MQM2MSA: Managing Strategic Alignment of Business and IT
Module code: MQM2MSA
Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School
Credits: 20
Level: Postgraduate Masters Stage 2
When you'll be taught: Full year
Module convenor: Professor Sharm Manwani, email: sharm.manwani@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: 28 May 2024
Overview
Module aims and purpose
This module is the first of the IT Strategy specialisms for the Digital Apprenticeship programme and builds on the core modules. Managing Strategic Alignment (MSA) covers the business and technology strategic alignment of the enterprise. 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 alignment perspective of the digital transformation of an organisation at the enterprise level.
This module has the aim to enable course members to develop and critically evaluate business systems and technical strategies to help organisations transform in a fast-moving digital world:
• To develop an understanding of why enterprises create a strategic alignment of business and IT capabilities – and the consequences of failing to do so
• To build a solid knowledge foundation of the components of business and technical strategies and how they interact in a holistic framework
•
• To appropriately select from a portfolio of business IT alignment tools and apply these for digital transformation, engaging with professional colleagues and executives
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:
1. Perform strategic analysis of an organisation’s systems, including structure and effectiveness
2. Make proposals for systems rationalisation, systems integration and other improvements
Develop technology strategies aligned with business priorities with different options
3. Develop technology strategies aligned with business priorities with different options
4. Develop and implement technology lifecycle roadmaps
5. Select and apply appropriate tools for managing strategic alignment
Module content
The modules builds on two main parts – business systems strategy and technical strategy.
Business Systems Strategy
• Document existing information systems (IS) in the context of current operating model
• Identify IS needs arising from new and evolving business operating models
• Develop a strategy to close the gap between ‘as is’ and ‘to be’ perspectives
Technical Strategy
• Develop technical strategies aligned with business priorities
• Assess different technical options to deliver the technical strategies
• Develop technology roadmaps considering implementation approaches.
This module recognises that enterprises often operate multi-nationally and provides this perspective through published global business IT research
Structure
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.
The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on the cohort start date.
Study hours
| Scheduled teaching and learning activities | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | |||
| Seminars | 14 | ||
| Tutorials | |||
| Project Supervision | |||
| Demonstrations | |||
| Practical classes and workshops | |||
| Supervised time in studio / workshop | |||
| Scheduled revision sessions | |||
| Feedback meetings with staff | |||
| Fieldwork | |||
| External visits | |||
| Work-based learning | 42 | ||
| Self-scheduled teaching and learning activities | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts | |||
| Participation in discussion boards/other discussions | |||
| Feedback meetings with staff | |||
| Other | |||
| Other (details) | |||
| Placement and study abroad | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | |||
| Study abroad | |||
| Independent study hours | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent study hours | 144 |
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
Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.
Summative assessment
| Type of assessment | Detail of assessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of assessment | Submission date | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written coursework assignment | Individual report | 100 | 3000-5000 words | Semester After Teaching Week 10 |
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:
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.
Reassessment
| Type of reassessment | Detail of reassessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of reassessment | Submission date | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written coursework assignment | Individual report | 100 | 3000-5000 words |
Additional costs
| Item | Additional information | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Computers and devices with a particular specification | ||
| Printing and binding | ||
| Required textbooks | ||
| Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear | ||
| Specialist equipment or materials | ||
| Travel, accommodation, and subsistence |
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.