Business Information Systems for a Rapidly Changing World
Unit code: HIT8036
| Credit points | 12.5 Credit Points |
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| Contact hours | 36 Hours |
| Campus | Hawthorn |
| Prerequisites | Requires at least two years relevant IT work experience and approval of the MISM program coordinator for students not enrolled in the MISM only. Preclusion: HIT8286 - IS Foundations |
Related course(s)
Aims and objectives
Strategically managed, Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) can be an important source of competitive advantage. At the same time, advances in Information and Communications Technologies (lCT) are having a profound impact on our concept of where and how work is performed, and who performs it. This poses both challenges and opportunities to modern managers.
This unit of study aims to provide non-IT professionals with an understanding of the major issues facing managers in the effective use of information technology in contemporary organisations. In particular, it will focus on how to ensure that investments in IT and IS are aligned with business goals and objectives during times of rapid technical change and economic uncertainty.
The unit is not a technical unit, and does not deal with what is technically new and fascinating other than in a purely managerial sense in terms of the impact technological advance may have on an organisation.
The unit is not a technical unit, and does not deal with what is technically new and fascinating other than in a purely managerial sense in terms of the impact technological advance may have on an organisation.
Generic skills outcomes
On completion of this unit of study, students should be able to:
- Appreciate the importance of developing appropriate organisational IS/IT capabilities and ensuring sound IS/IT governance practices in modern organisations.
- Understand the nature, role and contribution of information, information systems, and information technology and the information/knowledge resources in local, national and global business environments.
- Appreciate the need to align IS and IT plans with business plans to ensure the attainment of corporate objectives, and to clearly demonstrate the value of the IS and IT resources in an organisation.
- Understand the major contemporary issues in the management of the IS and IT function.
- To appreciate the major issues in the delivery of IS services and solutions, including the acquisition of IS and IT, including the issues involved in the build versus buy, building relationships with vendors and suppliers, decision making with respect to outsourcing & off shoring.
- Identify, evaluate and proactively manage the business benefits of IS/IT.
- Appreciate the importance and implications of the Internet and electronic commerce in contemporary organisations, especially from the perspective of supply chain & demand chain information systems in times of change.
The unit of study will help to develop capabilities in the following domains:
- Strategy: Imaginative Analysis.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Systematic Innovation; Opportunity Evaluation.
- Financial Competence: aspects of the Investment, Operational Activities and Information Systems domains.
Content
- The role of IS and IT in contemporary organisations - Why IT matters in globalised markets.
- Strategic IS/IT planning, relationship to business strategy & planning, concept of dynamic alignment.
- Building required organisation-wide IS and IT capabilities associated with strategy, supply and use of IS and IT.
- Managing the IS and IT - Rest of business relationship (bridging the gap).
- IS and IT governance, risk management & mitigation.
- Enterprise Systems, issues associated with purchase, implementation, delivery of business value Supply chain and demand chain information systems, business intelligence systems.
- Issues in solutions delivery, including systems acquisition and implementation, vendor due diligence, IT contract negotiation & management.
- Delivering value from IS and IT investments - issues in IS and IT evaluation and benefits realisation.
Reading materials
Grant K, Hackney R and Edgar D 2010 Strategic Information Systems Management, Cengage Learning, Australia
The Unit will be loosely based in the above text which students are strongly encouraged to work through. Teaching will be based on the study and analysis of a series of no more than 11 cases which students will be expected to purchase copies of.
