UNISA Information Resource Management Course Module 2025-2026
| Database Systems IV – IRM4717 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of the module is to equip students with adequate knowledge, and competencies to design, implement and manage centralized and distributed database systems in terms of administration, security, transactions, concurrency, performance, and decision support. Moreover, qualifying students are expected to differentiate between various database implementation alternatives and interactions. This module provides fundamental and required knowledge, which will support further studies and applications in the sector of Computer Science and Information systems, in the field of Database Management Systems as part of either Bachelor of Science degree in Computing or Informatics or the Bachelor of Commerce degree with Informatics as major. These competencies therefore contribute to the development of competitive Information Technology practitioners who have strong technical skills of designing, implementing and managing single and distributed database systems. | |||
| Incident and Problem Management – IRM4718 | |||
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| Post Graduate Diploma | Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: This module provides an overview of two of the service operation processes, namely: incident management and problem management. The definition, purpose, scope for both incident management and problem management will be studied. Policies, principles and basic concepts of incident and problem management will also be investigated. The module teaches how to approach, investigate, diagnose and then resolve the problem or find workarounds to that problem. What is key to this module is maintaining knowledge of resolving the problems by documenting, categorising, logging and forming a knowledge base of known problem records. The methodology on how to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of incident and problem management in a business environment will be offered in this module. Determining the challenges, success factors and risks will also be touch upon in this module. | |||
| Development Software IV – IRM4719 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: This module is designed to address the growing ubiquity of mobile devices, mainly hand held devices. It explores the principles and challenges in designing and developing applications for mobile devices. It focuses on applications for smart phone platforms.It involvesa theoretical study of the various architectures and a rich set of practical examples that covers the general aspects of mobile device development. Students will explore the emerging mobile ecosystemand advanced programming topics including optimisation and object-oriented programming. The approach is partially research-based where students are encouraged to be self-directed. Students must have access to a suitable computer and access to the Internet for their research and practical work. | |||
| ICT Project Management – IRM4725 | |||
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| Advanced Diploma | Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to provide qualifying students with the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to successfully initiate, evaluate, plan, manage and control real-world information technology projects according to industry-approved processes within African, South African and global context. This module is intended for competent programmers and prospective managers. The student will be able to develop evaluation and planning skills and could extend this knowledge to manage, monitor and control an information technology project. Qualified students are able to express their logical evaluation and planning skills to society through the development of information technology projects in industry, conforming to specific standards and Students are required in addition to normal fees, purchase their own prescribed books and required software packages, as well as to have the following equipment at own cost; a computer; access to the internet. | |||
| Service Design Management – IRM4811 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: This module provides an overview of four of the service delivery management processes, namely: Service asset and configuration management, Service catalogue management, Capacity Management and Availability Management. Qualifying students will be able to define, analyse and explain the purpose and scope of these four processes The module exposes students to how Service Asset and Configuration management, Service catalogue management (SACM), Capacity Management and Availability Management fit within the overarching concept of IT service management (ITSM) in order to support other service management processes. The module also explores the four stated processes which together form the ITIL based Service Design Management component and its role within the overall ITSM methodology, in detail. | |||
| Service Level and Supplier Management – IRM4812 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to give the students a thorough understanding and critical appreciation of the Service Level and Supplier Management processes in ITIL and the close relationship that exists between them. Qualifying students will be able to apply and execute these processes in an IT organisation having implemented or wanting to implement ITIL anywhere in the world. | |||
| Knowledge Management – IRM4813 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to give the students a deep understanding and critical appreciation of the ITIL Knowledge Management process and related concepts, to introduce them to Knowledge-centred Support (KCS), an approach which can be used to augment the ITIL v. 3 process, to teach them how to transform information into knowledge to benefit the IT organisation and to equip them with the skills necessary to apply and execute Knowledge Management in the IT organisation and within the ITIL framework. | |||
| Change Management – IRM4814 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to present the strategic, management, and operational imperative of Information Technology (IT)change management. Qualifying students will have a strategic and management-oriented understanding of IT-driven organisational change. Qualifying students will be able to analyse, apply, synthesise, and evaluate change management responses for successful IT-driven organisational change. This module forms part of the postgraduate diploma in information resources management at the College of Science, Engineering and Technology(CSET).These competencies contribute to the development of the computing field in Southern Africa, Africa, or globally. The student requires access to a suitable computer with appropriate software and Internet connectivity. | |||
| Information & Computer Security – IRM4815 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: This module focuses on the subject of computer security. Computer and information security has evolved as a field of research as well as a business practice in its own right. It is based on sound theoretical principles, namely those of Identification and Authentication, Authorisation, Confidentiality, Integrity and Non-repudiation. These principles form the basis of internationally accepted information security architectures. In this module our aim is to provide the student with sufficient knowledge to gain a thorough understanding of these. Students must have access to a suitable computer and access to the Internet for their research and practical work. | |||
| Service Validation , Testing and Evaluation – IRM4816 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to give the students a deep understanding and critical appreciation of the Service Validation and Testing and Evaluation processes in ITIL. Qualifying students will be able to apply and execute these processes in an IT organisation subscribing to ITIL anywhere in the world. | |||
| Principle Concepts of IT SM – IRM4711 | |||
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| Post Graduate Diploma | Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to the ITIL® framework. This module will specifically introduce the ITIL® Service Life Cycle and the five stages within the life cycle. Qualifying students will get an overview of Service Strategy, Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation, and Continual Service Improvement, including the purpose, scope, and processes of each. Students will gain an understanding of the concepts, benefits and terminology contained within the Service Lifecycle. Those who achieve this module will receive a basic understanding not only of what ITIL® is but also the history of ITIL® , the benefits of ITIL® , and the importance of aligning IT with business. | |||
| Service Management Functions (Service Desk) – IRM4712 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to provide an overview of service management functions. The service management functions focused on are service desk, technical management, application management and IT operational management. Each of these functions will be studied from the following perspectives: Roll, justification, objectives, organisational structure, staffing roles and responsibility, metrics and documentation. Qualifying students will have a basic knowledge of service management functions and the role they play in service operations within the ITIL framework and an understanding of its principles. Students will be able to critically analyse and evaluate existing service management functions of select organisations in order to determine if the service management functions are implemented appropriately, effectively and efficiently. Students will be tasked to analyse different organisational models and then from the knowledge gained in this module determine whether the service management functions exist, are implemented properly and if improvements can be made. | |||
| Networks IV – IRM4713 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: This module focuses on the subject of autonomous domain internetworking. Networking of the IT environment is of fundamental importance in the interconnected world today. Aspects such as “the cloud” and online social media, rely on the fundamental understanding of networking. Networking as a practical field has evolved as a field of research as well as an important business practice in its own right. This module is based on sound theoretical principles, namely those of network routing, network addressing, network topology and network protocols. These principles form the basis of internationally accepted network design. In this module a student is equipped with sufficient knowledge to gain a thorough understanding of all the aspects related to successfully plan, install, evolve and maintain a interconnected network. Students must have access to a suitable computer and access to the Internet for their research and practical work. | |||
| Information Technology Ethics – IRM4714 | |||
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| Post Graduate Diploma | Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to introduce the concepts of ethics and morality within the field of IT Management. To understand ethics, it is important to also look at the legal implications, together with what is considered professional behaviour. Ethics in Information Technology covers issues such as file sharing, infringement of intellectual property, security risks, Internet crime, identity theft, employee surveillance, privacy, and compliance. This module offers a foundation in ethical decision-making for current and future business managers and IT professionals. The purpose of this module is to expose learners to the basic principles involved in legal- and ethical issues of IT. This is done to prepare a learner to act as a professional person in the IT industry. Those who achieve this module will be able to develop a better understanding of the human aspects of IT, specifically the ethical aspects in software, appreciate the ethical behaviour of a professional person in the IT industry and to develop a basic understanding of the legal issues involved in IT. | |||
| Service Operation Processes – IRM4715 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: This module provides an overview of three of the service delivery management processes, namely: Access management, Request Fulfilment and Event management. The definition, purpose and scope for these three processes will be studied and the policies, principles and basic concepts of these Service Operation Processes investigated. The module exposes students on how Access management, Request Fulfilment and Event management fit within the overarching concept of IT service management (ITSM) in order to support the other service management processes. | |||
| Research Script – IRM4716 | |||
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| Semester module | NQF level: 7 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of the research script is to identify, formulate and solve an industry Technology-oriented problem situation by identifying, describing and analyzing the problem through a rigorous literature review; designing and executing a research study, proposing and motivating possible solutions based on the result of analyzing the research results. An example of a research script can be the following:Investigate and research the different existing models to diagnose network failures, Identify the shortcomings in each model, Develop a new model to eliminate these shortcomings, Evaluate your new model. | |||
