Creating and Managing the Digital Enterprise: Key Issues and Strategies

Challenges in Modern Business

Modern business is characterised by ever-increasing supply capabilities, global competition, and customer expectations. In response to these challenges, organisations have been deploying information technologies to create the digital enterprise. Creating and managing the digital enterprise involves applying information technologies to reach and interact with customers more effectively, boost employee productivity, and improve operating efficiency.

Information technologies such as the Internet, corporate portals, collaborative tools, mobile and wireless communication media have eliminated traditional boundaries of time and geography and created virtual communities of employees, customers and suppliers, with new demands for products and services. Organisations have been transforming their operations through converting their existing information system architectures into web-enabled systems and automating a range of business processes.

In truth the digital landscape has transformed the way business is conducted on a global stage and impacts all sectors. These changes affect not only the individual company and their products or services, but also entire industries leading to the development of new and diverse business models. All organisations need strategies and actions to develop and sustain a digital business. This module integrates theory and practice and considers key issues including the growth of the mobile digital platform and the rapid expansion in digital traffic. Given the growth in these developments, this module covers topic areas of interest to all students and takes an international approach and includes contemporary coverage of all key issues.

1. Have an in-depth knowledge of the digital enterprise and E-Business and thorough understanding of the implications of E-Business on global trade
2. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the process of IT enabled change and the role of the IT manager as a change agent. In addition they will be able to show how ICT is used to create the digital enterprise.
3. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the use of business information systems and the role they play in optimising performance, enhancing decision-making and generating competitive advantage.
4. Critically evaluate IT related problems by synthesising data from a variety of sources and through knowledge sharing and team-work develop solutions and formulate practical interventions that can achieve the desired outcomes.