Information Technology and Management – (M.Sc.)

Contents

The following indicate the range of modules that may be offered:

Core Modules (15 credits each)

Accounting and Finance – This module aims to develop an understanding of financial accounting, management accounting and financial management, and the financial aspects of managerial decision making. On completion of the module, students should have an understanding of the organisational role of accounting and finance and the theory underlying financial accounting, management accounting and financial management. In addition, students should have developed technical and analytical skills with regard to accounting, finance and decision making.

Marketing & Operations Management – This module aims to introduce students to key concepts and aspects pertaining to marketing and the management of design and operations in business organisations. It explores marketing and operations concepts and issues in depth and provides an understanding of the marketing mix, strategies for new products and branding, and the strategic aspects of marketing. The module seeks to define and understand the purpose and functions of marketing concepts and tools for business organisation success.

Professional Practice – In a business environment, professional skills are just as vital as technical abilities and knowledge. This module provides such skills including project management, teamworking and building, and communication skills. It also provides knowledge of ethical, legal and social issues related to the development and deployment of Information Technology. Some of the lectures are given by invited speakers from industry.

Metrics, Estimation, Analysis and Teams – A modern project manager must be comfortable with a number of underpinning technologies and skills if he/she is to be effective at both a project and an organisational level. In particular, the majority of techniques involve the collection and use of metrics and their subsequent analysis for either project monitoring or process improvement. This module aims to provide the student with the requisite skills and knowledge in these areas. The student will also understand the construction of teams and be able to function as both a team member and a team leader.

Strategy and Information Management – This module aims to provide an overview and understanding of the process and procedures of strategy management, including the identification, extraction and use of relevant business information. It seeks to provide an understanding of the main approaches to strategy in business and the information that each strategy requires to show how the different approaches can contribute to business success in differing, complex and volatile environments.

Systems Design – The provision of appropriate design is critical. This module will provide skills in software design and implementation. It will impart an understanding of the issues involved in design and implementation of business information systems in order that such students can participate in and, if required, manage such activities.

Option Modules (15 credits each)

Students are required to choose one of the two option modules listed below:

Enterprise Information Systems – Key to the effective use of IT within an organisation is the ability to analyse the business and be able to assess the IT needs to support the business strategy. This module aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of enterprise-wide information systems and their role in a modern organisation and to provide students with the skills to apply that understanding to typical business situations.

Systems Analysis – The aim of this module is to provide skills in systems analysis using an object-oriented approach to modelling and specifying system requirements. In particular, students will understand the scope, nature and purpose of systems analysis; they will be provided with an overview of systems analysis within the context of the phases of the Unified Process; and will be taught the appropriate techniques for requirements acquisition and formalisation.

Students must choose one optional module from the list offered by the School, which will include those given below:

Entrepreneurship – This module will assist students in the commercial application of IT skills developed in other modules. It will develop an understanding of theories of entrepreneurship with reference to finance, management and marketing, and will consider how to apply these theories in real world contexts, with specific reference to IT start ups and the knowledge economy.

Content Management – In this module students will explore the use of modern Web technologies in the provision of secure and reliable content management systems and will obtain an understanding of the techniques and processes involved in the design and implementation of a content management system.

Networks and Security – In this module students will gain an understanding of contemporary networks and the abstractions and protocols which underpin them. They will be able to reflect on the appropriate measures to adopt in order to secure information held within an organisation and communicated across networks. Finally, they will be able to assess critically the software and hardware architectures which might best assure security in typical scenarios.

The Project (60 credits)

The project starts in late May and runs until early September. Projects are IT based, but are required to address specifically management themes and issues. Some projects are based in external companies and organisations selected to give real life experience of the IT Industry. Some are University based, often within other academic or administrative departments.