They also make extensive use of real-life case studies to highlight the business opportunities and management/organisational challenges faced by organisations in relation to information systems and technologies.

Who is it for?

The course is intended for directors and senior or middle managers of private, not for profit and public sector organisations.

Content

The course consists of nine substantive sessions and one revision session:

• Introduction
• Information Systems (IS) as social systems
• IS and competition: aligning business with IT
• IS development: business alignment
• Outsourcing strategy for IS
• IS success and failure: managing global IS
• Case study
• E-business strategy
• Realizing the business value of IS
• Revision
• Social and ethical implications of IS

Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements, although you should have a reasonable level of English and Mathematics.

What is included?

There are nine substantive sessions and one revision session, all recorded in the form of audio lectures. You listen to these first before you do any reading, and then once more after you have read the recommended texts. You will be able to calibrate your progress by carrying out the self assessed activities. Feedback to these activities is provided in the ‘Activity Feedback’ folder under each session.

The course is delivered through our Teaching Zone so you also gain free access to our Manager’s tool kit and effective learning skills sections.

Aims

By the end of the course you should be able to:

• View IS as social systems and recognize the links between IS and organisational structure, culture and processes.
• Use a range of theoretical frameworks to examine the potential for creating competitive advantage through IS.
• Recognise the significance of IS-business alignment and apply a range of IS planning frameworks.
• Outline and evaluate a range of approaches to IS development and assess the opportunities and risks presented by IS outsourcing.
• Identify the key reasons for IS success or failure and outline a range of strategies for effective implementation of systems.
• Recognise the business benefits of the Internet and evaluate a range of e-business strategy frameworks.
• Outline the different approaches to IS evaluation.
• Evaluate key social and ethical implications of IS.

How do I study and how long does it take?

The course consists of 9 main one hour sessions and a revision session and includes, for example, modules on aligning business with IT as well as the important areas of evaluating future possible outsourcing and e-business. Your progress is evaluated by a series of activities. These are usually accompanied by activity feedback/suggested answers.

How is it assessed?

There is no formal assessment for this course, but there are self-assessment opportunities throughout the course.

After submitting the application, you will be contacted on your provided details within 24 working hours.