Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The objective of this model is to introduce a higher level of complexity in the design of services that allows for the definition of modular systems and service platforms in both IT-based and physical services. In this model students will develop an understanding of all the technical and non-technical elements that are needed to provide successful services and operate a service architecture.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• Understand the key technologies behind social networking, search engines, organisation of content and user-generated tagging.
• Analyse, explain and discuss methods for "enrichment" of services: involvement of users, identity management, personalization, use of context, etc.
• Analyse drivers and barriers for introduction of new ICT services from a technology, user and market perspective.
• Understand the concepts of ”service architecture”.
• Understand the concept of modularisation of products and services.
• Understand and explain the potential benefits of modularisation.
• Understand the concept of product and supply chain architecture.
• Understand the paradoxes related to modularisation and innovation.
• Apply techniques and tools to control key technologies behind social networking, search engines, organisation of content and user-generated tagging.

Skills

• Classify services and outline the requirements that a given service imposes on networks and terminals (analysis).
• Understand and apply user-centric service development and stakeholder analysis in setting up the requirements specification for a service.
• Be able to analyse and evaluate various dimensions of modular products and services.
• Be able to position modular products and services in a specific business context (analysis).
• Be able to apply different concepts and theories to specific cases.

Competences

• Analyse and design (synthesis) a realistic ICT or physical service (on a conceptual level) to address an identified user need and discuss the service architecture needed to realise the proposed service.
• Demonstrate understanding through application in exercises and cases of:
  • Various types of products and services.
  • Various organizations characterized by differences in maturity and size.

Various types of supply chain relations.

Type of instruction

See general description of the types of instruction described in the introduction to Chapter 3.

Exam

Exams