Objectives

To help the participants acquire a holistic view of an IT application: to enable them to consider a government information system from the point of view of the various players including the citizens, the government, and the technology vendors, so that while dealing with such applications both the technical aspects and socio-economic aspects are taken into consideration.

To enable the participants understand their role in the analysis, design, and implementation of an information system, to lead members of IT project management and implementation teams, to interact meaningfully with agencies who have been awarded contracts to participate in the implementation of the projects, and to effectively monitor such projects during their different phases of life cycle.

To develop an appreciation among the participants for information technology and its role in operational and strategic decision making, and to expose them to current trends in hardware, software, communications and networks, so that they can assess the implications of the new technologies for offering new and improved services, choose cost-effective technology in planning and upgrading their systems, and to acquire a variety of skills for handling techno-commercial decisions.

To help the participants appreciate the fact that what determines the success of an IT application is not merely its technical excellence but also the extent to which it impacts the concerned organization or society, and on how well the resulting socio-cultural, administrative, and other organizational changes are managed.

Profile of Participants

Participants include senior officials of government of Andhra Pradesh and other states and countries with experience in managing government and public systems, and with a strong motivation to introduce e-governance in their respective fields of work.

Duration and Venue of the Programme

The duration of the programme is 11 weeks, each week consisting of six working days. The programme commenced on 5 February 2007 and ends on 21 April 2007. The first seven weeks are devoted to in-class modules and the last four weeks to project work. The first two weeks of the programme were held at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The remaining part of the programme is conducted at Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resource Development Institute of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. The programme is fully residential. 

Programme Structure and Pedagogy

The in-class modules impart to the participants skill and knowledge in information systems design, implementation, and management in the context of government through a balance between principles, tools and techniques, methodologies, system development paradigms and legal, economic, and social implications of information systems.

The in-class module is followed by a course project, the objective of which is to provide an opportunity to the participants to consolidate what they have learnt in the in-class modules, by requiring the participants to apply the principles to a real situation. The project involves identification of a list of computer applications in a government department and prioritizing them; to develop a logical design using standard methodologies for one of the applications; and to develop a project plan with necessary details for the chosen application chosen. The projects are done in groups. Each group is required to document their work in the form of a project report and make a presentation of their work at the end of the programme.

The learning and teaching methodology involves conventional lecture method, case analysis, problem solving workshops, lab work, role play, and participant presentations. The various in-class modules are: E-Governance and Information Systems: Strategy and Planning; Information Technology: Overview and Emerging Trends; Systems Analysis, Design and Development; Data Base Management and Online Transaction Processing Systems; Decision Support Systems; Change Management; and Project Management.