ITEC321 - Information Systems Strategy and Management

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

ITEC225 Systems Analysis and Design

Incompatible

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

The unit is concerned with the integration and consolidation of knowledge, attitudes and capabilities acquired in other units of study. This unit explores the issues and approaches in managing the information systems function in organisations and how the IS function integrates / supports / enables various types of organisational capabilities. It takes a senior management perspective in exploring the acquisition, development and implementation of plans and policies to achieve efficient, effective and ethical information systems. This includes examining how principles such as subsidiarity and global social responsibility should be considered when selecting a solution. The unit addresses issues relating to defining the high-level IS infrastructure and the systems that support the operational, administrative and strategic needs of the organisation. Students will undertake a major project to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Additionally, students will self-evaluate and reflect upon their personality, professional skills, future careers and necessary further professional development.

The primary aim of this unit is to allow students to bring together the knowledge and skills they have gained while undertaking their degree to demonstrate their abilities in a major project that they can showcase to potential employers along with other deliverables in their ePortfolio.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - critically evaluate and explain the roles and activities of information technology management stakeholders utilising diverse range of resources in a real-life project context (GA5, GA8)

LO2 - argue how information systems can be a source of competitive advantage using a practical project example (GA4, GA5)

LO3 - apply information systems constructs in support of business processes and structure IS-related activities to solve business problems and maximise business value in a real-life project (GA5, GA6)

LO4 - critically analyse the issues and challenges associated with incorporating information systems into an organisation such as subsidiarity and global social responsibility issues when selecting a solution (GA2, GA5)

LO5 - demonstrate written communication skills by showcasing their personal and professional capabilities, aspirations and career plans in the context of IS strategy and management (GA5, GA9).

Graduate attributes

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

Content

Topics will include:

• introduction to information systems strategy and management.
• project formulation and parameters.
• the information systems strategy triangle, information economics, competitive advantage and the strategic use of information resources.
• governance of the information systems organisation.
• organisational impacts of information systems including ensuring ethical principles are met 
• funding information technology and strategies for acquiring information resources.
• managing business knowledge including using information ethically.
• contemporary trends in information systems strategy and management.
• the skills framework for the information age: overview and application
• self-assessment of professional skills and career planning
• professional accountability

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The standard mode of delivery for this unit is multi-mode. However, the unit may also be offered in online and intensive modes according to University and student requirements. In multi-mode or online the unit will be delivered over a twelve-week semester or equivalent study period. 

Students will have access to all primary learning materials online through LEO, along with formative and summative assessments, all of which will be available online, so as to provide a learning experience beyond the classroom. While there are no formal classroom lectures for this unit, students taking the unit in multi-mode will be required to attend weekly two-hour workshops, which will include a seminar and specific tasks related to achievement of the unit learning outcomes. 

Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit, including class attendance, readings, online forum participation and assessment preparation.

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment strategy for this unit is based on the need to determine authentic student achievement of the learning outcomes. The following assessment overview is indicative and may vary over time according to industry requirements, University policy and regulatory requirements.

Assessment 1 is a theoretical based report that will allow the student to demonstrate their ability to analyse and explain of the concepts including ensuring ethical principles are met such as subsidiarity and global social responsibility. Assessment 2’s purpose is to give students the opportunity to experience, and to demonstrate their capabilities relevant to, essential aspects of the work of an information system’s professional. The purpose of the ePortfolio is to provide students with the motivation and opportunity to consider and reflect upon their personal professional capabilities, aspirations and career plans.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Alban, D, Eynaud, P & Malaurent, J 2017, Information systems management, John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ.

Giordano, AD 2015, Performing Information Governance: a step-by-step guide to making information governance work, IBM Press, New York.

Laudon, KC & Laudon, JP 2016, Management information systems: managing the digital firm, including 2016 MyMISLab, 15th edn, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Marcus, AA 2016, Future of technology management and the business environment: the lessons on innovation, disruption, and strategy execution, Pearson FT Press, Hoboken, NJ

McKeen, JD & Smith, HA 2014, IT strategy: issues and practices, 3rd edn, Pearson Higher Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

McKnight, W 2014, Information management strategies for gaining a competitive advantage with data, Elsevier, Waltham, MA.

Pearlson, KE & Saunders, CS 2015, Managing and using information systems: a strategic approach, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton.

Peppard, J & Ward J 2016, The strategic management of information systems, building a digital strategy, 4th edn, Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.

Schwalbe, K 2016, Information technology project management, 8th edn, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA.