Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Information Technology Management

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification and qualification is to develop the applied competence of the learner in analysing, interpreting and applying information technology (IT) management principles and methods. It further develops the intellectual, research and professional skills of the learner. The qualification prepares learners to meaningfully participate in the management of information technology in organisations and as such contributing to the economic growth of the organisation.

Rationale

Internal discussions with the Academy of Information Technology (the IT department within the Faculty of Science) took place in 2007 and it was decided that the BCom (IT Management) qualification would be transferred to the Department of Business Information Technology (BIT). In 2008 BIT took ownership of the BCom (IT Management) qualification.

This qualification currently does not provide any articulation possibilities. Several enquiries have been received from final year learners as to what options are available to them to further their studies. The gap was identified and it was decided to develop a qualification to address this need.

This is also the first step in providing further postgraduate possibilities for Masters and Doctoral degrees. Offering this qualification will have limited impact on current UJ resources as existing staff will be used for the qualification. New lecturing facilities on the Auckland Park Bunting Road (APB) campus means courses do not have to be duplicated anymore which frees up capacity for new courses.

Geographically, the department of BIT plans to serve learners on the Auckland Park Kingsway Avenue (APK) campus as this is where learners would have completed the BCom (IT Management) qualification. The qualification will also be offered to any community member who shows an interest and meets the entry level requirements.

The department of BIT has also met with several companies such as KPMG and RMB which have shown great interest in the BCom (IT Management) qualification.

A need has also been expressed for a post-graduate qualification in this field by the aforementioned companies.

IT Management is a relatively new field. The BCom (IT Management) qualification has been running since 2006 and has shown tremendous growth.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be done according to National and UJ policies. The Institution of Johannesburg accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of the academic qualification and as an initiative to support transformation of the education and training system in South Africa. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and Institution accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to the Institution's qualifications to promote lifelong learning.This is reflected in the vision and mission of the Institution. Articulation: Successful completion of the BCom (IT Management) will lead to a MCom IT Management and then the DCom IT Management. Both of these qualifications will be submitted for approval as soon as the BCom (IT.Management) is approved. In the interim, qualifying learners will be able to articulate to the MCom Informatics qualification with Institution of Johannesburg or to any Mcom IT/IS qualification at any other Institution. Horizontal articulation to other IT/IS honours degrees would be possible where there is an overlap in curriculum.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Commerce in Informatics, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Commerce in Information Technology Management, NQF Level 7.

N/A

1. Use a range of research skills.
2. Analyse and understand the interdependency between business and IT.
3. Analyse, evaluate and critically judge new technologies and its benefit to the organisation.
4. Develop, implement and maintain an IT project environment that is conducive to organizational success.
5. Develop and utilize information technology architectural paradigms that support organizational processes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

1.1. Design, carry out and write up a piece of research.

1.2. Use appropriate research method/techniques to develop solutions to problems.

1.3. Record data with Care and accuracy.

1.4. Draw conclusions about the significance and value of the research problem.

1.5. Submit research projects and written reports timeously.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

2.1. Analyse the importance of information technology.

2.2. Evaluate the best approach for risk analysis and management and how standards and best practices can be used.

2.3. Apply Strategy Maps to the organisational vision to derive the organisational strategies and business objectives.

2.4. Apply Balanced Scorecards to determine the measures and targets for each strategy and business objective.

2.5. Report on Information security management concepts by using various models and frameworks.

2.6. Develop a policy framework on information technology asset security and the management of information technology security.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

3.1. Analyse future trends within the IT industry.

3.2. Apply the trend with the most likely impact on an organisation.

3.3. Explain the role of trends within an organisation based on formal models.

3.4. Explain the complimentary relationship between trends and IT strategy can be explained.

3.5. Select and Motivate decision-making models to select trends that will suit an organisation the best.

3.6. Explain the impact of new technologies on the IT governance framework.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

4.1. Explain the process for implementing a project management methodology.

4.2. Describe key elements of a project management office and their relationship.

4.3. Explain the purpose of different project management offices.

4.4. Explain Leadership as a concept is compared to management as a concept.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

5.1. Differentiate between various architectural styles.

5.2. Choose an architectural style within an organization and motivate their choice.

5.3. Explain the impact and consequences of designing IT systems within isolation of the other business.

5.4. Explain leveraging service-orientation principles and strategic goals into concrete links.

5.5. Align business and technology through service-oriented design can be explained.