IS Strategy and Management

Course Content:

This module explores the methods, issues, and approaches in managing the information
systems (IS) function in organisations and how the IS function integrates, supports, and
enables organisational capabilities stemming from its IS strategy using a project-based
approach.

Topics covered may include:

Strategic Information Systems
Decision-making: strategic, tactical and operational versus evidence based and intuitive
Types of Information Systems: operational, management, strategic.
Business intelligence. Including key performance indicators, critical success factors, and
the balanced business scorecard.
Business strategy models including Porter's value chain and five forces model. Distinction
between business strategy, IS strategy and IT strategy.

IT Service Management
Different models of delivering an IT service: in-house, outsourcing, software as a service.
IT management organisational models: Chief information officers, IT managers, IT
departments, IT delivery teams, IT maintenance, IT support, IT purchasing and
procurement. IT governance.
IT service delivery and ITIL.

IT Solutions Delivery
Delivery mechanisms: bespoke versus packaged solutions. Different styles of packaged
solutions: ERP, COTS, software as a service.
Delivery architectures: service-oriented architectures, cloud-based solutions, business
process management

Projects as a solution delivery mechanism: business cases and project justification
through cost benefit analysis. Aligning the business case to the business strategy. The
role of the business analyst. Prince 2 as a project management approach.
Planning, control, quality, and risk issues of IS projects
Requirements engineering and management.
Solution development strategies: traditional, spiral, incremental and agile approaches.

Systems thinking in process improvement
Use business process management and modelling techniques and apply to project-based
complex case study material
Planning, control, quality, and risk issues of IS projects
Change Management

The role of change management in organisational IS strategy, from project proposal to
implementation

Use of change management methodologies for example, Lewin?s Three-Step Model, and
Force Field Analysis; Kotter?s Eight -Step Model; Bullock and Batten?s Planned Change
Approach; McKinsey 7 ?S? Model

Using Morgan?s Metaphors to describe an organisation

Managing IS implementation using people-oriented theory, system-oriented theory, and
interaction theory
Using real-world studies and a simulation approach to change management issues in a
global context

Teaching: Lectures, tutorials, workshops, case studies, exercises, discussion groups, and practice
work

Assessment:
STUDY OPTION 1:
? Exam (50%)
? Coursework: Portfolio (50%)
STUDY OPTION 2:
? Two in class multiple choice questionnaires (100%)
STUDY OPTION 3:
? A written examination (based upon spring semester material only). (100%).

Study Option 1 = Whole Year
Study Option 2 = Autumn
Study Option 3 = Spring/summer