1   Brief description of aims and content

This module provides insight into a chosen sub-field of e-governance by means of a structured and comprehensive literature study analysing a large amount of contemporary literature either from library databases or e-Governance journals. The module also provides methods of literature surveys and how to conduct a literature study.

2   Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

1. Informatics research in terms of emerging themes, research strategies (approaches and methods), theoretical frameworks, and issues relevant to addressing problems in practice

B. Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have the ability to analyze a specific research problem in the context of a relevant research theme in Informatics;

C. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have skills in how to develop research communications strategies and how to efficiently disseminate scientific research findings within the community and outside the research sphere for inter-disciplinary cooperation and increased visibility.

D. General transferable skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have skills in how to efficiently disseminate scientific research findings within the community and outside the research sphere for inter-disciplinary cooperation and increased visibility.

3  Indicative Content

1. Conducting a literature review;
2. Investigating emerging research themes;
3. Investigating research strategies (approaches and methods) followed
4. Investigating theoretical framework used;
5. Analyzing the problem domain addressed (e.g. explorative, develop, evaluation, human, technical etc);
6. Writing and presenting academic paper.

4   Learning and Teaching Strategy

Only 18 hours of lectures shall be provided with a significant assignment in built to pass.

This module will be carried forward with all other modules as assignment or mini project whatever is applicable depending on theoretical or practical nature of the modules. The basic strategy is to encourage students to work independently. 

5  Assessment Strategy

In-course assessments add up to 100% and covers:

• Contemporary research: examination consists of writing and presentation of a paper;
• Contemporary research: examination consists of seminar activities;

6  Assessment Criteria

For the assignment, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the learning outcomes.

1       Brief description of aims and content

This module presents quantitative research methods from a social science perspective, knowledge about research processes and problems, measured data, and statistical methods using appropriate tools for data analysis. Finally the module ends up with a section of presentation to enable students to present their research skills.

2       Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

1. Quantitative research methods from a social science perspective
2. How research problems, measured data, and statistical method affect the choice of statistical description and analysis

B. Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge 

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have the ability to implement quantitative studies in the area of electronic government and related fields in social science
2.  Have knowledge about possibilities and restraints with statistical methods for problem solving
3.   Have skills in assessing methods carried out in studies in the field of electronic government and
related fields of social science from a critical perspective

C. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have the ability to communicate scientific research among the relevant stakeholders and IS research community.

D. General transferable skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1.  Have skills in using quantitative methods in the area of Information Systems research.

3       Indicative Content

                 i.   Introduction to quantitative methods

               ii.   The research process

             iii.   Data collection

             iv.   Analysis

               v.   Tools for statistical analysis

             vi.   Presentation

4       Learning and Teaching Strategy

Only 18 hours of lectures shall be provided with a significant assignment in built to pass.

This module will be carried forward with all other modules as assignment or mini project whatever is applicable depending on theoretical or practical nature of the modules. The basic strategy is to encourage students to work independently. 

5       Assessment Strategy

In-course assessments add up to 100% and cover assignment, seminars, and opposition.

6       Assessment Criteria:

For the assignment, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the learning outcomes.

1.     Brief description of aims and content

Considering number of themes already been discussed in the earlier courses of this program, this course will focus on one important theme which is the ethical aspect of using information systems both in public and private spheres. The topics will broadly cover the followings issues: ethics and responsibilities, intellectual property rights, social networking, human aspect of using IT.

2.     Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

1. One of the themes in information systems;
2. The use of argument analysis to discuss and critique current research in the field of information systems;

B. Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have the ability to independently use argument analysis to evaluate and synthesize knowledge from one of the themes in information systems.

C. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have skills in how to develop research communications strategies and how to efficiently disseminate scientific research findings within the community and outside the research sphere for inter-disciplinary cooperation and increased visibility.

D. General transferable skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to: 

1. Have skills in how to efficiently disseminate scientific research findings within the community and outside the research sphere for inter-disciplinary cooperation and increased visibility.

3.     Indicative Content 

In the course there will be a set of pre-determined themes that students choose from. The selection of themes is based on on-going research in information systems at Örebro University and can vary between semesters depending on available teacher resources and student interests. Examples of themes:

• IS-evaluation;
• Web Services;
• IS security;
• Agile project management;
• Information and communication for development;
• IT Management;
• Usability

The course consists of three parts.

1) Lectures and seminars with a focus on the argument analysis method.

2) Individual work where the students use argument analysis to analyze selected articles within the selected theme (the theme supervisors select the papers). The analyses of the papers are discussed during seminars. Participation in the seminars is mandatory.

3) Writing a short paper. The students select, formulate and investigate an issue based on the chosen theme (in consultation with the theme supervisor). Argument analysis is used to formulate convincing arguments in a paper.

4.     Learning and Teaching Strategy

Only 18 hours of lectures shall be provided with a significant assignment in built to pass.

This module will be carried forward with all other modules as assignment or mini project whatever is applicable depending on theoretical or practical nature of the modules. The basic strategy is to encourage students to work independently. 

5.     Assessment Strategy

In-course assessments add up to 100% and covers:

• Analysis of Academic Papers: Individual oral presentation during a seminar;
• Using Argument Analysis to Formulate Convincing Arguments: Individual writing of a short paper;

6.     Assessment Criteria:

For the assignment, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the learning outcomes.

1.     Brief description of aims

This module analyses scientific reports and the process of scientific writing and publication, including the structure, topics and design of scientific reports as well as skills in writing, analysing and critically assess such texts and communicating to the relevant stakeholders successfully. The module consists of the following parts: the basics of scientific writing, reviewing and publishing, analysis of various forms of research communication and setting the communication strategy.

2          Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of 

1. The structure, topics and design of scientific texts and research reports; 

B. Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have skills in oral communication of research papers and scientific texts to academics and practitioners;

C. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have skills in how to develop research communications strategies and how to efficiently disseminate scientific research findings within the community and outside the research sphere for inter-disciplinary cooperation and increased visibility.

D. General transferable skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have skills in how to efficiently disseminate scientific research findings within the community and outside the research sphere for inter-disciplinary cooperation and increased visibility.

3          Indicative Content

1. The basics of scientific writing: The content includes scientific writing, reviewing and publishing;
2. Writing a short scientific paper and report: This part involves the writing of a short article based on the principles for scientific writing and adaptation of the text to make it available for practitioners. This part also includes the review and oral communication of review results;
3. Analysis of various forms of research communication - successful as well as unsuccessful: This includes the analysis and comparison of research communication strategies done by different actors, e.g., single researcher, research groups, universities, research councils and so forth in different media - e.g., websites, brochures, social media, presentation software, radio and television;
4. Setting the communication strategy: To define the message, target the audience, select tools (newspaper, websites, social media, television etc.), and plan for a communication strategy.

4          Learning and Teaching Strategy

 600 hours of practical work includes field survey and all previous modules to be passed as the project carried out shall involve the requirement / design / analysis / testing / maintenance /etc. provided in all modules taught in semester I & II to link up to a particular working project at the end of this module with Practise oriented to Students thesis.

5          Assessment Strategy

 In-Course and End of Module assessment add up to 100% and covers:

• Review of Scientific Texts and Research Reports: individual written report;
• Presentation & Defense of Individual Communication Strategy: individual written report and oral presentation;
• Professional reporting: Individual written scientific paper and research report, as well as oral presentation of the paper and report.

The final projects/dissertations will be evaluated by a written report, presentation and oral examination by the external examiner(s) during the VIVA-VOCE.

6          Assessment Criteria:

For the assignment, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the learning outcomes.

1.     Module description

 This module provides an overall understanding of eGovernment. It first discusses theories and practices of the use of ICT for delivery of services by the public sector and its contribution in minimizing the digital divide. Then, it focuses on the design and implementation of eGovernment applications.

2.     Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

1. The national and international development within the field as well as being able to analyze how important trends of today, in particular modern information- and communication technologies, are influencing politics and public administration (e-voting, e-democracy experiments, e-government services etc.)

B. Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. To analyze the role of modern information and communication technologies in shaping the integrated dimension of politics and public administration
2. To contribute to basic knowledge in how politics and administration work in a changing world characterized by globalization and digitalization

C. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Communicate using a range of appropriate methods and techniques about how politics and public administration work in the changing world characterized by globalization and digitalization.

D. General transferable skills 

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Use a range of advanced and specialised skills appropriate to the development of politics and public administration at national and international level to cope with today and future trends in information and communication technologies (ICTs).

3.     Indicative Content

The course consists of five parts:

1. This module is focusing on the organization of political systems in terms of institutions such as parliaments, governments, bureaucracies, but also on forms of regulations and policy creation (legislation and the policy process).
2. Special attention is given to how these political institutions and processes are depending on a national context (political culture, civic society and democracy) as well as are influenced by important changes like globalization and digitalization.
3. An important theme is also the multi-level character of late-modern policy-making (local government, state-level and the European Union).
4. The aim of the module is also to provide an introduction to international politics in the age of globalization.
5. In a global world with intensive interdependence politically and economically, the interplay between states is not less important, but rather more complicated and at the same time even more important and interesting.

4.     Learning and Teaching Strategy

A course handbook will be provided in advance and this will contain in depth information relating to the course content. This will give an opportunity to the students to prepare the course. The lecture materials will be posted on the web page that will also contain comprehensive web links for further relevant information. The module will be delivered through lectures, tutorial/practice sessions and group discussions. In addition to the taught element, students will be expected to undertake a range of self-directed learning activities.

5.     Assessment Strategy

In-course assessments add up to 50% and are examined through a case-study presentation that is prepared in a small group of students.

Final-course assessment adds up to 50% and are examined through an individual written homework at the end of the course.

6.     Assessment Criteria:

For the assignment, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the learning outcomes.

1.     Course description

 This module provides understanding of the role of business architecture and modelling in relation to business development. The methods, techniques and processes generally used in the IT-based business development are discussed in this module. It also focuses on business architecture in relation to software architecture and enterprise architecture

2.     Learning Outcomes

 A. Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

1. The role and responsibilities of the business architect;
2. The role of business modeling in relation to business development;
3. The relationship between business architecture, software architecture and enterprise architecture;
4. The relationship between information flows and business processes;

B. Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge

 At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have the ability to use theory, methods and techniques for modeling;
2. Have the ability to follow a structured method to analyze and describe business processes;
3. To analyze and evaluate business processes,
4. To analyze and evaluate different designs of business architecture.

C. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have the ability to choose appropriate modeling techniques relevant for a specific business-modeling situation.

D. General transferable skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Have the ability to understand the organization and its requirements and to translate them into general requirements for IT-solutions.

3.     Indicative Content

        i.            Introduction to the concepts of business architecture and business modeling: The unit presents the concept of business modeling and the purposes for modeling a business. It provides arguments for why UML is suitable for business modeling and what elements are required in UML to do business modeling.

      ii.            Methods and techniques for modeling and business modeling: The unit describes patterns that can be used to resolve typical problem situations that can arise when modeling the structures and relationships (including rules) between resources. It also describes the different views of a business model. It defines the techniques and diagrams used to capture a specific aspect of a business, and provides examples to illustrate their use.

    iii.            Process oriented approaches for business modeling and business development: This unit defines high quality, well-proven, and easy-to-use patterns that are used to model business processes. It also defines the different categories of process patterns, and covers important areas such as layering, decomposition, interaction, process type and instance, and workflow.

    iv.            Business architecture in relation to software architecture and enterprise architecture: This unit defines the major concepts used in business modeling: processes, goals, resources, and rules. It also introduces the Eriksson-Penker Business Extensions that are defined using the standard extension mechanisms in UML to facilitate business modeling.

4.     Learning and Teaching Strategy

A course handbook will be provided in advance and this will contain in depth information relating to the course content. This will give an opportunity to the students to prepare the course. The lecture materials will be posted on the web page that will also contain comprehensive web links for further relevant information. The module will be delivered through lectures, tutorial/practice sessions and group discussions. In addition to the taught element, students will be expected to undertake a range of self-directed learning activities.

5.     Assessment Strategy

In-Course and End of Module assessment add up to 100% and covers:

• Theories about Business Modeling & Business Architecture 1&2 is examined individually through written report; 
• Applied Business Modeling is examined in group through active participation in a modeling seminar;

As this is a Theoretical and Practical module: The Final assessment shall include 50% of continuous and 50% of End of Module assessment.

The assessments shall be made 50% each for practical and theoretical aspects.

For Example:

one quiz (5%), one/two practical assignment (10%), one mini project for presentation (10%), one tutorial session (5%), short practical test (10%) and a short written test (10%) followed by final assessment (50%) of End of Module Examination divided equally into practical viva-voce and theoretical examination.

6.     Assessment Criteria:

For the assignment, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the learning outcomes.

After taking the Information System Evaluation course the student should: 

• have knowledge about perspectives, contents, contexts, and processes concerning Information Systems (IS) Evaluation
• have knowledge about Effectiveness, Economic and Professional evaluation models
• be able to identify, analyse and critically reflect on various types of Information Systems evaluation approaches applicable in certain contexts
• be able to use appropriate evaluation methods in the area of Information Systems.

The course covers:

• Information Systems justification in dynamic business and social environment
• Perspectives, contents, contexts, and processes of IS evaluation
• Evaluation models; Effectiveness models, Economic models and Professional models
• Performing evaluation by using IS evaluation methods.

Course Description

Welcome to the Information Infrastructure & e-Services Module. This module introduces e-service and information infrastructure concepts. In this module, we focus on principles and critical factors and examples of e-services and information infrastructure as well as different perspectives on e-services and information infrastructures, such as technical, economical, organizational, and societal. It also includes methods for developing information infrastructure such as TOGAF as well as models for analysis and assessment of information infrastructure and e-services.

Course Objectives

The student should after the course:

• be able to understand and describe different definitions of and perspectives of e-services
• be able to analyze and assess e-services
• be able to understand and describe different definitions of information infrastructure and reflect on its meaning from different perspectives, such as technical, organizational, and societal
• be able to identify, understand and describe information infrastructure frameworks such as Enterprise Architecture (EA), Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), and The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
• be able to critically reflect on the relation between e-services and information infrastructure
• be able to analyze and assess a design for information infrastructure
• be able to develop conceptual models related to both technical and organizational aspects of e-services and information infrastructure
• be able to develop e-service and information infrastructure designs.

Main Content of the Course

• Introduction to e-service and information infrastructure concepts.
• Principles and critical factors and examples of e-services and information infrastructure.
• Examples of different e-services and their infrastructural context. 
• Different perspectives on e-services and information infrastructures, such as technical, economic, organizational, and societal.
• Design and implementation of e-services.  
• Methods for developing information infrastructure such as TOGAF.
• Models for analysis and assessment of information infrastructure and e-services.

Teaching Methods

Teaching is in the form of lectures, seminars, and practical work. Participation in practical work, as well as seminars, is mandatory.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course the student should have knowledge about:

- Project management foundations - concepts, life cycle, managing teams and communication 
- Project initiation and planning - scope, scheduling, resources, project quality, risk management and procurement 
- Information systems (IS) Project management problems
- Human Resources Management (IT-project personnel, roles and responsibilities and interplay)
- Project execution, controlling and closure.

Main Content of the Course

The course contents consist of the following components: 

- Project management overview 
- Project initiation and planning for resources  
- Project monitoring and performance measurement, and Quality Management including introducing ISO 9000
- Management of project teams 
- Controlling, managing risk and project closure.

Teaching Methods

Teaching is in the form of lectures and seminars. Participation in seminars is mandatory, since the seminars are based on the students' own activities.