Bachelor 2019/2020

Digital infrastructures for business

Type: Compulsory course (HSE and University of London Parallel Degree Programme in Management and Digital Innovation)

Area of studies: Business Informatics

Delivered by: School of Business Informatics

Where: Graduate School of Business

When: 2 year, 2-4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Mikhail Milenov Georgiev

Language: English

ECTS credits: 8

Contact hours: 124

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The subject of digital infrastructure in business gives a base concept of analysis and understanding of infrastructure and networks. The focus mostly will be done on digital instruments which influence on business, government and social life. Concepts of networks and digital infrastructure are explained deeply as well as their unit-economy, services they include and access to communication capacities. Students must have their critical minds to topics provided and evaluate opportunities and risks of these infrastructures as seen by various groups of people. The course considers the issues and challenges faced by decision makers in government, businesses and infrastructure provider organisations as digital infrastructures become more central to economic and social life. This includes issues of national and international standards, laws and regulation. The course also addresses these issues as they relate to individual users of digital services. This course explains and gives understanding on the internet as our most general and fundamental digital infrastructure for communication, and the world wide web as the core information infrastructure and underlines three modern digital infrastructures: cloud computing, mobile devices and social media. Students will be informated about key points of current technologies, how they were founded and how are they used by internet users, businesses and states. Also this course touches current developments in digital infrastructures and to apply this to other contemporary examples including concepts of platforms, business model innovation and the Internet of Things (IoT)

Learning Objectives

• Introduce the concepts of digital infrastructures and their core technologies
• Explain the opportunities and risks that digital infrastructures present, including regulatory issues

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Describe the concept of an infrastructure and relate it to digital systems and services
• Identify and apply theories and models to understand the evolution of digital infrastructures and their roles in fostering innovation
• Apply concepts and theories learnt to other emergent digital infrastructures
• Explain how digital infrastructures are established and evolve, their design and economics, and how they support innovation and business change
• Analyse three contemporary examples of digital infrastructures in use: cloud computing, mobile devices and social media, using relevant examples
• Obtain a robust understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of current developments in digital infrastructures and to apply this to other contemporary examples including concepts of platforms, business model innovation and the Internet
• Assess relevant issues of public policy, laws and regulations in regional, national and international settings
• Understand how and why some digital infrastructures become globally pervasive

Course Contents

• Infrastructures: conceptual beginnings
  Examples of infrastructures, their structure and components. Production of infrastructure, their emergence
• Internet foundations
  Types of digital infrastructures. History of internet, simple internet structure and its definitions
• Emergent design of the internet
  Domain Name System (DNS). Protocol and TCP/IP explanation. IPv4 and IPv6
• Introduction to Economic and institutional perspectives on digital infrastructures
• The Transaction Cost perspective, Digital goods’ characteristics
• The world wide web and web engineering, World wide web architecture and protocols, Web 1.0 to Web 2.0, Innovation in digital infrastructures
• Types of cloud computing, Challenges and risks, Mobile technologies, Changing communication patterns and behavior
• The relevance of social media for society and organisations, SMM, Risks and challenges of social media
• Cloud computing, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, App services
• Governance and regulation of digital infrastructures
  Governance layers, Self-regulation and industry regulation, Digital business platforms
• Linking digital business platforms to digital infrastructures building blocks of business models in digital
• Conceptualizing smart cities
  Types of smart city projects dependent on digital infrastructures, Internet of Things (IoT)

Assessment Elements

• Homework assignments
• Classroom activity
• Mock exam
• Final UoL exam

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (4 module)
  0.1 * Classroom activity + 0.5 * Final UoL exam + 0.1 * Homework assignments + 0.3 * Mock exam

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2012). Management information systems : managing the digital firm. Slovenia, Europe: Prentice Hall. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.BEEDD30B
• Zittrain, J. (2008). The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It. New Haven [Conn.]: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=278457

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Constantinides, P. (2012). Perspectives and Implications for the Development of Information Infrastructures. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=450407