Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives At the completion of this subject students should understand the current concerns of IS managers, and how these concerns are changing as client requirements change; changing expectations for the role of the IS organisation, and the conflicts these sometimes involve; the current systems delivery practices of IS organisations; the diffusion of systems development processes, and the factors that influence why various methods and techniques have not received favourable attention in the practitioner marketplace.
Synopsis Students examine in depth some of the key issues in contemporary information systems management. They examine both strategy formulation and management practice, and build on the material introduced in SYS4130 and SYS4360. It is intended that the subject matter will reflect contemporary developments and research, so the syllabus will vary from time to time, to reflect changes in information systems theory and practice. The main themes in 1996 will be the changing perceptions of the role of information systems within organisations and the associated changing role of the information systems department. Specific topics to be addressed include the changing expectations of IS (from data processing to competitive advantage); the impact of a marketing approach to the IS organisation; approaches to formulating IS strategy and the conversion of strategy to day-to-day processes and activities: the impact of organisational culture, values and policies on the success of the IS organisation; the measurement and evaluation of systems development quality; BPR, outsourcing and downsizing - their implications for IT management.
Assessment `Seen' test (2 hours): 30% + Written (4000 to 6000 words): 70%