Transformation: Corporate Development and IT (363-0425-00L)

The lecture will take place online via Zoom from 02.10.23 onwards.

Please check the Moodle Homepage for the link to the video conference and the lecture recordings.

Course Information

Lecturer

Assistant

Markus Kreft

Lecture Info

Time: Mon, 12:30–18:00

Location: Online (Zoom Link via Moodle)

Introduction

The lecture treats the main challenges of business transformation and the alignment of corporate development and IT activities. It presents a holistic approach to business transformation projects by introducing an integrated model dealing with three main design areas “strategy”, “processes” and “information systems” and applying this model to various case studies

Learning Goals

The goal of the lecture is to understand the main challenges of corporate transformation and to demonstrate the application of a holistic project procedure model for corporate transformation projects with special emphasis on the alignment of business and IT. The student should understand and be able to explain:

  • the main reasons for corporate transformation,
  • the relevant management processes to manage corporate transformation,
  • the interdependencies between strategy, processes and information systems, especially how this three levels interrelate,
  • the critical success factors for the successful accomplishment of large scale corporate transformation projects,
  • the main instruments of project, quality and change management and
  • the different types of resulting IT projects.

Content

The globalization of the world leads to an increasingly faster pace in business transformation. Enterprises have to adapt faster and even faster to the environmental changes in a global economy to remain competitive and to make sure they stay in business. In today’s information age this does not only mean to adapt business strategy and business processes but also to adapt information systems to the new circumstances. The fast adaptation trough large scale corporate transformation projects that change strategy, business processes and information systems is critical to ensure competitiveness for tomorrow. The introduction of new business processes and information systems typically takes years in very complex large scale projects. Many projects fail because of insufficient alignment between decision makers in business and IT. Unclear understanding of the overall project scope, undefined roles and responsibilities, unclear project processes, quality problems and resistance to change are some typical problems found in such projects. The lecture is subdivided into following modules:

  • Corporate development – introduction and motivation,
  • Parallelization of corporate development and complexity reduction,
  • Planning process and project portfolio management in corporate development,
  • Management of large scale projects – integration of strategy, processes and information systems,
  • Quality management in large scale projects,
  • Project management in large scale projects,
  • Change management within projects. The lecture is accompanied by
    four case studies that are used to exemplify the contents of the lecture
    by applying the concepts to real situations in corporate life.

Lectures

1. Corporate Development: Introduction and Motivation

2. Corporate Development: Mechanics and Psychology of Change

3. Corporate Development: Mechanics of Change

4. Corporate Development: Psychology of Change

5. Corporate Development: Parallelization of Corporate Development and Complexity Reduction

6. Corporate Development: Planning Process and Project Portfolio Management

7. Management of Large Scale Projects: Integration Strategy, Process and Information System Development

8. Management of Large Scale Projects: Quality Management

9. Management of Large Scale Projects: Project Management

10. Management of Large Scale Projects: Change Management 

11. Wrap Up – Prof. Gutzwiller’s favourite slides

12. Final Exam (18.12.2023)

Date and Time: 18.12.2023, 13:00-14:30

Location: Online

Form: Multiple choice questions

Language: English

Note: Students can bring their summaries of the lecture material with them. Length restriction is 10 double-sided A4 sheets with text/pictures on both sides (20 pages). Summaries need to be sent to the teaching assistant by 11.12.23 (midnight).

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