Technology and Organisations (U04192)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : SBE-3-TO

This course examines the organisational issues arising from the application of new kinds of organisational technologies and systems within private and public sector businesses and organisations.

Its central argument is that the nature of the modern enterprise-wide information system is changing and that this has radical implications for organisations. For instance, most large and medium-sized organisations around the world now use a ‘packaged enterprise system’. A small
number of software suppliers, of which the software giant SAP is the clear leader, have succeeded in deploying their enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship
management (CRM) and other kinds of financial and administrative computer systems across many different organisations, sectors and countries around the globe. Large organisations now appear to be dominated by a new breed of standardised software package. These are not the
locally specific, tailor-made systems experts had predicted would prevail but the most highly generic kind of information system. This illustrates a significant shift, which involves the reshaping of the corporate information system and has implications for how organisations choose between, adopt and use these kinds of information systems.

The aim of the course is to give students a sophisticated and critical appreciation of the nature and complexities surrounding these kinds of organisational technologies. It will look at a variety of issues ranging from: the emergence and growth of the packaged software sector; the
procurement, implementation and use of ERP systems, the design and development of generic software systems; and how the wider market for these systems is created.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Operations Strategy (U03775) or Management of Technology (BS0205) or Social Shaping of E-commerce (U00261)

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Business Studies, (School of Business and Economics, Schedule H)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	09:00	10:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding
-understand the organisational issues surrounding enterprise-wide systems and other kinds of
organisational technologies;
-describe the basic capabilities and limitations of these organisational technologies;
-develop a critical awareness of the operation and limitations of the modern day information system arena

Cognitive Skills
-move beyond simple descriptions and develop a more sophisticated and critical awareness of the complexities involved in technical and organisational change;
-demonstrate an ability to critically analyse and present material on emerging topics.

Key skills
-recognise both the benefits and limitations of resolving organisational problems through the use of information technologies;
-utilise and analyse information from a variety of sources;
-analyse real examples of information systems and their rollout within organisations and the related organisational change that occurs.

Assessment Information

Group Presentation (30%)
There will be group presentations in the final two weeks of the term which will make up 30% of the final mark. The optimal number within a group is four. Each group will be assigned a case study to analyse, with each member receiving the same mark. The objective is for each student to experience the challenges and rewards of group work. Students must learn how to work together as 30% of their mark is contingent upon effective group participation and output.

Exam (70%)
The students will have to complete an examination – the format will be for students to answer two essay questions from a paper offering a choice of five in two hours.