Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives At the completion of this subject students should know current practices and management techniques in IS management, and understand the critical issues associated with these practices; understand the factors that affect IS development quality and be aware of management techniques that can enhance ongoing system quality and customer satisfaction; appreciate the benefits of customer-service and quality approaches to IS management, and also the limitations of current practices and management techniques.
Synopsis Students are introduced to the issues associated with effective information systems (IS) management. Both `people' and technical aspects of IS management are addressed. There is a strong emphasis on managing to ensure quality systems, and on managing in a customer-focussed environment. Topics include the growing importance of IS management and its changing nature; critical issues in IS management; managing in a project-based environment; reasons for successful and unsuccessful development organisations; project control methodologies, standards, and tools; estimating approaches and the issue of software metrics; the nature of IS quality, and means for encouraging a quality culture; the application of TQM and the customer-service literature to IS quality; managing packaged and outsourced system development; `people' issues, especially those associated with managing systems professionals; the political aspects of project management; managing the introduction of new IS technologies (such as CASE, information modelling, object-oriented design).
Assessment Examination (2 hour `seen' test): 40% + Practical work and seminar participation: 60%