MG484      Half Unit
Global Sourcing and Management of Business and IT Services

This information is for the 2016/17 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Leslie Willcocks NAB 3.23

Availability

This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, IMEX Exchange, MSc in Management, MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), MSc in Management (MiM Exchange), MSc in Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation and MiM Exchange. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

None, but a basic understanding of sourcing principles and of management in organisations is useful. A list of selected readings will be provided for students who require this background understanding.

Course content

The course focuses on global sourcing strategies and practices of corporations and government agencies. It examines these in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific in the context of increasing globalisation of organisational intent, capabilities and sources of service supply. The course provides an understanding of how international business is pursued, convergence and differences across organisations and countries, business strategies and 'fit' with IT governance and sourcing approaches, and how sourcing of business and IT services is managed, focusing especially on outsourcing and offshoring decisions and implementation.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 9 hours of seminars in the LT.

A reading week will take place in W6. There will be no teaching during this week.

Formative coursework

Classes are based around reading and discussing selected journal articles and teaching cases from the course study pack. Formative feedback is provided on weekly class preparation and participation. There is a mock examination.

Indicative reading

  • Cullen, S., Lacity, M. and Willcocks, L. (2014). Outsourcing – All You Need To Know. (White Plume Publishing)
  • Oshri, I., Kotlarsky, J. and Willcocks, L. (20152) The Handbook of Global Sourcing and Offshoring (Palgrave, London) - third edition.
  • Willcocks, L. Cullen, S. And Craig, A. (2011) The Outsourcing Enterprise (Palgrave, London)
  • Willcocks, L. and Lacity, M. (eds) (2009) Outsourcing Information Systems: Perspectives, Practices and Globalization 3 volumes. (Sage, London).- collection of 50 recent refereed journal papers by multiple authors).
  • Davenport, T. et al., (2010) Strategic Management In The Innovation Economy: Strategic Approaches and Tools For Dynamic Capabilities, (Wiley, New York).
  • Willcocks, L., Venters, W. and Whitley, E. (2014) Moving To The Cloud Corporation. (Palgrave, London)
  • Cousins, P. Lamming, R. et al. (2010) Strategic Supply Management : Principles Theory and Practice,. Prentice Hall, London
  • Galliers, R. and Leidner, D. (2009) Strategic Information Management. Routledge, London
  • Peng, M. And Meyer, K. (2012) International Business.(South Western Gengage Learning, New York)
  • Ghemawat, P. (2007) Redefining Global Strategy. Harvard Business School Press, Boston
  • Willcocks, L. Rugman, A and Collinson, S. (20142) Global Business Management. (Steve Brookes Publishing)

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.

Key facts

Department: Management

Total students 2015/16: 20

Average class size 2015/16: 11

Controlled access 2015/16: No

Lecture capture used 2015/16: Yes (LT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Commercial awareness

Course survey results

(2013/14 - 2014/15 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 86%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.6

Materials (Q2.3)

1.5

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.5

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.6

Integration (Q2.6)

1.6

Contact (Q2.7)

1.7

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.7

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

85%

Maybe

12%

No

3%