Study Programmes 2015-2016
INFO0934-8  
Information Technology Management
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Master in business engineering (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Ashwin Ittoo
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The aim of this course is to equip students with the fundamental skillsets in IS for their future professional (e.g. consultants, managers) or academic (e.g. doctorate) careers. Therefore, it requires that students take on a critical stance to evaluate the implications of IS (and associated issues) for organizations. Furthermore, the course focuses both on the theoretical and the practical aspects by means of lectures and hands-on exercises using software packages. In addition, guest-speakers from industry will be invited to give lectures on selected topics.
The course starts by motivating the need for (integrated) IS and by defining the core concepts/notions. The focus will be on ERP systems. Among others, the topics to be covered include:








  • Issues with legacy IS (information silos) and the need for ERP systems
  • Critical success factors and cultural factors that can make or break ERP projects
  • Re-engineering existing processes to align them with the ERP system
Relevant examples from (discrete) manufacturing and real-life ERP implementations will be provided to illustrate the topics covered.
Next, we delve into data models underlying ERP systems. Specifically, we will learn how to conceptualize data models from scenarios using the UML notation in practical exercises.
Subsquently, we will turn our attention to business processes, which are central to ERP systems. In particular we will look at 






  • Business Process Management (BPM)
  • Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)
 
In the practical part, we will study how  to model business processes using the BPMN notation.
(Note that BPMN and UML are de facto industry standards)
As future consultants, students will be expected to participate or lead ERP implementation projects. As such, students will be introduced to the phases and challenges involved in ERP implementation. Main topics will include:
ERP implementation lifecycle
  • Critical Success Factors
  • Strategies for going-live
  • Post-implementation
 
Following the topic of ERP implementation, we will focus on more organizational aspects. In particularly, we will look at the process of Change Management and User Resistance, which, despite being often overlooked, are fundamental to the success of ERP implementations.
If time permit, the course will also cover emerging trends in IS/IT, such as



  • Big Data and Analytics
  • RFID
  • Healthcare Information Systems
Learning outcomes of the course :
At the end of this course, students should be able to:


  • Define basic notions associated with IS
  • Appreciate the need for integrated Enterprise IS (e.g. ERP) compared to legacy information silos
  • Acquire basic hands-on experience with a real-life ERP system, namely SAP
  • Describe the ERP implementation process
  • Appreciate the risks and challenges of ERP implementations
  • Discuss solutions to mitigate the risks and challenges
  • Describe the critical success factors of ERP implementation
  • Understand the fundamental difference between the data and process perspective
  • Develop comprehensive data models of a given scenario using UML
  • Develop comprehensive process models of a given scenario using BMPN2.0
  • Evaluate the success of IS and IS implementations
  • Critically discuss the weaknesses/strengths and suggest improvements to standard IS Success Models
  • Discuss the challenges and opportunities of new trends and technologies in IS, in particular, Web 2.0 and Social Media and Big Data
  • Discuss how these trends and technologies will affect classical IS like ERPs and society
This course contributes to the following Intended Learning Outcomes :
  ILO-3 : To understand, in management situations, the transversal tools of quantitative reasoning, information systems and project management
  ILO-5 : Integrate autonomously researched information, tools, knowledge and context to build and propose, either individually or as part of a team, original, creative and viable solutions to concrete complex management problems, whether real or simulated, taking into account, when necessary, the human, social and legal context.
  ILO-6 : Ability to speak 2 foreign languages: C1 in English and B2 in one other language.  
ILO-9 : Developing a critical sense (arguing
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Course candidates should have taken (and passed) IS courses of their earlier years, in particular, INFO0076-1: Informatique pour ingénieurs de gestion
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
  • Lectures
  • Practical sessions in computer rooms
  • Please note that attendance is compulsory for lectures and practical. Please contact the lecturer beforehand if you are unable to attend a lecture or practical
Recommended or required readings :
Selected chapters from


  • Enterprise Systems for Management, by Motiwalla and Thompson, Pearson 2012**
  • Integrated Business Processes with ERP Systems, by Magal and Word, Wiley, 2012
Assessment methods and criteria :
The course will follow a continuous assessment system. The final grade will be based on a series of assignments during the course and a final written examination. Details:
  • Java programming assignment (practical)
  • Text analytics assignment (practical - project based)
  • Small written exercise or practical on SAP (to be confirmed)
  • Written examination
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Contacts :
Ashwin Ittoo HEC Management School - University of Liege
Items online :
Lecture Notes
Lecture Notes