Information Technology Leadership

Students in this course are provided with a comprehensive understanding of change models and the impact of change related to technology innovation, adoption, and implementation. Students are presented with both the theoretical and practical perspectives required to manage the design and use of technology to foster growth, innovation, and change within organizations. Course content focuses on how innovation can act as a change enabler and the importance of building readiness for change within organizations.

In this course students examine requirements of engineering and quality engineering in the context of software engineering. Students are presented with topics on the system engineering life cycle, including requirements, design, integration, transition, operation, maintenance, support, and quality management standards. Course content focuses on issues of requirements and quality engineering, such as the elicitation of requirements, analysis, specification, validation, and change management.

Students in this course are provided with a detailed understanding of how technology becomes an enabler for business. Students study how information technology (IT) strategies support organizational goals, and how IT strategies can help to create a sustained competitive advantage in business. Students evaluate IT strategies and how best to deploy such strategies in the context of systems or business applications.

Students in this course are introduced to qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods frameworks for inquiry. Quantitative designs that are covered in the course include experimental and quasiexperimental, survey, causal-comparative, evaluation, and existing action research; qualitative designs include case study, phenomenology, grounded theory, and ethnography; and mixed-methods strategies include sequential and concurrent strategies. Students work toward acquiring substantive, foundational knowledge of the philosophy of science as they construct, use, and critique concepts and theories. They can learn to produce knowledge for practice as they examine ethical, social, and political aspects of conducting research. By demonstrating knowledge and the ability to solve problems and test hypotheses, students engage in course assignments that emphasize the practical application of writing and critical-thinking skills and the integration of professional practice at the doctoral level.

In this course, students develop skills in descriptive statistics, statistical inference, and quantitative techniques, including correlation, t-tests, ANOVA, regression, and various non-parametric methods. Students use quantitative data reduction and analysis and data management techniques, and they learn to utilize software for data analysis. This course is not intended for students to become fully grounded in statistical methods; rather, students learn appropriate questions to ask about data analysis, as well as how to defend their use of specific techniques in professional practice.  

Students taking this course have the opportunity to extend their research and general analysis skills as they further explore research methods and project types—specifically, qualitative and case study research methods—that they may incorporate into their own doctoral study. Students explore ways of improving the quality and strategic analysis of organizational information technology (IT). They also focus on how to think in an action-oriented manner, as if they were consultants, so that their own doctoral study work could be applied in action. Finally, students begin to plan their doctoral study by engaging in an iterative process to develop their premise and a draft prospectus that incorporates feedback from peers and the course instructor. Ultimately, students offer the prospectus as a document for review and consideration by potential mentors for their doctoral study.  

In this information technology (IT) leadership course, students delve into a problem-based learning scenario focused on an organizational merger situation. Students investigate which technology set best supports the newly merged organization's IT infrastructure. They also plan for and manage how changes to the new IT infrastructure will address the needs of the organization and its employees across countries, cultures, and diverse business areas.

In this information technology (IT) leadership course, students delve into a problem-based learning scenario focused on an organization that has experienced a security breach. Students examine relevant IT governance, security, and privacy issues that are essential to the organization. They gain practical experience in formulating comprehensive proactive and reactive system security plans. Students also explore sound IT management principles in decision making and implementation of broad-scale change.

In this information technology (IT) leadership course, students delve into a problem-based learning scenario in which they confront an impending or proposed disruptive legislative or policy change. Students work though the scenario under the assumption that the dynamic change has a direct societal influence and will affect IT accessibility and/or use. They anticipate effects, examine the societal values driving different choices, determine priorities, and develop a plan to positively influence the formation and implementation of policies for issues in which IT features prominently.

Students in this doctoral seminar focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to information security. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and the strategic and organizational implications of information security, such as secure data, secure networks, vulnerabilities, and computer forensics. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

Students in this doctoral seminar focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to IT systems, software, and management. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline as well as strategic and organizational implications of IT systems, software, and management, such as system architecture, software development, and system management. During the majority of the seminar, students will work with colleagues, including faculty, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. Students have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

Students in this doctoral seminar focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to project management of information technology (IT) projects. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and the strategic and organizational implications of project management of IT projects, such as knowledge management, requirements management, and current project management tools and techniques, all within an IT framework. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to cloud and grid computing. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of grid and cloud computing, such as security, availability, architecture, and ownership. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to the application of intelligent systems. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of applying intelligent systems. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to security and forensics in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT). Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of security and forensics in the context of IoT. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to blockchain technology in the context of cybersecurity. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of blockchain technology in the context of cybersecurity. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to cybersecurity risk management. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of cybersecurity risk management. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to multivariate analysis. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of multivariate analysis. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to modeling, optimization, and application in data science. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of modeling, optimization, and application in data science. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to data visualization. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of data visualization. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to research designs for data science. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of research designs for data science. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to middleware for networked and distributed systems. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of middleware for networked and distributed systems. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to requirements and quality engineering. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of requirements and quality engineering. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to user interface design and evaluation. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of user interface design and evaluation. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

In this doctoral seminar, students focus on the scholarly and practice-oriented literature related to applied techniques for software design. Students explore major theoretical approaches and practices that define the discipline and strategic and organizational implications of software design. During the majority of the seminar, students work with colleagues, including faculty members, to identify threads and tendencies for further reading and discussion in a true doctoral seminar format. They also have the opportunity to lead their colleagues as well as to participate in academic discourse.

The purpose of this course is to assist doctoral students in making steady progress toward their doctorate in information technology. The "instructor of record" for a section of the course is the chair of the doctoral study committee. Section participants are the students working with the faculty member at various stages of their doctoral study. Students in this course have a forum for ongoing exchange of ideas, input, and feedback between them and their doctoral study chair as students complete the coursework for the degree.

Students demonstrate a scholarly ability to examine, critique, and synthesize knowledge, theory, and experience in the final doctoral study. They show how new ideas can be tested; best practices identified, established, and verified; and theoretical, practice or policy constructs evaluated and advanced. In all cases, the doctoral study is a rigorous inquiry that results in new knowledge, insight, or practice, demonstrating its efficacy in the world of information technology. This course is a forum and structure for doctoral students to interact with the chair of their doctoral study committee, as well as other students assigned to the same chair, in order to make steady progress on their individual doctoral study research.Students take this course for a minimum of five terms and are continuously enrolled until completion of their doctoral study with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval.To complete a doctoral study, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their doctoral study on ProQuest before their degree is conferred.