***DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP STUDENTS ONLY***

In this module you will develop knowledge in areas such as organisational theory, change management, marketing, strategic practice, human resource management, IT service management, and professional communications. This module will also build your capacity to apply these skills in a professional setting. You may also prepare for recognised industry certifications in a specific area of technology or management.

All Digital and Technology Solutions Professionals require an understanding of business functions, organisational structure and how to behave in a professional manner. You will need to understand the nature of business processes and how to develop investment proposals. In addition you need to know how to exploit data to deliver improved business insights.

The aim of this module is to ensure that you understand the business context for IS/IT. In particular, you will be able to demonstrate the following competences as defined in the Apprenticeship Standard (Digital and Technology Solutions Professional), Skills Funding Agency, 10 September 2015. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-standard-digital-technology-solutions-professional)

• Can apply organisational theory, change management, marketing, strategic practice, human resource management and IT service management to technology solutions development.
• Develops well-reasoned investment proposals and provides business insights.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Demonstrate a mastery of basic business functions, organisational structures and the impact of communication technology in different sectors, including an international dimension, with a sound understanding of contemporary working practices and social media, covering work in the office, at home, on the move and in a virtual environment.

2. Show an appreciation of the strategic importance of business processes and demonstrated an ability to document and understand them.

3. Evaluate the issues and challenges associated with successfully and unsuccessfully incorporating IT into an organisation.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

4. Apply systems thinking, flow charting, type and frequency data analysis, modelling future flows to business scenarios.

5. Gather, prioritise and document high quality business and technical requirements.

6. Understand the various functions and activities within the information systems area, including the role of IT management and the CIO, structuring of IS management within an organisation, and managing IS professionals within the firm.

7. Understand how strategic decisions are made concerning acquiring IS resources and capabilities including the ability to evaluate the different sourcing options.

8. Understand the role of IT control and service management frameworks from the perspective of managing the IS function in an organisation.

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

9. Communicate orally and in writing.

10. Solve problems creatively.

11. Think analytically and critically.

12. Organise your own work.

13.  Work to a deadline.

Introduction to business and government organisations (3 weeks)

•             Business functions

•             Organisational structures 

•             Business processes

The impact of ICT in business and government organisations (1 week)

•             Facilitating (international) operations; e-business; B2B/B2C

•             Effect on working practices (mobility, telecommuting, virtual organisations, etc.)

•             Enterprise systems; CRM; ERP

•             Social media in business

•             Challenges of implementing IT in organisations; process change; security implications.

IT business analysis (4 weeks)

•             Understanding business scenarios

•             Systems thinking

•             Business process modelling (as-is and to-be)

•             Data analysis (e.g., by type and frequency) 

•             Business and technical requirements analysis

The IS function (IT department) (2 weeks)

•             Structures

•             Functions and roles

•             Activities 

•             IT control and service management frameworks (e.g., COBIT, ITIL)

Role of IT management and the CIO/CTO (1 week)

•             Managing IS professionals 

•             IT strategy and strategic decision-making about IT

•             IT sourcing options

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be deferred in the assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you may be required to sit a referral. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Reading list for this module: