Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation

Curriculum overview

We are ranked #3 in the world for social science and management, and the MISDI programme is founded in LSE's tradition for academic excellence. The curriculum is designed around three core courses, and you can also customise your programme according to your own interests and career goals with a wide choice of optional elective courses in information systems, digital innovation, management, and a range of other topics from leading academic departments across LSE. 

One of the compulsory elements of the programme is the Sprint Week group project (within the Innovating Organisational Information Technology compulsory course) in which small teams of students engage in a simulation of a real-life technology management consultancy project over one intense week. During this week the groups will all work on their own innovation, supported by world-class consultants and by faculty, for a real-world client.  This sprint-week serves the purpose of sharpening the students' ability to engage in intense group work around a real-life case using a variety of techniques. Alumni frequently point to the sprint week as a highly valuable preparation for their future careers.

You will complete the programme with an 8,000 word dissertation project during the summer, which will enable you to specialise with in-depth knowledge in your specific area of interest.

Compulsory core courses (2.5 units)

(* denotes a half unit)

Innovation and Information Systems: Concepts and Perspectives*
Provides theoretical foundations for the study and practice of digital innovation and management of information systems.

Innovating Organisational Information Technology*
Explores the theoretical and practical aspects of technologic change integrating a two-week intensive boot-camp project in conjunction with global consultancy firm.

Management and Socioeconomics of Digital Innovation*
Examines contemporary global strategies and management practices of corporations across the world including an analysis of corporate and business strategies, competitiveness, and how organizations set up and manage structures, processes, human resources, and technologies to deliver on their objectives. 

Research Design for Studies in Digital Innovation*
Builds your skills in research design in preparation for your dissertation, including inference, causation and treatment controls; the relationship between theory and data; operationalisation and measurement; fixed versus flexible designs; case study methods; interviews and focus groups; thematic analysis; and the analysis of online and social media.

Dissertation*
8,000-word dissertation based on a project that will cover some aspect of information systems development or management.

Study Skills and Contemporary Topics in Information Systems and Digital Innovation
This compulsory non-assessed course provides students with both a broader context for the study of information systems as well as the essential skills relevant to the MISDI programme.

Optional elective courses (1.5 units)

All students must choose two courses listed below in the Lent Term, and take courses to a minimum of one (1.0) full unit. The remaining half (0.5) unit may be taken from either lists below, or, subject to approval from the Programme Director, from the full list of all graduate level courses.

(* denotes a half unit)

Emergencies Management: Humanitarian Intervention and Digital Innovation* 

Information Systems for the Public Sector: Digital Government and Service Innovation*

Data Governance: Privacy, Openness and Transparency*

Information Technology and Service Innovation*

eHealth: Policy, Strategy and Systems*

Responsible Digital Innovation: Ethics at Work*

The remaining half unit may be taken from the list above, the further options listed below, or, subject to approval from the Programme Director, from the full list of all graduate level courses:

Business and Organisational Ethics*

Digital Marketing*

Deep Learning*

Financial Markets* (FM473L)

Managerial Finance* (FM474L)

Reinforcement Learning*

Supply Chain Management*

Management Accounting, Decisions and Control*

Open Innovation*

Operations Management for Management Consultancy*

Public Management: A Design-Orientated Approach*

Strategy and Change in Public Sector Management*

Organisational Change*

Principles of Pricing*

Artificial Intelligence*

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Part-time programme structure

MISDI is a full-time 12 month programme, however, we can admit a limited number of part-time students to complete the programme over 2 years.

Part-time students will follow the standard regulations and classification scheme for a four unit Master's degree. Students are required to take taught courses in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms of their two years and the work load will be split equally across both years. The dissertation will be completed in the Summer Term of the second year. Below is the structure for each year:

First year

• Michaelmas Term:  2x half unit core courses and 1x non-assessed course
• Lent Term:  2x half unit optional courses
• Summer Term: None

Second year

• Michaelmas Term:  1x half unit core course
• Lent Term: 1x half unit core course and 1x half unit optional course
• Summer Term: 1x half unit dissertation

The choice of which core and elective courses you take each year will be made in consultation with the Programme Director.

Please note that we are not able to make special allowances for students in regards to their timetables. Students will be required to manage their time to make sure they can attend the scheduled lectures and seminars.                                     

 To find the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page. 

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises. 

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School's Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page. 

Career development with MSc Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation 

We will develop your intellectual and practical skills as a talented and well-rounded manager, with the ability to thrive and innovate with challenges in today's complex and fast-moving technological world. 

With a strong foundation of knowledge in organisational information systems and management of digital innovation, plus practical skills developed with case studies and the practical MISDI Bootcamp project, you will graduate with a unique and well-rounded portfolio of skills and knowledge to set you apart in the job market.

Your practical and professional management skills will be developed and polished during the programme, including communication and presentation skills, team working, cultural intelligence gained from close collaboration with classmates from around the world, and client management experience from the MISDI Bootcamp project.

LSE Careers

LSE Careers will provide tailored individual support with your professional development and job search throughout the programme. They offer one-to-one Career Consultant sessions, access to employers with career fairs, seminars and workshops, a vast database of employment opportunities via the LSE Career Hub, and help with job hunting, CVs/resumes and interviews. Find out more about the support available to students through LSE Careers.

Graduate destinations

LSE is ranked #5 in the world for its reputation with employers, and our graduates are in high demand by employers. MISDI graduates have taken roles across a wide variety of sectors, in companies across the globe. A popular career path is to enter management consulting or finance, with graduates taking up roles with employers such as KPMG, Accenture, EY, PwC, Barclays, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Beyond this, opportunities are extremely broad, and MISDI graduates have also gone on to excel in careers in a wide range of other industries. 

Here are some examples of the companies and organisations which our alumni now work for: 

• Accenture
• Bank of America
• Barclays Capital
• BNP
• Deloitte
• EY
• Goldman Sachs
• London Stock Exchange
• Morgan Stanley
• Paribas
• PWC