What Subjects Are in IT/Cyber Half Stream of The UBSS MBA?
In addition to completing the CORE program within the UBSS Master of Business Administration, students are required to choose an additional stream with 8 subjects embedded.
In the case of the IT half stream – four subjects are required (with an additional four taken from the entrepreneurship stream).
The IT/Cyber Half Stream option is available. The four key subjects include - Postgraduate Brochure 2023
A little more detail around the four subjects is provided -
MIT 101 Business Requirement Analysis
The subject takes a high-level view of IT development where the focus is on the strategic alignment of IT and business functions in an organisation, which involves planning and discussion of business needs, as well as, negotiation and specification of solutions required by the client organisation, and agreed upon by management.
Such solutions often involve the development of information systems, and may also include business process improvement, organisational change, and strategy and policy development. The subject covers the principles and practices of stakeholder analysis, identification of business needs, problems and opportunities, analysis, negotiation and specification of requirements for any solution that may involve technology-inspired change. The subject will address critical issues in acquiring, modelling, validating and communicating requirements for large business systems.
To enable the modelling, validating and communicating of data, the subject also addresses programming essentials as a data analysis tool and visualisation. Students will learn about the programming language R, which provides a multifaceted approach to data analysis. R is a free open-source software widely used program for this purpose (https://www.r-project.org/about).
Seminars and online exercises will allow students to develop practical hands-on skills in the effective acquisition of information from client groups by brainstorming, interviewing, and conducting seminars and meetings.
For more information click here.
MIT102 Enterprise Information Management and Security
Organisations are increasingly relying on business analytics to make strategic decisions using the data they generate during day-to-day operations. Strategic value will only be obtained if the data is reorganised and made widely accessible at the enterprise level. When data is reorganised to meet this need, there is a real risk that the semantics of the data will be compromised and that data integrity and security can be violated. Hence, students will learn how data can be captured and reorganised effectively to address these issues, and how to secure the data against threats. Specifically, this subject introduces students to a number of topics in data management (e.g. relational database management), big data systems, and information security. At the end of this subject, students will understand broad issues concerning data management at the enterprise level, gain basic skills in information modelling and querying databases, and understand the procedures and controls for achieving information security.
Related to these procedures and controls is an understanding of the threats of cyber security and information security, as well as mitigation strategies to minimise the impact of these threats. Cyber security is a global pandemic with cyber threats coming from local and global actors. In relation to data and data management ethics and privacy issues are also covered. Seminars and online exercises will allow students to develop practical hands-on skills in the effective acquisition of information from client groups by brainstorming, interviewing, and conducting seminars and meetings.
For more information click here.
MIT103 Managing Digital Transformation
This subject examines the important themes and contemporary issues in managing digital transformation. It aims to help students develop practical skills in formulating, implementing and evaluating digital transformation strategies, as well as conducting critical analysis of key drivers and barriers to implementation of digital transformation strategy. The subject places special emphasis on understanding how organisations plan, manage, and implement digital transformation projects. In examining contemporary issues in digital transformation, the subject explores how modern organisations are using cutting-edge technologies to drive their digital transformation initiatives. Seminars and online exercises will allow students to develop practical hands-on skills in the effective acquisition of information from client groups by brainstorming, interviewing, and conducting seminars and meetings.
For more information click here.
MIT104 Information Systems in Practice
This is a capstone project subject that will provide students with the opportunity to develop Information Systems practice skills. The subject aims to provide students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working on an authentic business problem from concept to the solution under the guidance and direction of academic staff and industry advisors. Seminars and online exercises will allow students to develop practical hands-on skills in the effective acquisition of information from client groups by brainstorming, interviewing, and conducting seminars and meetings.
For more information click here.
The additional four subjects to complement the half-stream are –
MCR010 Innovation and Commercialisation
The purpose of this subject is to provide students with an understanding of the process that an entrepreneur employs to develop an idea into an opportunity and then into a thriving, valuable business. We will see how the application of sound principles of business strategy underpins the entrepreneurial process and is critical in achieving a successful outcome. Successful completion of this subject will provide students with knowledge and tools that will support them in their own entrepreneurial endeavours or equip them to contribute as part of an entrepreneurial team.
The learning outcomes of this subject focus on applying the entrepreneurial process model to analyse entrepreneurs' venture creation; understanding and practising idea generation and screening including opportunity analysis of trends, feasibility and competitive analysis; understanding the process of how to write up a feasibility analysis and business plan to launch the new venture successfully; and finally understanding the basics of entrepreneurial finance including the raising funds, financing for growth, financial evaluation of opportunities, and acquisition financing.
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MCR011 Strategic Business Simulation
This subject focuses students on developing specific strategies for organisations and implementing them on a global platform. The subject requires students to work in groups to operate an international footwear company using a business simulation game. Each team will undertake decision-making for a simulated international active footwear company.
A key element of the learnings for this subject is to develop interpretive, analytical and reporting skills. Students will prepare their analysis and financials in a formal presentation to two major shareholders outlining previous results, past strategy and future direction of the organisation.
Students are also required to produce, analyse and interpret supporting financial statements for the purposes of reporting back to an executive committee comprising the lecturer and an invited executive.
The simulation game titled 'Business Simulation Game’ is delivered over the web at www.bsgonline.com. The teams will compete both against each other and also against external international students throughout the world. Part of the marks for assessment will be derived from the marks awarded by the simulation model coordinators.
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MCR012A Entrepreneurship Research Report
A vital element in guiding a business is being able to provide a clear business vision that is inspiring and realistic. The business vision must tell a compelling story and be capable of being broken down into segments that demonstrate how the vision is to be resourced and implemented, that provide plausible forecasts and that show how success will be measured.
This subject allows students to understand and implement the techniques needed to move from a business vision (a good idea) to a business plan (a good plan).
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MHR002 Leading Innovation and Change
“Intrapreneurship” (corporate entrepreneurship) is entrepreneurship within an existing organisation and is recognised as a powerful technique to help organisations innovate and change. The constant changes occurring in business environments require organisations to innovate and change in order to survive and keep ahead of competitors. Innovation and change are particularly important to established organisations as they fend off their counterparts and new entrants into their industries. Implementing change and innovation requires acknowledging the larger organisational system and therefore this unit looks first at the context, implementation and management of organisational change generally and then will focus on innovation and change management which are central to “intrapreneurship: and the ability of organisations to keep their “edge” and innovate successfully.
This subject reviews the key elements required in order to embed an ecosystem of corporate entrepreneurship within an organisation. Specifically, it focuses on the key areas of the organisation's environment and culture, ‘intrapreneurial’ skill and development.
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This particular stream provides a most valuable option to students wishing to pursue a career involving IT and Cyber activity.
Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of GCA.
