Information Systems Management

Projects and Personnel

• ISM 1
  Organisation. Data processing facilities within an organisation; types of system. Data processing departments: typical staffing structures.
• ISM 2
  The Project Life Cycle. Stages in the life cycle from initiation to support and obsolescence. Levels of project management. Relationships between management, project team, suppliers and users. Project planning and control. System documentation.
• ISM 3
  Financial Planning and Control. Estimating life cycle costs; the financial model. Cost-benefit analysis: appraisal methods such as discounted cash flow and net present value. Software estimates.
• ISM 4
  Methodology and Quantitative Techniques. A systems development methodology such as PROMPT. Techniques for resource allocation, planning and scheduling: networks, linear programming. Simulation and modelling.
• ISM 5
  Staff. Recruitment and training. Job descriptions. Standards and discipline. The legal framework of employment.
• ISM 6
  External Services. The computer services industry: consultants and bureaux. Computer leasing.

Operations Management

• ISM 7
  Installation and Commissioning. Accommodation requirements. Site planning; environmental services. Delivery and installation of equipment. Trials and acceptance. Performance monitoring and tuning. Reliability.
• ISM 8
  Support. Hardware maintenance requirements; service agreements with contractors. Standby systems. Software maintenance needs; software support arrangements. System change procedures. Documentation and control.
• ISM 9
  System Security. Resources at risk. Threats to security. Risk management. Security precautions: access control, technical counter-measures, personnel aspects. Data security: data control procedures, data back-up and recovery. Security and Privacy. Summary of legislation: the Data Protection Act 1984, the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988) and the Computer Misuse Act (1990). The Data Protection Act 1998.
• ISM 10
  Media, Consumables and Libraries. The range of media and consumables required. Stock control procedures; simple methods of inventory management: economic order quantities. Installation libraries: data, software and manuals on differing media; custody and control procedures.