module specification

At present companies are employing various digital systems to support their business processes and gain competitive advantage. Equally, developments in Internet technology are reshaping the social and professional networks of individuals, influencing how organisations engage with customers, employees, and broader communities. In this rapidly changing and evolving environment of digital systems, it is vital that the students, as future managers, are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to exploit and manage digital business opportunities and initiatives within respective industries.

This unit helps the understanding of principles of digital business management in various context. It will focus on the applications of technology, exploring such important issues as the integration of the business environment, business models, and Internet marketing, requiring the understanding of theory, implementation and maintenance issues. Overall, the unit aims to develop a view of digital business in practice.

Standard university requirements for Level 4 entry
Available for Study Abroad? YES.

• Business Transformations and E-Business Models
• Digital Business Strategy
• Digital Service Management and social networking for business
• Digital Marketing
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and e- Customer Relationship Management (e-CRM)
• Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
• Managing Knowledge Digitally
• Business Intelligence and Business Decision Making
• Cyber Security
• Digital organisations – Agile, Virtual work design
• Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Digital Business

Delivery of the module will consist of 3 hours lecture and seminar. Students will be encouraged to research digital business management issues from a variety of sources in addition to module materials including newspapers, textbooks and on-line sources to identify aspects relevant to their areas of study. Workshops will provide the opportunity for the whole class to come together and to interact with the lecturer who will provide the basic digital business management theories and present a set of examples and real-world cases. These should help students understand the key concepts and ideas related to digital business management.

Digital Business Management is an interdisciplinary aspect of the wider context of business and management. What the students will be able to develop, therefore, is a flexible and curious mind-set. They will be able to continuously engage in linking general business and management aspects to the concept of electronic or Internet-enabled business. Students will be able to identify how the changing business world and new business models impact on the conduct of businesses.

The assessment strategy for MN4057 uses a single summative assessment — an Individual Digital Report (100%), submitted via Turnitin on Weblearn. This approach combines both knowledge application and digital skill development, ensuring students can demonstrate theoretical understanding and practical competence.
Students are required to analyse an existing company’s digital business model, competitive and digital marketing strategy, e-CRM, and cybersecurity practices, applying academic frameworks to real-world contexts. The assessment format is flexible — students can present their findings through a digital report, blog, website, podcast, or video presentation, reflecting contemporary digital communication modes used in industry.
This diversified format supports inclusivity and caters to varied learning styles, aligning with constructive alignment principles (Biggs & Tang, 2011) and the Education for Social Justice Framework (ESJF).

Purpose of the Assessment
The purpose of this assessment is to:
1. Integrate theory and practice by enabling students to apply digital business models, competitive analysis frameworks, and marketing theories to a live case study.
2. Enhance digital literacy and employability skills through the creation of a professional digital artefact (e.g., video, blog, or website).
3. Develop evaluative thinking by requiring students to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in digital strategies, supporting learning outcomes related to problem-solving and innovation.
4. Foster independent learning and research capability, as students must select and justify their chosen company, conduct external research, and use platforms such as Similar Web for market intelligence.
5. Build professional communication skills, both written and digital, by presenting complex analysis in a concise, engaging, and technically appropriate format.
Overall, the assessment’s purpose aligns with programme aims to produce graduates who can operate effectively in digitally enabled business environments and use analytical tools to support decision-making.

Use of Assessment for Learning
The assessment design embodies the principles of Assessment for Learning (Black & Wiliam, 2009) through multiple formative and developmental stages:
1. Early Engagement and Feedback:
a. Students are required to submit three potential company options by Week 4 for tutor approval. This early-stage check encourages engagement, ensures feasibility, and provides formative feedback on topic selection.
2. Embedded Learning Alignment:
a. Weekly lectures and seminars directly correspond to assessment tasks, allowing students to progressively apply new concepts (e.g., e-business models, digital marketing, e-CRM, cybersecurity) in preparation for the final submission.
3. Ongoing Tutor Support:
a. Seminar activities provide continuous verbal and written feedback, helping students refine their understanding of frameworks such as Porter’s Competitive Strategies, Laudon’s Digital Business Models, and CRM analytics tools.
4. Peer Learning and Collaboration:
a. In-class exercises encourage peer feedback on analysis and presentation design, promoting reflective learning and collaborative problem-solving.
5. Summative and Developmental Feedback:
a. Post-submission feedback (within 15 working days) will identify both achievements and areas for improvement, supporting future modules that build on digital strategy and data analytics.

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate understanding of the concepts, theories and frameworks related to digital business management and e-businesses.

LO2. Demonstrate understanding of digital business management, sustainability in digital business management, ethical dilemmas and social responsibilities, issues that arise from digital technologies, i.e. AI, BI, ERP development and applications. 

LO3. Understand how emerging trends and contemporary approaches to organisations impact on business and management.

Textbooks:

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/05C96242-60CC-3743-FC41-47B7FD69B42E.html

Core Text:

Laudon, K. and Laudon, J. (2019) Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm. 15th edn. UK: Pearson.

Other Texts:

Bocij, P., Greasley, A. and Hickie, S. (2018) Business Information Systems – Technology, Development and Management for Modern Business. 6th edn. UK: Pearson.

Chaffey, D. (2019) Digital Business and E-Commerce Management: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. 7th edn. UK: Pearson.

Journals:

Journal of Management Information Systems (JMIS)
European Journal of Information Systems (EJIS)
Information and Management
Management Information Systems Quarterly (MIS Quarterly)
Journal of Strategic Information Systems
International Journal of Information Management (IJIM)
Journal of Information Technology (JIT)
Journal of Information Science Behaviour & Information Technology
Journal of Organizational and End User Computing
Information Systems Journal
Journal of Knowledge Management
Knowledge management Research and Practice
Harvard Business Review

Websites: to be provided in class/Weblearn

Electronic Databases: to be provided in class/Weblearn

Social Media Source: to be provided in class/Weblearn