Masters Degrees (Business Information Systems)

Information drives businesses. Without it, they cease to function. Whether for day-to-day operations or strategic decision-making, there is an imperative to record, manage and use information.

The Master of Business Information Systems (MBIS) prepares you for careers in systems design, planning and management, as well as knowledge and information management. You gain the expertise to design solutions to business information problems, and to offer strategic guidance to organisations that will enhance their management and governance.

As an MBIS graduate, you may find work as a business analyst, systems analyst, consultant, project leader, IT manager, information management specialist, archivist or librarian.

The MBIS caters to students from a variety of backgrounds. If you do not have previous training in IT, the course includes preparatory units that will give you the IT knowledge needed for the remainder of the course. However, if you already have a degree in IT, you can accelerate your study with an exemption from these preparatory units, or perhaps study further elective units in areas of your choice.

The course gives you an opportunity to explore a wide range of areas, from enterprise systems, information systems design, and business intelligence to IT strategy and project management.

If your interests lie in information and knowledge management, you can pursue a specialisation in Archives and Recordkeeping or Librarianship and Information Science, accredited by professional organisations.

In your final semester, you may take part in an Industry Experience program, working in a small team with industry mentors to develop entrepreneurial IT solutions. Or you may undertake a minor-thesis research project, investigating cutting-edge problems in BIS under the supervision of internationally recognised researchers.

High-achieving students who complete the research component may progress to further research study.

The MBIS is accredited with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Visit the website http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/business-information-systems-c6003?domestic=true

Overview

The course has a general form and also provides students with the option to specialise in archives and recordkeeping, and library and information science. Students may study the general form, complete either specialisation or combine both specialisations. The specialisations are not available to Malaysia, on-campus students.

Career opportunities

The highly flexible course structure opens up a variety of career opportunities. Graduates of the program will be expected to play leading professional roles in the field locally and overseas.

Please select a specialisation for more details:

Archives and recordkeeping

Records managers and archivists ensure that vital records of social and organisational activity are created, managed and made available to business for accountability, corporate memory, enterprise knowledge and cultural purposes. Work settings include most major private and public sector organisations, and archival institutions. Knowledge managers are concerned with developing strategies and processes for managing organisational knowledge and knowledge flows to achieve organisational goals, enhance performance and add value. A particular concern is developing an environment conducive to the creation, sharing and application of organisational knowledge, and systems that support these processes.

Business information systems studies

The general form of the course gives students the skills and knowledge to solve organisational information problems. The course caters for students who would like to be business analysts, information systems consultants and IT managers. Students will learn about information technology principles, systems analysis and design, enterprise architecture and systems, IT management and governance and project management. Students can select from a range of business information systems units to focus their studies in several areas of interest including business intelligence, user experience design and business process modelling.

Library and information science

Librarians and information specialists manage information and provide information services to clients in a wide range of contexts. They are concerned with analysing information needs, solving information problems, evaluating information sources, organising information, synthesising information into targeted information products, and training clients in the use of information products, services and systems. They work for commercial, government and community sector organisations, for information consultancies and as independent information brokers.

Course Structure

The course is structured in three parts, A, B and C. All students complete Part B (core studies). Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A (foundation studies) or Part C (advanced studies) or a combination of the two.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

PART A. Foundations for advanced business information systems
These units provide an introduction to information systems and business concepts, including system design and analysis as applied in professional practice. You will learn basic software programming and development concepts and database technology.

These units are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.

PART B. Core Master's study
These studies draw on best practices within business information systems to gain critical understanding of the theories and practice relating to information systems and business process design, IT strategy, IT governance, IT management and related issues. Your study will focus on project management as well as a choice of several areas of enterprise IT and information management practice.

PART C. Advanced practice
The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work in the broad realm of business information systems.

You have two options.

The first is a minor thesis research program, consisting of a research project and a research methods training unit. Students wishing to use this Masters course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this first option.

The second option is a program of coursework involving advanced study and an Industry experience studio project.

Students completing the combined specialisation Archives and Recordkeeping/Library and Information Science complete the industry experience program.

Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised honours degree in a discipline cognate to information systems, will receive credit for Part C, however, should they wish to complete a research project as part of the course they should consult with the course coordinator.

For more information visit the faculty website - http://www.study.monash/media/links/faculty-websites/information-technology

Find out how to apply here - http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/business-information-systems-c6003?domestic=true#making-the-application

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Course description

The Master Program in Business Information Systems enables students to take up challenging research in the interdisciplinary field with a major focus on information systems.
Information Systems becomes more and more important because of new and innovative technologies and more intensive networking of existing devices in particular. To develop, analyze, improve, and integrate these technologies in organizational structures, new methods and tools are required.
The field of Business Information Systems deals with the conception, development, implementation, and usage of computer-based information processing in organizations. To enable students to solve such problems and challenges, the Master Program of Business Information Systems in Hildesheim has five different specializations (listed below) which can be selected to get an individualized course profile.

Specializations

* Unternehmensmodellierung [Business Modeling]
* Dienstleistungsmanagement und -innovation [Servicemanagement and -innovation]
* Business Intelligence
* Gestaltung und Entwicklung betrieblicher Informationssysteme [Design and Development of Business Information Systems]
* Wissensmanagement [Knowledgemanagement]

Application and Admission

The program starts at University of Hildesheim in the beginning of April and October, every year.

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The innovative Business Information Systems course provides you with sound, theoretically informed and relevant knowledge of modern information and communications technologies and its use in key business and organisational settings. This course is open to those who have not studied management or technology based qualifications previously.

The course has been designed to:
- Respond to the increasing need for greater understanding of the role advanced information and communication technologies plays in the workplace and at home.

- Address the need for managers to understand and appreciate the strategic value of technologies and processes as a source of competitive advantage, both nationally and internationally.

- Enhance learning, employability and reflexivity in line with international educational standards.

Jointly taught by the School of Management and the Department of Computer Science, you will have the opportunity to study a range of elective units, including those from our world-renowned Information Security Group.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/management/coursefinder/mscbusinessinformationsystems.aspx

Why choose this course?

- This programme is a unique joint hybrid offer of courses run by the School of Management and the Department of Computer Science.

- You will explore up-to-date research into new ways of working, enabled by advanced information and communications technology and its profound impact on organisational life in general.

- Industry connections have informed the content and design of the course. External contacts in both academia and industry enrich the programme of seminars and guest lectures, which are an integral part of the course.

- Directly relevant to current business sectors and technology

- Our students come from an international community and with interdisciplinary qualifications and experience. They graduate as ‘hybrid’ managers, equally familiar with business and with technology aspects of modern organisations.

- Technological and business components are integrated to provide a sound, cross-discipline course.

- Teaching incorporates a mix of theory and practice in lectures and in practical, interactive sessions to provide you with the best grounding for post-study employment.

Department research and industry highlights

- There is a high degree of industry involvement in this course. Participant companies include Hewlett Packard, IBM, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car and Arup Communications. These companies take an active interest in the course and form part of the panel that judges end of year student industry project presentations. We also involve other companies as guest lecturers in our sessions and enable our students to get to use latest communication technologies from companies like Tandberg.

- Staff members teaching in this course have undertaken consultancy in the areas of e-government and green IT. They also conduct research in cloud computing, agent technology, artificial intelligence, human computer interaction and others, often involving the course students.

Course content and structure

You will study six core units and and one elective units in Management and one or two in Computer Science over the first two terms. In the third term you will complete a dissertation, giving you the opportunity to analyse a complex problem by combining knowledge of both management and information technologies.

On completion of the course graduates will have:

- the ability to evaluate critically current research and research methodologies within the fields of Management and Business Information Systems and Technologies

- the ability to apply critical methodologies in analysing Management and Business Information Systems and formulating effective solutions to relevant problems concerning IT systems planning and management

- the ability to make well-informed decisions when dealing with both tactical and and strategic issues of IT investment

- appropriate professional levels of attainment in information technology; production and analysis of quantitative data; oral and written communication of complex business information to both professional and non-specialist audiences; independent and team-working skills.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.

Employability & career opportunities

Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different business information systems-related areas, including:
- Business Analyst at Ford Motor Company

- Information Security Consultant at Barclays

- SAP HR Functional Consultant at Satyam Computer Services

- Business Analyst at Oracle

- Technology Consultant at Hewlett Packard

- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Applications Analyst at Whitbread

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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The MSc in Business Information Systems has been designed for ambitious students who are committed to pursuing a career on the interface between business and information technology. The programme is based on three pillars: practice orientation, innovation and internationality. The goal is to empower students to effectively exploit information to sustain the success of enterprises in a globalized, networked and digital economy.

The MSc in Business Information Systems is divided into three main module groups. Projects and a variety of electives allow students to design their course programme individually according to their preferred areas of interest.

Core Modules (24 ECTS)

The core modules cover essential topics in the area of business information systems and provide the essentials for the other module groups.

Research and Innovation Projects (30 ECTS)

In the research and innovation projects students apply concepts and
models learned in classes. Students are free to decide on the topics of their projects.

Electives (36 ECTS)

A variety of elective modules have been designed to provide students the choice best suited to their interests and career prospects.

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This course enables graduates in Business or Information Systems to further their knowledge and career opportunities in business-led information systems.

An interdisciplinary course, it provides technical knowledge of applied programming, computer security, financial and business data analysis, strategic management of information systems and project management.

Intermediate qualifications available:

• Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Masters level
• Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Masters level

Visit the website: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/postgraduate/next-year/business-information-systems

Course detail

• Study on an interdisciplinary course that combines information technology and business, with areas including applied programming, computer security, information management and security, financial analysis, data modelling and management, professional project management, business data analysis and data compliance and governance
• Explore state-of-the-art and emerging information system solutions
• Develop your analytical, evaluative and problem-solving skills, enabling you to propose, critique and justify potential information system solutions to business-oriented problems
• Gain a thorough understanding of the roles information systems play in the business environment as well as related ethical and legal considerations
• Benefit from valuable experience through our Academic into Business Computing (ABC) centre, opening up new career opportunities such as Business Analyst, Systems Analyst, Project Manager, IT consultant or IT/Business Lecturer.

Modules

• Applied Programming
• Data Modelling and Management
• Professional Project Management
• Managing Information Systems Strategy and Security Risks
• Emerging Technologies
• Computer and Network Security
• Financial Analysis
• Business Data Analysis
• MSc Project - Business Information Systems

Assessment

We employ a variety of assessment methods including written examinations, practical coursework assignments, problem worksheets, presentations and viva-voce (oral) examinations. This aims to ensure you are able to apply the knowledge gained to practical situations.

Careers

You will gain valuable skills for a career within Business Information Systems as well as those relevant for a much wider range of applications such as information analysis or decision support systems.

The unit ‘Professional Project Management’ requires you to work in a team to apply current project management and ethics methodology that embraces all of these knowledge areas in an integrated way while going through the stages of planning, execution and project control. You will work as part of a team, take responsibility and make autonomous decisions that impact on the project team performance.

The final project fosters independent and autonomous study. You will learn to take up the responsibility of conducting your project, typically derived from your own ideas, in collaboration with a dedicated member of the teaching staff as project supervisor.

Funding

For information on available funding, please follow the link: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/money/scholarships/pg

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow the link: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/course/applicationform

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Business information – and using it to increase profitability - is becoming an ever more essential part of running any organisation. This course will train you to design and develop information management systems and make the best use of them in the workplace – a highly sought-after skill in today’s competitive market.


Why study MSc Business Information Systems Management at Middlesex?

From revenue reports and customer data to figures used to forecast sales and analyse trends, the useful knowledge which organisations can gain from information systems is virtually limitless. Experts who can use the technology intelligently and creatively to add value to a business, combining technical ability with an understanding of an organisation’s needs, are in high demand. Our course is designed to meet that demand.

Our close links with industry have allowed us to develop a highly practical course, focusing on the skills employers tell us they want. We work with companies such as Microsoft and Siemens, and we are a Cisco local academy and a Xilinx university partner – meaning our students have access to the latest equipment, and our staff can make use of specialist teaching materials and workshops. Our award-winning technology centre has specialist network, software, digital and wireless laboratories equipped with industry-standard software and hardware.

Course highlights

- Our strong research culture helps our courses to stay innovative. Our research teams work on projects with leading companies in the UK and overseas, and the university is home to research centres including the Human Interactive Systems Laboratory, which explores the design of interactive technologies for education, training and medical use. We encourage our students to publish the research they carry out and many have gone on to present their work at conferences.
- Our course is accredited by the British Computer Society for Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status. This means that on graduation, you’ll have fulfilled the academic requirement for achieving chartered status, though you’ll need to complete further professional development. Our students are very much involved with the BCS and often attend seminars and other events - some have even sat on the society’s Quality Specialist Group committee.
- Guest lectures from software engineers and managers give students an insight into how information systems are used in industry. In the past we’ve had speakers from Microsoft, Virgin Atlantic and General Electric.
- Our Information Systems Quality Management module gives our course a unique slant – no other institution offers a similar module.
- You can start your studies in either September or January.

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This course is primarily concerned with preparing graduates to be able to effectively manage and lead the development of major information systems and/or e-Business systems resources. The subjects studied in the programme are based on the large body of up-to-date research and practitioner knowledge and experience of the staff in the School.

The curriculum includes the study of traditional and contemporary approaches to information systems and knowledge management in the business context; PRINCE2 project management; security systems management; business agility / creativity including the management of change, e-Business systems development and deployment, research methods and consultancy skills practice.

On completion of the course students should be able to demonstrate effective communication at a level appropriate to the audience, develop internet search skills, learn independently via a diverse range of resources, exercise initiative and personal responsibility and criticise and evaluate their own learning experiences. In addition, they will have developed sound knowledge and experience of PRINCE2 Project Management, which will be an attractive competency to many organisations.

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About he course

Aberystwyth University’s MA/Diploma in Information and Library Studies will equip you with the highly desirable skills employers need to manage their most valuable assets in our global ‘information economy’. You will be able to identify, organise, retrieve and make accessible information across paper, electronic and multimedia formats. This MA or Diploma will equip you to fulfil the essential role that companies and professional bodies need to compete effectively in a fast-moving national and international business environment. This course features a range of optional modules which allow you to direct your studies into areas which particularly fascinate you.

The MA and Diploma are accredited by both CILIP and the Institute of Information Scientists making it one of the best courses for professional practice.

The Department of Information Studies at Aberystwyth has an impressive track record. In the department’s forty years of teaching, we have produced some of the UK's, and indeed the world's, leading librarians and information professionals. Our alumni include two national librarians (Scotland and former Wales), the first black national librarian in South Africa, and the Director of the Bureau for Library and Information Services at the United Nations.

You can tailor your learning towards a wide range of career paths, such as children and schools work (with the Focus on the Child: Children's Literature and Schools Libraries and Learning Resources modules) and business services (including the modules on Business Information Services, and Management Information Systems).

This highly practical course is built around a variety of reports, essays, presentations, and case studies which will enable you to relate theoretical knowledge to the workplace. These challenges will also encourage you to improve your ICT, personal management and interpersonal skills, making you into a well-rounded, competent and highly employable individual.

This degree will suit you:

• If you wish to obtain a Masters degree or Diploma from one of the UK’s leading departments;
• If you wish to gain the knowledge and skills for professional work within Information and Library fields;
• If you wish to work in various types of information and library services or gain transferable skills for the pursuit of related careers such as media management and book publishing;
• If you wish to continue your studies to a more advanced level through undertaking further postgraduate level research.

Course structure and content

The course curriculum will focus on both theory and practice but you will be actively encouraged to draw upon any relevant experience that you have already acquired. Course visits to relevant organisations and guest lectures, will further enhance your exposure to professional practice.

Semester 1: core modules addressing the information society, the organisation and retrieval of information as well as the provision of information services.

Semester 2: core modules covering both organisational management and the management of collections.

There is also the opportunity to complement these core modules with an optional module which will enable you to develop an area of special interest. In addition to these taught modules, you will also be able to access a series of research training sessions that will help to prepare you for the 15,000 word Masters dissertation in Semester 3.

Semester 3: 15,000 word Masters dissertation

With staff guidance and support, here you will have to the opportunity to conduct a piece of independent research within the information and library field. Not only will this enable you to further develop a specialism, but you will also acquire a range of transferrable research skills that are highly desirable in today’s employment market.

Core modules:

Information Organisation and Retrieval
Information Services: Planning for Delivery
Information and Society
Collection Management
Studies in Management
Dissertation

Optional modules:

Digital Information: Management for Access and Preservation
Rare Books and Special Collections
Records and Information Governance

Contact time

Contact time is 6-10 hours a week during the first two semesters. In semester three you will arrange your level of contact time with your assigned dissertation supervisor.

Assessment

The taught part of the course, which is 120 credits, is delivered and assessed through lectures, student seminars, practical exercises, case studies and course work. Successful completion of 60 credits of taught modules makes you eligible for a Postgraduate Certificate, 120 credits gives eligibility for a CILIP accredited Postgraduate Diploma, or successful completion of your postgraduate dissertation leads to an accredited Master’s degree.

Accreditation

The Masters degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and the Institute of Information Scientists. Graduates will have a qualification which is recognised for admission to the Register of Chartered Librarians (subject to the Institute's chartership regulations).

Employability

Every aspect of the Aberystwyth University’s Masters in Information and Library Studies programme is designed to enhance your employability. Successful completion of this degree is in itself certain to do so by building your CV; but more significant is the hugely enhanced array of knowledge, abilities and skills with which you will graduate.

As a graduate, you will possess a wealth of subject-specific expertise, such as a thorough understanding of how ethical, legal, and social factors affect the flow of information; information literacy and the effect of 'information deprivation'; and the ongoing challenges of organising, storing, and retrieving information. You will also be confident in the use of system and their tools which you will use to order, store and retrieve information. These skills, which are fundamental to the subject, are applicable across a diverse array of workplaces. Likewise, the study skills, research methods and interpersonal awareness that you will learn within the context of study can be applied in any place of work where people and systems meet. In such situations, you will be at a tremendous advantage over your competitors.

As information is increasingly recognised as a core resource for organisations of all kinds, the range of posts to which our graduates progress widens all the time. In addition to the traditional library and information service sector, our graduates also go on to work as Information Officers, Information Managers, Information Systems Officers, Information Analysts and Computer Systems Officers. The most prestigious of our alumni include two national librarians (Scotland and former Wales), the newly appointed first black national librarian in South Africa, and the Director of the Bureau for Library and Information Services at the United Nations. In addition, companies which acknowledge the value of information also benefit from our graduates’ information skills when applied to the areas of management, sales, production or marketing. Your personal adaptability, coupled with the critical information and library skills, will make you a strong candidate for any post where excellence in organisations and systems management is prized.

Study in a practical context

The content of this MA/Diploma is weighted in favour of mastering the practical applications of Information and Library Studies. The University of Aberystwyth boasts library resources which are amongst the best in Europe. The Department’s specialist Thomas Parry Library is one of the leading libraries for Information Studies. As a student, you will have access to this exceptional resource where you can apply your learning in activities which will convert the purely academic theory into the proven know-how of experience.

In addition to this, you will also have access to the University's Hugh Owen Library which houses more than 700,000 volumes and subscribes to more than 3,500 current periodicals. Also, the National Library for Wales next to the campus is one of the UK's five copyright libraries housing more than 6,000,000 volumes. In addition to the University's computing facilities, you will also have access to the Department's own extensive computer workstation rooms, all housed in a purpose built Department on the attractive Llanbadarn campus.

Skills in management of systems and stakeholders

The MA/Diploma is designed to give you a broad knowledge of a range of transferable skills that you can apply in a variety of research interests, particularly in your Masters dissertation. A significant proportion of postgraduate jobs demand management abilities; this course aims to support your progression into professional employment beyond by including such training.

You will become well versed in contemporary management theory and practice of relevance to the management of the relationship between information and organisations. You will learn to analyse and control how information is transmitted to users, including access to information and measurement of use. The monitoring an analysis of data is crucial to the success of business organisations and initiatives. Mastering it will enable you to manage within a changing and turbulent environment and provide you with an understanding of the inter-relationship of the organisation with its customers and stakeholders.

As business relies on meeting needs, this training will be a significant advantage to you when you enter the jobs market.

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Whether you're looking for a broad-ranging business degree or the ability to become a specialist in key business discipline, the Master of Business will develop your professional expertise and advance your business career.

An innovative and industry-focused course, the Master of Business has a strong emphasis personal development, ethics, corporate governance and social responsibility. A key feature of the course is the personal development program which will enhance your leadership and interpersonal skills and transform the way you operate in professional contexts.

The course addresses all facets of business development, and provides a solid foundation for those without business experience. It connects research and practice to make you a stronger communicator and problem-solver, and will broaden your understanding of management and business ethics.

As part of the course you can build your knowledge and extend your expertise in one of the following specialisations:

Business, ethics and society
Commercialisation
Information technology
Law and responsible business
Managing human capital
Marketing
Project management
Quantitative business analysis
Risk management
Supply chain management
Sustainability

The flexible structure of the Master of Business enables you select units that give you a broadly applicable business qualification. Alternatively, you may prefer to choose one of the listed specialisations, effectively tailoring your studies to your particular interest or career aspirations.

The strong reputation of the Master of Business means our graduates are highly sought after, both in Australia and overseas. Graduates of the course pursue careers across the spectrum of business, including roles in human resources, management, marketing, science and commercialisation, project management, risk management or logistics.

Visit the website http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/business-b6005?domestic=true

Overview

Please select a specialisation for more details:

Business, ethics and society

Business, ethics and society investigates and activates the role of business as ethical and social leaders. The specialisation equips students with an understanding of the theoretical foundations and practical issues of internal and external ethical and societal forces that businesses face, respond to and activate. Business, ethics and society especially develops students' critical engagement and leadership capabilities to manage diversity, inclusiveness, and work and life. These capacities are developed within a strong context of ethics and corporate responsibility, and the domestic and international environments in that organisations operate. The specialisation prepares students for active managerial roles within organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Commercialisation

Commercialisation is the process or cycle of introducing a new product or production method into the market. The commercialisation process or cycle can be applied in many different contexts, including: art, design, and architecture; arts and humanities; business and economics; education; engineering; information technology; law; medicine, nursing and health sciences; pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences; and science and technology. The specialisation provides a comprehensive business-focused setting to help students develop the necessary business and entrepreneurial acumen and commercialisation knowledge to succeed. Commercialisation especially develops students' new venture finance, patenting, innovation, and wealth pathways skills and knowledge. The specialisation prepares students, particularly facilitated by the commercialisation project, for commercialisation and entrepreneurial roles within organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Information technology

The information technology discipline allows students to build upon the core program with six units dealing with current practices and emerging strategies for the application of information technology in business management. Students are introduced to management of the creation, storage, recall and dissemination of business records within organisation-wide frameworks and they will gain a high-level of understanding of the processes of project management. Units are taught by the Faculty of Information Technology.

Law and responsible business

The fortunes of a business can quickly turn around if it does not pay proper attention to the laws that regulate its organisation and activities. The law provides the framework for all aspects of business from the internal management of business organisations to their relationships with clients, consumers and the public. The units in this specialisation provide students with an understanding of the legal framework within which business operates and the fundamental laws that regulate business activities and transactions, with particular emphasis on how legal and social responsibility considerations should impact business decision-making.

Managing human capital

Managing human capital is the recognition of people as valuable contributors, and the systems and operations for investing in people to enhance their contributions. The specialisation equips students with an understanding of the theoretical foundations and practical issues of managing and developing people within an international context. Managing human capital develops students' strategic and operational people management knowledge and skills, particularly for diverse, inclusive, and productive workplaces. This specialisation prepares students for careers in human resource management, industrial relations, consulting, public sector management, and general people management roles.

Marketing

Marketing is a fun, dynamic, complex activity (and discipline) that focuses on providing value to both organisations and consumers. Very simply, marketing is about matching what an organisation has (or can do) with someone who wants it. Marketing is about selling, it is about advertising, but it also so much more. The study and practice of the 'so much more' is what makes marketing so interesting!

In today's dynamic and global business environment, marketing permeates all areas of operations and forms an integral element of business growth and achievement. Highly qualified, innovative and international marketing practitioners, supported by well researched and pertinent marketing knowledge, are increasingly in demand.

Project management

A project is a collection of activities and resources undertaken to achieve planned objectives, which could be defined in terms of time, quality and cost or economic outcomes. Project management is the process of ensuring defined goals are achieved in relation to a project. This specialisation provides graduates with the knowledge, technology and processes employed in project management that allow them to pursue such professional roles in industry and government. This specialisation will provide graduates with an understanding and ability to apply the theories and concepts of project management, and will assist in a variety of roles in industry or government. Graduates will be able to analyse requirements for the management of given projects, identify the applicable methods and develop innovative project management strategies and processes.

Quantitative business analysis

Students will be provided with advanced quantitative skills required to carry out statistical analysis in business, economics and finance. They will also develop skills to report on the findings of their quantitative analysis.

Risk management

Risk is defined by AS/NZS ISO 31000: 2009 as 'the effect of uncertainty on objectives'. The management of risk is an evolving discipline that builds on current knowledge in a diverse range of activities. The risk management specialisation focuses on operational and financial risk in today's commercial world. It provides extended skills in the strategic and process applications of risk management and prepares for the increasingly complex risk management issues faced in many areas of business and government. It prepares graduates for roles that are required to address business, insurance and financial risk. The range of units undertaken will greatly assist those seeking employment in managerial positions where risk management is an expanding field of practice.

Supply chain management

Supply chain management involves the coordination of people, organisations, technologies and processes to ensure optimal supply of products and services. This specialisation develops students' capacity to design and optimise supply chains, and to manage them to achieve strategic business outcomes. Supply chain management enhances students' skills and knowledge in innovation and improvement, business optimisation, services and operations management, and sustainable operations management. The specialisation prepares students for careers in supply chain management roles in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Sustainability

The sustainability specialisation focuses on current practices and emerging strategies for improving corporate sustainability, particularly in social, economic and environmental domains. The units within this specialisation will provide insights into sustainability from the perspectives of governance, ethics and management. This specialisation is suited to those who want to enhance their knowledge and skills in both business and sustainability issues and who seek employment in environmental governance or corporate sustainability management. It will also suit those who want to enable organisational and individual change in support of sustainability.

For more information visit the faculty website - http://www.study.monash/media/links/faculty-websites/business-and-economics

Find out how to apply here - http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/business-b6005?domestic=true#making-the-application

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With the MSc Business Systems Analysis and Design course at City you can unravel a business system and prepare to work as an analyst within the industry.

Who is it for?

The course is for motivated students who enjoy working within high-pressure environments often to tight deadlines. You will need a good undergraduate degree as well as the tenacity and patience to understand business systems and the ability to adapt to constant change.

Objectives

There is a common misconception in building business systems: that users know their requirements. Often they don’t. This postgraduate Business Systems Analysis programme has been designed to address this problem.

The MSc in Business Systems Analysis and Design is not about developing algorithms and coding. We work with technology but we are not technicians because we know that to become an IT consultant or business analyst, you need to understand the disparate areas that make up the discipline. This is a Masters degree where you will design a business system; in order to do this you will unpick the information infrastructure to find out if the system works.

Analysing a business system is a process that demands constant re-evaluation. By investigating system requirements, considering how information flows through it, and exploring the pitfalls that emerge within user hierarchies, at City we examine the business system as a whole. This approach is essential to respond to rapid business change.

These are some of the questions the course poses:
-What is the right system to address the problem?
-Does the system meet the needs of the business now and will it be able to adapt in the future?
-How is information flowing within the system?
-How will users interact with the system throughout the project life cycle?

Placements

As a student on this programme you can undertake an internship in the July to December period, for up to six months. You can work under a client’s direction for all or part of this time. Many students use the internship as an opportunity to carry out a specific project which forms the context for their final dissertation.

One current student is working within a user experience design company to investigate how scents affect the emotional perception of digital fruit images displayed on a desktop service.

Academic facilities

As a student on the MSc Business Systems Analysis and Design course you will have access to dedicated labs and use specialist software such as SAP. At City we also have access to Microsoft Dynamics ERP software to support the enterprise information system module. Microsoft Dynamics is an industry-based CRM system. As part of the University of London you can also become a member of Senate House Library for free with your student ID card.

Teaching and learning

We provide a diversity of teaching approaches so you get a diversity of learning experiences in the form of traditional lectures, live classroom demonstrations, tutorials, laboratories, and TV studio role-playing. We encourage you to engage with the material in an active way. As a postgraduate student, we expect you to take responsibility for your own learning and use non-timetabled hours for your own private study or group interactions.

You will be assessed in a variety of ways from coursework and laboratory work to presentations, examinations and a project dissertation. By successfully completing eight taught modules and the research project you will be awarded a Master of Science (MSc) degree. All modules in this course are supported by Moodle, City's online learning environment.

The course is available full time (12 months) and part time (up to 28 months - two days a week). The Department is aware that this involves considerable commitment from part-time students, and we try to be as flexible as we can so you can successfully combine your work and study.

By completing eight modules and the dissertation you will be awarded 180 credits and a Masters level qualification. Alternatively, if you do not complete the dissertation but have successfully completed the eight modules, you will be awarded 120 credits and a postgraduate diploma. If you successfully complete four modules (60 credits) you will be awarded a postgraduate certificate.

Modules

There are six core modules and four electives from which you can choose two topics. Practical work is emphasised throughout the degree programme to develop your understanding and skills, which is strengthened by interactive teamwork. The course has an excellent track record in producing employable hybrid IT/business professionals.

In the industry you need to communicate your expertise in lay terms. The modules give you experience in working on group projects so you can manage roles and responsibilities and build a set of professional values. The core content will also give you the ability to set strategies, manage information flows and deal with problems such as overload and risk.

The course develops:
-Skills in business awareness, design and consultancy to facilitate the alignment of IT systems and services to business objectives
-The specialist understanding of theoretical principles in business systems analysis and design.
-Technical skills, through practical laboratory work, so you can apply your knowledge of IT and how it affects business competitiveness.

The course will give you specialist knowledge ranging from business systems requirements analysis and design, software systems engineering, data modelling to business intelligence, project management and business engineering with ERP solutions.

Core modules
-Business engineering with ERP solutions INM342 (15 credits)
-Business intelligence & analytics INM451 (15 credits)
-Practical business systems consultancy INM353 (15 credits)
-Project management INM372 (15 credits)
-Research methods and professional issues INM373 (15 credits)
-Systems specification INM312 (15 credits)

Elective modules - choose from one module in the first term from the following:
-User-centred design INM355 (15 credits)
-Information and knowledge management INM351 (15 credits)

Choose from one module in the second term from the following:*
-Databases INM343 (15 credits)
-Information Retrieval (IR) INM351 (15 credits)

*Note: Databases is compulsory for students who do not have prior knowledge at the discretion of the programme director.

Career prospects

As a City graduate you leave with front-line knowledge. With insight from major areas of research including software engineering, human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence, you will be able to assimilate your skills within the industry and offer a future-focused mindset.

From Unilever to HMV and from Accenture to ITN, City graduates are employed across sectors in consultancy companies, software houses, the public services, telecommunications, multinational manufacturers, and large retailers. The programme will help you build a strong peer network as well as a solid network of contacts for your continued career development.

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This programme delivers a thorough grounding in current technologies and trends, offering comprehensive training in the fundamentals of the subject.

It combines high-quality education with rigorous intellectual challenges, enabling you to understand the principles of knowledge management, decision-making and design in process systems and business-information technologies.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

The MSc Information and Process Systems Engineering programme is aimed at graduates of traditional engineering, science and related disciplines.

Graduates from non-IT or related disciplines tend to be ill-prepared for the information and knowledge-related challenges and demands of today’s business environments.

We offer a wide selection of modules spanning process engineering, information systems, business and management. All taught modules are delivered by qualified experts in the topics and academic staff, assisted by specialist external lecturers.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

This programme is studied full-time over one academic year. Part-time students must study at least two taught technical modules per academic year. The programme consists of eight taught modules and a dissertation. The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
-Information Security Management
-Optimisation and Decision-Making
-Process Modelling and Simulation
-Technology, Business and Research Seminars
-Database Systems
-Knowledge-Based Systems and Artificial Intelligence
-Process and Energy Integration
-Process Systems Design
-Supply Chain Management
-Biomass Processing Technology
-Process Safety and Operation Integrity
-Process and Energy Integration
-Transition to a Low Carbon Economy
-Dissertation

FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT

Modules related to the different groups are taught by a total of six full-time members of staff and a number of visiting lecturers.

An extensive library is available for individual study. It stocks more than 85,000 printed books and e-books, and more than 1,400 (1,100 online) journal titles, all in the broad area of engineering. The library support can be extended further through inter-library loans.

As part of their learning experience, students have at their disposal a wide range of relevant software needed to support the programme material dissertation projects.

In recent years, this work included the design of various knowledge-based and business systems on the internet, the application of optimisation algorithms, and semantic web applications, as well as modelling of process systems.

Numerous laboratory facilities across the Faculty and the University are also available for those opting for technology-based projects, such as the process engineering facility, a control and robotics facility and signal processing labs.

The work related to the MSc dissertation can often be carried out in parallel with, and in support of, on-going research. In the past, several graduates have carried on their MSc research to a PhD programme.

RESEARCH

Process integration and systems analysis for sustainability of resources and energy efficiency are carried out within our well-established Centre for Process and Information Systems Engineering (PRISE).

CAREER PROSPECTS

Engineers and scientists are increasingly expected to have skills in information systems engineering and decision support systems alongside their main technical and/or scientific expertise.

Graduates of these programmes will be well prepared to help technology-intensive organisations make important decisions in respect of vast amounts of information, by adopting, combining, implementing and executing the right technologies.

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME

The primary aims are achieved through a balanced, multi-disciplinary curriculum with a core of information systems engineering modules and decision-making and process systems engineering modules as well as a flexible element by way of elective modules that permit students to pursue an element of specialisation relevant to their backgrounds, interests and/or career aspirations.

An integrated approach is taken so as to provide a coherent view that explores the interrelationships between the various components of the programme.

The programme draws on the stimulus of recent research activities in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. The programme provides the students with the basis for developing their own approach to learning and personal development.

PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding
-The sources, technologies, systems, performance, and applications in information and process engineering
-Approaches to the assessment of information and process technologies
-Decision making in complex systems
-Optimisation and operations research
-Technical systems modelling
-Databases and data protection
-Representation of design processes
-Systematic approaches to observing organisational data security processes
-Understanding research issues
-Literature studies and research planning
-Experimental planning
-Communication of research outcomes
-Design of decision-support systems
-Development of databases, ontologies and agent-based architectures
-Information technology and security
-Process modelling and simulation

Intellectual / cognitive skills
-Select, define and focus upon an issue at an appropriate level
-Collect and digest knowledge and information selectively and independently to support a particular scientific or engineering enquiry
-Develop and apply relevant and sound methodologies for analysing the issue, developing solutions, recommendations and logical conclusions, and for evaluating the results of own or other’s work

Professional practical skills
-Assess the available information and process and their interaction
-Design and select appropriate collection and storage, and optimise and evaluate system design
-Apply generic systems engineering methods such as conceptual design and optimization to facilitate the assessment and development of information, information security and process technologies and systems

Key / transferable skills
-Preparation and delivery of communication and presentation
-Report and essay writing
-Use of general and professional computing tools
-Collaborative working with team members
-Organizing and planning of work
-Research into new areas, particularly in the aspect of literature review and skills acquisition

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.

In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.

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About the course

Aberystwyth University’s MA/Diploma in Information and Library Studies by distance learning will equip you with the highly desirable skills employers need to manage their most valuable assets in our global ‘information economy’. You will be able to identify, organise, retrieve and make accessible information across paper, electronic and multimedia formats. This MA or Diploma will equip you to fulfil the essential role that companies and professional bodies need to compete effectively in a fast-moving national and international business environment.

The MA and Diploma are accredited by both CILIP and the Institute of Information Scientists making it one of the best courses for professional practice.

The Department of Information Studies at Aberystwyth has an impressive track record. In the department’s forty years of teaching, we have produced some of the UK's, and indeed the world's, leading librarians and information professionals. Our alumni include two national librarians (Scotland and former Wales), the first black national librarian in South Africa, and the Director of the Bureau for Library and Information Services at the United Nations.

This course features an extensive list of optional modules which allow you to direct your studies into areas which particularly fascinate you.

As a Distance Learner in employment, you should find that your work experience enhances your studies, while your studies enable you to reflect on your work experience in new ways. Your studies can also help you to promote the best current practice in your workplace.

Although this postgraduate programme is primarily designed to meet the needs of those who wish to work in various types of information and library services, you can exploit the transferable skills mastered during the programme to pursue careers in related professions (e.g. media management and book publishing), or continue your studies to a more advanced level through undertaking further postgraduate level research.

This degree will suit you:

•If you wish to obtain a Masters degree or Diploma from one of the UK’s leading departments;
•If you wish to gain the knowledge and skills for professional work within Information and Library fields;
•If you wish to work in various types of information and library services or gain transferable skills for the pursuit of related careers such as media management and book publishing;
•If you wish to continue your studies to a more advanced level through undertaking further postgraduate level research.

Course content

Core modules:

Collection Management
Dissertation
Information Organisation and Retrieval
Information Services: Planning for Delivery
Information and Society
Research in the Profession
Studies in Management

Optional modules:

Archive Management: Principles & Techniques
Digital Information : Discovery to Delivery
Digital Preservation
Focus on the Child : Reading and Libraries
Knowledge and Information Architecture
Music Librarianship
Publishing and the Web:Exploring New Technologies
Rare Books Librarianship i
Rare Books Librarianship ii
Records and Information Governance

Contact time

Contact time can be arranged remotely with your tutor. Attendance at at least two study schools is required and these provide the main contact.

Assessment

The programme is assessed on the basis of coursework in Part One and the dissertation in Part Two. Successful completion of Part One allows the award of a Diploma. The subsequent successful submission of your research dissertation (Part Two) leads to the award of an MA.

Accreditation

The Masters degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and the Institute of Information Scientists. Graduates will have a qualification which is recognised for admission to the Register of Chartered Librarians (subject to the Institute's chartership regulations). Please note that the Diploma qualification is recognised as an accredited course.

Employability

Every aspect of the Aberystwyth University’s Masters in Information and Library Studies programme is designed to enhance your employability. Successful completion of this degree is in itself certain to do so by building your CV; but more significant is the hugely enhanced array of knowledge, abilities and skills with which you will graduate.

As a graduate, you will possess a wealth of subject-specific expertise, such as a thorough understanding of how ethical, legal, and social factors affect the flow of information; information literacy and the effect of 'information deprivation'; and the ongoing challenges of organising, storing, and retrieving information. You will also be confident in the use of system and their tools which you will use to order, store and retrieve information. These skills, which are fundamental to the subject, are applicable across a diverse array of workplaces. Likewise, the study skills, research methods and interpersonal awareness that you will learn within the context of study can be applied in any place of work where people and systems meet. In such situations, you will be at a tremendous advantage over your competitors.

As information is increasingly recognised as a core resource for organisations of all kinds, the range of posts to which our graduates progress widens all the time. In addition to the traditional library and information service sector, our graduates also go on to work as Information Officers, Information Managers, Information Systems Officers, Information Analysts and Computer Systems Officers. The most prestigious of our alumni include two national librarians (Scotland and former Wales), the first black national librarian in South Africa, and the Director of the Bureau for Library and Information Services at the United Nations. In addition, companies which acknowledge the value of information also benefit from our graduates’ information skills when applied to the areas of management, sales, production or marketing. Your personal adaptability, coupled with the critical information and library skills, will make you a strong candidate for any post where excellence in organisations and systems management is prized.

Study in a Practical Context

The content of this MA/Diploma is weighted in favour of mastering the practical applications of Information and Library Studies. The University of Aberystwyth boasts library resources which are amongst the best in Europe. The Department’s specialist Thomas Parry Library is one of the leading libraries for Information Studies. As a student, you will have access to this exceptional resource where you can apply your learning in activities which will convert the purely academic theory into the proven know-how of experience.

In addition to this, you will also have access to the University's Hugh Owen Library which houses more than 700,000 volumes and subscribes to more than 3,500 current periodicals. Also, the National Library for Wales next to the campus is one of the UK's five copyright libraries housing more than 6,000,000 volumes. In addition to the University's computing facilities, you will also have access to the Department's own extensive computer workstation rooms, all housed in a purpose built Department on the attractive Llanbadarn campus.

Skills in Management of Systems and Stakeholders

The MA/Diploma is designed to give you a broad knowledge of a range of transferable skills that you can apply in a variety of research interests, particularly in your Master’s dissertation. A significant proportion of postgraduate jobs demand management abilities; this course aims to support your progression into professional employment beyond by including such training.

You will become well versed in contemporary management theory and practice of relevance to the management of the relationship between information and organisations. You will learn to analyse and control how information is transmitted to users, including access to information and measurement of use. The monitoring an analysis of data is crucial to the success of business organisations and initiatives. Mastering it will enable you to manage within a changing and turbulent environment and provide you with an understanding of the inter-relationship of the organisation with its customers and stakeholders.

As business relies on meeting needs, this training will be a significant advantage to you when you enter the jobs market.

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Are you looking for a Masters-level qualification that will open doors to jobs and promotions in the field of information science? This course combines core modules in information science with options that range across the sub-disciplines of data analytics, library management and records management.

The core modules cover topics such as human information behaviour, interactive information retrieval, user-centred design and persuasive technologies. You will solve problems from a number of perspectives: as a developer of rigorous technical solutions, as a manager who wants to achieve a profitable and sustainable advantage, and as an ethical and socially aware information professional who understands the role of information within the wider social context.

For your optional modules, you have the flexibility to pick and choose from different sub-disciplines of information science. If you are sure that you want to focus on just one sub-discipline, we offer a suite of more focused courses: MSc Information Science (Data Analytics), MSc Information Science (Library Management), and MSc Information Science (Records Management).

This course can also be completed through distance learning - for more information, please view this web-page: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/information-science-msc-dl-dtdinz6/

Accreditation

All of Northumbria’s information science postgraduate courses are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, with our Records Management pathway also accredited by the Archives and Records Association. These accreditations make our courses stand out and enhance their credibility and currency among employers, and are also crucial for progressing to Chartership status once qualified.

CILIP assessors particularly commended the way in which the programme had been developed to take account of the changing requirements of employers and feedback from students. The resulting course was particularly strong in the digital elements of information work, and in developing students’ transferable skills.

Learn From The Best

Our teaching staff include cutting-edge researchers whose specialisms overlap with the content of this course, helping ensure that teaching is right up-to-date. Specialisms include big data, data mining, decision-making, digital literacy, information behaviour, information retrieval systems, recommender systems, and the link between information science and cognitive psychology.

Our eminent academics have written books that regularly appear on reading lists for information science courses at universities all over the world. They also work as external examiners and reviewers of courses at other UK and non-UK universities.

Our course is delivered through the Northumbria iSchool, which is one of only six iSchools in the UK. A hallmark of an iSchool is an understanding that expertise in all forms of information is required for progress in science, business, education and culture. This expertise must cover the uses and users of information, the nature of information itself, as well as information technologies and their applications.

Our course is delivered through the Northumbria iSchool, which is one of only six iSchools in the UK. A hallmark of an iSchool is an understanding that expertise in all forms of information is required for progress in science, business, education and culture. This expertise must cover the uses and users of information, the nature of information itself, as well as information technologies and their applications.

Teaching And Assessment

Our teaching is linked to what you want to learn and also to what you need to learn in order to achieve greater success in information science. Our long established relationship with employers ensures that you receive the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge to bring innovation, relevance, ethical sensitivity and currency to all you do. There is an emphasis on learning by doing; coursework will include projects, portfolios of work, reports and presentations as well as essays. All this helps you to make sense of the subject, getting a clear understanding of important concepts and theories.

While some assessments contribute to your final grade, there are other assessments that are provided purely to guide your progress and reinforce your learning. You can expect both your tutors and your peers to provide useful comments and feedback throughout the course.

Module Overview
KC7013 - Database Modelling (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7020 - Information Organisation and Access (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7021 - Statistics and Business Intelligence (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7022 - Information Systems and Technologies (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7023 - Research Methods and Professional Practice (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7024 - User Behaviour and Interaction Design (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7025 - The library professional: management, leadership and outreach (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7026 - Masters Dissertation (Core, 60 Credits)
KC7027 - Information and digital literacy (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7038 - Recordkeeping Practice: Processes, systems and tools (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7039 - Recordkeeping Principles: Theory and Concepts (Optional, 20 Credits)

Learning Environment

Northumbria uses a range of technologies to enhance your learning, with tools including web-based self-guided exercises, online tests with feedback, videos and tutorials. These tools support and extend the material that is delivered during lectures, and are available anywhere anytime. Group work and peer interaction feature prominently in our learning and teaching, this reflects the practices you’re likely to encounter within the working environment.

You will have 24/7 term-time access to Northumbria’s library, which has over half a million print books as well as half a million electronic books available online. Our library was ranked #2 in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey for 2015 and, since 2010, it has been accredited by the UK Government for Customer Service Excellence.

The University has advanced search software and database tools, including NORA Power Search that allows you to use a single search box to get fast results from across a wide and reliable range of academic resources. The use of such software and tools is an important aspect of our information science courses.

Research-Rich Learning

In fast-moving fields like information science it’s particularly important for teaching to take account of the latest research. Northumbria is helping to push out the frontier of knowledge in a range of areas including:
-Digital consumers, behaviours and literacy
-Digital socio-technical design
-Digital libraries, archives and records

As a student, you will be heavily engaged in analysing recent insights from the field of information science. You will undertake a major individual study that will require you to evaluate relevant literature as well as to develop your ideas within the context of existing research. Your study will be tailored to your particular interests but the underlying theme will be the relationships between information, people and technology. Many of our students publish their own research and present at professional and academic conferences, before or soon after graduating.

Give Your Career An Edge

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. This reflects the relevance of the curriculum, which is informed by contact with employers and close professional links. The following features of the programme were particularly commended by CILIP assessors:
-The way in which the programme had been developed to take account of the changing requirements of employers and feedback from students. The resulting course was particularly strong in the digital elements of information work, and in developing students’ transferable skills;
-The strong relationships with local employers and the active contribution which the department makes to the regional professional network;
-The areas of good practice reflected in the programme, such as the high level of support provided to distance learners, including dedicated library provision, and the use of innovative approaches to assessment.

The topics and activities in the course have a strong emphasis on employability. For example you will develop skills in how to analyse, monitor and evaluate user behaviour. You will also learn how to evaluate and use a range of appropriate technologies for solving problems and supporting decision-making in organisations. Your knowledge and practical skills will help you take a lead on research-informed approaches that give organisations and professionals a valuable advantage.

Your Future

Information science has an exciting future as massive increases in processing power transform the accessibility and utility of data. With an MSc Information Science, you can play a full and rewarding role in that future.

Employers are looking for information professionals who can develop new insights through mastery of their subject and critical scholarship. With your Masters qualification, you will be equipped to make a difference, advance your practice and make well-balanced judgements. You could work for a wide range of employers in the public, private and third sector, who need information scientists or you could consider freelance roles as a consultant. Your Masters qualification can also form the basis for further postgraduate studies at a higher level.

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Information systems are spreading into every sphere of business and non-business organisations. They herald the dawn of a new 'Information Age' in which information, information systems and information technology are recognised as key organisational resources and in which management activities become more information-intensive. Yet the majority of information systems - including e-government, e-commerce, and e-development systems - are under-performing or are failures.

A key cause of this problem is the gap of knowledge, of skills, of culture and of language that exists between functional managers and information systems professionals.

The aim of this Masters degree is to close that gap by training individual staff to become 'hybrid managers'. Hybrid managers are those who understand both the job of management in its organisational setting and the role, management and jargon of information, information systems and information technology. These individuals will be in a strong position to lead the successful development and implementation of new information systems in their organisations.

At the end of the programme, participants will have been provided with:
-Conceptual frameworks to understand the role of management of information, of information technology and of information systems in organisations.
-New knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development implementation and management of information systems.
-New knowledge and skills to help in the effective management and change of organisations.

Special features

An overseas field visit is an integral part of the programme. The cost of the visit is included in the programme fee. In addition, participants may undertake research visits to organisations applying information systems in practice in the UK. Field courses may be scheduled at any point during the twelve-month period of the degree programme and this may include during University vacations. Successful applicants are expected to be available to attend.

Countries to be visited may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice. The Global Development Institute (GDI) cannot guarantee that where visas are required for the field course, they will be granted. GDI will ensure that, in the unlikely event this occurs, affected students are not academically disadvantaged.

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 24 months. There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director first and seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off. Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Career opportunities

This programme is designed to develop two groups: functional managers who wish to take greater control over, and make a more direct contribution to, change in their organisations via the development and implementation of information systems; and information systems professionals who wish to improve the success rate of the information systems they develop or use, and who may also wish to upgrade their management skills and knowledge.

It will be relevant to those with career trajectories in the private, public, and NGO sectors, and it is particularly appropriate for those working in or with newly developed, transitional and developing countries. Our graduates have an impressive career record in the UK or in their home countries.

GDI has a large and diverse postgraduate population, with 85% of our students drawn from outside the UK, particularly from Africa, Asia and Western Europe, but also reaching out to Latin America, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific. Graduates from the MSc M&IS programme have gone on to careers that typically incorporate a mix of management, information systems and information technology responsibilities such as business analysis, change management, and e-business and e-government roles with public, private and NGO sector organisations. Others have pursued further academic study leading to a PhD and academic/research consulting careers. Since its foundation, GDI has trained over 7000 individuals from 170 different countries.

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With City’s MSc in Information systems and technology you will develop the skills to manage an organisation's IT infrastructure.

Who is it for?

This postgraduate Information Systems and Technology course is for students who have a keen interest in both information system development and information management. Students are either in the early stages of their career or have significant work experience in the area and wish to formalise their knowledge.

Students will have curiosity about information and knowledge and will want to learn about managing them in organisations, together with the requisite design and technical skills to meet business requirements.

Objectives

Information systems are a key part of an organisation's IT infrastructure. IT professionals who can manage a business's information resources, and understand the technologies and systems that enable this are key to a modern enterprise's success.

Our postgraduate Information Systems and Technology degree will equip you with the skills to develop and maintain information systems that align with the strategic needs of any organisation.

Rather than focusing on technical issues only, the course combines technological fundamentals with a systematic understanding of IT's broader business contexts, including human and organisational factors. The course exploits City's research expertise in both computing and information management to produce effective professionals with a broad understanding of IT underpinned by a firm grasp of key technical concerns.

Placements

The School of Mathematics, Computer Science& Engineering has been delivering placements in the IT industry for over 20 years.

Academic facilities

The School's computer science laboratories are equipped with the latest up-to-date hardware and software. From Oracle’s leading commercial object-relational database server to PCs with state-of-the-art NVidia GPUs for computer graphics, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP etc you will have access to an array of tools to support your learning.

Teaching and learning

The teaching and learning methods we use mean that your specialist knowledge and autonomy increase as you progress through each module. Active researchers and professionals guide your progress in the areas of information systems and management, project management and business processes.

Taught modules are delivered through a series of lectures together with either tutorials or laboratory sessions. Tutorials help you develop the skills to apply the concepts we have covered in the lectures. We normally achieve this through practical problem solving contexts or case studies. Laboratory sessions give you the opportunity to apply concepts and techniques using state-of-the-art software, environments and development tools.

City’s online learning environment Moodle contains resources for each of the modules from lecture notes and lab materials, to coursework feedback, model answers, and an interactive discussion forum.

Assessment

We expect you to study independently and complete coursework for each module. Modules are assessed through a combination of written examinations, coursework, group work and presentations.

The individual project is a substantial task. It is your opportunity to develop an autonomous research-related topic under the supervision of an academic member of staff. This is the moment when you can apply your learning to solve a real-world information system or information management problem. At the end of the project you submit a substantial MSc project report, which becomes the mode of assessment for this part of the programme.

Students successfully completing eight modules and the dissertation will be awarded 180 credits and a masters level qualification. Alternatively, students who do not complete the dissertation but have successfully completed eight modules will be awarded 120 credits and a postgraduate diploma. Successful completion of four modules (60 credits) will lead to the award of a postgraduate certificate.

Modules

The postgraduate Information Systems and Technology programme is made up of five core modules, three elective modules and a final project. All the electives are studied in the second term. You will take core and elective modules in three main streams: information, systems and technology. The third term is reserved for the project.

Modules include hands-on lab-based tutorials, group work seminars and presentations. We teach technical skills in SQL, JavaScript and PhP, as well as design skills using UML. You can pursue a practical MSc project in an application area of your choice.

With respect to hours please consult the SMCSE programmes office.

Core Modules
-Systems Specification INM312 (15 credits)
-Databases INM343 (15 credits)
-Information and Knowledge Management INM351 (15 credits)
-Research Methods and Professional Issues INM373 (15 credits)
-Information Architecture INM401 (15 credits)

Elective Modules - you may choose three elective modules from the following:
-Information Retrieval INM305 (15 credits)
-Web Applications Development INM316 (15 credits)
-Business Engineering with ERP Solutions INM342 (15 credits)
-Information Law and Policy INM361 (15 credits)
-Project Management INM372 (15 credits)
-Data Visualization INM402 (15 credits) *
-Libraries and publishing in the information society INM380 (15 credits)
-Information Organisation INM303 (15 credits) +
-Business Intelligence and Analytics INM451 (15 credits)

+ Students who take INM303 must also take INM305 as an option.
* Students may only take one of INM402 or INM451 as an option.

Career prospects

City’s Information Systems and Technology MSc graduates are prepared for employment in information systems management roles within large and small organisations including banks, consultancies, the pharmaceutical and IT industries, central and local government and the education and health sectors.

Previous graduates have secured employment in some of the most prestigious companies in the world including Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, Virgin Atlantic, Barclays Capital and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

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