MG481 Half Unit
Innovating Organisational Information Technology
This information is for the 2021/22 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Carsten Sorensen NAB 3.11 and Dr William Venters NAB 3.13
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation. This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MiM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange and MSc in Operations Research & Analytics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Pre-requisites
A basic knowledge of computing, including hardware and software. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of the challenges of implementing and managing information systems in organisations.
Course content
The course provides students with a practical and theoretical insight into the processes and practices of developing contemporary Information Systems. The course reflects the diversity of contemporary information systems contexts; discussing how we should manage the development of complex Internet enabled systems and services. The course focuses on new technologies and practices including cloud computing, Software as a Service, mobile and ubiquitous information technology, innovating customer relationship management, DevOps, mediating mutual adjustment and mass-scale mediated communities. The changing architectures of information systems towards an Internet based cloud are key themes of the course. Attention is however also given to the development of traditional ERP and information management systems which remain important in enterprises. The course also discusses the development challenges in small start-ups leveraging existing development platforms. Particular attention is given to problem structuring and problem design issues within such complex settings using Soft Systems Methodology and the Unified Modeling Language as a toolkit. Agile methods form a core part of the teaching, with Extreme Programming, Rapid Application Development and Internet-speed development contrasted with development formalism such as the Rational Unified Model and Capability Maturity Models. To ensure that students gain practical experience we include a one-week intensive "bootcamp" group Sprint project run during reading week in which outside consultants present a "real-world" case study of systems development and the groups undertake to rapidly analyse and design a proposal for a technical solution. This allows students to support their theoretical understanding with a strong practical experience of the pressures and difficulties of systems development today. The "bootcamp" group sprint project provides a realistic experience of developing systems within a consulting role and is supported by classes and question and answer session and face to face discussion. Students gain an understanding of the benefits and difficulties of working within a small team under pressure.
Teaching
20 hours of lectures, 5 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT.
8 hours of these lectures, and 5 hours of classes will occur be during the “Bootcamp” Sprint week which runs during reading week (Week 6) of MT.
Formative coursework
Students discuss articles, practice systems development techniques, and critically evaluate their success.