Hello, internet friend! It’s my 3rd year writing this blog, and I am in my last year. I hope these free guides have been useful to you. My intention in writing these reviews is to democratise information from my experience.

In my last year, I had the privilege of doing 2 internships now and mentoring other IS students who have done ATAP. The most common question I get from the students and myself included is, “I wish XXX was mentioned in school…or Why didn’t NUS IS have a class on this?”. Some were taught in school, but nothing beats real-world experience.

As such, I have penned down my thoughts on why I think some modules might be useful in your upcoming internships or work experience.

This blog will encompass module reviews and my study plan! This blog is made and written from solely my experience, so please do your due diligence. Every year, the academic plan for Information System students changes slightly – mine is here (Updated - AY 21/22). The university has since undergone changes to the curriculum, please see here

I was interested in the Digital Product and Platform Management specialisation. As such, I have tagged the modules as:

• Core Modules: modules you need to take #core
• Specialisation Modules: modules you can take if you are interested. #spec

🌠 All The Best for ModReg, and this is my New Year‘s present to you! 🌠

Table of Contents

Y3S1 Overview
1. IS3103 Information Systems Leadership and Communication
2. IS4234 Governance, Regulation and Compliance Technology
3. CFG1500 Women’s Professional Management
4. IS4301 Agile IT with Dev Ops
5. IS3221 ERP Systems and Analytics
Y3S2 Overview
6. IS4262 Digital Product Management

During my first semester of Y2, I took a total of 18 MCs, which included IS3103, IS4234, IS4301, and IS3221, CFG1500, and taught (TA) for IS1108. #spec IS4234 was the only specialisation module done this semester.

Workload: 2/5 ⭐️ (Really Manageable!)

What is this module about: This module is a necessary evil (compulsory) module jointly organised by both CELC and SoC. This module explores two interconnected aspects of preparing us to work in corporations (😒).

The SoC-conducted lectures encompass a broad overview of operational, business and people strategies within an IT company, especially during digitalisation/restructuring. Perhaps, such topics seem out of reach to the average IS student trying to understand, as such it is seemingly fluff.

In the CELC tutorial classes, the classes have a mix of standard IS2012 tutorials and oral presentations. These lessons aim to hone your communication and change management skills, equipping you to effectively bridge the gap between technology and business stakeholders, particularly in contexts of corporate change. By integrating these areas, the course provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and leading digital transformation initiatives.

Why I think this module is useful

SoC Content - Based on my experience of two internships with MNCs, I see the value of this module in providing a theoretical foundation in organizational, business, and people strategy. As an intern, I had questions about the complexities of change within large companies—questions about corporate dynamics like Why do mass layoffs occur? or Why does restructuring take place?

This module uniquely positions students to step into the mindset of executives, tackling high-level organizational challenges that can be difficult to grasp without practical experience or a deep understanding of company structures (as a result, brushing it off as "fluff") I do think the course has improved with case studies that try to mimic the IRL experience of corporate change.

For students aspiring to roles such as Program Manager interns, this module is particularly beneficial, as it bridges the gap between technology and organizational strategy, offering insights into navigating the intricate relationships that define MNCs.

CELC Content - Oral presentations and a digital transformation proposal report are the core assessments for CELC. In the various tutorials, you take on several personas of mid-level leadership and craft a narrative to bring your message across. These Praxis sessions might be daunting for students whose flair is not in speaking, but I urge you to try and fail in the classroom rather than in the workplace. Practice does make progress, and I have to give credit to my teacher Ms Sylvia for giving me improvement notes that guide my work presentations to this day. Think of this as practice before stepping into the real world 👏

Workload Rating: 3/5 ⭐

What is this module about: This module equips students with a comprehensive understanding of governance, regulation, and compliance (GRC). It covers key regulatory frameworks like COSO, the application of IT for managing GRC such as COBIT for IT risks, and the role of technology in regulatory processes (RegTech) and its regulation by governments. For enterprises, preparing for unforeseen circumstances means risk management strategies, privacy and security regulation will be learnt too.

You can expect there to be team tutorial assignments, which involve A LOT OF READING – reading an article every week, a final team project and a final test. For the tutorial assignment, each team will present 1 article and discuss 1 article during their term (aka bare minimum of reading one but listening to all) You are examined on all articles during your final examination...(😔) This is a very theoretical module.

Why I think this module is useful

I believe this module is useful because every company requires a compliance or advisory department to manage risk, governance, and regulatory policies. For those interested in careers with organizations like the Big 4 (PwC, EY, KPMG, Deloitte) or roles in risk assessment, compliance, and policy development, this module provides valuable foundational knowledge. However, I found the content somewhat dry and felt that I did not gain as much from it as I had hoped.

Workload Rating: 2/5 ⭐

What is this module about: (For Women Only!)

This course is designed to provide female students with the awareness of biases, and stereotypes of women in the workplace. You are paired with a female mentor in a small group, which will share more about uncovering these biases and stereotypes within the workplace. Once a week, in an evening class, there will be self-directed learning and mini-projects with your mentor.

Why I think this module is useful

I enjoyed this module A LOT. The mentors, all accomplished and inspiring women, were incredibly generous in sharing their personal and professional journeys, offering invaluable insights into the realities of working life. Furthermore, the program was well-structured ensuring meaningful discussions, with mentors coming well-prepared to guide conversations around the evening’s themes. These discussions created a supportive and engaging environment, allowing me to gain practical advice and a deeper understanding of navigating careers as women in the workforce. I highly recommend this module to any aspiring professional women who want to learn from seasoned mentors and gain an honest, relatable perspective on building their careers.

Workload Rating: 0/5 ⭐

What is this module about: This module is a necessary evil (compulsory) module for IS students. You can expect to learn about essential concepts of Agile methodology (Xtreme Programming, Scrum), DevOps and more which are detailed in NUSMODs. This module has a final assessment based on banking industry services due to the experience of the Professor.

With only 1 lecture and 1 tutorial, this is a low touch module, but seemingly controversial one too. (Read on NUSMods...)

Why I think this module is useful

Taking my SWE internship as a reference point, I believe this module offers valuable insights into the practical applications of scrum methodologies and sprint styles, making it highly useful for SWE students. It provides a solid foundation in Agile principles, which are essential for navigating real-world workplace scenarios, especially in roles like Software Developer.

Take such theory as a "good-to-know" practice as the company you are interning in or working for may not use the techniques taught in school...The module is particularly beneficial for those aspiring to become Scrum Masters, DevOps Engineers, or Product Managers, as it emphasizes the principles and practices needed to effectively manage and contribute to Agile teams and projects. Other than that, topics taught like monolithic vs. microservice architecture, and containerization are too brief to even make an impact.

Workload Rating: 1/5 ⭐

What is this module about: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the backbone of enterprises as it gives a birds-eye view of the business processes (e.g. sales, procurement, manufacturing) and its resultant financial transactions in one system. The module centres on SAP's S4/HANA as the primary solution for exploring these foundational concepts. Through a hands-on ERP simulation game, students apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, enhancing their grasp of ERP functionality. Additionally, the module looks ahead to the future of business intelligence, introducing students to predictive analytics with SAP's Analytics Cloud and exploring machine learning capabilities to leverage data for strategic decision-making.

Why I think this module is useful

I found this module fascinating as it provided valuable insights into various functional operations and highlighted the power of ERP systems in integrating them for financial and managerial accounting purposes. My interest is in enterprise systems and the use of Big Data for business analytics made the module particularly engaging. One of its standout features is its inclusion in SAP's University Alliances program, offering participants a certificate for their learning in ERPs, which adds practical value. The module strikes a balance between theory and practice, with hands-on tutorials, projects, and presentations that reinforce understanding and application. I enjoyed the comprehensive learning experience it provided.

Workload Rating: 3/5 ⭐

💖Jean's Y3S1 Thoughts...

⏲️Timetable Structuring

How I Planned My Time:

I needed this semester to have more free days as I was in the process of preparing for internship interviews and assessments. This meant that I kept Mondays and Wednesdays free for any time needed to prepare.

Furthermore, in hindsight, I only took 1 technical module and 3 other non-technical modules, which made the semester more bearable as my intense periods did not clash.

This was my ATAP semester, aka Jean was on internship! I only took IS4262 Digital Product Management and an EdX module.

My review on my internships is coming soon BRB...

Workload: 2/5 ⭐️

What is this module about: This is a specialisation module which explains the lifecycle of a product and the role of a product manager. The module is centred around the Digital Product Management framework - Strategy, Planning, Development, Marketing, and Support, taking a technological product from cradle to grave. You can expect this module to have a few assignments, a final project, a presentation and a final examination. The presentation was graded by a panel of start-up enthusiasts.

I found the lecture material to be comprehensive and there is no tutorial attendance too (yay!).

Why I think this module is useful

This PM module offers a comprehensive overview of the theory and strategies behind popular technological products, particularly focusing on B2C platforms like Amazon, Instagram, and Carousell. It’s an excellent introduction for students interested in understanding what makes these products successful and impactful. As someone passionate about Product Management, I found learning tools like Value Proposition design, Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy crafting, Market Criteria Scoring, and Financial Assessment particularly exciting and relevant. A key highlight of the module was the team-based project, which felt like being part of a startup—working collaboratively to pitch a product after thoroughly evaluating its business case, marketing strategy, and support network. I highly recommend this module, but be sure to form a strong, dedicated team for the best experience!

Workload Rating: 2/5 ⭐

As a little bonus for you, I have the notes I have jotted down made available for you here, as a THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME!

To see the link to these notes, I would love to see the people who read my content! It helps me a lot for you to sign up as a member of my site! (No nasty emails or paywalls promise!)

You should see the link 👇 here once you become a member!

🥰Learnt something new from this blog post? Remember to jot down some notes for yourself and share this knowledge with your friends!

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Want to talk? Telegram me @/jeanontele

👩🏻‍💻 Jean Tay, NUS IS