Unit guide for MSc IT - ICT622 IT Strategy

1. Unit Coordinator and Contacts

Ms Paula Goulding, Director of Regional Information Technology Programs Office: Rockingham ACL 2.019 Phone: (08) 9360-7019 Email: [email protected], Fax: (08) 9360-7091

On Monday and Thursday 2 – 4.30 I will be at South St campus, where my contact details are : Office : ECL 2.056 Phone : (08) 9360 7516 (only use this number Tue /Thu 2 – 4.30) Please contact me if you have any questions or problems regarding this unit.

2. Unit objectives, philosophy, and operation

In the Information Age, organizations are increasingly recognising the pivotal role of IT for organisational development. This unit encourages students to think strategically, and provides a framework for undertaking strategic planning. The organisational impacts of information systems usage are considered. The need for strategic allignment is explored.

The unit aim is for students to understand the nature of strategic thinking and be able to develop a strategic IT plan for an organization. Case studies will be used to illustrate the theoretical material.

The specific objectives are:

 to understand the role of IT within the organization for gaining competitive advantage  to understand the range of techniques available for strategic IT planning, and evaluate which are appropriate for a specific organisational context  to understand the role of IT in changing business process  to understand the strategic use of information technology resources The unit formal contact time will consist of three hours of lecture/workshop per week. The unit will use a constructivist learning approach - in which you integrate the material with your experience based around your own interests, background and personal and career objectives. In the last millennium lecturers lectured "the facts" from a position of "the sage on the stage". Now they are rather "guides on the side" as you navigate information resources relevant to your own learning. Textbooks were once the authority; you made the interpreted margin notes. In this unit we reverse that: the margin notes are provided as a skeleton structure - you extend them as you see fit related to your own aims and objectives. This means you, and not the textbook is the central authority for the information. The class contact time will be interactive. This time will be spent discussing the relevant topic, guided by presentations from students, and either an introduction or summary by the lecturer. Students will be expected to have made use of the reading material and other resources indicated in advance for the topic to be covered. Students are strongly encouraged to raise relevant issues from their experience to create an interactive learning environment.

3. Resources and Textbooks:

Main text: Jerry N. Luftman et al “Managing the Information Technology Resource Weekly readings will be available from e-reserve in the Library. The main text will be supplemented by chapters/articles from other books, journals or magazines as well as notes provided by the unit coordinator. Below is a provisional reading schedule. Wk Topic Text book Other reading chapter 1 Introduction to Strategy 1 Lynda M. Applegate et al Corporate Information Strategy & Management chapter 1 pp 23 – 41 2003 McGraw Hill 2 Strategic Thinking and None Bernard H. Boar Strategic Thinking for Information Technology Competitive Advantage chapter 2 pp 61 – 116 1997 John Wiley & Sons

D Feeny B Ives G Piccoli Creating & Sustaining IT-Enabled Competitive Advantage in Luftman Jerry (ed) Competing in the Information Age 2003 Oxford University Press pp 211 - 223 3 Strategic Alignment 2 James W. Cortada Best Practices in Information Technology chap 2 The Value of Aligning IT with Business Strategies pp 17-41

Michael J. Earl Integrating Business & IT Strategy in Luftman Jerry (ed) Competing in the Information Age 2003 Oxford University Press 51 - 61 4 Strategic Alignment Maturity 3 Ward John & Peppard Joe Strategic Planning for Information Systems 3rd Edition 2002 Wiley & Son UK chap 5 p237 - 275 5 IT Processes 5 Cassidy Anita A Practical Guide to Information Systems Strategic Planning chap 5 Determining the High-level Direction of Information Systems pp 95 -141 6 Planning 6 Wendy Robson Strategic Management & Information Systems chapter 2 Analytic Tools for strategic management pp 26 – 77 Prentice Hall 1997 7 Emerging Technologies 7 tba 8 Controlling IT 13,14 Nicholas G. Carr IT Doesn’t Matter Harvard Business Review May Assessing IT value 2003 9 Change Management 10 Bernard Boar The Art of Strategic Planning for Information Technology chapter 4 Strategy pp227 – 268 2001 John Wiley

10 The Role of the CIO 4 D Feeny and B Ives IT as a Basis for Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Managing IT as a Strategic Resource Leslie Willcocks David Feeny, Gerd Islei McGraw Hill 1999 UK Sid Huff et al CIO: Strategic Roles and Peer Influences in Luftman Jerry (ed) Competing in the Information Age 2003 Oxford University Press pp 211 - 223 11 IT Governance 11 tba 12 Michael Porter Strategy and the Internet Harvard Business Review on Alternative approaches Advances in Strategy 2002

Kathleen Eisenhart & Donald N Sull Strategy as Simple Rules HBR Jan 2001 13 Assessing the Value of IT 14 Tiwana Amrit The Knowledge Management Toolkit: Orchestrating Knowledge Management IT, Strategy & Knowledge Platforms Pearson 2002 Chapter 3 The Review Origins of Knowledge pp 35 – 63

Hofer-Alfeis Josef & van der Spek Rob The Knowledge Strategy Process in Davenport Thomas H & Probst Gilbert J. B. Knowledge Management Case book 2002 Wiley & Sons Germany pp 24 - 39

Lecture notes will be available at the unit ftp site: ftp://ftp.it.murdoch.edu.au/pubs/units

4. Assessment

A student should expect to spend roughly 12 hours per week on this unit – i.e. 3 hours lecture/tutorial/seminar; 7 hours reading and visiting web sites (including taking notes); and 2 hours writing their critical summaries for the week. The unit coordinator, Mrs Paula Goulding will mark all the assessed work. This unit has no teamwork component. Sharing your experiences, findings and good practices are, however, encouraged in the class sessions and at your own discretion.

The assessment for this unit comprises:

Weekly critiques 50% Contribution to Group Discussions 10% Presentation 10% Exam (at end of semester) 30% 100%

Each week you should submit a reflective summary and critique of the readings for the week. This should be 800 – 1500 words in length (2 -3 A4 single spaced sheets each week . This should be submitted AT THE START OF EACH WEEKS SEMINAR. If you are unable to attend the seminar, please submit via email before the start of the class. Please include ICT622 Critique as the subject line. Late work will attract a penalty of 10% (of the mark for that item) per 24 hours late, up to and including 7 days late unless accompanied by a medical certificate. Work submitted more than 7 days late will receive no marks.

This assessment task is designed to give you experience in critically reviewing and recording your thoughts about material from a variety of sources. What I really want is a brief summary of the major themes,your reactions to the material in the Textbook and Readings, and how it relates to other material - comparisons, supporting themes, disagreements and relevant experiences of your own. You might also want to include definitions of unfamiliar terms and useful quotes. I will expect a "Masters" level of analysis and comment.

Please contact me if you are in any doubt about what you need to do for this aspect of the assessment. Students will be expected to contribute actively to the group discussion at the lecture/tutorial each week. A mark out of 10% will be allocated to each student for contributions to weekly group discussions, as assessed by the teaching staff, at the end of semester.

Each student will make a presentation, based upon an assigned reading plus extra material researched on the topic. This may be alternative theoretical perspectives, examples of tools and techniques, or case studies of the strategic use of IT / IT strategic planning processes. You will be expected to use visual aids. Presentations emailed to the unit coordinator before noon on the day of the presentation can be copied to acetate slides for you. If you are unable to attend on the day you are due to present, PLEASE let the unit coordinator know as early as possible, so the class can be replanned. Presenters who miss their presentation without notice will NOT be allowed a second opportunity to present.

There will be a 2 hour examination (30%) at the end of the unit. Details of the exam format will be released by week 10. The University requires that all students sitting end-of-semester examinations (including those held off- campus) must show their 2002 Murdoch University Student Card to facilitate photographic identification. No other form of identification will be accepted.

To pass the unit, students must obtain a pass overall and a pass for each of the: a) Weekly Critique plus Group Discussion plus Presentation component; and b) the Examination component.

Students must retain a copy of all submitted work. Copies should be in the same format (electronic or hardcopy) as the original submitted. Final Your final grade for the unit will be reported by a letter grade. In Grade order to obtain a particular grade, you must attain certain minimum overall percentage scores (i.e. sum of marks for: Reflective Journal, Contribution to Group Discussions and Exam), and comply with the conditions outlined above. The nominal overall percentage scores for each grade are set out in the following table.

Notation Grade Notional Percentage Score HD High Distinction 80 - 100 D Distinction 70 - 79 C Credit 60 - 69 P Pass 50 - 59 UP Ungraded Pass 50 - 100 CP Conceded Pass 45 - 49* S Supplementary Assessment 45 - 49* N Fail Below 50 * The award of the grades of CP and S is at the discretion of the Unit Coordinator

If you wish to be graded on a pass/fail basis, you must apply to the Unit Coordinator and the Registrar’s Office before the end of Week 4 of the semester in which this unit begins.

University policy on assessment Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of Degree Regulations 40-48. Check these in the current Murdoch University Handbook and Calendar and at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/admin/codes/assessapp2.html. Your attention is particularly drawn to the University policy regarding assessment roles and responsibilities which lists your responsibilities as a student (as well of those of unit coordinators and others).

Dishonesty in assessment – [Policy Approved AC/36/2002 (30/1/02)] Guidance about how to avoid plagiarism and collusion, plus further information about University policies on dishonesty in assessment, are available at the following URL: http://www.murdoch.edu.au/admin/discipline/ Non-discriminatory language Murdoch University is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Students and staff should avoid the use of discriminatory language in units and in all other activities within the University. This applies to both oral and written communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are therefore requested to check your work for this, and to ensure it is non- discriminatory in all respects.

Conscientious objection University's Guidelines on Conscientious Objection in Teaching and Assessment, at: http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/admin/gdelines/consciobj.html

Deferred assessment and special consideration Deferred assessment may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Special consideration in the awarding of grades is also possible in some circumstances. Refer to the current University Handbook for details or http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/admin/codes/assessapp2.html#d eferred

Explanation of grades and appeals Students have the right to appeal their assessment in this unit. First, you should approach your unit coordinator for a review of an assignment. Students who feel they have grounds for appealing against their final grade in this unit should consult the procedures outlined in the Handbook under Degree Regulation 49. See also http://www.murdoch.edu.au/admin/legsln/regs/bachelor.html#appeals or the Office of Student Services Appeals Procedure http://www.murdoch.edu.au/oss/legacy_pages/appeals.html

6. Important Deadlines

Students should be aware of the implications of different dates of withdrawal from the unit: See http://wwwoss.murdoch.edu.au/timetables/