Information Systems and Digital Innovation

Understanding how new digital technologies are influencing the design and development of organisations is key for the leaders of the future. This module aims to inspire the leaders of the future in understanding how they can make a social impact from both an ethical and sustainable perspective. Subject areas will include:

• consider the emergence of fluid, agile and decentralised organisations that follow holacratic principles of self-organisation.
• gain an understanding of how networks can influence interaction and collaboration to create practical solutions to complex challenges and co-create conditions for collective benefit.
• understand how design thinking/co-design principles can be used for creative problem solving within complex, interconnected environments.
• encourage and use personal skills of communication, teamwork, decision-making and collaborative leadership.
• understand and encourage a holistic approach (systems thinking) when dealing with the complexity of global social challenges.

This module is now more timely than ever. In the past Information Architecture was relevant in the context of information and knowledge-based organisations. In these post pandemic times of smartphones and iPads, however, digital platforms—and all the big data that they generate—have become fundamental to our daily lives. How can vast volumes of unstructured big data be transformed into machine readable, retrievable, and therefore useful information? The aims of this module are for students to be able to:

• recognise the information needs of users.
• become familiar with the technology that has defined the semantic web.
• distinguish between the new technologies that make up the semantic web.
• identify and apply the methods available for integrating external and internal data, information, and knowledge.

For the business leaders of the future understanding the societal and ethical issues associated with the digital technologies in the 21^st century is essential. This does not mean simply understanding the minimum legal standards but also considering the higher standards that reflect societal moral operating principles. The module will take a holistic view from the differing perspectives of citizens, individuals, parents, employees, employers and leaders. Subject areas will include:

• understand the basics of bias and its impact on ethical decision making.
• understand the elements that build trust, how these are measured and their impact both societally and economically.
• understand the basic concepts of data ethics and its application.
• understand the impact of cultural differences in a globally connected society.

After considering and discussing these basic principles students will be encouraged and expected to:

• apply multidisciplinary concepts including diversity, equality, inclusion, critical thinking, and reflection in order to construct, articulate and communicate ethical purpose from a leadership perspective.
• be able to rationalise personal thinking, decision making and reaction (from an understanding of bias)
• create an ethical framework that could be applied for leadership development.

Students will have hands-on experience of using a Tier 1 ERP in the world: SAP S/4 HANA – arguably the most popular cloud ERP in the corporate world currently. The aims of this module are:

• to introduce and develop the key principles of enterprise resource planning (ERP).
• to introduce the fundamental concepts of supplier and customer relationship management in the context of ERP.
• to provide an understanding of the role of ERP systems in the effective management of organisational processes.
• to provide hands-on experience of SAP, an industry leading ERP software.

Key topics: ERP fundamentals and concepts; ERP implementation; ERP system related supplier and customer relationship management; procurement; fulfilment; materials requirements planning; inventory management; logistics strategy including; digital transformation; business process integration; the role and use of SAP software in support of business processes.

The aim of this module is to give students an understanding of how to manage projects and their risks for both the individual managing their own and for the team leader managing a larger-scale project. The emphasis is on getting a quality product or service delivered on time and within budget.

The aim of this module is to enable students to develop a critical appreciation of current theories and practices of information and knowledge management with a view to applying theoretical understanding of information and knowledge management to real life situations.

Innovations in information management, analytics and digital technologies have increasingly been driving and impacting business operations, management, and strategy throughout the 21^st century digital revolution. Digital platforms (e.g., Airbnb, Uber, etc.) now facilitate entirely new business models and value creation. The aims of this module are to:

• develop a critical understanding of digital technology driven platform business models.
• introduce fundamental ICT technologies involved in running digital platforms, such as the web/client-server protocol, cloud computing, web, and API infrastructure, as well as key cybersecurity issues.
• develop critical knowledge of digital technologies and concepts, such as surveillance capitalism, as well as databases, AI based analytics, related ethical issues, and challenges of digital platform business models.
• develop a critical understanding and practical ability in the use of core IT infrastructure, web systems, processes and technologies that underpin business efficiency and effectiveness in the modern digital organisation.

Data Science is often thought of as one of the most sought-after jobs in the world. You will learn about the process models, software architecture and have hands-on experience of programming such projects in python. Python is arguably the most popular programming language in the world currently. You will apply data science techniques and thinking into one piece of coursework. The aims of this module are to understand:

• data science per se.
• the process and cultures required to conduct data science.
• technology platforms and programming techniques for data science projects.
• the value data science can generate for organisations.

Research is not only about finding useful information and using it in your work, but about being able to design and carry out your own rigorous research project. Research skills are highly sought after in business as well as academia, and by developing your own research skills you are better able to evaluate the work of others and see beyond the headlines. This module will help you develop these valuable skills and the relevant theoretical and practical research methods knowledge required to design, plan, and execute your individual dissertation or project.

It will introduce you to the generic research process and principles of ethical research practice. You will consider data collection and analysis methods for quantitative and qualitative research and how to conduct it effectively across information, technology, and management disciplines.

This module is a key part of your master’s degree. During the module you will:

• design and manage a research project on a topic of your choice, with guidance from an academic supervisor.  
• choose a topic to investigate in depth that you find interesting that relates to the programme – the one module where you choose what you study!
• apply methods and strategies used in information and/or business research, developing your research and project management skills through practical activities.

In addition, by driving and managing the project yourself, you will develop and demonstrate self-expression, communication, time management, planning and analysis skills that are rewarding now and will be useful in your future career.