Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is the second of the IT Strategy specialisms for the Digital Apprenticeship programme and builds on the core modules.

Digital Business Strategy (DBS) covers the strategic development of digital initiatives. It utilises both academic and professional sources to provide integrated perspectives, supported by theory and applicable in practical contexts.

This module builds the knowledge and skills to gain a strategic perspective of the digital transformation of an organisation for key initiatives. It connects the enterprise view of digital transformation introduced in the Managing Strategic Alignment module with the strategic technologies used by the enterprise.

Aims:

This module aims to enable course members to analyse, design and develop key digital initiatives to help organisations transform in a fast-moving digital world:

• To analyse and assess how key digital initiatives fit into the overall strategy and business/operating models


• To formulate design solutions for the key digital initiatives including a plan for the required technologies and capabilities


• To appropriately select from a portfolio of tools and apply these for key digital initiatives, and to engage with senior stakeholders

Assessable learning outcomes:

On the completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• Analyse and assess complex digital business problems


• Formulate technology-based design solutions


• Assess the organisation’s capability to deliver technology-based outputs


• Define and deliver strategic plans for implementing digital technologies


• Select and apply appropriate tools to engage stakeholders and design digital initiatives

Additional outcomes:

An understanding of how strategy and business design can be used to identify and enable digital transformation initiatives. This leads to the module on Digital Business Strategy.

Outline content:

The modules in in two main parts – digital initiatives and digital technologies.

Analyse Digital Initiatives and Formulate Digital Design Solutions

• Collect and review business data to analyse digital initiatives


• Analyse and assess complex digital problems


• Formulate technology-based design solutions

Plan the Digital Te chnologies needed for the Digital Initiatives

• Review the organisation’s technology-based products and services


• Assess the capability and different technical options to deliver the digital outputs


• Develop digital technology plans considering implementation approaches.

Global context:

This module recognises that enterprises often operate multi-nationally and provides this perspective through published global business IT research.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This 12 week module will use a blended learning approach including Henley seminars, structured work-based learning and independent study. Formative assessments will support the initial learning.

Course members will engage with their organisation to gather information through guided fieldwork which, together with the use of course academic and professional material, contributes to a summative assessment. This work-based assignment will be introduced at an early stage and is designed to reinforce the skills and knowledge learning outcomes.

Reflection is an important part of the module, both on the study material and the overall reflection on how the module supports work-based goals. This contributes to the end-point assessment of professional discussion.

Workload

This is a 12 week module which meets the Apprenticeship standard of 20% off-the-job learning at 7 hrs/day one day per week. Alth ough face-to-face Henley seminars are 21 hours, a broader definition of contact hours is shown which equates to off-the job learning.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

This module will not have an examination.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One individual coursework assignment, c. 3000 word report will be submitted at end of module. This assignment will be 100% of the overall assessment.

Formative assessment methods:

Participation in and contribution to the in-class seminars.

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. 

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Students will be required to obtain a mark of at least 50% on the assignment.

Reassessment arrangements:

Students will be required to submit a new assignment to achieve the pass mark, and the mark will be capped to 50%.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 8 April 2021