Information Technology Management
| From | To | UK Fee * | International Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jan 2013 | 31 Mar 2014 | £4050 | £9400 |
| 07 Oct 2013 | 12 Dec 2014 | £4050 | £9400 |
* Exceptions may apply. Please see Fees and Finance for further information.
Introduction
Twin Entry for February and October - this is a 45 week programme taught over a 60 week period. Note that there is an 8 week summer vacation period.
The MSc in Information Technology Management has been designed to develop knowledge and the ability to manage information technology.
The modules have been carefully selected to provide a balanced grounding in both business and computing.
In particular the computing modules have been designed to provide students with knowledge of business administration disciplines, intelligent tools and practical experience to enable them to manage the development and implementation of IT systems.
MSc Information Technology Management programme from the University of Sunderland concentrates not only on the business aspects and information systems development/engineering but also on how decision support tools and intelligent systems technology can be applied to effective management of information technology.
It gives this programme original and distinctive design that reflects the business needs of IT management professionals.
The aim of the programme is to provide a postgraduate course of study, which will:
Produce hybrid managers that is, managers who combine information technology and computing skills with business and organisational skills.
Enable a critical evaluation of information technology in order to ensure its effective deployment in an organisation.
Provide the students with the ability to take the lead in the adoption of a systematic, professional, quality approach to IT systems development.
Enable the student to work with and manage technical specialists, especially on larger projects.
Identify the appropriate role for information technology in developing and implementing corporate strategy.
Course Content
Stages 1 and 2
Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) 60 credits and Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) 60 credits
- Research Skills and Academic Literacy
Nature of research, types of research, research process and its management, ethical issues in research. Outlining research problems and developing research questions. Research methods, qualitative and quantitative approaches. Literature surveys and critical analysis and evaluation of sources. Data collection and data analysis. Critical evaluation and appraisal of published work and data sets. Recognition of appropriate and inappropriate use of approaches and statistics. Writing a technical paper, use of graphics, the publication process, reviews and the roles of the reviewer. The use of peer review and appraisal. Presenting work orally and by other appropriate means. Structuring a research report and dissertation. Professional, ethical and legal issues that relate to the relevant programme of study. For example, critical examination of: the BCS code of conduct, the ACM code of Ethics, and the UK Data Protection Act).
- Project Management and Control (Double Unit)
Module content is: what is a project, project feasibility, identifying stakeholders and their requirements, measures of success failure.
Financial evaluation and management. Project planning; work breakdown structures, tasks, milestones, resource allocation and levelling, fixed and variable costs, slack, delay, the critical path, risk analysis and contingency planning. The effect of software engineering methodologies on the project plan. Project execution; people, monitoring, reporting, reviews, and dynamic planning. Controlling work in progress. Common problems.Project Management tools; GANTT and PERT charts, project management software, especially MS-Project. Project Management Methodologies, including PRINCE2. Role of Quality Control in projects, especially ISO 9002.
- Managing People and Project Leadership
Module content is: Trends, tools, techniques and current developments in the area of Managing People and Organisational Development. Soft and hard systems/problems. What is people management; Critical aspects in Managing People and Organisational Development; Organisational Development techniques. Resource capability and compatibility problems. Motivational Theories. Learning processes and Models (e.g. Kolb's Experiential Learning Model); Organisational Structure; Outsourcing. Organisational Culture, Culture in Practice, Cultural socialisation, Multicultural organisation, Managing Equality and Diversity, Diversity Diamond Model, Diversity Awareness, Diversity Wheel Model; Human Resource Allocation; Leading the Team; Leadership Theories. Teams and Teamwork; Managing Conflict; Power and Politics. Managing Change. Team formation in projects (e.g. applications of the Profile Theory); Performance Management Strategies.
- Electronic Commerce
This module shall introduce the students to the development, trends and standards associated with networks, the internet and web, and electronic commerce. In the course of the module students will be exposed to e-business models, e-commerce classification, the development of online trading mechanisms, typical B2C and B2B scenarios, and corresponding application architectures, online transaction systems, supply chains, value chain management, customer relationship management, business process integration, interoperability and legacy system issues.
- Project Risk and Quality and Management
This module introduces (i) information systems pathology: analysis of reported cases of systems success and/or failure to determine key factors), techniques such as post-implementation reviews, risk checklists. (ii) assessing and managing the risks involved: risk identification and analysis techniques. Generic risk management framework. Example risk management methods (such as RAMESES, SEI-SRE, Riskit). (iii) identifying opportunities and managing creativity: creative problem solving approaches (e.g. Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, TRIZ), and techniques (such as the 9 boxes tool, the contradiction matrix). Evaluation of relationship between risks and opportunities.
- Intelligent Systems for Management
This module introduces the trends, tools, techniques and current developments in the area of Intelligent Systems and their applications in management. The systems approach. Intelligent systems - agents. Adaptive and learning systems. Active information systems. Machine learning techniques. Information management. Knowledge management. Intelligent knowledge-based systems. Expert systems. Data mining process. Data mining methodologies and best practices. Data mining techniques. Applications of the Profile Theory. Use of data mining techniques for practical applications. Data mining and Data warehousing; Data warehousing for decision support.
- Decision Support for Management
This module introduces the trends, tools, techniques and current developments in the area of Decision Support and their application in management. Soft and Hard systems. Soft and Hard problems. The value and nature of information. Decision support methods: aims and objectives; their classification; design and development. The systems approach. Need and use of systems approach and decision support methods. General principles of modelling and simulation. Cybernetics. Distinct stages of Soft Systems Methodology. Principles and characteristics of Systems Thinking and System Dynamics Methodologies. Analyses of the dynamics of simple complex systems. Operations Research: linear programming, queuing systems, inventory systems, forecasting. Applications of the Profile Theory. Relevant applications will be explored.
Stage 3
Masters (MSc) 60 credits
- Project
The project should enable the student to develop, for a project sponsor, a deliverable commensurate with the programme objectives: for example, an IT strategy for an organisation, an investigative study for an organisation, a technically challenging IT product (e.g. a feasibility study, design, implementation, reengineered solution), and so on.
For specific information on the modules and teaching and assessment methods please click here.
Entry Requirements
We welcome applications from people with an honours degree (2:2 or above) in a computing or IT discipline.
We also invite applications from people with a good honours degree in a management or technical subject, and practical experience of computing.
We consider applications from people with other relevant experience.
Fees and Finance
The fees for this course are as specified in the table at the top of the page.
Please note that different fees apply to students studying for "Equivalent or Lower Qualifications" (ELQs). For more information about ELQs, please see the page Information for applicants who already have an HE Qualification.
For information about University scholarships and bursaries please see the page Fees and Finance.
Teaching and Assessment
Various methods of teaching and learning are employed in the course, for example, lectures, group work, directed reading, research, discussions, seminars, tutorials, and practical laboratory sessions.
Assessment is based on individual written reports and research papers, practical assignments, and the project.
Work Experience
During the project phase of the programme students have an opportunity to undertake a project which solves a real world problem.
Many external clients sponsor such projects and students are actively encouraged and supported to find their own client and sponsor.
Career Opportunities
The market need for such a programme is demonstrated by the shortage of professional staff with knowledge and skills in information technology management.
The learning-intelligent organisations-systems are becoming an increasingly widespread philosophy in modern companies from the largest multinationals to the smallest ventures.
It defines demand for managers with knowledge of intelligent tools and systems and techniques that support the organisation's strategic-management needs.
Moreover, developments of new information technologies create new jobs. It requires managers with hybrid knowledge and skills drawn from different disciplines such as information technology, management, software engineering, intelligent systems, decision support, and electronic commerce.
Furthermore, it requires managers with research skills to enable them to critically evaluate the trends, tools, techniques, current developments and their effective applications in information technology management.
This programme will prepare successful students with the skills and knowledge to take up employment in either the industrial sector or in research establishments.
After the programme, the students will be ready to move confidently into project leadership, departmental management and consultancy. The students will be able to contribute to any organisation with an IT department. For example, they could work for the National Health System, construction industry, automotive and manufacturing industries, educational and business sectors, or banks and travel agencies.
Recent graduates have taken up posts in government departments, industrial and commercial management, IT consultancy, and research and lecturing posts in further and higher education.
Supplemental Information
The Department of Computing is a Microsoft Regional Centre for the North of England and a Certified Cisco Academy for both Associate (CCNA) and Professional (CCNP) levels.
Students also get free access to the Internet for their laptop via the University's wireless network and have access to one of the most modern and best equipped computing environments in the UK. The open plan David Goldman Informatics Centre is equipped with over 500 PC's and Sun Workstations.
There are also excellent library facilities on the Campus and nearby student accommodation.
Accreditation of these programmes by the British Computer Society (BCS) is currently being sought. If successful graduates will be able to apply for BCS Certificate, Diploma and Diploma Project exception.
Academic credibility of the programme is further supported through a distinguished invited speaker programme, which allows students to participate and discuss areas of current and evolving research with leading invited researchers and industrialists.
Facilities
World Class Web/Design Tools
The University of Sunderland has made a significant investment in providing students with access to the latest releases of Adobe products.
Selected PCs within the St Peter's and Murray Libraries have been pre-loaded with the Creative Suite 4 CS4 Adobe Design Premium Suite for your exclusive use.
CS4 Creative includes key products such as Indesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver as well as Photoshop and a range of many others.
Further information is available from:
http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/creativesuite/design/
For information regarding locations of PC or Macs within your own faculty that have access to Adobe products please contact your Faculty IT Support.
If you are interested in purchasing Adobe products for your own PC/Mac Adobe offer significant savings for student purchases via any of its approved re-sellers.
Please visit: