IT Acquisition, Systems Development, and Cloud Computing

IT Acquisition, Systems Development, and Cloud Computing

This course is part of AI, Analytics, and Cloud Computing Specialization

Instructor: Wiley Skills Network

Access provided by Duke University

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

1. Explain how organizations justify, plan, and choose strategies for acquiring new IT applications.
2. Describe the systems development life cycle and alternative methods used to build IT applications.
3. Describe the types and service models of cloud computing and their benefits and risks.
4. Compare leading cloud vendors and explain how Web services support modern IT architecture.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

3 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the AI, Analytics, and Cloud Computing Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

IT acquisition, systems development, and cloud computing are core competencies for anyone involved in building or managing business technology. In this course, you'll learn how organizations plan, justify, and acquire information systems, and how they choose between building custom applications and deploying cloud-based solutions.

You'll explore cost-benefit approaches like net present value, ROI, and break-even analysis, then examine the strategic decisions behind buying, leasing, or building applications. You'll walk through the traditional systems development life cycle — from feasibility study to implementation and maintenance — and modern alternatives such as agile development, DevOps, and low-code/no-code platforms. You'll then dive into cloud computing: the IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS service models, the public, private, hybrid, and vertical cloud types, and the benefits and risks organizations face when moving to the cloud. You'll compare the "Big Three" cloud vendors — AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud — and finish by learning how Web services and service-oriented architecture let systems share data and work together seamlessly.

Every information system an organization uses had to be planned, justified, and acquired somehow. In this module, you'll explore how companies decide which IT applications to pursue and how they go about building or buying them. You'll start with IT planning and cost-benefit analysis, learning how organizations use net present value, ROI, break-even analysis, and the business case approach to justify IT investments. You'll then examine the strategic decisions behind acquiring applications, from purchasing prewritten software to leasing, outsourcing, and custom development. Finally, you'll walk through the traditional systems development life cycle and explore modern alternatives such as agile development, DevOps, and low-code/no-code platforms. By the end of this module, you'll be able to explain how companies justify and acquire IT applications and describe the stages of the systems development life cycle and the tools that support it. 💡Tip for Success: Think about a tool or app you use at work or school. Consider whether it was likely bought, leased, or custom-built, and why that choice might have made sense.

What's included

5 videos5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 32 minutes

Career Application Video2 minutes
Planning for and Justifying IT Applications8 minutes
Strategies for Acquiring IT Applications9 minutes
Traditional Systems Development Life Cycle7 minutes
Alternative Methods and Tools for Systems Development6 minutes

5 readingsTotal 49 minutes

Planning for and Justifying IT Applications10 minutes
Strategies for Acquiring IT Applications10 minutes
Case Study: Great Plains Health Alliance Adopts Multiview ERP5 minutes
Traditional Systems Development Life Cycle11 minutes
Alternative Methods and Tools for Systems Development13 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 1 Practice Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Buy It, Build It, or Borrow It?10 minutes

Cloud computing has transformed how organizations access computing power, storage, and software. In this module, you'll explore why businesses are moving away from traditional on-premises IT infrastructure and toward cloud-based solutions. You'll learn the core characteristics of cloud computing and examine the four types of clouds: public, private, hybrid, and vertical. You'll then explore the three cloud service models — IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS — and see how organizations weigh the benefits of cost savings, flexibility, and scalability against real concerns like security, privacy, and vendor reliability. You'll compare the "Big Three" cloud vendors, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, and finish by examining how Web services and service-oriented architecture allow systems to share data seamlessly. By the end of this module, you'll be able to describe the types and benefits of cloud computing, compare leading cloud vendors, and explain the role of Web services in modern IT architecture. 💡Tip for Success: Notice how many apps you use daily that run in the cloud rather than on your own device. That shift is exactly what this module explains.