Managing Innovation and Information Technology

You will learn about the approaches, skills and methods of effective project management, and the tools and techniques required for planning, control, teamwork, leadership and other key processes. You will develop knowledge and application of the techniques of estimating, forecasting and resource management.

All of these qualities will develop your ability to lead complex projects.

Teaching:

• Interactive lectures and seminars
• Small group learning sets will be used as the basis for problem-based learning scenarios designed to include case studies, class-based activities, research articles and web-based materials
• Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessments:

50%        Individual assignment
50%        Portfolio of business proposal, exhibition and business plan

This work-based module has been developed to ensure that you will gain an awareness and appreciation of the innovative, exploitative nature of emerging and disruptive technologies and open-source possibilities. You will learn from problem analysis, to design creative solutions to meet information needs of defined and potential user communities. This might include the elderly, disabled or the third sector groups.

You will be tasked with innovative problem solving using real life case studies. For this, you will have access to a range of technologies (raspberry pi, sensors,) tools (3D scanners and printers, laser cutters) and our purpose built developmental spaces (Makerspace) to support your development process.. This exciting module has a continuous digital portfolio assessment to showcase the progress of your innovative designs.

Teaching:

• Practice-based sessions to experience and learn appropriate tools, techniques and applications
• Industry guest speakers (including graduates) give you valuable insight and advise on current practices, career advice and networking opportunities
• Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessments (based on real-life briefs):

30%     ‘Meet the brief’ presentation to key stakeholders who will form part of the assessment panel.
70%     Digital portfolio to showcase a proof of concept that is seeking external funding or support

The module combines two interesting topics in the field of digital marketing:
(i) Digital Marketing strategies
(ii) Marketing/Digital Analytics.  

To start the module, we look at digital marketing strategy development, the critical components of a digital marketing strategy and its strategic significance. Interesting topics like digital marketing intelligence, social media and search analytics, big data, customer centric digital strategy etc. will form this part of the module. You will be required to develop a digital marketing strategy for a company of your choice. This provides a platform to apply the principles and frameworks that you have learned. 

Next you will work with business simulation as part of your learning process for strategic decision making.  Working in a group of fellow students, you will act as an entrepreneur of your own company and, as a group, will actively make strategic decisions on a weekly basis for all components of business. Your decision-making will include digital elements to ensure they align with the overall strategy.

Teaching: you will learn through:

• Interactive lectures, seminars and business simulation activities
• Group working on a case study or article with group presentation of solutions
• Industry guest speakers and live project case studies to develop campaigns for
• Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessments:

40%        Group Simulation Performance score
60%        Individual Strategic Marketing Plan

Most businesses are undergoing some form of digital transformation, this module has been designed in partnership with business leaders to take a critical overview of the processes that are involved. You will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the needs of organisations when strategically planning transformation and integrating business information systems. You will also achieve a holistic knowledge of the critical role of Information Technology/ Systems (IT/S), both at corporate and business levels, enabling you to be ready to support and deliver professional, ethical and legal services in IT/S transformation.

The module is divided into six topic specific blocks. Each block will introduce the topic, via interactive/participatory lecture and tutorial/seminar sessions and close with a reflection and synopsis of the topic area. Each block will inform the following block.

Teaching is delivered via:

• interactive lecture sessions, timed tasks, panel discussions, round table debates and quizzes. These will be explored in greater detail by students, working individually or in small groups on a case study, or articles/whitepapers from associated business resources. Groups will be asked to present their solutions to the larger class and these will be openly discussed.
• guest speakers (including graduates) from industry provide you with valuable examples of current practices, career advice and networking opportunities.
• additional guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessments:

100%      Digital portfolio

This is a paid industry placement and provides you with the opportunity to undertake 6-month employment with an organisation located regionally, nationally, or internationally. 

You will source your own placement; however, you will have lots of support from the University of Salford and the Business School employability-hub and from your current industry contacts. You will also benefit from preparatory lectures in study skills, action planning, consultancy and more.  

As part of your placement, you will analyse a ‘live’ business opportunity. This will include critical reflection on opportunities that allow you to apply the theoretical skills you have learned on your programme to an existing business issue; along with how you will develop and use appropriate problem-solving skills in a real-world environment. You will work on an organisational issue, working with the client on a full-time basis. 

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout your placement, from preparing your proposal and applying for ethical approval in your data collection, to field work and supporting the delivery of your proposed outcomes.

The ICP work placement will be assessed in the form of a 10,000-word project report that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken for your placement. Your project report will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection.   

Assessment: 10,000 word project report

This can be a paid or unpaid internship and provides you with the opportunity to undertake 3-month internship with an organisation located regionally, nationally, or internationally. 

You will source your own internship; however, you will have lots of support from the University of Salford and the Business School employability-hub and from your current industry contacts. You will also benefit from preparatory lectures in study skills, action planning, consultancy and more.  

As part of your internship, you will analyse a ‘live’ business opportunity. This will include critical reflection on opportunities that allow you to apply the theoretical skills you have learned on your programme to an existing business issue; along with how you will develop and use appropriate problem-solving skills in a real-world environment. You will work alongside an organisation to identify and explore a real organisational issue up to 20 hours per week. 

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout your internship, from preparing your proposal and applying for ethical approval in your data collection, to field work and supporting the delivery of your proposed outcomes.

The ICP internship will be assessed in the form of a 10,000-word project report that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken for your internship.  Your project report will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection.   

Assessment: 10,000 word project report

A 3-month Applied Dissertation provides you with a unique opportunity to examine an issue important to you and this should fit in with your programme of study. This is an advanced-level applied research pathway that can be based on a real-world business problem and examining an issue important to an organisation. The Applied Dissertation route provides you with the opportunity to apply the theoretical and practical knowledge you have gained from the taught elements of your course to a current organisational issue. You will implement and effectively use appropriate problem-solving skills through critical self-reflection and methodical, systematic research.  It is a very good option to choose if you are considering moving into academic research or PhD upon completion of your master’s programme.

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout your Applied Dissertation, from preparing your proposal and applying for ethical approval in your data collection, to field work and supporting the delivery of your proposed outcomes.

The Applied Dissertation will be assessed in the form of a 15,000-word dissertation that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken. Your dissertation will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection. 

Assessment: 10,000 word dissertation

A 3-month entrepreneurship dissertation involves analysing business opportunities and writing a business plan including critical reflection on opportunities, challenges and strategies. This will lead you on to establish a new business or incorporate your entrepreneurial thinking into the management of existing organisations. You should demonstrate an understanding through the development of an enterprise idea in a specific sector or industry, together with evidence of critical and analytical evaluation. You may find the entrepreneurship dissertation both challenging and rewarding, as it is a practical module in an area which you should have an interest in.

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout the entrepreneurship dissertation route.  They will assist you in developing your skills and reasoning to support entrepreneurial action while working on the development of your own innovative business idea.  In doing this, you will prepare a proposal, ethical considerations for your data collection and field work to support the development of your business plan. 

The Entrepreneurship route will be assessed in the form of an 8,500-word dissertation that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken for your entrepreneurial business idea.  Your dissertation will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection. 

Assessment: 8,500 word dissertation