CEM Faculty – IMAT5206_2122_502
Spring 2022
CIO Analysis Assessment
Module name: Management of Information Systems
Module code: IMAT5206_2122_502
Title of the Assignment: Critical Analysis of a Chief Information
Officer’s (CIO’s) Strategy
This coursework item is: (delete as appropriate) Summative
This summative coursework will be marked anonymously YES
The learning outcomes that are assessed by this coursework are:
1. Have a comprehensive understanding of the purpose of information systems within
organisations and IS/IT departments in order to analyse given scenarios and propose
evaluated solutions to given problems.
2. Critically analyse concepts within information systems selection, evaluation and
deployment.
3. Review and assess information sources within IT management and IT governance
literature, both trade and academic.
This coursework is: Individual
This coursework contributes 40% to the overall module mark.
Date Set: January 31st,2022 (Week 18)
Date & Time Due: April 6th, 2022 (Week 27) – 12:00 midday
The ‘normal’ coursework return date for this work is: May 10th, 2022 (Week 32)
Late submission of coursework policy: Late submissions will be processed in accordance
with current University regulations which state:
“the time period during which a student may submit a piece of work late without authorisation and
have the work capped at 50% if passed is 14 calendar days. Work submitted unauthorised more
than 14 calendar days after the original submission date will receive a mark of 0%. These regulations
apply to a student’s first attempt at coursework. Work submitted late without authorisation which
constitutes reassessment of a previously failed piece of coursework will always receive a mark of
0%.”
Academic Offences and Bad Academic Practices:
These include plagiarism, cheating, collusion, copying work and reuse of your own work, poor
referencing or the passing off of somebody else's ideas as your own. If you are in any doubt
about what constitutes an academic offence or bad academic practice you must check with
your tutor.
1
Tasks to be undertaken:
1. Select a Chief Information Officer (CIO) interview from Computer Weekly (see for
examples). https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252510430/Top-10-CIO-interviews-
of-2021
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252493528/Top-10-IT-leader-interviews-of-2020
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252475533/Top-10-CIO-interviews-of-2019
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252454154/Top-10-CIO-interviews-of-2018
2. Read carefully and reflectively and identify themes and views.
3. Investigate and briefly overview company’s recent IT history prior to the interview.
4. For each theme:
a. Explain the theme, clarify and define any terms;
b. Expand with reference to stories and tasks;
c. Set in the context of recent IT history of company;
d. Critically appraise the CIO’s view, strategy and approach to the stated theme. What
do you think about what is said? What are the positive and negative points about the
theme?
5. From investigating the background of the management of information systems in the
company identify any issues and problems, which you think the CIO should be
addressing, i.e. What is not said? The CIO will wish to be seen in a positive light and
there may be issues that are not mentioned.
6. Give suggestions for future strategy and direction that you think the CIO should pursue.
Notes:
• Use the most recent CIO interviews (e.g. 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018).
• You must demonstrate critical appraisal of the CIO’s ideas and beliefs.
• You must address themes with reference to stories and sets presented in the module.
Deliverables to be submitted for assessment:
The essay should be between 1500 and 2500 words (-/+10% tolerance). It should be
sectioned: Introduction to IT at the company. Theme sections. Missing Issues. Future
direction.
How the work will be marked:
See marking grid below.
Marking Criteria
Criteria 0 to 39% 40 to 49% 50 to 59% 60 to 69% > 70%
Analysis of CIO Cursory, no Basic Overall good. Very good. Wide Excellent.
interview and careful understanding Good set of range of themes. Comprehensive and
identification of reading of themes. complete set of
themes. interview themes.
Explanation of None. Terms Some basic Good. Most Very good. Excellent. Give
concepts and clearly not definitions which terms defined. All terms defined. alternative
definition of terms. understood. do not Clear definitions. Shows
demonstrate clear understanding deep
2
understanding and
understanding. expressed.
reflection.
Critical appraisal Absent Mostly a Good. Critical Very good. Well Excellent. Set in
and analysis. descriptive report. statements argued, insightful. context, insightful.
Giving range of
provided, but
arguments, referring
some are not
to material outside
backed up and
case study,.
feel like
anecdotal
opinion.
Reference to None Mentions some Good, Correct Very good. Excellent. Reflection
stories and sets titles and ideas, but references to Comprehensively on stories and sets
not clear if relevant stories and sets integrating
used to enhance
stories and sets which add to stories and sets
critical analysis of
have been read. understanding into the themes.
themes and provide
of themes, creative insights.
Recommendations Limited One or two obvious Good, solid, Recommendation Recommendations
recommendations, common sense s show are insightful,
a little irrelevant. recommendatio understanding of creative and get to
ns, but not the themes and the heart of the
really inspiring. should be critical themes and
addressed by the issues. They bring
CIO. novel vision.
Quality of writing Badly Superficial, a Good. Clear, Very good. Excellent
expressed, pedestrian. practitioner Writing is clear Demonstrates not
at points Sometimes difficult relevant and engagement.
only mastery of the
incoherent, to understand what language, Well presented,
themes but an
leaving the is meant. readable, easy and
ability to
reader in analysis of attractive to read.
the dark. communicate
themes reads enthusiasm and
well. leaves the reader
Clear layout. both inspired and
guided.
