Introductory description

The purpose of the module is to introduce students to the discipline of information systems management and current best practices in the development and management of critical information systems.
In particular, the module provides a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of cloud technologies, and the challenges associated with migrating existing technology to the cloud, and the opportunities these architectures can offer. These issues will be explored from a technical, an organisational and, most importantly, a strategic perspective.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Key Concepts of Information Systems Management
   a. What is Information Systems Management?
   b. Hardware, middleware and software
   c. Networking and security

2. Information System Management Practice
   a. IT organisational roles
   b. Data management and information architecture
   c. Data and information governance
   d. Business continuity and disaster recovery

3. Cloud Computing
   a. Fundamentals of cloud architecture
   b. Cloud migration strategies
   c. Continuous integration and continuous delivery
   d. Cloud native computing

4. Application Development
   a. Agile project management and DevOps
   b. Application design
   c. High level documents
   d. Application testing and deployment strategies

5. Solution Selection
   a. Requirements elicitation and user stories
   b. Evaluation and prioritisation of available solutions
   c. Change management

6. Capstone Project
   a. A practical simulation of the above topics.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the practice of information management in modern business
• Critically analyse the systematic and operational risk associated with a business’ information architecture, and develop appropriate mitigation and management strategies
• Critically evaluate a range of real-world IT solutions, and determine their applicability and suitability to a range of different use cases
• Interpret complex business requirements and develop appropriate, higher-level solution and architecture designs

Indicative reading list

Chaffey D (2014). Digital Business and E-Commerce Management. Pearson: Harlow, UK. ISBN-13: 978-0273786542.
Croxen-John D and van Tonder J (2017). E-Commerce Website Optimization: Why 95% of your website visitors don't buy, and what you can do about it. Kogan Page: London, UK; New York, NY; and New Delhi, IN. ISBN-13: 978-0749475383.
Goward C (2013). You Should Test That: Conversion optimization for more leads, sales and profit, or the art and science of optimized marketing. Sybex: Indianapolis, IN. ISBN-13: 978-1118301302.
Hunt B (2011) Convert! Designing web sites to increase traffic and conversion. Wiley: Indianapolis, IN. ISBN-13: 978-0470616338.
Krug S (2014). Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A common sense approach to web usability. New Riders: Harlow, UK. ISBN-13: 978-0321965516.
Larsson T (2016). Ecommerce Evolved: The essential playbook to build, grow & scale a successful ecommerce business. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN-13: 978-1534619340
Laudon KC and Traver CG (2016). E-commerce 2016: Business, technology, society. Pearson: Harlow, UK. ISBN-13: 978-1292109961.
Meier A and Stormer H (2009). eBusiness & eCommerce: Managing the digital value chain. Springer: Berlin, DE and London, UK. ISBN-13 978-3540893288.
Nahai N (2012). Webs of Influence: The psychology of online persuasion. Pearson: Harlow, UK. ISBN-13: 978-1292134604.
Turban E, Outland J, King D, Lee J, Liang T and Turban D (2018). Electronic Commerce 2018: A managerial and social networks perspective. Springer: Cham, CH. ISBN-13: 978-3319587141.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

IT architecture, agile, DevOps, cloud computing, business intelligence, networks, virtualisation, outsourcing

Transferable skills

Presentation skills, research, teamwork, IT architecture, critical thinking