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Technology Management and Professional Issues

Note: Whilst every effort is made to keep the syllabus and assessment records correct for this course, the precise details must be checked with the lecturer(s).

Code:	3001
Year:	3
Prerequisites:
Term:	2
Taught By:	Graham Collins (33%) David Rosenblum (33%) Soren Sorensen (33%)
Aims:	To develop an understanding of the issues that impinge on the management of computer technology systems and organisations, to provide an overview of the professional and ethical issues arising in the use, implementation, operation and monitoring of such systems and organisations, and the key management skills required in their effective utilisation and operation.
Learning Outcomes:	A sensitive appreciation of the key professional, ethical and management issues. The ability to access the appropriate technical, legal, professional, business and management literature. The ability to construct simple models of such systems and organistions and to use them to analyse their behaviour.

Content:

Introduction to Technological Systems and Organisations	A Systems Approach to Management and Organisation Management Aims and Objectives Whole System/Organisation Viewpoint
Characteristics of Systems and Organisations	System View of Behaviour Performance Optimisation Managing Change
Professional Issues	Professional Bodies Membership and Accreditation
Legal Issues	Contracts and Liability Licences and IPR Security and Privacy
Ethical Issues	Professional Codes Individual, Professional, Contractual, and Societal Responsibilities
Risk	Risk taking Success v Failure Utility
Risk Assessment	Critical path Analysis Monte Carlo Evaluation
Risk Management	Prospect Theory Derivatives Value at Risk
Project Management	Project Initiation Need Organisational Decision Making Project Proposal
Skills of a Project Manager	Leadership Team Organisation Motivation
Resource Planning	Planning Scheduling Estimating Performance Measurement

Method of Instruction:

Lectures, tutorials and readings supported by three assessed coursework assignments and a group-based discussion of ethical issues.

Assessment:

The course has the following assessment components:

Written Examination (2.5 hours, 80%)
Reports (30 hours, 20%)

To pass this course, students must:

Obtain an overall pass mark of 40% for all sections combined

The examination rubric is:
Answer three questions, at least one (out of 2) from each of sections A, B and C. All questions carry equal marks.

Resources:

Sara Baase: A Gift of Fire

Robert Ayres: The Essence of Professional Issues in Computing

Frank Bott: Professional Issues in Information Technology

Stephen Fishman: Software Development: A Legal Guide

Steve Fineman and Yiannis Gabriel: Experiencing Organizations

Brealey and Myers: Principles of Corporate Finance

John Kay: Foundations for Corporate Success

Mintzberg and Quinn: The Strategy Process

Lucy Suchman: Plans and Situated Actions

Henry Mintzberg: The Nature of Managerial Work

Rosemary Stewart: Managerial Work

Charles Handy: Understanding Organisations

Gareth Morgan: Images of Organisation

Henry Mintzberg: Structure in Fives

David Farbey: How to Produce Successful Advertising

Michael Earl: Management Strategies for Information Technology

Shoshana Zuboff: In the Age of the Smart Machine

Donald Teale, Successful Project Risk Management in a Week

This page last modified: 26 May, 2010 by Nicola Alexander