IFN631 IT Governance
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | IFN631 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | IFN585 or IFN502 or (IFN552 and IFN558) or (IFQ552 and IFQ558) or admission into IN14 or IQ14 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,816 |
| International unit fee | $5,352 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | IFN631 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | IFN585 or IFN502 or (IFN552 and IFN558) or (IFQ552 and IFQ558) or admission into IN14 or IQ14 |
| Coordinator: | Erwin Fielt | e.fielt@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This executive-focused Information Technology (IT) unit addresses the core concepts, frameworks and methods for IT leaders (e.g. CIOs, IT Managers) to support their organizations in creating and delivering business value with information and technology through business-IT alignment. Three main outcomes that can be expected after successfully adopting IT governance are benefits realization, risk optimization, and resource optimization. The unit takes an enterprise-wide, managerial perspective on how IT executives can facilitate the transition towards digital business and set the executive agenda for IT in larger organizations by addressing traditional IT governance topics such as the enterprise governance of IT, benefits management and risk management as well as contemporary digital governance topics such as digital transformation, big data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Explain and apply key concepts, frameworks and methods for governing IT in organisations.
- Assess value, alignment and governance in an organizational context for a digital innovation to support executive decision making.
- Develop business case in the context of IT governance including benefits and risk to support executive decision making.
- Communicate effectively to a multidisciplinary, executive audience.
- Work effectively as a member of a team
Content
This unit will help you develop knowledge and skills for governing IT (information technology) for business-IT alignment to create business value with IT. This is positioned in the context of you working as an individual and in a team to advise and inform executives through presentations and reports on IT governance.
The unit will introduce you to enterprise governance of information and technology (IT governance). It will help you understand core concepts for IT governance such as IT business value, business-IT alignment, benefits management, risk management, IT investment and leadership (CIO). It will also make you familiar with IT governance frameworks such as COBIT and methods such as risk assessment.
In addition, the unit addresses IT governance in a contemporary setting, where digital governance is concerned with value creation and delivery from digital innovation and transformation and the mitigation of business risk that results from digital technologies. This requires that organizations innovate their business and introduce new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence while also paying attention to cybersecurity.
Learning Approaches
This unit will use pre-recorded lectures to provide you with the big picture and a detailed understanding of concepts, frameworks, and methods related to IT governance. it will illustrate their applicability through real-world case studies and examples. You are expected to study the lecture content in preparation for the workshops.
This unit will use workshops to practise the use of concepts, frameworks, and methods and support you with your assignments. Peer-to-peer learning will play a major role and you are encouraged to work together building on each other’s strengths and assisting each other to learn, valuing the knowledge and experience you bring. As these workshops will be ‘hands-on,’ you are required to participate in these workshops actively.
Assessment tasks 1 and 2 (opportunity and proposal) will use real-world examples and authentic assessment to learn how organizations can govern IT in a contemporary setting with a focus on digital innovation and transformation. You are expected to study the lectures and workshops in preparation for these assessment tasks.
The unit will reflect the interdisciplinary nature of IT leaders as being across business and IT.
You should expect to spend, on average, 10 - 15 hours per week involved in preparing for and attending scheduled classes, preparing and completing assessment tasks as well as in independent study to consolidate your learning. You must be able to manage your time and prioritise activities to complete the required unit activities.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will get feedback on learning and assessment through participating in the workshops. These will include quizzes on the unit content and exercises to practise the concepts, frameworks, and methods. The workshops will also support you with your assessment tasks and provide formative feedback. In addition, there will be summative feedback on your assessment tasks through the marking criteria and comments.
Assessment
Overview
The assessments in this unit have been designed to cover the breadth and depth of IT governance. Through the digital business opportunity and proposal assessments, you will gain insights in and experience with the governance of new projects in the early and later stages of the project lifecycle addressing topics such as business value, benefits & risks, governance mechanisms, and digital governance. The exam will further consolidate your knowledge across the different governance topics.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: New digital business opportunity
You will develop an executive level presentation that show how you envision and justify a new opportunity for innovating the business with IT in a contemporary setting.
Assessment: New digital business proposal
You will develop an executive level report presenting a business case that can be used to support decision making regarding a new digital business initiative.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Examination (invigilated)
You will demonstrate your understanding of key concepts, frameworks and methods for governing IT in organisations through a written examination that may include multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
You are expected to have access to basic hardware and software as used in professional practice to produce reports and presentations (Microsoft word, Microsoft PowerPoint). You also need access to the library and Internet for performing research.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no unusual health or safety risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.IN20 Master of Information Technology
- Demonstrate advanced specialist IT knowledge in at least one information technology discipline.
Relates to: ULO1, New digital business opportunity, New digital business proposal, Examination (invigilated) - Critically analyse complex IT problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate innovative and novel solutions that are convincingly justified.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, New digital business opportunity, New digital business proposal - Integrate advanced, industry-best practice, IT methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement complex IT systems, processes and/or software.
Relates to: ULO3, New digital business proposal - Employ leadership and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts to create value for others.
Relates to: ULO5, New digital business proposal - Communicate effectively in IT professional and scholarly contexts to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, visual and oral formats.
Relates to: ULO4, New digital business opportunity, New digital business proposal