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.

At the end of the programme, participants will have been provided with:

• 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'.

Postgraduate open days provide a great opportunity to take a look at the University and find out what Manchester has to offer you. For further information, please see: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/opendays

Academic entry qualification overview: Applicants should have a Bachelors degree with a minimum classification of Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2:1) or its international equivalent.

Admission of candidates who do not meet this criterion may be approved if satisfactory evidence of postgraduate study, research or professional experience can be provided. Please contact the School's admissions office for further guidance.

English language:  Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

• IELTS - score of 6.5 or more Overall with a 6.0 in writing and 6 in the other subsections
• TOEFL - Internet based score of 88 or more overall; with a score of 22 in the writing and 22 in the other subsections
• Pearson Test of English score of 59-65 or more overall, with a minimum score of 59 in the each section
• Grade C in the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or
• Grade B Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English.  (Please note that the Cambridge First Certificate in English is not acceptable.)
• an NCUK PMP EAP Grade B

Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of your course.

Other international entry requirements: We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country .

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

• Part-time Study

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 24 months.  There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director first and seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off.  Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Each course unit generally requires two shorter or one longer coursework assignment.  For core units, assignments typically relate to organisational application of management and information systems ideas.  Some course units have an assessed group presentation component.  Only one module (and this is an optional module) has an examination component.

Participants must also complete a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice approved by the Programme Directors.  Students are encouraged to base their dissertations on topics of direct professional concern to themselves.

The Arthur Lewis Building provides excellent resources including analytical laboratories, studio facilities, workshops, seminar rooms, an on-site cafe and dedicated computer clusters including GIS facilities.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Support Office. Email: disability@manchester.ac.uk

This programme is designed to develop two groups of participants: functional managers who wish to take greater control over, and make a more direct contribution to, change in their organisations via the development and implementation of information systems; and information systems professionals who wish to improve the success rate of the information systems they develop or use, and who may also wish to upgrade their management skills and knowledge.

It will be relevant to those with career trajectories in the private, public, and NGO sectors, and it is particularly appropriate for those working in or with newly developed, transitional and developing countries. Our graduates have an impressive career record in the UK or in their home countries. 

IDPM has a large and diverse postgraduate population, with 85% of our students drawn from outside the UK, particularly from Africa, Asia and Western Europe, but also reaching out to Latin America, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific. Graduates from the MSc M&IS programme have gone on to careers that typically incorporate a mix of management, information systems and information technology responsibilities such as business analysis, change management, and e-business and e-government roles with public, private and NGO sector organisations. Others have pursued further academic study leading to a PhD and academic/research consulting careers. Since its foundation, IDPM has trained over 7000 individuals from 170 different countries.