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The MSc in Information
Technology Management has been designed to develop
knowledge and the ability to manage information
technology. The modules have been carefully selected
to provide a balanced grounding in both business and
computing. In particular the computing modules have
been designed to provide students with knowledge of
business administration disciplines, intelligent
tools and practical experience to enable them to
manage the development and implementation of IT
systems.
MSc Information Technology Management programme from
the University of Sunderland concentrates not only
on the business aspects and information systems
development/engineering but also on how decision
support tools and intelligent systems technology can
be applied to effective management of information
technology. It gives this programme original and
distinctive design that reflects the business needs
of IT management professionals.
The aim of the programme is to provide a
postgraduate course of study, which will:
Produce hybrid managers that is, managers who
combine information technology and computing skills
with business and organisational skills.<
Enable a critical evaluation of information
technology in order to ensure its effective
deployment in an organisation
Provide the students with the ability to take the
lead in the adoption of a systematic, professional,
quality approach to IT systems development
Enable the student to work with and manage
technical specialists, especially on larger projects
Identify the appropriate role for information
technology in developing and implementing corporate
strategy.
World Class Web/Design Tools
The University of Sunderland provides access to the
full Adobe/Microsoft suite of web/design
applications on campus. Under our Education
Partnership Agreement, Adobe/Microsoft tools are
upgraded every time there is a new release, to
ensure that our students have the very latest
industry standard versions. Apply now for access to
the latest versions of: Adobe/Microsoft (inc. Dream
weaver, Flash, Fireworks, Freehand) Director (web
content, DVD & CD Rom production tool) Also
Authorware, Contribute, Breeze and others.
Career Opportunities
The market need for such a programme is demonstrated
by the shortage of professional staff with knowledge
and skills in information technology management. The
learning/intelligent organisations/systems are
becoming an increasingly widespread philosophy in
modern companies from the largest multinationals to
the smallest ventures. It defines demand for
managers with knowledge of intelligent tools/systems
and techniques that support the organisations
strategic-management needs.
Since the ability of companies to recognise the
value of new, external information; assimilate it;
and apply it to business needs is critical to
effective strategic decision making. This capacity
is more important as information flow increases and
the market for knowledge expands while the
uncertainty of future opportunities remains
Effective intelligence systems track external
developments likely to have an impact on the
organisations, and they prompt timely discussion of
the strategic implications of these forces of
change. from: SRI Consulting Business Intelligence
click here for more information
Moreover, developments of new information
technologies create new jobs. There might be new
technology, but technological progress itself was
nothing new and over the years it had not
destroyed jobs, but created them2 (Margaret
Thatcher).
It requires managers with hybrid knowledge and
skills drawn from different disciplines such as
information technology, management, software
engineering, intelligent systems, decision support,
and electronic commerce. Furthermore, it requires
managers with research skills to enable them to
critically evaluate the trends, tools, techniques,
current developments and their effective
applications in information technology management.
Work Experience
During the project phase of the programme students
have an opportunity to undertake a project which
solves a real world problem. Many external clients
sponsor such projects and students are actively
encouraged and supported to find their own client
and sponsor.
Teaching and Assessment
Various methods of teaching and learning are
employed in the course, for example, lectures, group
work, directed reading, research, discussions,
seminars, tutorials, and practical laboratory
sessions.
Assessment is based on individual written reports
and research papers, practical assignments, and the
project.
Content
Successful completion of the seven taught modules
and an individual project will qualify the student
for the MSc degree. Intermediate awards of
Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma
are available for students who do not wish to or are
unable to complete the full MSc. The core modules
within the programme are:
a) Research Ethical Professional and Legal Issues
Nature of research, types of research, research
process and its management, ethical issues in
research, Outlining research problems and developing
research questions.
Research methods, qualitative and quantitative
approaches.
Literature surveys and critical analysis and
evaluation of sources.
Data collection and data analysis.
Critical evaluation and appraisal of published
work and data sets.
Recognition of appropriate and inappropriate use
of approaches and statistics.
Writing a technical paper, use of graphics, the
publication process, reviews and the role of the
reviewer. The use of peer review and appraisal.
Presenting work orally and by other appropriate
means. Structuring a research report and
dissertation.
Professional, ethical and legal issues that relate
to the relevant programme of study. For example,
critical examination of: the BCS code of conduct,
the ACM code of Ethics, and the UK Data Protection
Act).
b) Managing Projects, People and Finance
Project management: What is Project Management;
Project evaluation;
Project planning;
Network planning tools;
Project hazards and contingency planning;
Monitoring and Control;
Project management methodologies, including
PRINCE2;
Use of project management software.
Managing People: What is People Management;
Organizational structure; Motivation. Theories;
Leading the Team; Teams and Teamwork; Conflict;
Power and Decision Making; Managing Change.
Managing Finance: Key Financial Statements used in
organizations (An introduction to business
organizations and accounting; Financial statements
the Balance Sheet; Financial statements the Profit
and Loss Account; Financial statements the Cash
Flow Statement); Business Performance Analysis;
Using accounting data in a range of decision-making
situations (Costs and decision making; Planning and
budgeting; Investment decisions; The importance of
working capital).
c) Electronic Commerce
This module shall introduce the students to the
development, trends and standards associated with
networks, the Internet and web, and electronic
commerce. In the course of the module students will
be exposed to e-business models, e-commerce
classification, the development of online trading
mechanisms, typical B2C and B2B scenarios, and
corresponding application architectures, online
transaction systems, supply chains, value chain
management, customer relationship management,
business process integration, interoperability and
legacy system issues. The security of e-commerce
shall be briefly reviewed; security strategies,
firewalls and network security, encryption, and
authentication. Also, the impact of e-commerce on
privacy, social and ethical issues shall be
considered.
Note: the above topics indicate
content, any change would be in line with current
trends.
d) Quality and Information Systems Strategies
To introduce students to the concepts of quality
management especially as they relate to the software
development environment. Students shall be exposed
to: the components of quality management systems,
international standards for IT quality (ISO9001,
TickIT), quality assessment procedures, review and
examination of current QMS standards, Software
Process Improvement Standards, and QMS and SPI
paradigms.
Review of the case for strategic planning and
information systems, Nolans stage model, Mc Farlan
& McKeney strategic grid, strategic impact,
competitive advantage, methodologies for strategy
formulation, organisation of IT departments,
selection methodologies, and the Applications Master
Plan - determinants and influences.
Note: the above topics indicate
content, any change would be in line with current
trends.
e) Risk and Opportunities of Systems Change in
Organisations
This module introduces:
information systems pathology: analysis of
reported cases of systems success and/or failure to
determine key factors, techniques such as
post-implementation reviews, risk checklists.
assessing and managing the risks involved: risk
identification and analysis techniques. Generic risk
management framework. Example risk management
methods (such as RAMESES, SEI-SRE, Riskit).
identifying opportunities and managing creativity:
creative problem solving approaches (e.g. Theory of
Inventive Problem Solving, TRIZ), and techniques
(such as the 9-Windows System Operator tool, the
contradiction matrix). Evaluation of relationship
between risks and opportunities.
f) Intelligent Systems for Management
This module introduces the trends, tools,
techniques and current developments in the area of
Intelligent Systems and their applications in
management. The systems approach. Intelligent
systems/agents. Adaptive and learning systems.
Active information systems. Machine learning
techniques. Information management. Knowledge
management. Intelligent knowledge-based systems.
Expert systems. Data warehousing and Data mining.
Data warehousing for decision support. Data mining
methodologies and best practices. Data mining
techniques. Use of data mining techniques for
business applications.
g) Decision Support for Management
The module begins with an introduction to the need
and the use of decision support systems. It flows by
analysing the general principles of modelling and
simulation. The second part of the course selects
one modelling technique (system Dynamics) and
studies its usefulness as a decision support tool in
detail. Relevant applications will then be explored.
h) Project - designed to bring a real world
benefit to an organisation
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