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MQM2MSA: Managing Strategic Alignment of Business and IT

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MQM2MSA: Managing Strategic Alignment of Business and IT

Module code: MQM2MSA

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Professor Sharm Manwani, email: sharm.manwani@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is the first of the IT Strategy specialisms for the Digital Apprenticeship programme and builds on the core modules. Managing Strategic Alignment (MSA) covers the business and technology strategic alignment of the enterprise. It utilises both academic and professional sources to provide integrated perspectives, supported by theory and applicable in practical contexts.Ìý

This module builds the knowledge and skills to gain a strategic alignment perspective of the digital transformation of an organisation at the enterprise level.

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This module has the aim to enable course members to develop and critically evaluate business systems and technical strategies to help organisations transform in a fast-moving digital world:Ìý

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• To develop an understanding of why enterprises create a strategic alignment of business and IT capabilities – and the consequences of failing to do soÌý

• To build a solid knowledge foundation of the components of business and technical strategies and how they interact in a holistic frameworkÌýÌý

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• To appropriately select from a portfolio of business IT alignment tools and apply these for digital transformation, engaging with professional colleagues and executives

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Perform strategic analysis of an organisation’s systems, including structure and effectivenessÌýÌý

2. Make proposals for systems rationalisation, systems integration and other improvementsÌý

Develop technology strategies aligned with business priorities with different optionsÌý

3. Develop technology strategies aligned with business priorities with different optionsÌý

4. Develop and implement technology lifecycle roadmapsÌý

5. Select and apply appropriate tools for managing strategic alignmentÌý

Module content

The modules builds on two main parts – business systems strategy and technical strategy.Ìý

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Business Systems StrategyÌý

• Document existing information systems (IS) in the context of current operating modelÌý

• Identify IS needs arising from new and evolving business operating modelsÌý

• Develop a strategy to close the gap between ‘as is’ and ‘to be’ perspectivesÌý

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Technical StrategyÌý

• Develop technical strategies aligned with business prioritiesÌý

• Assess different technical options to deliver the technical strategiesÌý

• Develop technology roadmaps considering implementation approaches.Ìý

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This module recognises that enterprises often operate multi-nationally and provides this perspective through published global business IT researchÌý

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This 12 week module will use a blended learning approach including Henley seminars,Ìý structured work-based learning and independent study. Formative assessments will support the initial learning.ÌýÌý
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Course members will engage with their organisation to gather information through guided fieldwork which, together with the use of course academic and professional material, contributes to a summative assessment. This work-based assignment will be introduced at an early stage and is designed to reinforce the skills and knowledge learning outcomes.ÌýÌý
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Reflection is an important part of the module, both on the study material and the overall reflection on how the module supports work-based goals. This contributes to the end-point assessment of professional discussion.

The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on the cohort start date.

Study hours


ÌýScheduled teaching and learning activities ÌýSemester 1 ÌýSemester 2 ÌýSummer
Lectures
Seminars 14
Tutorials
Project Supervision
Demonstrations
Practical classes and workshops
Supervised time in studio / workshop
Scheduled revision sessions
Feedback meetings with staff
Fieldwork
External visits
Work-based learning 42


ÌýSelf-scheduled teaching and learning activities ÌýSemester 1 ÌýSemester 2 ÌýSummer
Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts
Participation in discussion boards/other discussions
Feedback meetings with staff
Other
Other (details)


ÌýPlacement and study abroad ÌýSemester 1 ÌýSemester 2 ÌýSummer
Placement
Study abroad

Please note that the hours listed above are for guidance purposes only.

ÌýIndependent study hours ÌýSemester 1 ÌýSemester 2 ÌýSummer
Independent study hours 144

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Type of assessment Detail of assessment % contribution towards module mark Size of assessment Submission date Additional information
Written coursework assignment Individual report 100 3000-5000 words Semester After Teaching Week 10

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

  • where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark;Ìý
  • where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Type of reassessment Detail of reassessment % contribution towards module mark Size of reassessment Submission date Additional information
Written coursework assignment Individual report 100 3000-5000 words

Additional costs

Item Additional information Cost
Computers and devices with a particular specification
Printing and binding
Required textbooks
Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear
Specialist equipment or materials
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.

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