Unit rationale, description and aim
Information Systems Strategy and Management focuses on how organisations create value through digital and information systems (IS) capabilities, and how those capabilities are planned, governed, invested in, sourced, and transformed responsibly. The unit examines strategic alignment of IS with business goals, enterprise architecture and platform direction, portfolio investment and benefits realisation, sourcing and partnering, and cyber/data risk as a strategic concern.
A practical, project-based approach is used throughout. Students work with authentic organisational scenarios to evaluate strategic options, develop an integrated IS strategy and implementation roadmap, and communicate recommendations to executive stakeholders. Ethical decision-making is embedded, including consideration of subsidiarity, stakeholder participation, sustainability, and global social responsibility.
The aim of this unit is to equip students to produce and communicate portfolio-ready IS strategy artefacts that demonstrate strategic, analytical, ethical, and professional capability for future employment and lifelong development.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Explain how information systems and digital capabi...
Learning Outcome 01
Analyse and evaluate strategic IS choices (governa...
Learning Outcome 02
Develop and justify an integrated IS/digital strat...
Learning Outcome 03
Reflect critically on professional capabilities, l...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Strategic value of IS and digital capabilities
- Business–IS alignment and competitive advantage
- Digital strategy formation and transformation pathways
- Executive governance of IS decision rights
- Strategic investment evaluation and benefits realisation
- Digital project and portfolio prioritisation
- Enterprise architecture
- Cloud/hybrid infrastructure direction and integration
- Sourcing (e.g. IT outsourcing) and vendor ecosystem strategy
- Cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance as strategic risks
- Implementation roadmaps and change leadership
- Ethical, subsidiarity, sustainability, and stakeholder impacts
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment procedures will be used to address unit learning outcomes and develop graduate capabilities in accordance with university assessment requirements. Assessment 1 is an individual executive case-study decision brief focused on strategic IS choices and ethical evaluation. Integrity is strengthened through personalised case variants, required decision-trail evidence, and brief oral verification. Assessment 2 is an individual strategic IS analysis portfolio that develops evidence-based evaluation of organisational capabilities, architecture/platform direction, and investment/sourcing options, with artefacts suitable for ePortfolio inclusion. Assessment 3 is a major team project in which students design and present an integrated IS/digital strategy and implementation roadmap for a realistic organisation, supported by an executive strategy pack that includes governance, portfolio priorities, architecture direction, sourcing rationale, and risk/ethics evaluation; students also complete an individual professional reflection tied to their role and career planning. Together, the assessments progressively build strategic insight, applied planning skill, ethical judgement, and professional identity. To pass this unit, students must achieve an overall mark of at least 50%.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1: Case Study – Strategic IS Decision...
Assessment 1: Case Study – Strategic IS Decision Brief
Students analyse a unit-provided executive-level case (e.g., competing digital initiatives, cloud migration, governance failures, or sourcing dilemmas) and submit a concise decision brief recommending a justified strategy. The brief must apply at least two strategic frameworks and explicitly address ethical, subsidiarity, and global social-responsibility implications.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Report
Artefact: Written report (1200 words)
25%
Assessment 2: Strategic IS Analysis Portfolio (e...
Assessment 2: Strategic IS Analysis Portfolio (ePortfolio-ready)
Students produce a professional analysis portfolio for a realistic organisation, including: (i) IS/digital capability and alignment assessment; (ii) enterprise architecture or platform options analysis; and (iii) a prioritised investment/sourcing options evaluation with risks and expected benefits. Artefacts are submitted in a polished format suitable for ePortfolio inclusion and must demonstrate evidence-based reasoning and feasibility awareness.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Report & Presentation
Artefact: Written report & Live / Recorded with face-overlay Presentation (8 minutes) + Online Viva
30%
Assessment Task 3: Integrated IS/Digital Strategy...
Assessment Task 3: Integrated IS/Digital Strategy Project + Professional Reflection
In teams, students develop an integrated IS/digital strategy and implementation roadmap for a realistic organisational scenario, producing an executive strategy pack (strategy-on-a-page, roadmap, portfolio priorities, governance model, and a risk/ethics brief) plus a presentation to an executive audience. Individually, students submit a structured reflection (embedded as a formal component) linking their contribution to capability growth, leadership readiness, and a forward professional-development plan supported by project evidence for their ePortfolio.
Assessment Method: Report & Presentation
Artefact: Written report (800 words) & Live / Recorded with face-overlay Presentation (10-15 minutes) + Online Viva
45%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit is delivered through Attendance and Online modes using a single, integrated learning and teaching strategy designed to ensure equivalent learning outcomes and a comparable learning experience for all students, while supporting diverse learning needs and maximising access.
Across both modes, learning activities are intentionally aligned to the unit learning outcomes and assessment tasks, and are underpinned by active learning, guided engagement with disciplinary knowledge, opportunities for peer interaction, and regular, timely feedback. While the mode of delivery shapes how students participate, the pedagogical intent, expectations and standards remain consistent.
In Attendance mode, students engage in weekly face-to-face classes at designated locations, supported by preparatory activities prior to workshops and opportunities for consolidation following classes. Online learning platforms are used to complement face-to-face teaching through additional resources and learning activities.
In Online mode, students engage with the same core content and learning outcomes through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities, including structured discussions and applied learning tasks that support learning in professional contexts.
Across both delivery modes, students should plan to commit approximately 150 hours to this unit over the semester, including participation in learning activities, independent study, readings and assessment preparation.