MQM2DTM: Data Management

Module code: MQM2DTM

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you'll be taught: Summer / Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Stephen Gulliver, email: s.r.gulliver@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The way a business stores and processes data can significantly impact the organisation’s ability to undertake specific business functions, meet customer needs, interact with critical stakeholders, and/or make key decisions. Poor data management can directly result in inefficient processes, poor reputation, and low turnover and profitability. This module highlights the importance of data management, from management and enterprise perspectives, by considering information theory, data storage solutions, enterprise and systems architecture, traditional information systems use, and critical decision-making approaches; in order to support students’ understanding that data management is key to achieving business success.

The aim of this module is to provide students with the skills to a) undertake an analytical investigation of organisational data and information, in order to consider the nature, utility, and quality of available data; b) appreciate and support, from a management perspective, the implementation of data quality rule sets and guidelines, in order to facilitate knowledge workers (e.g. database designers); c) identify and appreciate how data needs can support business strategy; d) highlight what data must to be acquired, managed, and processed in business - using examples from a range of large, complex, and real-time datasets; e) understand a range of IS platform choices, and consider the properties, benefits, and problems of specific solutions in context of business operation and decision making, f) appreciate the data management issue involved in obtaining an enterprise systems perspective; and g) appreciate how relevant data hierarchies and taxonomies are identified and used to manage information and knowledge management and management decision making.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Consider, in context, how representation of data and storage format impacts business capability.

2. Critically analyse possible data storage solutions, and the compromises in use that impact business performance.

3. Appreciate some contextual factors impacting business decision making.

4. Discuss, in context of the work-based company, the relevant approaches to enterprise knowledge capture, representation, and effective management

Module content

Students will acquire relevant knowledge and skills concerning: 1) Information theory - in order to i) appreciate the form and value of data by learning the difference between D/I/K/W categories, ii) appreciation of meaning and abstract of information value via consideration of the semiotic ladder (with consideration of digital representation), and iii) appreciate the relationship between data / information, form, and business value; 2) Value of database Management – i) understanding the possible value of data management, ii) ways in which data can be stored, and iii) appreciating the link between form and value; 3) Enterprise architecture – to i) appreciate links that exist between business strategy, business process, systems software, and data architecture, and ii) appreciated the interplay between strategy, information systems, and data management; 4) Business-model and Competitive Forces Analysis – in order to i) allow clarity in the business model, and ii) highlight, in context of market forces, gaps in alignment between business and IS strategies, and problems in the provision of a profitable and attractive value proposition; 5) Business use of Information System – by i) defining IS, and ii) showing how information systems have traditionally been used to capture, manage, and disseminated data, information, and knowledge in order to support organisational activities, and iii) how systems can integrate without alignment; 6) Data Management Solutions – in order to i) appreciate a selection of available data management and information processing solutions, and ii) critically appreciate the benefits and compromises facing business management; 7) Decision making - appreciating i) the value and complexity of timely and meaningful decision making, ii) considering how data management is impacted by the decision type, and iii) the limitations and issues related to current decision approaches; 8) Consideration of metadata, data hierarchies, and/or use of taxonomies to support effective business information storage and retrieval.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be taught in a blended learning approach, which mostly includes directed self-study, undirected self-study, and workshops. It assumes no prior knowledge or experience of information systems and/or data management, therefore students are expected to do a fair amount of wider reading. A range of ‘case examples’ and supporting material will be provided, via e-learning systems, to support individual students in self-study. Business analysis and recommendation plan will be worked on across themes, but needs to be focused, documented, and submitted as part of a report, which is worth 100% of their grade. The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on your cohort start date.

Study hours

At least 14 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Submission of an individual report (4000 word limit + appendices) analysing operation and information systems within the work-based company, with the aim of highlighting, and planning, how data management could support specific improvement in business performance. Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be given feedback on the progress of individual project plan within practical workshops.

Reassessment

Additional costs