Module Descriptors
MANAGING INFORMATION FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
XXXX77048
Key Facts
Faculty of Business, Education and Law
Level 7
15 credits
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 36
Independent Study Hours: 114
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- ASSIGNMENT weighted at 20%
- ASSIGNMENT - SECOND ASSIGNMENT weighted at 40%
- ASSIGNMENT - THIRD ASSIGNMENT weighted at 40%
Module Details
Module Additional Assessment Details
A statistics based assignment weighted at 20%. (LO 1, 2 and 6)
An accounting and finance based assignment length 1000 words weighted at 40%. (LO 3, 5, 6 and 8)
A systems based assignment length 1000 words weighted at 40%. (LO 1,2, 4, 5, 7 and 8)
Students must achieve at least 30% in all elements of assessment in order to pass the module.
An accounting and finance based assignment length 1000 words weighted at 40%. (LO 3, 5, 6 and 8)
A systems based assignment length 1000 words weighted at 40%. (LO 1,2, 4, 5, 7 and 8)
Students must achieve at least 30% in all elements of assessment in order to pass the module.
Module Indicative Content
Purpose
The purpose of this Module is to provide an understanding of the role and function of information in the decision and communication processes of organisations. It seeks to integrate the areas of statistics and accounting into an information/decision-making model of organisation. Thus, the techniques and methods of statistics and accounting are viewed as devices for transforming data into information for managerial decision-making. In line with this perspective, the emphasis will not be on calculative aspects of the techniques, but on how the interpretation of the given results can inform this decision-making. Few statistical or accounting computations will be required.
Introduction
1. The contribution of IS/IT to the attainment of competitive advantage/competitive
effectiveness for organisations.
2. Decision-making processes in organisations, e.g. rational, limited rationality, disorder, conflict,
symbolic, emergent - and the role of information; risk and sensitivity analysis; problem
solving frameworks.
3. Communication processes; interpretation and filtering out of information.
4. Data Protection legislation; data security.
Systems
1. Systems concepts: definition of a system, structure and process, holism, emergent properties.
2. Systems attributes: boundary, environment, open, closed, lag, positive and negative feedback;
the control model.
3. Data analysis - entities, attributes and relationships; systems and data flow diagrams; database
models - file management systems, hierarchical, network and relational databases.
4. The organisation from an information perspective e.g. types of organisational information
system; informational requirements of different organisational functions and activities.
5. Methodologies for systems analysis and design; e.g. Structured Systems Analysis and Design
Method (SSADM).
6. Current software applications for data processing, report generation, modelling and
communications and general HRM applications.
7. Procurement Management Systems.
Accounting and finance
1. Structure and interpretation of simple balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, trading
statements.
2. Calculation and interpretation of management ratios.
3. Basic costing concepts and techniques; standard and marginal costing; budgets; cost-benefit
analysis; cash-flow; cash budgets; introduction to discounted cash flows and project appraisal.
4. Structure and content of business plans; financial aspects of sustainability.
Statistics
1. Presentation of statistics; sources of data.
2. Statistical concepts: frequency distributions; mean; standard deviation; index numbers;
sampling; significance tests; correlation and regression; time series analysis; control charts;
decision theory.
3. Use of current software applications for computation of statistics; simple business calculations.
The purpose of this Module is to provide an understanding of the role and function of information in the decision and communication processes of organisations. It seeks to integrate the areas of statistics and accounting into an information/decision-making model of organisation. Thus, the techniques and methods of statistics and accounting are viewed as devices for transforming data into information for managerial decision-making. In line with this perspective, the emphasis will not be on calculative aspects of the techniques, but on how the interpretation of the given results can inform this decision-making. Few statistical or accounting computations will be required.
Introduction
1. The contribution of IS/IT to the attainment of competitive advantage/competitive
effectiveness for organisations.
2. Decision-making processes in organisations, e.g. rational, limited rationality, disorder, conflict,
symbolic, emergent - and the role of information; risk and sensitivity analysis; problem
solving frameworks.
3. Communication processes; interpretation and filtering out of information.
4. Data Protection legislation; data security.
Systems
1. Systems concepts: definition of a system, structure and process, holism, emergent properties.
2. Systems attributes: boundary, environment, open, closed, lag, positive and negative feedback;
the control model.
3. Data analysis - entities, attributes and relationships; systems and data flow diagrams; database
models - file management systems, hierarchical, network and relational databases.
4. The organisation from an information perspective e.g. types of organisational information
system; informational requirements of different organisational functions and activities.
5. Methodologies for systems analysis and design; e.g. Structured Systems Analysis and Design
Method (SSADM).
6. Current software applications for data processing, report generation, modelling and
communications and general HRM applications.
7. Procurement Management Systems.
Accounting and finance
1. Structure and interpretation of simple balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, trading
statements.
2. Calculation and interpretation of management ratios.
3. Basic costing concepts and techniques; standard and marginal costing; budgets; cost-benefit
analysis; cash-flow; cash budgets; introduction to discounted cash flows and project appraisal.
4. Structure and content of business plans; financial aspects of sustainability.
Statistics
1. Presentation of statistics; sources of data.
2. Statistical concepts: frequency distributions; mean; standard deviation; index numbers;
sampling; significance tests; correlation and regression; time series analysis; control charts;
decision theory.
3. Use of current software applications for computation of statistics; simple business calculations.
Module Learning Strategies
Tutor lead learning supported by appropriate handouts, recommended text books and business sections of newspapers. Student centred learning will include case studies supported by background reading. Regular in-class and take home exercises will support the tutor lead approach. Small group activity through which to practise application and to develop wider discussion of the examples and issues involved. Short scenarios will be used together with questions that aim to draw on students' own organisational experience.
Independent consolidation of understanding between lectures to enhance discussion, independent organisational observation and investigation or consideration in relation to topics within the module material.
Independent consolidation of understanding between lectures to enhance discussion, independent organisational observation and investigation or consideration in relation to topics within the module material.
Module Resources
University library and learning resources.
Specified readings, exercises and case-study materials as supplied.
Specified readings, exercises and case-study materials as supplied.
Module Special Admissions Requirements
Must be enrolled on the CIPD Award
Module Texts
Lucey T, (2005), Management Information Systems, Ninth Edition, Thomson.
Davies, D., (1997) The Art of Managing Finance, McGraw Hill.
Dyson, J., (2004) Accounting for Non-Accounting Students, Prentice Hall.
Pizzey, A., (1998) Finance and Accounting for Non-specialist students, Pitman.
Davies, D., (1997) The Art of Managing Finance, McGraw Hill.
Dyson, J., (2004) Accounting for Non-Accounting Students, Prentice Hall.
Pizzey, A., (1998) Finance and Accounting for Non-specialist students, Pitman.