Eleanor Chung
MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background, and the course you are studying.

I am Eleanor Chung, currently studying MSc Management Information Systems & Digital Innovation at Warwick Business School. Prior to my studies I worked in Hong Kong for two years as a Sales and Marketing Graduate Trainee in the IT industry and I worked for one year as a Product Marketing Executive in the telecommunications industry.

What first attracted you to WBS, why did you choose to study here?

I was looking to enhance my career when I was working in Hong Kong in the telecommunication industry. My job focused on formulating strategies for enterprise broadband, data and cloud technologies through service positioning, pricing and product feature enhancing. However, as my undergraduate background was more business focused, I was unable to understand the technical knowledge behind these products and services. As a result of this I decided that I wanted to improve my technical skills within this area.

In addition to this the MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation course offered by WBS combines exclusive knowledge on information systems with real business world cases as well as technical practices, for example, we are taught to code and analyse data using Python and R Programming. I have been fully equipped with both technical skills and managerial skills through these options. This enhances my ability to make fast and accurate business decisions in my future career.

What would you say are the key things that sets WBS apart from other schools?

The dedicated careers support provided to WBS students is the most unique feature of WBS. Getting a job upon the completion of your MSc course is the biggest concern for most students. With the support and advice provided by the CareersPlus team, students are able to clarify their future career paths and understand how to outperform during the different recruitment stages.

The comprehensive my.wbs portal is also a key feature available to all students at WBS. The portal contains all the necessary course materials, class and activity schedules as well as forums for students to share their ideas with their class mates at any time. Lectures and seminar recordings are also saved on my.wbs which is really useful. Due to the impact of COVID-19 not all students may be physically in the UK and therefore the recordings feature enables students in all time zones to attend their lectures at the most convenient time.

What is the best thing about your course so far?

I really appreciate the lecturers who teach on my course. They are very responsive to the needs of every student and they are willing to spend time helping students whenever they have issues with their studies. They also always keep the course materials up to date with the latest industry trends. Students are encouraged to provide constant feedback to ensure that the learning outcomes reflect the students’ expectations.

What is your favourite module? What do you cover on this module?

My favourite module during my course has been Enterprise Information Systems. A well-experienced lecturer brought us both theoretical and practical knowledge on Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) Systems. It ranges from concepts and lifecycle theories of ERP Systems to practical tools to handle and develop Enterprise Information Systems, which includes Business Process Modelling Notation, SQL, Dolibarr ERP & CRM systems.

The first highlight is the use of SAP S/4 HANA ERP systems to run simulations. Students are required to handle their own dairy firm and make use of the simulation system to set pricing, manage supply chain activities and manage cost and revenue of the virtual firm in order to achieve the highest company valuation.

Another highlight is designing a dashboard to improve an existing ERP system on the market. Instead of simply designing historical data analysis on the dashboard, students are encouraged to think creatively to include prescriptive and predictive dashboard designs. This can enhance business decisions being made efficiently and effectively.

What has inspired you most throughout your studies at WBS?

Since the nature of my undergraduate study was based around theoretical business, I had never thought of being able to understand rationales behind the emerging technologies, for example Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchains etc. I am also able to code, analyse data and think like a software engineer. By studying my course at WBS I have enhanced my career prospects in a more digitally demanding business world.

What sort of support have you received so far from the CareersPlus team?

The CareersPlus team arranged a wide variety of webinars and online workshops, from understanding the current job market to personalising career paths for every student. My personal highlight was the course-specific career social event. It was an insightful two hour webinar with interviews from alumni from our course. The interviews from the alumni delivered an important message to me – it might take several steps to arrive at my desired job.

The CareersPlus team is well-equipped with industry-specific knowledge and professional connections with industry experts. I personally participated in a one-to-one careers coaching session where I was able to gain an in-depth understanding of the responsibilities and technical requirements involved with the role I was aiming for.

What do you aim to do once you graduate?

I would love to become an IT Consultant. IT Consultants work on implementation projects, for instance, extensive ERP systems applications, where the role may involve project management, process management and system integration. I can see how exciting and meaningful in helping organisations digitally transform can be with the use of the latest technology.

In the meanwhile, I would also like to participate in side-projects or voluntary works in digital inclusion, ensuring the benefits of the internet and digital technologies are available to every individual.

What are your tips for getting the most out of an MSc for those starting in September?

Postgraduate courses are quite different from undergraduate courses, and will involve a lot more self-study. Although the courses are well designed you may not be able to cover everything in detail during your lectures therefore you are encouraged to read additional materials to further your understanding.

How has the impact of COVID-19 affected your studies?

Most of us see COVID-19 as negatively affecting our lives due to the many restrictions including social distancing, quarantine etc. However, I see the impact of COVID-19 as a huge opportunity to learn something new and work more effectively. Firstly, students are allowed to attend online lectures at a time that suits them with the impact of location or time. Secondly, I have found that companies are willing to share their working culture and projects to students for free without any screenings in advance of virtual internships. These practices broaden the horizons for students enabling them to get to know about different organisations' workflow and culture. Thirdly students looking to change their career path or industry have been able to use this time to obtain knowledge and connect with people working within their desired industry simply through the power of the internet and networking.