Year
2024Credit points
10Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Prerequisites
ITEC225 Systems Analysis and Design
Incompatible
ISYS321 Information Systems Strategy and ManagementTeaching organisation
4 hours per week for twelve weeks or equivalent.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.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| LO2 | Argue how information systems can be a source of competitive advantage using a practical project example |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| LO5 | Demonstrate written communication skills by showcasing their personal and professional capabilities, aspirations and career plans in the context of IS strategy and management |
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 Canvas, 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
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: Report This assessment task consists of a report on a case study organisation with academic referencing demonstrating the student’s ability to locate diverse resources and analyse the issues, including global social responsibilities, and approaches in ethically managing the information systems functions in the organisation. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Report Artefact: Written report | 25% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
Assessment Task 2: Group project This assessment task consists of a group project with each student to contribute within their area of expertise to the group as determined by the SFIA assessment by developing a component of a system that can be standalone or be integrated to form a complete system. Students will be assessed on a number of SFIA skills including critical thinking, problem solving, effective use of diverse resources and their approach towards the greater good in providing a business solution. Submission Type: Group Assessment Method: Report Artefact: Written report | 45% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
Assessment Task 3: ePortfolio submission The final assessment consists of an ePortfolio submission. This task requires students to develop an ePortfolio which contains the following artefacts:
Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: ePortfolio Artefact: ePortfolio | 30% | LO5 |
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.