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Accessibility statement
Qualification dates
StartEnd
03 Oct 2026Jun 2027
IT systems are a critical part of our world – often interconnected combinations of technology, organisations and people and highly complex – yet they fail, often spectacularly. This module teaches you the skills to contribute towards successful IT systems. It draws on techniques from systems theory, software engineering and management to understand the nature of success and failure, design IT systems that succeed and ensure they’re robust in the face of future changes. You’ll also learn project-management skills and cover legal, social, ethical and professional issues.
IT systems are a complex sociotechnical mixture of technology (including hardware, software, and networking), organisations, and people. IT systems: planning for success (TM353) teaches skills for understanding and enabling success in each of these areas. The module's foundation is systems thinking: concepts and tools for making sense of the whole of a complex system, including the emergent relationships between its interconnected parts.
This module consists of three blocks.
In Block 1, you will look at:
Block 2 looks at how to create conditions for success in IT systems through:
In Block 3, you will examine how to ensure continued success in established IT systems through:
The theme of project management of IT systems, and how this links with legal, social, ethical and professional issues, runs throughout the module.
The three main teaching blocks cover key aspects of systems thinking. Each block includes a blend of printed and online text, pictures, animations, and practical activities. Specially recorded audio and video material, including interviews with leading researchers, experts, companies, and users from various countries, accompany the teaching material.
IT systems: planning for success (TM353) isn’t just about reading – it’s about learning through hands-on experience.
This module builds on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from study at OU levels 1 and 2.
You should be able to:
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
We also provide physical:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying TM353 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
IT systems: planning for success (TM353) starts once a year – in October.
It will next start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.
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