Students
MGNT805 – Managing Technology
2019 – Term 3 North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Will Renner
Contact via +61 (2) 9850 9028
Macquarie Business School MGSM, Room 205: E12B Building
Tuesday, 2:00-3:00
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| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MMgmt
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Digital innovation is disrupting markets, organisations and management itself. It is an important means for creating value for customers and a necessary aspect of a modern manager’s mindset. Managers have to be able to critically evaluate the nature and significance of digital technology to understand unfolding trends and avoid fads. Digital innovation also offers new techniques and tools for effective organizational management in dynamic environments. In this unit, students will develop the knowledge and skills required to manage technology and innovation. They will learn to reconceptualise how business is done with technology to promote sustainable business performance, research and design solutions to enhance decision making, and effectively lead and manage innovation.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Critically reflect on the concept of digital disruption
- Distinguish between a range of digital business models which sustain competitive advantage in products and services
- Apply digital business models to new business settings
- Justify decisions involving the strategic management of new digital projects
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
- Speak the language of developers and understand the basic mechanics of digital technologies used in business systems
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class participation | 20% | No | Weekly |
| Seminar presentation | 30% | No | TBA |
| Main assignment | 50% | No | Week 10 |
Class participation
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%
This is calculated weekly based on
- Contribution to class discussion
- Completion of pre-class exercises
- Participation in social learning activities such as the class Knowledge Base and TechTalk presentations
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically reflect on the concept of digital disruption
- Speak the language of developers and understand the basic mechanics of digital technologies used in business systems
Seminar presentation
Due: TBA
Weighting: 30%
You will record, edit and produce a video presentation on a seminar topic. Topics will be allocated in week 1. The purpose is to extend classroom learning beyond the formal curriculum.
Deliverables
- 5 minute video – Presentation of a relevant business technology or technology management issue to be completed in advance
- 10 minute seminar – You will answer questions from the class about your video and topic.
- Collection of feedback - Evidence of class learning
Assessment rubric:
- Value to class learning (50%). Peer review assessment.
- Content (30%). Instructor assessment.
- Production value (20%). Instructor assessment.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically reflect on the concept of digital disruption
- Distinguish between a range of digital business models which sustain competitive advantage in products and services
- Apply digital business models to new business settings
- Speak the language of developers and understand the basic mechanics of digital technologies used in business systems
Main assignment
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 50%
Proposal for a new digital innovation
You will develop a proposal for a new digital system, product or service for an organisation. The proposed innovation might be internal to the organisation (eg a new HR system), involve a value chain innovation (a B2B system), or could be customer-facing (a B2C system). The focus of the assignment is to make a compelling case for your management and development plan. It must either meet a current business objective, close a gap in service provision or build business capability with a new digital product. As such it is important to select an organisation where you have access to details about the organisation’s current strategy, tech systems and market position to identify an appropriate innovation. It is expected the proposal will draw significantly from the curriculum of the unit, involving the full lifecycle of technological innovation.
Assignment deliverables
The assignment will be 5000 words, and must include the following components:
- Overview
- Business case
- Product design
- Development plan
- Implementation plan
By Week 5 you will have a draft of the Business case which you can present to the class, and by the end of Week 10 you will submit the assignment to iLearn.
Assessment rubric:
- Report formatting, graphics and structure (10%)
- Business case (20%)
- Product design (20%)
- Development plan (20%)
- Implementation plan (20%)
- Written expression, references, bibliography and appendix (10%)
50% of the marks for the assignment (i.e. 25 marks) will be assessed based on individual contribution. Students will be required to complete a Self and Peer Assessment form so that the contribution of individual members in a group can be identified and assessed. Further instructions will be provided on iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically reflect on the concept of digital disruption
- Distinguish between a range of digital business models which sustain competitive advantage in products and services
- Apply digital business models to new business settings
- Justify decisions involving the strategic management of new digital projects
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
Delivery and Resources
Required text
There is no required text.
Additional supplementary readings
Additional readings pertinent to each session will be uploaded accordingly on the iLearn page prior to the session. No learning material will be provided in hard copy format.
Further sources of information
Highly recommended journals
- Harvard business review
- MIT sloan review
- International Journal of Technology Management
Other related journals Useful academic databases (DB), search engines (SE), publishers (PB)
- Emerald Insight (DB)
- Elsevier (DB)
- Scopus (SE)
- Web of science (SE)
- Wiley (PB)
- Springer (PB)
Useful industry databases
- IBISWorld
- Factiva
- EBSCO business searching interface
MGSM iLearn
The web page for this unit can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MGSM
Technology
Access to a personal computer is required to access resources and learning material from iLearn. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet to class.
Study requirements
It will be assumed that the assigned reading for each session has been done prior to class. Class time will be spent ensuring that you have understood this material and exploring new developments and extensions to the basic concepts.
Class case discussions and project preparations will be used as methods for active participatory learning. The grade you obtain for them together with the participation grade will measure the effectiveness of the learning process.
If you are unable to attend a class session or have to arrive late or leave early, please let me know before the session concerned as this will have an obvious impact on the planned syndicate work. If this situation occurs, you should also arrange with a fellow class member to collect any handouts and other information for you.
Unit Schedule
Note: See iLearn to view any updates to the unit schedule
| Week | Topic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Digital Disruption | The impact of the digital economy on business |
| 2 | Digital business models | How new business models create value |
| 3 | Information ecosystems and platforms | The economics of value chain networks and platforms |
| 4 | Personalised marketing and CRM | Online consumption and digital markets, ethics |
| 5 | Disruptive technologies | IoT, cloud computing, blockchain, machine learning, semantic analysis and artificial intelligence |
| 6 | Data management | Cloud computing, data security, RDB, MongoDB |
| 7 | Managing digital innovation | SDLC, design thinking, agile methodologies, team management |
| 8 | Digital project design | Frameworks, process modelling, client-server architecture, UX, web and mobile UI, transactions, encryption and certificates |
| 9 | Developing and implementing a digital innovation | Hosting, testing, budgeting |
| 10 | Digital project deployment and maintenance | Launch, traffic analytics, evaluation, continuous improvement |
Learning and Teaching Activities
TechTalk workshops
Knowledge base
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Critically reflect on the concept of digital disruption
- Apply digital business models to new business settings
- Justify decisions involving the strategic management of new digital projects
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
- Speak the language of developers and understand the basic mechanics of digital technologies used in business systems
Assessment task
- Main assignment
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Distinguish between a range of digital business models which sustain competitive advantage in products and services
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
- Speak the language of developers and understand the basic mechanics of digital technologies used in business systems
Assessment tasks
- Seminar presentation
- Main assignment
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Critically reflect on the concept of digital disruption
- Distinguish between a range of digital business models which sustain competitive advantage in products and services
- Apply digital business models to new business settings
- Justify decisions involving the strategic management of new digital projects
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
Assessment tasks
- Class participation
- Main assignment
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
Assessment task
- Main assignment
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Apply digital business models to new business settings
- Justify decisions involving the strategic management of new digital projects
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
- Speak the language of developers and understand the basic mechanics of digital technologies used in business systems
Assessment tasks
- Class participation
- Seminar presentation
- Main assignment
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Distinguish between a range of digital business models which sustain competitive advantage in products and services
- Apply digital business models to new business settings
- Justify decisions involving the strategic management of new digital projects
- Diagnose, recommend and produce a plan for business digital transformation
Assessment tasks
- Class participation
- Seminar presentation
- Main assignment