Governing Technology for Business Environments
Overview
This unit is designed for managers and corporate strategists to provide a better understanding of IT/Technology oversight and management. The unit is especially relevant for non-technical managers with IT responsibilities. Essential technologies for an organisation will be discussed, as well as emerging technologies that potentially could be part of the mainstream organisational technologies in the near future. An overview of the rationale and consideration in the management aspects of these technologies (including adoption, acquisition, deployment, maintenance) such as impact management, change management, service delivery, business value delivery, management of technology vendors and partners will also be discussed.
Requisites
01-June-2025
08-June-2025
02-November-2025
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critically analyse and evaluate the role of data and the critical issues surrounding Big Data and data management as part of a contemporary and the future organisation
- Critically evaluate and triage risk issues related to technological infrastructure including cyber security risks, and identify appropriate technological vendor and/or partner to work with in resolving the issues
- Apply advanced knowledge of the frameworks, methods, tools and the business impact associated with technology adoption and governance
- Critically evaluate options for ensuring coherent approaches to strategy, technology governance, and managing service delivery within an organisation
- Communicate proficiently and in professional practice to a range of audiences and operate as a member or leader of a group
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| Online Lecture (asynchronous) |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Individual | 30 - 40% | 1,2,3 |
| Assignment 2 | Group | 30 - 40% | 1,2,3,5 |
| Assignment 3 | Individual | 20 - 40% | 2,3,4 |
Content
Overview of organisational (IS) Information Systems, (IT) Information Technology, infrastructure including:
- Network technologies
- Internet Technologies
- Mobile Technologies,
- Data
- Data management
- Data centres
Emerging Technologies/concepts:
- Cloud Computing
- Cloud-based Services
- Location-based services
- The Internet of Things (IoT)
- Big Data
- Disruptive technologies & innovation
- Green IT Technologies
- The key aspects on Infrastructure management including:
- Vendor management
- Service Delivery Management
- Information Technology
- Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
- Management of IT
- Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT)
- Integration, middleware
- Scalability
- Redundancy
- Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
- Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
- Risk & security management & mitigation
- Other key issues: compliance, DRM and licensing
Organisational & managerial perspective on technologies including:
- Dynamic Capabilities
- Benefits realisation
- IT Portfolio
- IT Portfolio Grid
- IS/IT Business Alignment
- Enterprise Architecture; Socio-cultural geo-political consideration on the adoption of technologies as part of a comprehensive strategy on delivering value and capabilities to the organisation
- Innovation
- Strategy and Change management
- Risk Management
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.