Course description
This course is open to all graduates of any subject and is aimed at graduates or experienced middle-managers who wish to understand the role of information technology in strategic management.
The course has been designed for those who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in the management of businesses and not-for-profit organisations. The particular emphasis of this MBA on information technology will allow the developing manager to gain an insight into the potential that IT can offer to the improved effectiveness and competitive position of a business. This can be achieved without having to understand all the technological issues involved. It is important that all modern managers understand the potential and limitations of IT in business because it consumes such a significant proportion of the resources in any organisation.
The core of the programme is shared with all Coventry MBA's - strategy, marketing, finance and human resource management. This is common to all MBA programmes. In addition, the role of the IS/IT function is evaluated from a strategic viewpoint. The role that IT plays in the development of the organisation as a whole and the management strategies that are necessary for the delivery of IS/IT are examined. The emerging role of e-commerce and the new demands this places on IS/IT will be explored. Students will write a dissertation on a management issue that involves an aspect of IS/IT.
Computing facilities at Coventry University
The School offers a full range of computing services to support the courses. We have well-equipped, up-to-date computer laboratories offering Linux, Windows 2000, CISCO networking, wireless LAN, multimedia authoring packages, web-site development tools, and specialist workstation environments. All students have full internet access and e-mail facilities.
Our students are provided with lecture notes, exercises, case studies and information about helpful websites through our School intranet and our electronic learning support environment, WebCT. Forums are available for students on each course module to interact with one another and work together as virtual groups.
A new Learning Resources Centre provides access to on-line databases, an audio-visual collection, a multimedia CD-ROM collection and is located close to the School.
We offer a stimulating and exciting environment in which you will be able to develop new knowledge and skills.
The School is located in its own modern building adjacent to the Computing Services Centre. The building includes over thirty teaching/research laboratories equipped with modern computers and workstations for the development and use of multimedia, networks, databases, expert systems, CASE, programming language, and web-development. tools. The Coventry Business School and the £16million Lanchester Library are located in adjacent buildings. Our courses make extensive use of the University's on-line learning environment, WebCT, to support conventional lecture, laboratory and seminar work.
If your experience allows you to claim exemption from one of the modules, you may be able to substitute an independent study module or a module from one of our other MSc courses.
Course content
The course requires full-time study over 12 months. It is divided into three semesters and you may start the course in either late September or early February. The course may also be taken on a part-time basis by attending the University just two evenings a week. See our part-time course list for details. You will study ten single modules (or their equivalent) during the first two semesters. All the assessments for the modules, whether coursework assignments or written examinations, occur within the semesters. At the end of these first two semesters, if you have satisfactorily completed the taught part of the course, you become eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma and may progress to the dissertation which is undertaken over the third semester.
Please note that modules may not be offered in the same order and that we reserve the right to amend the programme at short notice in the interests of improving the quality of education.
The modules studied are:
-Strategic Management
-Financial Statements Analysis
-Human Resource Management
-Marketing Management
-Logistics Strategy
-IS/IT Change Management (double module)
plus three more chosen from:
* Systems Lifecycle and Methods Overview
* E-Commerce Applications (double)
* Systems Development and Procurement (double)
* Database Systems and Administration
Research MethodsMBA Dissertation.
