Management and Information Systems: Change and Development MSc

Information systems are spreading into every sphere of business and non-business organisations. They herald the dawn of a new 'Information Age' in which information, information systems and information technology are recognised as key organisational resources and in which management activities become more information-intensive.  Yet the majority of information systems - including e-government, e-commerce, and e-development systems - are under-performing or are failures.

A  key cause of this problem is the gap of knowledge, of skills, of culture and of language that exists between functional managers and information systems professionals. 

The aim of this Masters degree is to close that gap by training individual staff to become 'hybrid managers'. Hybrid managers are those who understand both the job of management in its organisational setting and the role, management and jargon of information, information systems and information technology.  These individuals will be in a strong position to lead the successful development and implementation of new information systems in their organisations.

• conceptual frameworks to understand the role of management of information, of information technology and of information systems in organisations;
• new knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development implementation and management of information systems;
• new knowledge and skills to help in the effective management and change of organisations.

Informal enquiries, prior to applications, are welcomed. Please contact either: Dr Richard Duncombe (Programme Director) | Tel: +44(0)161 275 2822 | Email: richard.duncombe@manchester.ac.uk  or Dr Ping Gao (Programme Director) | Tel: +44(0)161 275 7443 | Email: ping.gao@manchester.ac.uk

An overseas field visit is an integral part of the programme. The cost of the visit is included in the programme fee. In addition, participants may undertake research visits to organisations applying information systems in practice in the UK. Fieldcourses may be scheduled at any point during the twelve-month period of the degree programme and this may include during University vacations. Successful applicants are expected to be available to attend.

Countries to be visited may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice. IDPM cannot guarantee that where visas are required for the field course, they will be granted. IDPM will ensure that, in the unlikely event this occurs, affected students are not academically disadvantaged.

Core programme course units usually include:

• Fundamentals of Information and Information Systems 
• Introducing Information Systems in Organisations

Students choose one core module from:

• Civil Society and Public Action  
• International Management
• Public Sector Reform and Management

and one further core module from:

• E-Business: Organisation and Strategy 
• Issues in the Management of Information Systems

Optional course units may include:

• E-Business: Organisation and Strategy 
• E-Government
• Human Resource Practice 1
• Human Resource Practice 2
• ICTs and Socio-Economic Development
• ICTs in Practice 
• Information Technologies and Human Resources
• Issues in the Management of Information Systems
• Organisation Development 
• Organisational Behaviour 
• Organisational Change Strategies
• Planning and Managing Development
• Multimedia Design and Development

Availability of course units may vary from year to year.

It should be noted that the development of technical computing skills is not the primary aim of the programme. However, a range of short computing skills workshops are available for those that require them, covering hands-on office automation skills and specific programming skills. The programme also incorporates some small practical information systems projects.

• Ghouse Fakhri (Business Development Manager - Middle East and Africa, KalSoft (Pvt) Ltd Pakistan)

'Prior to obtaining admission to the University of Manchester, I evaluated the MIS Program offered by IDPM very vigilantly and identified the potential of this program in the professional market. I feel that the MSc MIS helped me in polishing my analytical and problem solving skills and bring me inline with the best practices of the Management in Information Technology field. that are necessary to accomplish my job diligently'.

• Denis Chesnokov (Account Manager, Cisco Systems Kazakhstan)

'I decided to study the MSc MIS course at the University of Manchester to enhance my professional skills and (as a result) improve my career opportunities. The MSc MIS program provided my primary requirements - a well-balanced curriculum combining both project management and information systems issues.

After completing the course, I can frankly confirm that the knowledge and the skills I have gained have contributed significantly to my career progression.

I would especially mention the provision of a broad range of optional modules to study - from International Management, Human Resource Practice and Organizational Development - to e-Government, Change Management and Business Process Re-engineering and the truly international environment in IDPM with students and lecturers from many different countries

Completing the course has improved my career opportunities, enhanced my professional value on the market and helped me to become a successful employee at Cisco'.