Course Title: Information Technology for Managers

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Information Technology for Managers

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
LIBR1102	City Campus	Postgraduate	115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering	Distance / Correspondence	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Summer2009, Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2009, Sem 1 2010

Course Coordinator: Margaret Tein

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99258068

Course Coordinator Email: tein@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 57.5.24

Course Coordinator Availability: Please contact by email to arrange appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This unit deals with the importance of effective information systems in the practice of management, and the planning and management of such systems. It discusses the design, structure and evaluation of information systems to meet specific needs, and the human factors in their operation and management.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The Capabilities Of An Aviation Management Graduate – Post Graduate Level

Overall Integrative Capability: Proactive Problem Identification, Innovative Problem Solving and Empowering Communication

CAPABILITY: Responsible and Professional Work Practices: Work within the ethical and legal framework of the industry while contributing to professional work settings through responsible, self-managed, independent work and effective participation in multidisciplinary teams.

Dimension of Capability: Personal Development

Descriptor:

• Awareness of and commitment to one’s own set of values.
• Observance of professional ethics.
• Taking responsibility and participating in one’s own career planning and development.
• Acting as a Reflective Practitioner leading to a personal continuous improvement process.
• Engagement in and commitment to career-long learning.

Dimension of Capability: Sustainability

Descriptor:

• Balance of the technical, economic, environmental and social demands of an industry-based situation.
• Protection of safety, health and welfare.

Dimension of Capability: Problem solving and decision making

Descriptor:

• Model organizational problems using a systems framework, recognising the impact on sub- and related systems.
• Use of a wide range of problem solving tools and techniques.
• Selectivity in the choice of data to be used to support decision-making.
• Access to information from a wide range of sources, discerning values, bias and usability.

Dimension of Capability: Technical Competence

• Conceptualise, plan, design and manage the interface between human and technical systems.
• Perform a range of analytical tasks as appropriate to the specialization within the industry.
• Design and conduct diagnostic activities within the specific industry discipline.

Dimension of Capability: Teamwork and Leadership

• Operate effectively within a complex organisational setting.
• Manage multiple hierarchical relationships.
• Work effectively within a team.
• Exhibit appropriate and effective professional behaviours in the team environment.
• Provide constructive feedback to colleagues.
• Resolve conflict within the team.
• Work with members of other disciplines in a team with conflicting needs.

Dimension of Capability: Communication

• Communicate effectively - that is to listen, observe, speak, and write.
• Communicate results and outcomes qualitatively, quantitatively, graphically, electronically and textually.
• Communicate processes of thinking and reflection.

CAPABILITY: Global perspective

Locate one’s professional practice within the global parameters of the industry recognizing the different cultural perspectives, national and local variations in legal, industrial and economic environments.

Dimension of Capability: Personal Development

• Awareness of and respect for other’s sets of values.
• Observance of professional ethics.
• Taking responsibility for understanding cultural differences.
• Acting as a Reflective Practitioner leading to a personal continuous improvement process.
• Engagement in and commitment to career-long learning.

Dimension of Capability: Sustainability

• Balance of the technical, economic, environmental and social demands of different cultural and national situations.
• Protection of safety, health and welfare.

Dimension of Capability: Problem-solving and decision-making

• Model organizational problems using a systems framework, recognising the impact on sub- and related systems within different cultural contexts.
• Use of a wide range of problem solving tools and techniques.
• Selectivity in the choice of data to be used to support decision-making.
• Access to information from a wide range of sources, discerning values, bias and usability.

Dimension of Capability: Technical Competence

• Conceptualise, plan, design and manage the interface between human and technical systems taking into consideration variations in local technical adoption rates.
• Perform a range of analytical tasks as appropriate to the specialization within the industry.
• Design and conduct diagnostic activities within the specific industry discipline and cultural context.

Dimension of Capability: Teamwork and Leadership

• Operate effectively within a complex organisational setting.
• Manage multiple hierarchical relationships.
• Work effectively within a multicultural team.
• Exhibit appropriate and effective professional behaviours in the multicultural team environment.
• Provide constructive feedback to colleagues.
• Resolve conflict within the multicultural team.
• Work with members of other disciplines in a team with conflicting needs.

Dimension of Capability: Communication

• Communicate effectively - that is to listen, observe, speak, and write appropriately within the cultural context.
• Communicate results and outcomes qualitatively, quantitatively, graphically, electronically and textually.
• Communicate processes of thinking and reflection.

CAPABILITY: Communication and Personal Engagement

Communicate the processes and results of organisational activities within the industrial sectors’ communities in forms consistent with the appropriate sector practices. Extend relationships through confident interactions across various levels and functions of the organisation and the industry’s sectors.

Dimension of Capability: Personal Development

• Awareness of and respect for divergent views.
• Observance of professional ethics.
• Taking responsibility for ones’ own communication style and responses of others to it.
• Acting as a Reflective Practitioner leading to a personal continuous improvement process.
• Engagement in and commitment to career-long learning.

Dimension of Capability: Sustainability

• Balance of the technical, economic, environmental and social demands of different cultural and personal backgrounds.
• Protection of safety, health and welfare.

Dimension of Capability: Problem-solving and decision-making

• Explain organizational problems and associated solutions within a systems framework, recognising the impact on individuals and groups with different perspectives and views.
• Use a wide range of problem solving tools and techniques.
• Selectivity in the choice of data to be used to support decision-making.
• Access to information from a wide range of sources, discerning values, bias and usability.

Dimension of Capability: Technical Competence

• Professionally communicate the conceptualisation, planning, design and management of the interface between human and technical systems taking into consideration variations in personal technical adoption rates.
• Discuss the performance of a range of analytical tasks as appropriate to the specialisation within the industry.
• Participate in the design and conduct diagnostic activities within the specific industry discipline and cultural context.

Dimension of Capability: Teamwork and Leadership

• Communicate effectively and collaboratively within a complex organisational setting.
• Manage multiple hierarchical relationships.
• Work effectively within a multicultural team.
• Facilitate effective and appropriate interactions between colleagues and subordinates across the organisation hierarchy.
• Provide constructive feedback to colleagues.
• Resolve conflict within the multicultural team.
• Work with members of other disciplines in a team with conflicting needs.

Dimension of Capability: Communication

• Communicate effectively - that is to listen, observe, speak, and write appropriately within the cultural context.
• Communicate results and outcomes qualitatively, quantitatively, graphically, electronically and textually.
• Communicate processes of thinking and reflection.

This unit aims to enable you to:

• analyse the impact that information systems have had in organisations, and the consequent changes that have occurred to the role of business managers
• analyse information systems and their management in terms of both hard and soft approaches
• identify the elements that combine to establish organisational information vision and information system architectures
• apply a strategic systems planning approach to design information systems that will use IT to gain competitive advantage
• evaluate proposals for the management of various specific IT functions including e-business initiatives and outsourcing IT services
• develop effective information systems project management plans and procedures
• develop effective information systems team management practices, including accounting structures and information system performance measures
• develop strategies to effectively manage technological change.
  

Overview of Learning Activities

The focal strategy utilised in the whole course is the Management Learning Team (MLT). This group represents a project team whose members carry a dual responsibility. Firstly, MLT members carry a responsibility to the team for the learning and development of each member, and secondly, a responsibility for their own personal learning.

MLT’s are encouraged to explore the resources of the team for problem solving and addressing issues prior to seeking the guidance or assistance of an academic staff member.

The specific learning activities include:

Seminars
Workshops
On-call Consultation
Projects
Directed Research
Self-directed Learning
Fieldwork

Overview of Learning Resources

Prescribed Text:

Martin, E.W., Brown, C.V., DeHayes, D.W., Hoffer, J.A., and Perkins, W.C. 2002, Managing Information Technology—What Managers Need to Know, Macmillan, New York.

The textbook is supplemented by readings provided in this study guide.


Further Reading:

Applegate, L.M., McFarlan, F.W. & McKenney, J.L. 2003, Corporate Information Strategy and Management: Text and Cases, Irwin, Chicago.

Boar, B.H. 1997, Strategic Thinking for Information Technology, Wiley, New York.

O’Brien, J.A. 2001, Introduction to Information Systems: Essentials for the Internetworked E-Business Enterprise, McGraw-Hill, Boston.

Overview of Assessment

Distance Delivery Mode Assessment Tasks:

Assignment 1 - weighting 40% - 2000 to 3000 words (excluding appendices etc.)
Examination - weighting 60% - 3 hours writing , 10 minutes reading.