IS Strategy and Governance

Subject ISYS90038 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 36 hours over the semester (block mode)
Total Time Commitment: 10 hours per week, 120 hours in total
Prerequisites:

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.

Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Contact

Email: ckeen@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

Strategic IS management is an increasingly important management activity as organizations realize that appropriate use (or misuse) of information and information technology can have significant effects on their competitive position. Using case studies from practice, this subject discusses the major approaches to formulating and implementing IS strategic plans. Topics include: IS strategy and its connection to business strategy and business models; theoretical and practical approaches to formulating IS strategy; enterprise architecture as strategy; IS governance; implementation as related to the content and context of IS strategy; and evaluating the success of an IS strategy.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Recognize the strategic potential and impact of information and knowledge management systems;
• Engage in the process of ICT strategic planning and the critical review of ICT strategic plans;
• Demonstrate understanding of the principles of ICT governance planning, design, assessment and continuous improvement from an enterprise viewpoint;
• Demonstrate awareness of ICT control and service governance frameworks in managing an enterprise ICT infrastructure;
• Describe the drivers, dependencies and interrelationships between strategic planning and ICT governance at an enterprise level;
• Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to assume a leadership role in how organizations utilize ICT systems to achieve their strategic objectives;

Assessment: Individual report of 3000 words due mid semester (40%); a group report of 3000 words per student due near the end of semester (60%).

Prescribed Texts:

There are no prescribed texts for this subject. However, a book of readings will be provided and frequent reference will be made to:

  • Weill, P. and Ross, J. IT Governance: How Top Performers Manage IT Decision Rights for Superior Results, Harvard Business School Press 2004.
  • Ross, J.W., Weill, P. and Robertson, D.C. Enterprise Architecture as Strategy, Creating a Foundation for Business Execution, Harvard Business School Press 2006.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Students should develop skills in literature search and analysis, critical thinking and independent learning.
Links to further information: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/future/postgrad/index.html
Notes:


Related Course(s): Bachelor of Information Systems (Degree with Honours)
Master of Business Administration/Master of Information Systems
Master of Information Systems
Master of Information Systems
Master of Information Systems
Master of Information Systems/Postgraduate Diploma in Management
Master of Science (Information Systems)

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