Teaching Block 1: Technology Strategy

Business Strategy - understanding the needs of the business as a whole, its strategic direction and vision, an understanding of financial essentials - budgeting, cash flows and financial accounts.

Strategic tools for analysis (e.g., SWOT, STEEP, Porter’s five forces)

Digital Strategy

Technology Strategy

People, processes and Organisations

Dealing with legacy systems

Risk & Change Management, Business Continuity and disaster Recovery

Information Management and Security

Improving Customer Experience

Adopting emerging technologies (including Quantum Computing, AI, IoT, ML, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, VR)

Data in transformation

Transformation Frameworks

In this teaching block the module will support the development and assessment of the following Core Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours from the DTSP Apprenticeship Standard:

Knowledge

K1: How organisations adapt and exploit digital technology solutions to gain a competitive advantage.

K2: The principles of strategic decision making concerning the acquisition or development of digital and technology solutions. For example, business architecture approaches such as capability models and target operating models.

K3 Principles of estimating the risks and opportunities of digital and technology solutions.

K4: Techniques and approaches involved in creating a business case for new digital and technology solutions. For example, journey, product and capability mapping and value chains.

K15 Principles of estimating cost, and time resource constraints within digital and technology solutions activities.

K19: Relevant legal, ethical, social and professional standards to a digital and technology solution. For example, Diversity, Accessibility, Intellectual Property, Data Protection Acts, Codes of Practice, Regulatory and Compliance frameworks.

K20: Sustainable development approaches as applied to digital and technology solutions such as green computing.

Skills

S2: Identify risks, determine mitigation strategies and opportunities for improvement in a digital and technology solutions project.

S13: Report effectively to colleagues and stakeholders using the appropriate language and style, to meet the needs of the audience concerned.

Behaviours

B5: Interacts professionally with people from technical and non-technical backgrounds. Presents data and conclusions in an evidently truthful, concise and appropriate manner.

B7: Maintains awareness of trends and innovations in the subject area, utilising a range of academic literature, online sources, community interaction, conference attendance and other methods which can deliver business value.

Teaching Block 2: Management & Leadership

Business Environment and Processes
Organisation theory, Systems theory of organisations
The nature of leadership; leadership versus management

Definitions of leadership, including authentic leadership

Leadership practices

Cultivating the leadership relationship

Leadership Behaviours

Type of influence process

Planning and control within business

The management of quality in the organisation
The management of people

Risk & Change Management, Business Continuity and disaster Recovery

In this teaching block the module will support the development and assessment of the following Core Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours from the DTSP Apprenticeship Standard:

Knowledge

K6: The approaches and techniques used throughout the digital and technology solution lifecycle and their applicability to an organisation’s standards and pre-existing tools.

K7: The roles, functions and activities within digital technology solutions within an organisation.

K8: How teams work effectively to produce digital and technology solutions.

K9: The concepts and principles of leadership.

K10: Management techniques and theories. For example, effective decision making, delegation and planning methods, time management and change management.

K17: Reporting techniques, including how to synthesise information and present concisely, as appropriate to the target audience.

K19: Relevant legal, ethical, social and professional standards to a digital and technology solution. For example, Diversity, Accessibility, Intellectual Property, Data Protection Acts, Codes of Practice, Regulatory and Compliance frameworks.

Skills

S6: Manage digital and technology solutions projects. For example, identifying and resolving deviations from specification, applying appropriate Project Management methodologies.

S7: Work effectively within teams, leading on appropriate digital technology solution activities.

S8: Apply relevant organisational theories. For example, change management principles, marketing approaches, strategic practice, and IT service management to a digital and technology solutions project.

S13: Report effectively to colleagues and stakeholders using the appropriate language and style, to meet the needs of the audience concerned.

S15: Apply relevant legal, ethical, social and professional standards to a digital and technology solution.

Behaviours

B8 Champions diversity and inclusion in their work ensuring that digital technology solutions are accessible.

This module will support the development and assessment of the following Specialist Route Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours from the DTSP Apprenticeship Standard:

Business Analyst

Knowledge

K39 Principles of Strategy Analysis, including how to identify the business need, address that need, and align the change strategy within the organisation.

IT Consultant

Knowledge

K31 Principles of change management within organisations.

Assessment 1: An individual report analysing the digital strategy of an organisation and proposal of a strategic digital transformation weighted at 50%.

Mapped to learning outcomes: 1 & 2.



Assessing the following Core KSBs:

Knowledge

K1 How organisations adapt and exploit digital technology solutions to gain a competitive advantage.

K2 The principles of strategic decision making concerning the acquisition or development of digital and technology solutions. For example, business architecture approaches such as capability models and target operating models.

K4 Techniques and approaches involved in creating a business case for new digital and technology solutions. For example, journey, product and capability mapping and value chains.

K20 Sustainable development approaches as applied to digital and technology solutions such as green computing.



Assessment 2: An individual report analysing the management and leadership structure of an organisation and a contextualised proposal of activities to implement a strategic digital transformation change within the organisation weighted at 50%.

Mapped to learning outcomes: 3 & 4.



Assessing the following Core KSBs:



Knowledge

K7 The roles, functions and activities within digital technology solutions within an organisation.

K8 How teams work effectively to produce digital and technology solutions.

K9 The concepts and principles of leadership.

K10 Management techniques and theories. For example, effective decision making, delegation and planning methods, time management and change management.

K17 Reporting techniques, including how to synthesise information and present concisely, as appropriate to the target audience.

Skills

S7 Work effectively within teams, leading on appropriate digital technology solution activities.

S8 Apply relevant organisational theories. For example, change management principles, marketing approaches, strategic practice, and IT service management to a digital and technology solutions project.

Behaviours

B8 Champions diversity and inclusion in their work ensuring that digital technology solutions are accessible.

The module will be delivered in a Blended Learning Mode consisting of face to face, online and guided learning sessions over two teaching blocks.



Teaching sessions will blend theory and practical learning and most importantly where possible contextualised in your workplace as part of your apprenticeship. Learners will be introduced to curriculum concepts and ideas and will then be able to apply theory to practical examples. In addition, students will be provided with a range of resources for independent study such as case studies, academic papers and industry case studies. There will be a mixture of practical and theoretical formative (mock or practice) exercises which will help students build knowledge and confidence in preparation for summative (formal) assessment.



Each of the two teching blocks will be delivered as follows:



Module Launch week: 6 hours.

There will be a module launch session consisting of up to 12 hours face to face contact time devoted to developing your understanding of the core purpose and assessment of the module. Learners will be presented with details of how the learning will be structure and how to access to the learning materials for the remainder of the module.



Structured Learning Sessions: 7.5 hours

Following the module launch week you will have a further 7.5 hours of contact time as a class with the module team. This will typically be as 3 x 1.5-hour online classes which will be a combination of activities including lectures, demonstrations, discussions, tutorials and seminars. Some sessions are likely to be in flipped classroom style, where you will be expected to watch online recordings, read materials or respond to practical activities in preparation for active engagement with problem solving in the online session.



1:1 Progress Checks: 30 minutes

As a Blended Learner understanding your progress can be a challenge so you are allocated an hour of 1:1 time with your tutor (typically 3 x 10 minute). Some of these may be in small groups if appropriate. These sessions may be used to discuss key topics, troubleshoot salutations, review working drafts etc.



Guided Independent Learning: 86 hours.

The module leader will provide resources through the virtual learning environment which will include videos and presentations as well as links to useful websites and other resources. Additional academic learning will be achieved through reading around the subject area, module tutors will suggest useful texts, though many others will be suitable and can be found in our e-library. You should also draw on the expertise in your workplace via your workplace mentor and other colleagues. If you require help understanding any of the concepts, you should contact your module tutor for assistance.

As an apprentice you are constantly developing your Digital Skills as part of your substantial role, and this applies to the development of the knowledge for your modules too. In some cases, there will be a significant cross over between the module content and in others less so depending on the nature of your workplace duties, this will have a direct impact on to the number of Independent Learning required.



Within the Independent learning time you will be expected to complete your assignments, as a guide a typical module assignment should take around 60 hours to complete.

undertake a critical review of an organisations technology strategy and identify opportunities for future development

develop and present the case for a strategic technology transformation

critically evaluate an organisation's structure and the ability to manage digital technology change

define and present a management proposal to implement a digital technology transformation within an organisation

All texts and electronic resources will be updated and refreshed on an annual basis and available for students via the online Study Links resource platform. All reference materials will be collated and curated and aligned to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion indicators.



Rogers, D (2016), The digital transformation playbook: rethink your business for the digital age, Columbia Business School Publishing (eBook)

Hillard, R (2010), Information-driven business: how to manage data and information for maximum advantage, John Wiley and Sons

Trott, P (2011), Innovation Management and new product development, Pearson Prentice Hall (eBook)

Griffin, A., Noble, C. & Durmusoglu, S. 2014, Open Innovation: New Product Development Essentials from the PDMA, 1st edn, John Wiley & Sons Inc, US.

Tidd, J, Bessant, JR (2018), Managing Innovation: integrating technological, market and organisational change, 6th Edition, John Wiley

Digital and Technology Solutions Professionals are at the heart of problem solving, bringing an innovative, multi-disciplined approach to their organisations. Their professional position within a business means they fulfil a leadership role within their technical specialism demonstrating a strong ethical awareness of technological trends. This module explores both considering digital strategies and how to lead change within organisations.