Technology strategy
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| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This course is for anyone interested in technology strategy in public, private sector or third-sector organisations. It’s relevant to people who have to work within strategic frameworks set by their organisations as well as to those with direct responsibility for developing strategy. The course recognises the unique challenges of technology, resulting in both the planned and emergent formation of technology strategy. To capture this ‘uniqueness’ the course takes an overview of theoretical perspectives on strategic management, places these in a technological context, and then relates these to a range of practical techniques and approaches relevant to strategy making.
Course content
It used to be the case that only a minority of organisations were heavily reliant on technology, but not any more. Unfortunately however, many organisations do not use their technologies to best advantage. Technology is often ‘bolted on’ rather than being part of the strategy that drives the enterprise forward. In other settings there might be a technology strategy but it isn’t always one that fits the current and future needs of the organisation.
This course is suitable for:
- Those working in organisations where there is a technology strategy and who want to understand that strategy better and be able to make a contribution to the improvement of it and future strategies.
- Those who work with, or alongside, technology but realise that their technology strategy is limited or missing entirely.
The course introduces a range of perspectives on the strategy formation process. Part of the teaching involves the use of a set book to provide an overview of strategic management. The book’s content is then placed into the context of technology through seven main blocks, each block providing a different perspective on the technology strategy formation process.
Technology planning and positioning This block explores the role that planning processes can play in the making of technology strategy and provides a range of analytical tools and planning frameworks. A key theme is the importance of achieving effective dynamic interaction of technology with business planning so as to address the problems associated with increasingly rapid rates of change in the technology and business environment.
Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial action can contribute to technology strategy formation in all organisations ranging from small start-up businesses, to the voluntary and public sectors, and large multi-national organisations. This block explores the relationship between the entrepreneurial process and its opportunities, enterprising individuals and technology strategy formation.
Learning towards a technology strategy Learning is a central element in the formation of technology strategy. This block outlines the role of learning particularly with respect to the development of technological capabilities and management of technological knowledge.
Power and politics Power and politics impact on the successful application of technology in all organisations. This block examines the role of power and politics in the technology strategy process, both within and between organisations. Different and often competing theories and concepts of power are introduced to inform us about the use (and abuse) of power in technology strategy making.
Culture The culture of an organisation has profound effects on what strategic options it considers, what strategic options are going to be regarded as acceptable and the extent to which implementation of the strategy is likely to be successful. This block explores the nature of culture and examines its effects in the context of technology strategy.
Environment An organisation’s environment will often impose constraints on technology strategy. This may be because governments or other institutions act to constrain choice such as through legal frameworks, support for technological innovation, the development of technological standards or limits on transfer of intellectual property. This may leave an organisation with little strategic choice. This block introduces the role of the organisation’s environment. Two perspectives are discussed: that technology strategy is often imposed by environmental factors; and that it is possible for governments and other institutions to actively manage the environment in order to influence technology strategy. Creating a competitive response in the face of these environmental constraints is a major challenge.
Configurations and change There are countless ways to describe, explain and effect strategic technological change. This block contains an explanation of many of these together with material which provides practice in how to apply those that are most helpful. It examines mainstream models of technology change, outlines different approaches to strategic transformation, and shows how the models unite the course's perspectives on technology strategy formation.
Entry
This is a masters-level course that can be taken either stand-alone or as part of a postgraduate award. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
Relevant professional experience provides students with a good foundation for studying the course. This course takes a multi-disciplinary view of the technology strategy. You do not need to have undertaken any previous study of the topics covered in the course.
Qualifications
T846 is a compulsory course in our
- Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management (E08)
- MBA (Technology Management) (F03)
- MSc in Technology Management (F36)
T846 is an optional course in our
- Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice (C72)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems (E10)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Management of Software Projects (E19)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28)
- MSc in Information Systems (F37)
- MSc in Management of Software Projects (F43)
- MSc in Strategic Management of Information Systems (F54)
- MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (F47)
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. These qualifications allow most postgraduate courses to count towards them. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
If this course is in a similar area to one you have already completed, you can find out if it is an excluded combination.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course texts, course reader, other printed materials, software.
Computing requirements
This course has online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. The course software is provided on CD-ROM or DVD.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will be responsible for monitoring your progress on the course, marking and commenting on your written work and whom you can contact for advice and guidance. A programme of face-to-face tutorials will be arranged at one or two UK locations and students will also have the opportunity to engage in synchronous online tutorials. Your tutor will also mediate an online forum for your tutor group in which participation is optional. There is also a separate online forum for all students on the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Professional recognition
The Open University is registered with Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers as a continuing professional development provider.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and November 2010. We expect it to be available twice a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
A postgraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
Study explained
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- Study explained
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Student Reviews
This is a great course and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who needs to understand where technology fits ...
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The course was very good, because it was relating how technology can be managed/should be managed to the benefit of ...
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