Explore

Upon successful completion of this programme, participants will be able to

Knowledge and Understanding

• The nature of information and data, the range of application domains and trends in the application of IT systems

• Key principles in the fields of management, information and communication of relevance to information technology

• Approaches to systems development and to information management, processing and communication

• Appreciation of strategies for information systems introduction, change and risk management and quality assurance

• Appreciation of the professional, legal, social, cultural and ethical issues related to computing and IT

• Appreciation of security risks and the impact of security breaches on corporate integrity and personal privacy

• Awareness of sustainability and environmental issues in IT practice

• Appropriate research methods to investigate a specific area of professional interest or concern and to evaluate larger-scale research done by others

Intellectual Skills

• Critically evaluate developments and new applications of information and communication technology systems

• Evaluate the roles and uses of IT in different business and public sector settings

• Analyse and model system problems and develop pragmatic, creative and innovative solutions

• Evaluate a variety of methods and approaches to systems development

• Recognize a clear research question or hypothesis and thus critically analyse theoretical perspectives relevant to the research process

• Evaluate research methodologies, tools and techniques, and the process of research, reflectively

• Relate theory and practice in the context of the application domains explored in the chosen option modules

• Balance conflicting objectives in the research, selection and development of information systems and supporting technical platforms

Subject/Professional Practice Skills

• Design, improve and retire/replace systems incorporating social, informational and technical elements

• Develop familiarity with legislation, codes of practice and industry standards relating to information management and computing

• Identify and mitigate security risks and risks to successful project implementation

• Involve stakeholders in the design, prototyping and evaluation of new digital systems

• Manage and optimise software development including efficient coding, testing and integration

• Manage projects and people, including distributed teams

• Identify information/data requirements that are crucial to organisational performance and develop workflows for data extraction, management, analysis and integration into organisational intelligence and reporting

• Design and conduct research in the subject area leading to evidence-based recommendations for change

Transferable Skills and other attributes

• Communication skills: to communicate orally or in writing, including, for instance, the results of technical investigations, to peers and/or to “problem owners”

• Self-management skills: to manage one’s own time; meet deadlines; to work with others having gained insights into the problems of team-based systems development

• Leadership skills: building a vision, encouraging others to participate

• IT Skills in context (to use the software in the context of problem-solving investigations, and to interpret findings)

• Progression to independent learning: To gain experience of, and to develop skills in, learning independently of structured class work. For example, to develop the ability to use online facilities to further self-study

• Awareness of professional literature: to read and use literature sources appropriate to the discipline to support learning activities

• Working with others: to be able to work as a member of a team; to be aware of the benefits and problems that teamwork can bring