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252-0820-00L 5 Credits BSC , MSC , WBZ D-INFK
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Information Technology in Practice

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Marc Brandis
VVZ CR 4.2

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:33:06

Abstract

The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of "real-life" computer science challenges in business settings and teach them how to address these.

Objective

Students will learn important considerations of companies when applying information technology in practice, including costs, economic value and risks of information technology use, or impact of information technology on business strategy and vice versa. They will get insight into how companies have used or are using information technology to be successful. Students will also learn how to assess information technology decisions from different viewpoints, including technical experts, IT managers, business users, and business top managers. The course will equip participants to understand the role computer science and information technology plays in different companies and to contribute to respective decisions as they enter into practice.

Content

The course consists of multiple lectures on economics of information technology, business and IT strategy, and how they are interlinked, and a set of relevant case studies. They address how companies become more successful using information technology, how bad information technology decisions can hurt them, and they look into a number of current challenges companies face regarding their information technology. The cases are taken both from documented international case studies as well as from Swiss companies participating in the course. The learned concepts will be applied in exercises, which form a key component of the course.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC , MSC , WBZ
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination
Mode
oral 35 minutes
Oral exams in the first two weeks after the semester, using Zoom with recording. The recordings will not be available except in case of disputes.

Registration & Places

Max Places
30
Priority: Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Information Technology in Practice
  • Mon 14:15-16:00 (CAB G 51)
2 h weekly
exercise Information Technology in Practice
  • Mon 16:15-17:00 (CAB G 51)
1 h weekly
independent project Information Technology in Practice No time listed 1 h weekly

Offered In

  • Informatik Bachelor
    • Wahlfächer (Es können auch Lehrveranstaltungen aus dem Master-Studiengang in Informatik gewählt werden. Es liegt in der Verantwortung der Studierenden, sicherzustellen, dass sie die Voraussetzungen für diese Lehrveranstaltungen erfüllen.)
  • Informatik Master
    • Freie Wahlfächer (Den Studierenden steht das gesamte Lehrangebot auf Master Level im Gebiet der Informatik (oder einem verwandten Bereich) der ETH Zürich, der EPF Lausanne, der Universität Zürich und - nach vorgängiger Genehmigung durch den Studiendirektor - der übrigen Schweizer Universitäten zur individuellen Auswahl offen.)
  • CAS in Informatik