EDI 3510 Business Information Systems
EDI 3510 Business Information Systems
This course introduces concepts, principles, and practices concerning the use of digital technology to support a firm’s strategic goals and key activities. A firm’s business model as well as its operational activities are supported by an information technology infrastructure that consists of hardware and software, in short, business information systems. Business information systems enable all sorts of activities necessary to perform tasks within and across firms. Therefore, a central competence for modern managers, consultants, or entrepreneurs is the ability to understand the interaction between business decisions and technology decisions to align a firm’s strategic and operational goals with technological capabilities.
To engage with these issues, this course serves as an introduction to the role and importance of information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) in a world that is increasing being digitalized. The course introduces basic concepts of IT/IS and relates them to corporate and business strategy. Topics include but are not limited to strategic alignment, principles and practices of its implementation, enterprise systems architecture, development, and design as well as key applications of information systems in businesses.
The course combines conceptual knowledge about information systems in business with hands-on exercises involving state-of-the-art tools and systems through teaching cases, tool demonstrations, and simulations. Knowledge of IS/IT as well as any technical skills such as programming or database management are not required.
After completing this course, a candidate will have developed knowledge about:
- Definitions and elements of information systems (IS) and information technology (IT)
- Principles and concepts related to a firm’s digital technology infrastructure
- Link between a firm’s business strategy, operational activities and the use of business information systems
- Elements, principles, and concepts of a firm’s information systems strategy and its alignment with business goals
- IS management of tools and applications for business (e.g., Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Architecture (EA), Cloud applications and infrastructure, etc.)
After completing this course, a candidate will be able to:
- Describe and assess the interdependencies between a firm’s strategic objectives and its business information systems
- Evaluate a firm’s existing digital infrastructure in relation to its strategic and operational objectives
- Perform basic tasks using relevant tools and applications (e.g., ERP systems, cloud platforms)
A candidate well be able to explain and analyze elements of state-of-the-art information systems and their use in modern organizations.
- Introduction to information systems (IS) and information technology (IT)
- Elements of information systems and technologies
- Types of information systems and technologies
- The role of IS in industries and organizations characterized by digitalization
- Elements of a digital infrastructure
- Structural aspects of information technology
- Hardware and software elements
- The role of cloud-based systems and Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Alignment of business and information systems strategy
- Implications of business strategy for the use of information systems and digital technologies
- Information systems requirements to support operational activities
- Development and implementation of an appropriate IS strategy
- Management of digital technologies
- Justifying investments into technology
- Cybersecurity and privacy issues
- Ethics and social issues in information systems
The course includes a combination of lectures, case discussions, and hands-on exercises using software tools.
| Assessments |
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Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 100 Grouping: Group/Individual (1 - 3) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: The final exam assignment is a portfolio consisting of assignments completed throughout the course. During the course, students will complete a variety of tasks and assignments which are submitted along the way for formative peer assessment. The assignments can be solved in groups throughout the semester. The final written assignment that serves as the basis of examination is the collection of assignments. Exam code: EDI 35101 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 30 Hour(s) | Teaching will be split over lectures and workshop/lab sessions |
Student's own work with learning resources | 15 Hour(s) | |
Prepare for teaching | 75 Hour(s) | |
Feedback activities and counselling | 5 Hour(s) | Mainly peer feedback on project presentations. |
Examination | 75 Hour(s) | Work on tasks and assignments throughout the course |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.