About Information and Knowledge Management, MSc - at Department of Information Science, Loughborough University
The Department offers a choice of programmes to suit individuals from backgrounds in a wide range of disciplines or work experience, which need not necessarily be information based. Whether you are looking for advancement within your existing information environment or a career change, our flexible programmes provide the professional foundation you need.
A stimulating and challenging programme!Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) have become the most important concepts to be adopted by organisations worldwide in recent years. The recognition that we are now in a knowledge society, and that organisations must engender a knowledge culture to survive and prosper. This has led to an explosion of interest in information and knowledge management, and posts requiring expertise and understanding of knowledge concepts. This
Postgraduate Programme in Information and Knowledge Management has been carefully designed to fulfil these needs, and is offered to students who are interested in a career in any of the burgeoning areas of IKM, whether in the private or public sector. It is a programme that gives students a comprehensive set of skills for employment not only in these fields, but also in the broader areas of information science and competitive intelligence.
Brochure ContentsThese pages contain basic information about the academic programme and entry qualifications. Other information that provides answers to frequently asked questions about funding, part-time study, assessment etc. is on the coloured insert.
Further information about the University and campus life can be found in the Postgraduate Prospectus. As programmes are developed and updated, the information may be subject to change.
Programme DetailsTwo awards are available to successful students: the MSc or the Loughborough Postgraduate Diploma (LPD). Full time candidates for the MSc degree undertake the programme for twelve months; full time candidates for the LPD (120 credits) undertake the programme for nine months. The programme is also available part-time, but not in distance learning mode.
Part 1 of the MSc programme (taught modules, running from October to mid-May) consists of ten core modules and two optional modules (120 credits); Part 2 comprises the dissertation (60 credits).
The core modules are:
Competitor Intelligence
Database Structure and Design
Design and Authoring for the World Wide Web
Informatics, & Knowledge Management Systems
Information Architecture
Information Retrieval for Knowledge Management
Legal Context of Information and Knowledge Management
Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Management Techniques and People Skills
Principles of Knowledge Management
The optional modules are chosen from:
Consumer Health Information
Culture and Change Management
E-Business Techniques
Design Issues for Electronic Publications
E-Publishing: Marketing and Business Methods
Human Information Processing
Information and Knowledge Management in the NHS
Information Work in Developing Countries
Interaction Design
Marketing for Information Professionals
Markup Languages for the World Wide Web
Multimedia
Please note: Options will not normally be offered to classes of fewer then ten students, and the Department reserves the right not to offer all the options in any one year.
Module DescriptionsThe following brief descriptions are provided as an introduction to the programme. Full modules specifications, including a short reading list and indication of assessed coursework, can be accessed at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/studying/pg-ilmph.html.
Core ModulesCompetitor Intelligence covers sources of business information as well as the basics of competitor intelligence, enabling students to use effectively, and discriminate between, a variety and range of UK, European and world business and company specific information sources in printed and electronic versions.
Database Structure and Design includes basic database concepts, database design, input and output formats, handling graphics and elementary visual basics, relational theory, structured query language, entity relationship modelling and database architectures.
Design and Authoring for the World Wide Web will introduce and develop skills relating to Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) in conjunction with Cascading Style Sheets. Students will be introduced to HTML and will learn how to create web pages that will conform to standards (XHTML). They will need to consider the design and application of web pages that allow for the widest possible access. They will gain an understanding of how pages are constructed, which will form the basis of a highly transferable skill.
Informatics and Knowledge Management Systems provides a structured approach to systems concepts and definitions, cybernetics and information feedback, and system dynamics. Hard and soft systems methodologies are also covered so that students gain an appreciation of systems-based methodologies pertaining to business applications.
Information Architecture aims to give students an awareness of the principles of information organisation so as to develop a knowledge of the systems and techniques applied in the workplace. The module covers the document life cycle, summarisation, abstracting and text analysis, metadata, taxonomies, ontologies, thesauri and records management systems.
Information Retrieval for Knowledge Management will give students an understanding of the organisational structure of knowledge based organisations, including the roles and tasks that influence the demand for data, information and knowledge. Electronic information services in a knowledge based organisation will be considered, and the focus will be on their strengths and weaknesses, search strategies, and the tools for retrieving, visualising and integrating information and knowledge.
Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship considers the role of management, innovation and enterprise within electronic publishing and other e-commerce organisations. The module considers a range of material concerning e-business, including financial planning, accountancy, creative management techniques and innovative strategies for building successful businesses.
Management Techniques and People Skills studies organisational structures within the e-publishing sector and broader knowledge economy. The modules covers a range of topics that will be of use to e-publishers, notably principles of strategic planning, business plans, project management and leadership techniques.
The Legal Context of Knowledge Management aims for students to understand the legal issues and potential pitfalls in both setting up an information management or knowledge management strategy, and in managing information and knowledge-intensive organisations. They explore the scope of UK law relating to information management, in particular copyright protection, defamation, data protection, trade mark/domain name and Freedom of Information law.
Principles of Knowledge Management gives students a broad overview of the emerging discipline of knowledge management. The module provides an integrated approach to theory and practice, and brings together the different dimensions of systems, technologies, strategy, culture and organisation learning. By the end of the module, students should feel confident of the different facets and debates in this discipline.
Optional ModulesConsumer Health Information explains and analyses the provision and use of consumer health information in England. The module covers the politics of healthcare, consumerism, end-use searching in medicine, library and bibliographical services, local and national consumer health information services, and patients Õ medical records access, use and rights.
Culture and Change Management aims to enable students to discern the different perspectives related to the ambiguous concept of 'culture' and to develop their thinking of different approaches for management change in organisations. The module explores the contributions of psychology, sociology and anthropology to cultural studies literature and examines the effects of human resource interventions to real life situations.
E-business techniques includes defining e-business, e-business strategy, legal issues, customer relationship management, supply chain management, B2B techniques, B2C techniques, and the future of e-business.
Design Issues for Electronic Publications covers the wide range of formats (e.g. e-journals, portable electronic books) which are available for electronic publication, and considers a variety of issues which are concerned with the design, production and marketing of these formats. The module is an important component of semester one studies, and will provide students with a detailed insight into the range of formats which are available. Additionally, the module will consider the history, current situation and future developments of e-publishing formats.
E-Publishing: Marketing and Business Issues considers the broad range of issues that e-publishers have to face, including the development of product for e-book forms, pricing structures for electronic formats, preservation of electronic information and the development of scholarly e-journals.
Human Information Processing examines different aspects of cognitive psychology such as perception, memory, language and skill in order to develop an appreciation of the complexity of human information processing. Students will be exposed to a range of online psychological experiments in order to experience first-hand how some of the data discussed in the lectures would have been collected.
Information and Knowledge Management in the NHS aims for the student to gain an overview of provision and use of all types of information within the NHS in England, and an understanding of the organisational structure within which such information is generated and used. Ethical and legal issues surrounding information management in healthcare services are covered, as are the politics of healthcare services.
Information Work in Developing Countries The exposition of a critique of the role of libraries and other information services in less developed countries, and the exploration of alternative ways of providing library and information services. Examples and case studies drawn for the most part from Africa.
Interaction Design considers the cognitive, social and technological issues that affect the design and evaluation of electronic interactive systems. In this module, students will examine each stage of the design process, from understanding and conceptualising an interactive system to building and evaluating prototypes of the user interface.
Marketing for Information Specialists gives students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of the theory of marketing affecting all organisations. including public and private sector, with both for-profit and not-for-profit approaches. Topics include: marketing research and segmentation; portfolio analysis using the Boston Matrix; customer care; channels of research and distribution; application of techniques to marketing of information services.
Markup Languages for the World Wide Web considers advanced markup languages (e.g. XML), and concentrates both on the principles underpinning them and their practical application. Students will be introduced to a range of applications, including XML, XHMTL, XSL and others, and will be expected to create and edit their own XML documents.
Multimedia considers the multimedia industry from both user and developer perspectives and provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of multimedia. A contextual study of the sector. Students are introduced to multimedia applications, and as part of assessed coursework are required to plan, design and produce a multimedia presentation.
DissertationThe second part of the programme (for those students studying for the MSc) consists of a unit on research methodology (taught during the last fours weeks of Semester 1), and individual research leading to the submission of a 15,000 word dissertation (60 credits). Research work normally begins in mid-May. The Dissertations Coordinator holds several briefing sessions on dissertation preparation, assistance is given in choosing a suitable topic and an individual supervisor is assigned to each student. Academic staff suggest a range of suitable topics for study, and students are also encouraged to discuss their own interests with potential supervisors.
Full-time students must submit the dissertation by 15 September in the appropriate year. Alternative arrangements for submission are available for part-time students.
Research Methodology. The overall aim of this unit is to teach the basics of research methods as applied to information work. The objectives are: to prepare students for research work related to their dissertation; to equip them with the basic skills needed to interpret other people's research results; and to give them a grounding in, and a general appreciation of, a range of research methodologies.
Entry QualificationsFor this programme we are looking for students who are interested in a career in the multitude of jobs that form the information bridge between IT and the business side of things. Bright applicants with good communications skills are encouraged.
A good first degree (min. 2:2) is the normal qualification for entry to this taught postgraduate programme. It is assumed that applicants will have basic ICT literacy and will not need remedial tuition. Pre-programme work experience is not required, but would be considered an advantage for those wishing to be considered for an Arts and Humanities Research Board Professional Preparation Masters award of the (see also Funding in the Further Information insert).
All Applicants resident in the UK are invited for an Open Day and/or interview, which will give them the opportunity to become more familiar with the academic content of the programmes, meet current postgraduate students and staff, and tour the Department and campus.
Overseas applicants are also very welcome to visit the Department if they are in the UK and able to come to Loughborough. Please notify the Postgraduate Admissions team if you intend to visit.
