MIS-7500 — Information Systems Management

Posted: January 18, 1999

Instructor: Dr. Robert H. Reck
Office Address: Babson Hall, 216E or
Kendall Consulting Group
268 Highland Road
Andover, MA 01810
(Best Phone) = 978-474-9109 or 941-366-1774
Fax 978-470-1490
E-mail: reck@babson.edu
Bio: See web site

Class Meets: Tuesdays, 6:30 pm-9:00 p.m., Room TBD

Course Web Site http://faculty.babson.edu/reck/mis7500

Course Summary and Objectives

This course is about the management of information technology (IT) within complex organizations. It will study a company’s technology decisions through the lens of both general managers and Information Systems managers. How technology is used to facilitate or inhibit the goals of a corporation will be studied. Classes are structured to address key topics in systems management, including techniques, issues and contemporary and best practice.

Audience

The course is aimed at those graduate students who need to understand the fundamentals of technology deployment, management information systems and related issues. The course is introductory in nature and presumes little depth or familiarity with information systems, computers, software, or networks. Students should, however, have facility and access to e-mail and the Internet so that they can communicate with the instructor and have access to changes in the syllabus, assignments and readings [if this is an issue for any student, please see the instructor].

Class Approach and Student Evaluation

Classroom participation, three short papers and a final paper/presentation are the basis for the course grade, in proportions 45%, 10% each, and 25% of the final grade.

Participation will be evaluated on the basis of understanding and using assigned readings and study findings, contributing to insights on analysis and action recommendations for the case or topic being discussed, and taking into account others’ inputs.

Papers are to be an analysis and recommendations for a class or class topic(s). The papers are to take into account not only the assignment materials for the classes to that point, but also the class discussions and insights reached after the class. Students are encouraged to discuss material for classes and papers, but are individually responsible for the final products. Class participation will be 45% of the final grade, each of three short papers 10%, and the team final paper and presentation 25%. Papers will be marked down a full letter grade for each calendar day they are late!! If you have an emergency, you should contact the instructor ahead of time with a very good excuse.

We recognize that some students may need to miss an occasional class due to personal, job or CCD activities. This will put them at a disadvantage in terms of class participation. In lieu of being in class, those students that have to miss class are encouraged to write and submit to the instructor a brief memo addressed to the person or character of their choice (including persons in the case study or the instructor) on the subject of the missed class. These papers will receive recognition towards your participation grade by the instructor. Papers are due at the class after the one you miss.

The team project/final paper will be due concurrent with your team's presentation on one of the last two days of class. The team will receive a single grade for the paper and presentation, and all team members will share this grade.

Course Materials

In addition to the course packet (available at the Babson Bookstore), there is one textbook for this course:

[G&G] = S. Gordon and J. Gordon, Information Systems: A Management Approach (Second Edition), Dryden Press, New York, 1999. [ISBN-0-03-022469-1]

Note that this book contains a number of caselets, activities and other readings at the end of each chapter. These ancillary readings are usually not required readings unless explicitly assigned; in any case, actions assigned in these activities need not always be completed as indicated, especially if they involve others.

The instructor will also assign case and reading questions and other readings during the semester. Some of these readings may be on the Internet - most likely available via links from the course web site.

Handouts

Slides used in class will be available the day following the class on the K: drive under the course number - MIS7500. These will be Office 97 Powerpoint or Mac Office 98 Powerpoint slides (these are mutually compatible). Often slides not used in class will also be included in the package to help clarify or expand on materials presented in class. Please contact the instructor if you have trouble accessing the drive or slides.

Detailed Syllabus by Class

Module 1 - Overview of Information Management

1. January 26, 1999 - Introduction

2. February 2, 1999 - Information and Its Management

3. February 9, 1999 - Competitive Systems

Module 2 - Information Technology

4. February 16, 1999 - Hardware, Software and Internal Networks

Module 3 - Information Systems

6. March 2, 1999 - Transaction Systems and Nature of Work

7. March 9, 1999 - Management Support Systems/Reengineering

8. March 23, 1999 - Reengineering/Systems Development

9. March 31, 1999 - Electronic Commerce and the Internet

Module 4 - Planning and Management Issues

10. April 6, 1999 - Architecture/Managing Technology Deployment

11. April 13, 1999 - IS Function and Organization

12. April 20, 1999 - IS Planning and IS Management Issues

13. April 27, 1999 - Project Presentations and Discussion

14. May 4, 1999 - Project Presentations and Discussion, and Wrap-Up

Short Papers

During the class each student will write three short papers, one on each of the three Modules in the class.

Module 1 - Overview of Information Management - Paper due February 16th
Module 2 - Information Technology - Paper due March 2nd
Module 3 - Information Systems (through class #10) - Paper due April 6th

Papers are to be double-spaced, 1+" margins, 10 or 12 point type font, well written, spell checked, and grammar proofed. They should not exceed five pages excluding any references, exhibits or attachments. A complete reference and/or bibliography section should be included. Papers are to address a topic raised in the module in a way that extends the readings or class discussion in a meaningful way. One approach is to write a memo to a colleague, case character, or (as a last resort) the instructor, trying to persuade that person to take a particular course of action. Papers should be coherent and stand alone from other readings or class work. You may reference frameworks used in class without repeating them in your paper, however, be sure the reference is clear. Do not simply "parrot back" how a framework is used; this is one way to get a low grade. Glitz and pizzaz should be used to encourage reading and to get your message across.

Class Project

You (and up to three teammates) may selection Option 1 or Option 2 as a class project. Teams are required to write a paper and present their findings in class during the last two classes of the semester.

Option 1: Prepare a case study of a critical information technology issue within your organization or department. Use secondary sources (e.g., articles, annual reports, company documents/fliers, and newspapers) as well as primary sources (e.g., interviews with key managers or staff members) for your study. (Harvard case materials from this course should serve as a template for your case write-up.) In addition to describing the sequence of events and presenting the dilemma facing the organization, you should analyze the business and technology situation and make recommendations (including a plan of action) as if you were consulting to the firm or department. You should use a minimum of five relevant practitioner and/or academic journal or book chapter references beyond what you are required to read for this course. The length of the case situation description should be at least 15 (excluding any exhibits). A teaching note is also required (minimum of three pages).

Option 2: Prepare a research report on an interesting area of information technology. The focus of your paper can be on an issue facing IT managers or end users. You can choose a specific information technology from a hardware, software or network vendor and write about that topic and its application in a business context. You should use a minimum of 15 relevant practitioner and/or academic journal references or book chapters beyond what you are required to read for this course should be used in the construct of your paper. This report should be a minimum of 20 pages (excluding any exhibits).

Papers, Etc.: Each team will submit a single written report to the instructor. Papers are to be double-spaced, 1+" margins, 10 or 12 point type font, well written, spell checked, and grammar proofed. Exhibits may be run in text or aggregated at the end. A complete reference and/or bibliography section should be included. Ancillary materials such as videos, CDs, web sites, programs, mock-ups, handouts, should also accompany the paper when handed in. Papers are due on the day of your team's presentation. Be sure to list all team members on the front cover of the report.

Final Presentations: Each team is to make a final presentation in which all team members will participate. These will contribute towards the final project grade as well as the written papers you submit. Papers and other relevant materials (e.g., web sites) are due at your team's presentation. These presentations will be graded as both content and form (pizzaz!!). In the past, students have created videos, presented skits, conducted a talk show and debated key topics. Do whatever makes your topic come to life. You are presenting as much to your colleagues as to the instructor.

Key Activity Dates for Semester Project:

Bookstore Course Pack

This course pack has been requested from the Babson Bookstore. Please contact them for copies of the cases and articles below.