Module Details

Module Code: COMP9075
Title: Cloud Strategies &Optimisation
Long Title: Cloud Strategies &Optimisation
NFQ Level: Expert
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2020/21 ( September 2020 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 4811 - Computer Science
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: This module will enable students to identify the strategic value of cloud computing as a business enabling technology. It will provide students the skills and knowledge to transform existing businesses to cloud-based or implement and manage a pure cloud native business strategy for an organisation. It will also give students the skills to estimate cloud cost and to understand the key elements for trusting a cloud service.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Strategically assess how cloud platforms enable/strengthen business transformations in an organisation.
LO2 Investigate how to leverage cloud technologies in emerging areas like digital health, Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).
LO3 Evaluate and optimise modern road maps for performing workload migration to cloud with clear focus on achieving competitive business advantages.
LO4 Analyse patterns for cloud native transformations and explore how to implement safe and evolutionary cloud native approaches.
LO5 Evaluate various cloud service pricing and cost estimation models in relation to real world cloud usage scenarios.
LO6 Investigate strategies to improve trust of cloud technologies and services to increase business adoption rate.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Business Transformation Strategies
Moving to and exploiting cloud platforms to enable higher business value. Strategic objective identifications and re-engineering. Definition of new strategies and how to guide their implementation. How core characteristics of the cloud--such as on-demand resources, usage-based charging, and geographic dispersion--translate into business value: revenue growth, cost and risk reduction, and customer experience enhancement. Cost and benefits analysis in workload migration to cloud platforms.
Competitive Advantage Strategies
Investigating business models exploiting cloud technologies to gain competitive advantage. Diverse use-case scenario analysis. Discuss how to leverage cloud technologies in emerging areas like digital health, Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart city and Internet of Things (IoT). SWOT/PEST analysis. Porter’s 3 Generic Strategies, Porter’s 5 Competitive Forces and Value Chain Analysis.
Cloud Consumer Optimisation
Optimise and develop new cloud consumer strategies to realise key strategic business objectives. Create modern road maps for performing workload migration to cloud with clear focus on achieving optimal business advantages. Quantifies how customers, users, and cloud providers can collaborate to create win-win business relations. Explain the conventional wisdom on cloud usage, IT spend, community clouds, and the enterprise-provider cloud balance. Explain the probable evolution of cloud businesses and ecosystems.
Cloud Native Design Patterns
Discuss what cloud native means and why enterprises are so interested in it. Discuss common barriers and pitfalls that have affected many companies (and how to avoid them). Explain context-specific patterns for a successful cloud native transformation. How to implement a safe, evolutionary cloud native approach. Explore how companies addressed root causes and misunderstandings that hindered their progress. Discuss case studies from real-world companies that have succeeded with cloud native transformations.
Cloud Economics and Service Management
Explore cloud service pricing and cost estimation models. Discuss cloud service provisioning monitoring, metering and billing models. Analyse CAPEX (Onpremise) v OPEX (Cloud) models and economic risk of workload migration. Discuss Service Level Agreement (SLA), enforcement strategies and dispute resolutions. Explore Business Support Systems and Operational Support Systems for cloud service management.
Compliance and IT Governance
Managing the adherence of cloud services/business workload to a set of agreed standards. Discuss aspects of GDPR with clear focus on cloud services. Discuss data privacy, location and jurisdiction. Analyse IT governance, risk and compliance in the delivery of Cloud services.
Trust in Cloud Technologies
Investigate strategies to improve user trust of cloud technologies and services. Define the concept of trust and its enabling elements. Discuss the implications of lack of trust in cloud services and its effects with regards to business adoption of cloud. Explore how behavioural economics--humans' "predictable irrationality"--impacts cloud adoption. Discuss approaches to address trust issues and to facilitate trustworthiness of cloud technologies and services.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 40
Timing Week 8 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Assessment Description
Given a case study the students are expected for example to evaluate the strategy adopted by a particular organisation and how it could be optimised.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 60
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 4,5,6
Assessment Description
An example project would be to investigate the design patterns for implementing cloud native business transformations, discuss challenges and cost estimation for an organisation to successfully realise a cloud strategy.
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lecture delivering content. Every Week 2.00 2
Tutorial Contact Tutorial supporting student. Every Week 1.00 1
Lecture Contact Independent study. Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 7.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lecture delivering content. Every Week 2.00 2
Tutorial Contact Tutorial supporting student. Every Week 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent study. Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Pini Reznik, Jamie Dobson, Michelle Gienow. (2019), Cloud Native Transformation: Practical Patterns for Innovation, 1st Ed. O'Reilly Media, p.540, [ISBN: 978-149204890].
  • Ray Rafaels. (2018), Cloud Computing, 2nd Ed. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, [ISBN: 1986726282].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Moe Abdula, Ingo Averdunk, Roland Barcia, Kyle Brown, Ndu Emuchay. (2018), The Cloud Adoption Playbook: Proven Strategies for Transforming Your Organization with the Cloud,, 1st Ed. Wiley, p.272, [ISBN: 9781119491811].
  • Karl W. Palachuk. (2019), Cloud Services in a Month: Build a Successful Cloud Service Business in 30 Days, Great Little Book Publishing, p.398, [ISBN: 1942115547].
  • Stephen Orban. (2018), Ahead in the Cloud: Best Practices for Navigating the Future of Enterprise IT, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, p.334, [ISBN: 978-19819243].
  • Tom Laszewski, Kamal Arora, Erik Farr, Piyum Zonooz. (2018), Cloud Native Architectures: Design High-availability and Cost-effective Applications for the Cloud, 1st Ed. Packt Publishing, p.358, [ISBN: 1787280543].
  • Punit Gupta, Pradeep Kumar Gupta. (2020), Trust & Fault in Multi Layered Cloud Computing Architecture, 1st Ed. Springer, p.234, [ISBN: 3030373185].
  • Thomas M. Siebel. (2019), Digital Transformation: Survive and Thrive in an Era of Mass Extinction, Rosetta Books, p.256, [ISBN: 1948122480].
  • Vladimir O. Safonov. (2016), Trustworthy Cloud Computing, Wiley-Blackwell, p.352, [ISBN: 1119113504].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_KCLDC_9 Master of Science in Cloud Computing 1 Mandatory