Master of Science in Digital Transformation and Innovation

This course provides students with the theoretical foundations and practice of the IT architecture and Digital Business Models. The course presents the fundamentals of the design, selection, implementation, and management of enterprise IT applications, infrastructures, and their fit with the business. This course focuses on the integration of information systems in organizations, the process by which different computing systems and software applications are linked together physically or functionally. Students learn enterprise architecture frameworks and strategies for infrastructure management, enterprise information architecture models, information governance, data and content management, cloud computing, and new trends in dynamic warehousing and business analytics.

The students will learn the fundamentals of digital transformation management and how to apply them in selected industries. The course will help students reveal how to harness customer networks, platforms, big data, rapid experimentation, and disruptive business models and how to integrate these into the existing business and organization. Using a mix of case studies and group discussions, the aim of the course is to prepare students for the challenges that the quickly changing digital landscape along with new technologies and increased competition will bring. Gartner’s Annual Top 10 Technology Trends will be covered in the course.

This course will expose students to BI fundamental concepts and equip them with practical capabilities to design and implement BI applications. In the first part of the course, the students will learn BI descriptive analysis concepts and be familiarized with BI tools. Students will undertake practical exercise and labs on descriptive statistics and the design and implementation of data warehouse starting from multi-dimensional data modeling, Extraction, Transformation, and Loading (ETL), OLAP query to designing professional dashboards and scorecards for decision making. In the second part of the course, the students will be exposed to BI predictive analysis algorithms e.g. regression and classification and learn analytical (data and text mining) tools and programming languages. Students will be equipped with skills for preparing, visualization structured and unstructured data sets for sentiment analysis, prediction and forecasting. They will also be exposed to Big Data analytics concepts and tools that benefit business intelligence. Course Pre-requisite: INS604 IT Architecture and Digital Business Models.

This course will introduce students to the concepts, standards, and components of the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. It will provide students with an overview of the main trends and challenges in the Internet of Things, models and applications. The course will emphasize the implications of the Internet of Things applications and services. It will give both practical examples and general knowledge about the Internet of Things, architectures, models, applications. Discussions will focus on future emerging wireless technologies and their applications in the context of digital transformation. Course Pre-requisite: INS612 Digital Transformation Strategy and Management.

This course introduces both quantitative and qualitative methods for collecting and analyzing data to discover new knowledge. Applying research processes and information retrieval principles, the focus is on framing queries and defining investigable questions. Understanding the nature of complex problems and evaluating existing knowledge through critical and systematic analysis will identify relevant knowledge and knowledge gaps. Students will propose how these may be addressed using suitable methods such as case studies, experimentation, survey, and field studies. Along with general research concepts, the concept of analytics and methods for creating knowledge and discovery of information in datasets and other digital resources will be introduced.

This course will expose students to Big Data technology and artificial intelligence algorithms and tools to deal with the large-scale digitalization of a society that is hyper-connected for social engagements, businesses, education, healthcare, and many other aspects of daily life. It will introduce fundamental platforms, such as Hadoop, Spark, and other tools, e.g., Linked Big Data. The course will also introduce several Big Data storage methods and how to upload, distribute, and process different structures of Big Data. Then, it will introduce students to data visualizing and interpreting the results of Big Data Analytics. Building on the Business Intelligence and data analytics course, this course will further equip students with advanced AI algorithms such as Bayesian Network, Genetics Algorithms, and Natural Language Processing to analyze and build big data intelligent systems for recognizing and discovering new patterns and automating large scale systems. Students will have fundamental knowledge on Big Data Analytics to handle various real-world problems in strategic domains like healthcare, business, security and transport. Course Pre-requisite: INS612 Digital Transformation Strategy and Management.

This course involves the conduct of research appropriate to the sub-specialization of the student. Students are required to submit one to two original articles of a standard suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals or conferences based on research undertaken during the student’s enrolment at Zayed University. This collection will also include a written plan as well as introductory and concluding documents that situate the paper(s) within the wider context of the research discipline. Through this unit the student will gain essential research skills to support an academic career. (This course is offered on a Pass/Fail basis.) Course Pre-requisite: Completion of at least 15 credit hours.

This course explores the fundamental principles of the Blockchain technology and how it can be leveraged to enable digital transformation. It will introduce students to the applications of this potentially disruptive technology not only to financial services but also to other sectors such as supply chain management, shipping, and government. It will also address information systems management concerns and the implications of security and governance. Topics covered include Blockchain fundamentals, centralized and decentralized applications, Blockchain ecosystem, applications of Blockchain technologies, smart contracts, Blockchain protocols and consensus, Blockchain development platforms and APIs, cryptography and Blockchain security, Blockchain governance, limitations, and future challenges. Course Pre-requisite: INS612 Digital Transformation Strategy and Management.

This course presents and analyzes key Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) processes associated with IT strategy development, and the design, implementation and delivery of IT services. Building on widely recognized IT management frameworks, IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), ISO 20000 and Control Objectives of Information and Related Technology (COBIT), the course provides a comprehensive understanding of IT services management "best practices".

This course provides an understanding of how Knowledge Management (KM) tools and practices are embedded in larger organizational systems. It prepares students for key roles in the shaping of digital innovation and in the management of the business transformation. Students will learn how to enable knowledge contexts and implement KM integration strategically. The course covers systems thinking, the learning organization, integrated enterprise technologies, developing KM strategy, enabling knowledge, implementing KM, innovation and change across organizational and national boundaries. Case studies and organizational learning practices will ensure the concepts are practically grounded.

This course covers project management's main process groups and how these process groups interact throughout the life cycle of the project. Project management knowledge areas are examined and linked to industry practices for the successful management of projects. The students will gain fundamental knowledge about modern techniques and methods (such as Scrum, Agile, Kanban, etc.) of successful project management. The goal is to introduce the student to project management skills to identify, assess, and develop solutions to complex IT, business and management problems. The course concentrates on methods and issues in organizing, planning, executing and controlling IS projects. It utilizes proven project management tools and software to complete projects on time and within budget while meeting specifications. Essential concepts, processes, and techniques are applied through the management of a team project, which requires regular progress reports and reviews.

This course provides an overview on how organizations use Enterprise Information Systems to run their operations efficiently and effectively and to learn about the critical success factors and implementation strategies that lead to enterprise system success, and to consider the informational, knowledge, and decision-making opportunities offered by enterprise systems. The course also examines the typical cross-functional and integrated Enterprise Information Systems modules including manufacturing, supply chain management (SCM), finance, human resource management, and customer relationship management (CRM). Enterprise Information Systems use a single database to integrate business transactions along and between processes, leading to benefits such as efficient and error-free workflows in addition to accounting, management reporting and improved decision-making. The course incorporates a laboratory component using enterprise software applications (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or OpenERP).

This course provides an overview of supply chain and logistics principles and explores information systems’ role in the supply chain and logistics functions. The course includes supply chain digitization and business innovation, supply chain strategy and IT choice, manufacturing resource planning (MRP) and enterprise resource planning (ERP), supplier relationship management (SRM), customer relationship management (CRM), transportation and warehousing/distribution management systems, and emerging supply chain technologies.

This course aims to introduce the students to important issues within the domain of Digital Transformation and Information Systems (IS) not covered by established courses. The students will research and discuss cutting edge topics in information systems. Content will vary, as this course is a means for classes to explore certain IS-related topics in depth.

This course provides a framework for understanding the process of creating and managing technological innovative organizations. It focuses on the skills necessary for the planning, analyzing, developing and launching of technologically enhanced entrepreneurial and innovative ventures. The material covered includes the foundations of entrepreneurship, techniques for creative thinking, and processes for developing, planning and launching a new venture including protecting intellectual property, evaluating markets, developing innovative business models, budgeting, and raising finance. The major piece of assessment is the development of an innovative business plan using innovative technology for a new venture.

This course presents the essential concepts of information security management and the components of an information security management program. It explores commonly used frameworks and methods used for addressing today's information security needs in organizations. The course covers the business and professional environment and its relationship to information security governance; strategic and contingency planning for security; the central role of policy in information security; risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies; components of the dominant information security management models (in particular the ISO27000 series).