Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | Introductory session held at study school |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Coursework Report 2500 word essay equivalent | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Coursework Report 2500 word essay equivalent | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmission of failed coursework elements | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Describe and apply techniques for identifying the strategic impact of information technology on an organisation
Describe how the costs and benefits of an information technology or information systems investment should be appraised
Explain the developement of soft and participative methodologies
Select and apply appropriate soft systems techniques
Discuss and define approaches to business process modelling
Apply business process modelling techniques and diagrams to a business problem
Explain the rationale for structured systems approaches and development of object oriented analysis
Formulate and draw a range of UML diagrams, and structured systems diagrams
Discuss the legal and ethical risks in systems procurement
Formulate appropriate procurement approaches, including consideration of outsourcing
Discuss and justify approaches to project management
Demonstrate some project management techniques
Brief description
The module covers a variety of techniques that may be used throughout the planning and implementation of new information systems. New information systems often upset current ways of working and therefore considerable emphasis is placed in the module on the techniques that analysts and users can use to help in planning for a new information system, analysing the current data and information flows and business processes so that discussion of system and process improvements can be productive. Students will compare various methodologies ? `recipes? ? for systems analysis and project management to help understand why systems failures occur, how they can be avoided, and how projects can be managed better, from planning through procurement and implementation to evaluation of the completed project and realisation of benefits.
Content
Unit 1: Information strategy, strategic planning tools, benefits appraisal
Unit 2: Soft and participative methodologies, techniques used in soft systems analysis (e.g. cognitive mapping, repertory grids, conceptual modelling), information systems philosophies
Unit 3: Business process modelling (approaches, techniques such as RIVA activity diagrams and process architecture)
Unit 4: Structured approaches to systems analysis, SSADM diagramming, object oriented analysis (principles, diagramming techniques, working with users)
Unit 5: Procurement of information systems, strategic procurement issues, standards and methods for procurement, trust and collaborative procurement, outsourcing
Unit 6: Project management risks, approaches to implementation, organisational change, user acceptance, human-computer interaction principles, training and testing, project management software, project management methodologies, project evaluation, programme management principles.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Through understanding of the principles of cost-benefit analysis |
| Communication | Through practice with different methods of presenting information flows, and processes |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | By appreciation of their own likely preferred roles within a team |
| Information Technology | Through practice with use of project management software |
| Personal Development and Career planning | By acquisition of a range of practical skills that can be applied to organisational problems, appreciation of project management that can be applied to their own career planning |
| Problem solving | Through practical work on systems analysis and business process modelling techniques |
| Research skills | By critical appraisal of the evidence for the factors affecting the success or failure of projects |
| Subject Specific Skills | a Systems analysis b Business process analysis c Project management d Research skills |
| Team work | By appreciation of the factors that affect project performance, including the factors affecting successful team working |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7