Emerging Technologies and Issues

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

200 hours

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.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Aims

As with many other forms of technology, information technologies have lifecycles ranging from initial conception, to possible adoption, and widespread use, to eventual obsolescence.

This subject will examine emerging information technologies and the issues that relate to them, including: how they evolve and, enter usage, and their likely future effects on people and social structures.

Indicative Content

The subject provides an understanding of both technical and managerial issues, as well as strategic implications of emerging technologies and issues. Upon completion of the subject, students should be able to (a) understand key enabling technologies and become an effective participant in technology-enabled business endeavours and initiatives; (b) recognize ways of leveraging the technology to improve intra and inter-organizational processes and enhance a firm’s competitive position; (c) gain skills for building careers and taking advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities through emerging technologies, and (d) understand the factors that influence how relevant an emerging technology will be in the long run.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

On completion of this subject the student is expected to:

1. Understand why technological innovations emerge, are widely adopted, and are ultimately superceded
2. Understand why some technological innovations are more successful than others
3. Understand the factors that drive the adoption of technological innovations by individuals, organizations, and society
4. Describe ways of leveraging new technologies to improve intra and inter-organizational processes and enhance a firm’s competitive position
5. 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.

• One group based seminar paper (10%) with 3-5 group members of approximately 1000 words; supported by group presentation (10%) of 15 minutes duration due between weeks 3-12, requiring approximately 25-30 hours for both the paper and the presentation per student. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 and 2 are addressed in the seminar paper and presentation.
• One group based case study (30%) with 3-5 group members of approximately 5000 words due mid semester, requiring 40-45 hours work per student. ILO 2 and 3 addressed in the case study.
• One written 2 hour closed book end of semester examination (50%). ILOs 1 to 3 are addressed in the examination. The examination is a hurdle and must be passed to pass the subject.

Hurdle requirement: To pass the subject, students must obtain:

• at least 50% of the marks available for the examination.

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

• Analytical and interpretative skills, through the conceptualization of classes of technology and through the analysis of a real world case
• High-level design skills, through proposing new uses of technology to support human activity
• Team-work, through working on a group project
• Report-writing skills
• Presentation skills

Learning and Teaching Methods

The subject is delivered in 3-hour classes, with each class containing: lectures on theoretical concepts and tutorial work and an interactive debrief on the outcomes of the tutorial work. Outside class students will study theory and cases through reading and continuing their group activities.

Indicative Key Learning Resources

A list of key articles will be provided on the LMS. Materials from real-world cases are provided in class.

Careers/Industry Links

This subject is relevant to careers as IT analyst and consultant. Students will work on real-world cases of people and organisations trying to extract value from their IT investments. There will be one or two lectures from invited practitioners from industry.