Module: IT Skills & Software Tools for Managers

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	IT Skills & Software Tools for Managers
Module Code	MT118 (ITS) / BAA1059 (Banner)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinator	-
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	6	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only
Array

Description

Having relevant skills and knowing how to use IT tools for effectiveness and efficiency are part of basic ‘literacy’ of people working in organisations. A key competency for any manager is to be able to produce a report including data analysis and supported by references, charts, diagrams, and tables which effectively communicates messages from the analysis to the reader. This module will introduce you to a number of software tools which you can use to collect data, analyse it, and prepare such a report. You will also learn how software tools and skills can help you in your work – to organise, study and learn, research, analyse, visualise, and write. These tools and skills can be used in every other module as well as helping you to prepare for your work experience on Intra and when you graduate. Modules in later years will build on this module to develop further your skills and competency in analytics, visualization, and reporting. The module will be delivered as a series of classes / demonstrations over the semester supported by tutorials in a computer laboratory. Students should go to the tutorials for help with the learning exercises given in class. You should bring your laptop to class and to the tutorials.

Learning Outcomes

1. Use common software applications to collect data
2. Analyse data using spreadsheets
3. Demonstrate file management competency including file naming, file printing, file upload to Loop, as well as file save, backup, and restore.
4. Develop good practice knowledge and skills in using software tools to manage data effectively and efficiently
5. Apply basic principles of effective visual communication using text, tables, and/or charts / graphics
6. Produce a clear, professional-looking report (both in print and soft-copy) with analysis, text explaining the analysis including relevant citations and references, and supported by a spreadsheet with tables / charts / graphics as appropriate to effectively convey the messages contained in the report

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	20	A formal lecture which typically presents the essential ideas and core concepts as well as demonstrating how to use the key tools. Students are expected to follow up each class by practising with the software tools and applications and attending the tutorials for further practice
Independent Study	70	Students are expected to practice using the applications with the examples on Loop, as well as commit time for their own independent learning on the tools and skills
Assignment Completion	25	Apply learning from the classes and tutorials as well as your own independent learning to complete the assessments
Tutorial	9	The classes are supported by tutorials where students can get help on the learning activities demonstrated in class
Total Workload: 124

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

An overview to the module
An introduction to the competencies and software tools that can help managers to be more effective and efficient in their work - organisation, learning, research, analysis, visualisation, and writing

Skills and Tools to Organise
Software tools to organise yourself, your meetings, your time, your computer files, and your data, as well as strategies for file naming / saving / management / storage / backup & restore

Skills and Tools to Learn / Study
How to use learning resources in the library, on Loop and elsewhere to help you to study and learn effectively and efficiently

Skills and Tools for Research
How to collect and manage data using Google Forms, Google Sheets, and Microsoft Excel. How to use library databases to search for relevant references. How to use the Zotero bibliographic management tool to capture bibliographic information, insert citations in text, and generate a list of references. Introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods in research. Introduction to research ethics, and to questionnaire design

Skills and Tools for Analysis
Data sources, data capture, data quality & validity, and data processing, etc. Critically assessing data and information. Using Microsoft Excel to analyse data and produce charts and tables to convey information and insight

Skills & Tools to Visualise
The data - information - insight process. Development of the main concepts of data visualisation (Tufte and others). Principles of effective communication of information visually - good and bad practice.

Skills & Tools to Write
How to write a report integrating text, tables, and images as appropriate to explain, enlighten, and engage so as to communicate effectively

Software Applications used include ...
The Microsoft Office 365 suite, and the Google Suite of applications with a particular focus on Excel and Google Forms, and also the Zotero bibliographic management tool

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	0%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
In Class Test	An in-class Excel Test	50%	Week 12
Project	Use the software tools covered during the module to prepare a report. The tools include the Microsoft Suite of applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), the Google Suite (mainly GMail, Google Forms, Google Sheets), the Zotero bibliographic management tool, and other tools as discussed in class	50%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category -

Indicative Reading List

Frye, Curtis: 2016, Microsoft Excel 2016, Microsoft Press, Redmond, Washington, USA,
Tufte, Edward R.: 2001, The visual display of quantitative information, 2nd, Graphics Press, Cheshire, Connecticut, USA,

Other Resources

35633, Website, 0, Students will be given web resources to follow up,