Emerging Technologies and Issues

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Students who are enrolled in the two year 200 point Master of Information Systems must have completed 50 points of study to enrol in this subject.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

As with many other forms of technology, information technologies have lifecycles ranging from initial conception, possible adoption and widespread use in industry, to eventual obsolescence. This subject will address emerging information technologies, how they evolve, and their likely future effect on industry. Topics covered will include the accuracy of past technology forecasts, how to improve them, international perspectives on emerging information technologies, standardisation, future organizational and customer trends and several technology forecasting mechanisms and considerations.

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:
1. understand key enabling technologies and describe how to promote technology-enabled business endeavors and initiatives;
2. describe ways of leveraging the technology to improve intra and inter-organizational processes and enhance a firm's competitive position;
3. describe how to take advantage of opportunities through emerging technologies, and explain the factors that influence how relevant an emerging technology will be in the long run.

A group case study of 3000 words due after week 3 of semester (15%); an individual case study of 5000 words due mid-semester (25%); a 2 hour written examination in the examination period (60%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.