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Data management

An organisation’s most valuable asset is often its data, but careful management is required to ensure the maximum benefit is achieved. In this online module you will acquire an understanding of the principles, practices and technologies required for data management across the data life-cycle, and an awareness of the emerging issues in data management. You will gain the skills to analyse an organisation's data asset in order to develop policies, procedures and systems that control, protect, deliver and enhance its value. The module is based on the internationally recognised Data Management Association (DAMA) Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) Framework.

Vocational relevance

By studying this module you will work towards data management policies, procedures and systems for an organisation with which you are familiar. As such you will be interacting with other people in that organisation and this may help to raise your professional profile.

Studying this module will also help you prepare to take the DAMA Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) and/or the BCS Certificate in Data Management Essentials examinations, in addition to the OU qualification being sought.

Qualifications

M816 is an optional module in our:

Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Management (C49)
Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice (C72)
Postgraduate Certificate in Computing (K22)
Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management (E08)
Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering (E22)
Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28)
Postgraduate Diploma in Computing (E81) (Information Security and Digital Forensics)
Postgraduate Diploma in Computing (E81) (Software Engineering)
Postgraduate Diploma in Computing (E81)
MSc in Technology Management (F36)
MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (F47)
MSc in Engineering (F46)
MSc in Computing (F66) (Information Security and Digital Forensics)
MSc in Computing (F66) (Software Engineering)
MSc in Computing (F66)

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

Postgraduate Loans

If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you may also be eligible for a Postgraduate Loan available from Student Finance England. For more information, see Fees and funding.

Module

Module code: M816
Credits: 30
Study level: Postgraduate
Study method: Distance learning
Find out more in Why the OU?
Module cost: See Module registration
Entry requirements: Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

This module takes a practice-based approach based on an organisation you are familiar with. It gives you the fundamental knowledge and understanding of the data management principles, practices and technologies required to develop policies, procedures and systems that control, protect, deliver and enhance the value of the organisation’s data asset.

You will also have an opportunity to investigate emerging trends in data management and acquire the personal development skills you need to keep abreast of important developments in a rapidly expanding field. In addition, researching information about data management from various sources will give you critical evaluation skills and the ability to write about different approaches to this subject.

Among the topics covered are: data, database, repository and business intelligence administration; ethical and professional conduct for data administrators; data integrity, security, quality and recovery; distributed, mobile and cloud data; data warehousing and the issues and technologies associated with 'Big data'.

The module covers the following data management functions:

Data Governance - planning, oversight, and control over management of data and the use of data and data-related resources
Data Architecture - the overall structure of data and data-related resources as an integral part of the enterprise architecture
Data Modelling and Design - analysis, design, building, testing, and maintenance
Data Storage and Operations - structured physical data assets storage deployment and management
Data Security - ensuring privacy, confidentiality and appropriate access
Data Integration and Interoperability - acquisition, extraction, transformation, movement, delivery, replication, federation, virtualisation and operational support
Documents and Content - storing, protecting, indexing, and enabling access to data found in unstructured sources (electronic files and physical records), and making this data available for integration and interoperability with structured (database) data
Reference and Master Data - managing shared data to reduce redundancy and ensure better data quality through standardised definition and use of data values
Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence - managing analytical data processing and enabling access to decision support data for reporting and analysis metadata - collecting, categorising, maintaining, integrating, controlling, managing, and delivering metadata
Metadata - collecting, categorising, maintaining, integrating, controlling, managing, and delivering metadata
Data Quality - defining, monitoring, maintaining data integrity, and improving data quality.

In the module assessment you will have an opportunity to engage with an organisational problem of your choice, working towards fit-for-purpose data management policies, procedures and systems. You will also have an opportunity to carry out some independent research into issues in data management, including analysing, evaluating and presenting results.

The book Data Management Association (DAMA) Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) Framework is provided on a CD-ROM, which will be delivered to you before the start of the module. All other module material is delivered online and makes extensive use of a range of media and resources to support your learning.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will be responsible for monitoring your progress on the module, marking and commenting on your written work and whom you can contact for advice and guidance.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and your end-of-module assessment (EMA).

Professional recognition

Application for recognition will be made to BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for exemption from some of its membership requirements for holders of an appropriate MSc in Computing.

Course work includes

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)

End-of-module assessment

No residential school

Course satisfaction survey

See the satisfaction survey results for this course.

Future availability

The details given here are for the module that starts in November 2017. It starts once a year – in November.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Essential Documents website.

Entry requirements

It is expected that you will hold a bachelors degree (or equivalent) in computing or a related discipline, or alternatively have at least three years relevant industry experience.

You should also have data analysis, database, SQL and programming experience from previous study or professional work.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum overall score of 6 and minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the IELTS website for details.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Outside the UK

The module is based on the internationally recognised Data Management Association (DAMA) Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) Framework.

Register

Start	End	England fee	Register
01 Nov 2017	Apr 2018	£1333.00	Registration closes 12/10/17 (places subject to availability) Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in November 2019.

Future availability

The details given here are for the module that starts in November 2017. It starts once a year – in November.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as a laptop, travel to tutorials, set books and internet access.

Study materials

What's included

The DAMA Guide to the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DAMA-DMBOK), DAMA International, will be provided on a CD-ROM.

Other study materials will be available from the module website, including:

access to the online book Principles of Data Management: Facilitating Information Sharing, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
access to a wide range of library resources
a wide range of activities to develop technical and professional skills.

Computing requirements

You will need a device with internet access to study this module as a web browser is used to access learning materials and activities. Any other computer-based activities you will need to carry out, such as word processing, using spreadsheets, taking part in online forums, and submitting files to the university for assessment, are specified in the module materials. If any additional software is needed for these tasks it will either be provided or is freely available.You may need administrative privileges to install software required for this module. Windows 10 S is not suitable as it restricts software installation to software available in the Windows Application Store.

Suitable devices are:

A Windows desktop or laptop computer running Windows 7 or later operating system
A Macintosh desktop or laptop computer running OS X 10.8 or later operating system
A modern Linux desktop or laptop computer.

Some software will not run on iOS or Android devices.

A netbook, tablet or other mobile device that supports one of the browsers below may be suitable for some activities. However, these devices may not be suitable for one or more activities within this module. If you intend to use one of these devices please ensure you have access to another suitable desktop or laptop device in case you are unable to carry out all activities on your mobile device. You will need a broadband internet connection to complete this module. Better video performance is available with higher connection speeds.

Recent versions of the following browsers are suitable for carrying out web-based activities:

Safari
Chrome
Firefox
Edge

Or Internet Explorer 9 and above.
Using a browser upgraded to the latest version will maximize your security when accessing the internet.

Using company or library computers may prevent you accessing some internet materials or installing additional software.

To be able to talk and listen in our online discussions you will need both a microphone and speakers/headphones.

Devices with small screens may make it difficult to view the material provided and carry out the activities. However, a device that has a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and also at least 768 pixels vertically should be adequate.

See our Skills for OU study website for further information about computing skills for study and educational deals for buying Microsoft Office software.

If you have a disability

With the exception of the book Data Management Association (DAMA) Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) Framework, which will be mailed to you on a CD-ROM, the materials for this module are provided as a series of web pages and an online book via the module website. Some elements may not be fully accessible using a screen reader. Currently, we cannot provide a copy of the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) that is accessible using a screen reader.

Other alternative formats of the study materials, such as E-pub and Kindle versions, may be available in the future. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer, or think you may have difficulty using the online material you are advised to contact us about support which can be given to meet your needs.

If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Find out more about our services for disabled students.

Data management

Vocational relevance

Qualifications

Postgraduate Loans

Module

What you will study

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Assessment

Professional recognition

Course work includes

Course satisfaction survey

Future availability

Regulations

Entry requirements

Outside the UK

Register

Future availability

Additional costs

Study costs

Study materials

What's included

Computing requirements

If you have a disability

Bachelor degrees

Masters degrees

Degree subjects

Change language

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Grad

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The Open University

What you will study

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Assessment

Professional recognition

Course work includes

Course satisfaction survey

Future availability

Regulations

Entry requirements

Outside the UK

Register

Future availability

Additional costs

Study costs

Study materials

What's included

Computing requirements

If you have a disability

Bachelor degrees

Masters degrees

Degree subjects

Change language

Connect with us

Grundständige Studiengänge

Masterstudiengange

Grad

Sprache ändern

Connect with us

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