understanding of the subject that carries strategic importance as a competitive advantage. It examines concepts and applications of Information Systems in organisations from a managerial perspective, and briefly explains the underlying technologies. The following main areas are covered: Development of a managerial perspective on strategic information systems Understanding and definitions of the basics of Information Technology in a business environment Emerging open standard software applications and solutions Methods of approach to analysis of IT requirements Study of legal requirements for procurement and implementation of strategic information systems Setting of organisational goals and strategies in conformity with strategic information systems requirements Not applicable TBA Lectures & Team Work Personal Work Readings Workshops 30 hours >30 hours >50 hours >30 hours None Students should gain expertise in the following areas: Basics of Information Systems (IS) and integration of components: hardware, software, communication networks and databases and data storage, and historical progress Utilisation of IS in business: efficiency tools, basic systems, business process automation, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management Management decision making, decision support systems and application of IS in strategic management Developing IS strategy

2 TARGET COMPETENCIES (Enterprise Systems and Business Process Integration) TARGET COMPETENCIES (Personal and Socio-cultural) MODES OF DELIVERY ASSESSMENT IS architecture development, systems approach and business process re-engineering Monitoring and integration of project/program and asset portfolios into management decision systems Planning IS and acquisition of technologies and impacts on the staff Organising data and information, database management Telecommunication networks: Internet, intranets and extranets Electronic commerce and transactions Security, privacy and ethical issues in IS and Internet Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Expert systems Networked organisations and the role of IS for their effective implementations Upon completion of the course, the student should demonstrate: A sound understanding of definitions and different forms of Information Systems (IS) Competency in developing requirements for business IS and their integration into an organisation. Ability to overview combination of different systems/components: hardware, software, communications and data processing to design an effective IS strategy Ability to evaluate off the shelf IS applications, to tailor them in accordance with an organisation s demands, and to appreciate implementation issues. Ability to identify deficiencies and opportunities in IS, produce a roadmap to accommodate technological advances in IS, and formulate business cases for their improvement. Ability to determine what data to collect and to produce necessary information for management decision making Ability to consider ethics, security and privacy in IS design Ability to develop IS strategies for an organisational unit Generic: All competencies that are common to all professionals (including cognitive and communication abilities, problem solving and analytical mindset) Leadership: Ability to direct, motivate & manage individuals & teams. Commitment: Ability to dedicate to tasks & to project outcomes. Attitude: Ability to create the right frame of mind that promotes integrity & support for achievement of project goals within a social context. Self Direction: Ability to manage within and without guidelines & processes, and to work without supervision. Learning: Ability to commit to continuous improvement in knowledge, skills & attitude, & to creating new knowledge developing skills & approaches. Cultural Empathy: Ability to respect for & accommodation of individual lifestyle, beliefs & norms. Creativity & Innovation: Capacity to generate new ideas/approaches & make them happen. Upfront intensive workshop (4 days) Project and team based flexible work facilitated via the Internet (over 10 weeks) Face-to-face formal assessment (one week) 1. Formal knowledge test 2. Team project submissions (formatted as per specification for the same) 3. Formal assessment against competencies applicable to organisation unit strategy and design 4. Formal personal & socio-cultural competency assessment PRINTED MATERIALS PRESCRIBED FOR THE COURSE Learning material (lecture notes, slides, case study and other material provided online). SELECTED REFERENCES Oz E (2006) Management Information Systems, Course Technology Huber M W, Craig A. Piercy C A, and

3 WEB SITES Case project (students own case project subject to endorsement) No single web site presents all the necessary knowledge that students need to learn and apply. However, opposite are some useful sites to visit. Patrick G. McKeown P G (2006) Information Systems: Creating Business Value, Wiley Rainer R K and Turban E (2008) Introduction to Information Systems: Supporting and Transforming Business, Wiley Laudon J and Laudon K (2008) Essentials of Management Information Systems (8th Edition), Prentice Hall Online useful sources of references are: TBA Software Not applicable Students may wish to use software for normal typesetting, graphic design and associated tasks COURSE CONTENTS Intensive Phase Day 1 Introduction to course aims, objectives, target competencies, learning strategies, resources available, timetable and deliverables, assessment methods and related briefings Briefing on how to conduct each phase and the entire unit of study Lecture: Basics of Information and Communication systems that form Information Systems (IS), and a historical overview Lecture: Hardware and software in computing technologies and data processing Lecture: Telecommunication networks and Internet, intranets and extranets Tutorial work on understanding the inter-relations between different systems and technologies and their employment in workplace Day 2 Lecture: Applications of IS; marketing and transactions, Enterprise Resource Planning and Customer Relationship Management Lecture: Applications of IS; metrics collection, information generation, monitoring portfolio performances and decision support systems Lecture: Considerations in IS design; an overarching view of operations, data and information flow, and evaluating alternative solutions. Security, privacy and ethical issues Tutorial: Designing IS and implementation to respond to specific effectiveness and efficiency requirements Day 3 Lecture: Developing IS strategy, strategy formulation and connection to the organisational vision and mission Lecture: Organisation and IS architecture, an executive management view. Lecture: Lessons from effective IS implementations that enable increased collaboration and performance Tutorial: Case studies of IS selection and implementations; what inhibited an effective implementation and the roadblocks, people aspects and technology limitations Day 4

4 Lecture: Evaluation of IS, and identifying deficiencies and opportunities for a better performance Lecture: Managing and monitoring IS implementation projects, and managing change at workplace Lecture: Future of IS; Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Expert Systems. Networked organisations and the role of IS Reinforcing learning outcomes and application of the same to forthcoming team project Conduct of written test on organisation unit strategy and design Students feedback on the intensive phase Teamwork phase For the purposes of developing expertise in organisation unit strategy and design in an integrated and meaningful manner, students in teams of 4 to 5 will assume responsibility for developing a plan to implement IS or changes in business processes in a case organisation unit. The case organisation is individual to each team and will be sourced normally from one of the students employer organisations. In summary the project phase will comprise: An overall process for studying organisation enterprise systems and for applying the relevant knowledge to a real life case organisation as per the relevant Brief that is downloaded from the unit s web site; A program of the learning activities which are part of student s Team Workplan and individual competency acquisition needs which each student needs to plan to conduct flexibly within the unit of study timeline as advised in the unit s web site (detailed schedules are to be developed and submitted as part of the Team Work/QA Plan) The assignment Brief which is available as a downloadable file. Your team may develop your own Brief/project concept, and upon the Course Convenors endorsement use the same as the basis for learning and development. Your brief should be developed to be similar to that found on the unit s web site. The Learning activities are designed for each team to develop and evaluate a complete organisation unit strategy and design for their case organisation via the following activities: Assessment of learning styles and team roles and balancing of team development of self management and socio-cultural/teamwork competencies Activity 1 Case organisation selection and team QA/workplan Activity 2 Conceptual and Fieldwork Related to Information Systems of Case Organisation Activity 3 Organisation Unit Design or Change Plan for Case Organisation Activity 4 Evaluation, Formatting and Presentation of the Plan Continuous reflection, self and peer assessment and competency acquisition Final Individual Report and Viva to validate competencies vis-à-vis target competencies COMPETENCY VALIDATION (via evidence and professional interview) Final Report & assessment Each student is advised to progressively acquire, develop and document the relevant target competencies. The protocols on the web site for this purpose need to be followed carefully to prepare the required evidence of competency acquisition. The evidence for this unit to comprise a Final Report in two parts to validate individually the following: specific target competencies regarding strategic information systems management as well as personal and socio-cultural competencies. These will be assessed separately and both need to show the student s development history using the student s L&D plan as the basis.

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