ObjectivesAfter completing the course students should be able to: - Critically assess the likely contribution information systems can make to the strategic capability of an organisation. - Demonstrate an ability to place organisational business activities in a global enterprise context and understand the implications. - Demonstrate a critical understanding of business management and information systems principles and use them to make appropriate decisions. - Be able to promote and manage the successful liaison between technical support personnel, business users, system users, clients and management. - Critically apply general computing, database and Internet skills to sustain the development of computing systems in a business environment. - Demonstrate a deep understanding of business strategy, management and functional principles necessary for promoting successful communication and liaisons. - Demonstrate and apply essential computing skills and knowledge of management techniques to promote successful deployment of computer systems in a business-oriented fashion. - Critically assess the effectiveness of business processes and identify potential improvements within a complex business environment. - Demonstrate creativity and innovative thinking in the development of business modelling, systems modelling and database development skills. - Critically evaluate their own work and the work of others in area of business computing. - Demonstrate a profound competence in undertaking and successfully completing a significant business computing project.
Entry requirementsThe conversion course is open to graduates with a good Honours degree in a course containing quantitative element but not to graduates of computer science or related degrees. In addition to degrees in the sciences and engineering, many degrees in subjects such as economics and business studies will usually meet this criterion. Where necessary, the relevance of the applicant’s first degree will be determined at interview. Students admitted to the course are expected to have gained some experience in the use of computers. In exceptional cases, for those with extensive experience of working in a computing related environment, business or industry, the formal educational requirements may be relaxed.
Academic titleMSc Business Computing
Course descriptionIntroduction
The MSc in Business Computing aims to assess the contribution business computing and information systems can make to the strategic capability of an organisation by placing organisational business activities in a global enterprise context. It also addresses the understanding of business management and information systems principles and their use in making appropriate business decisions. The course is available full-time and part-time.
Course Philosophy and Rationale
Computer systems have become an integral part of the modern business environment, and thus have ensured a dominant role for information technology in enterprise activities. The impact of the global information infrastructure in facilitating competition in enterprise activities has created a new corporate culture where information systems have become vital components in a variety of managerial activities. Corporate intranets for example are being used for such tasks as collaborative planning, decision-making, information dissemination etc. As information technology assumes an enhanced role in supporting business needs, the demands for a new generation of managers who have both business management and business computing skills grow. The MSc in Business Computing is a specialist course which aims to produce the kind of hybrid manager required to meet the demands of the prevailing business environment outlined above. While the four core modules provide the required basic knowledge and exposure to contemporary business management and business computing topics, the suite of optional modules build on the basic knowledge through the acquisition of further specialist competencies.
Course aims
Provide a postgraduate programme in business computing that has both a theoretical and practical nature by utilising the expertise available within the Computer Science School and Business School at Harrow. Produce graduates who have built on their first degree and/or work experience by offering a range of knowledge and skills which will enable them to become professionals capable of designing, implementing and managing business computing systems. Produce graduates with the ability to critically analyse and support businesses using the appropriate software tools. Develop the students’ professional attitudes as well as their interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills which are required by a practitioner in the industry. Provide students with critical and evaluative perspectives of the business and computing disciplines and develop their capacity for independent and self-reflective learning, ensuring their future contribution to research and development.
Course Content
The course comprises four core taught modules, four optional taught modules and a project double module. As expected, there is an equal balance between the number of ‘computing’ modules offered by the Computer Science School and the number of ‘business’ modules offered by the Business School.
Core Modules
- Business Process Modelling
- Database Systems
- Enterprise Information Support Systems
- Strategic Management of Information Systems
- Business Computing Project
Core Modules
- Database Application Development
- Human Resource Strategies
- Managing E-Commerce
- Web Development