(4 credits)
Fall, 1996
Instructor: Ron Vyhmeister Phone: 471-3458 (office), 473-3732 (home, before 10 p.m.) Office Hours: TTh 1:00-2:30, other times by appointment. E-mail: vyhmeisr@andrews.edu WWW: http://www.cs.andrews.edu/~vyhmeisr
Course Description
Examines the use and management of computer and information resources within an
organization. Topics covered will include current trends and business applications of
information technology. Does not apply to an MS in Computer Science or Software Engineering.
Prerequisite: INSY 315, INSY 316 or 336, BSAD 355.
Textbook
Laudon, Kenneth C. And Laudon, Jane Price. Management Information Systems: Organization
and Technology, 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996
Objectives
The general objectives of this class include:
1. to provide a historical context for the use of computers in modern business,
2. to discuss relevant computer hardware and software concepts,
3. to present specific dependence of business practices on computers,
4. to describe management information systems,
5. to depict a typical business computer system lifecycle,
6. to introduce the systems analysis process,
7. to consider management concerns in the selection, use, and maintenance of an integrated
computer based information resource.
Course Content
This course is intended to build upon the business knowledge and computing skills which the
student already has. This course focuses on conceptual issues relating to information systems in
organizations, and is not intended to provide students with any specific "skills", such as
spreadsheets or databases. We will spend some time learning how to search the internet for
relevant information.
In order for you to gain the most from this class, you will have to integrate the knowledge you
have from undergraduate business classes in accounting, marketing, management, finance,
operations, economics, and law.
It is not intended that this be a purely "lecture" course. Students are expected to be active
participants in the discussions. We will regularly have discussions on current topics, as well as
discussions relating to cases and problems which will be handed out in class.
Topics which will be discussed include:
Information Systems Role in the Organization
Information Systems Planning
Client/Server Computing
Organizational Data Sharing (includes technical as well as "political" issues)
Communications (including the Internet and other networks)
Group Systems
System Development Alternatives
International Issues in Information Systems
Requirements
1. In addition to reading regularly from the textbook, you will be given reading assignments
relative to the topic of the day. You will be responsible for knowing this material for in-class
discussion, as well as for the exams.
2. You will have two cases to write up and present. The first one you will do individually, and
the second one as part of a group. You are expected to draw on your computing skills in order to
make these presentations and reports professional.
Grading and course policies
Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:
A 95% Midterm Exam 30%
A- 90 Final Exam 35%
B+ 87 Assignments, quizzes
B 83 & Participation 35%
B- 80
C+ 76
C 70
Late work receives a grade of 0. I will grade it for your edification, if you would like. If you must
be late to (or miss) some class period or test, please make arrangements before-hand. I do not
make arrangements after the fact, and missing a test or quiz means a 0. Quizzes will only be
handed out to those who are there at the beginning of the quiz. If you are late, you will not be
given the opportunity to take the quiz. Quizzes may or may not be announced. You are
responsible at any time for the material covered the last class period, as well as the assigned
reading for the current period.
Except when specifically told otherwise by the instructor, everyone should work on their own. If
you do work with a friend, make sure that your work is not a copy of theirs. If cheating does
occur, a grade of "F" will be assigned for the course.
Homework submission may be required in electronic format. You should own at least two (2)
3.5" HD disks for your work and backups.
Schedule
Following is a tentative schedule. This is subject to change. You are responsible for checking
with your classmates if you are absent to verify any schedule changes and/or new assignments.
| Date | Subject | Reading |
| Sept. 24 | Introduction
The Role of IS in Organizations |
|
| Sept. 26 | Computing Technology | Chapters 1,2,6,7 |
| Oct. 1 | Networking | Chapters 9,10 |
| Oct. 3 | Networking (Continued) | Chapters 9,10 |
| Oct. 8 | Managing Information | Chapter 8 |
| Oct. 10 | Designing Information Systems | Chapters 11-14 |
| Oct. 15 | Designing Information Systems (cont) | Chapters 11-14 |
| Oct. 17 | Designing Information Systems (cont) | Chapters 11-14 |
| Oct. 22 | Midterm | |
| Oct. 24 | Outsourcing | |
| Oct. 29 | Politics in IS organizations | |
| Oct. 31 | IS as a factor in information processing | Chapters 3,4 |
| Nov. 5 | Ethics of Information Systems | Chapter 5 |
| Nov. 7 | Electronic Commerce | |
| Nov. 12 | Specialized Systems | Chapters 15-17 |
| Nov. 14 | Specialized Systems (cont.) | Chapters 15-17 |
| Nov. 19 | Control of Information Systems | Chapter 18 |
| Nov. 21 | International Issues in Information Systems | Chapter 19 |
| Nov. 26 | ||
| Nov. 28 | Thanksgiving | |
| Dec. 3 | Final Exam | |
| Dec.10 | Final Exam |
Following is a reading list which you may find of interest during this course.
Beath, C. M. (1991). Supporting the information technology champion. MIS Quarterly,
(September): 355-371.
Benjamin, R. I. and Blunt, J. (1992). Critical IT issues: The next ten years. Sloan Management Review, (Summer): 7-19.
Benjamin, R. I. and Levinson, E. (1993). A framework for managing IT-enabled change. Sloan Management Review, (Summer): 23-33.
Benyon-Davies, P. (1995). Information systems `failure': the case of the London Ambulance Service's Computer Aided Despatch project. European Journal of Information Systems, (4): 171-184.
Blum, B. I. (1994). A taxonomy of software development methodologies. Communications of the ACM, 37 (11, November): .
Boynton, A. C., Jacobs, G. C. and Zmud, R. W. (1992). Whose responsibility is IT management. Sloan Management Review, (Summer): 32-38.
Brancheau, J. C. and Wetherbe, J. C. (1987). Key Issues in Information Systems Management. MIS Quarterly, (March): 23-45.
Cash, J. I. and Konsynski, B. R. (1985). IS redraws competitive boundaries. Harvard Business Review, (March-April): 134-142.
Clark, T. D. (1992). Corporate systems management: An overview and research perspective. Communications of the ACM, 35 (2): 61-75.
Clemons, E. K. and Row, M. C. (1991). Sustaining IT advantage: The role of structural differences. MIS Quarterly, (September): 275-292.
Davenport, T. H., Hammer, M. and Metsisto, T. J. (1989). How executives can shape their company's information systems. Harvard Business Review, (March-April): 130-134.
Davenport, T. H. and Short, J. E. (1990). The new industrial engineering: information technology and business process redesign. Sloan Management Review, 31 (4, Summer): .
Delone, W. H. (1988). Determinants of success f or computer usage in small business. MIS Quarterly, (March): 51-61.
Dunlop, C. and Kling, R. (1991)., Computerization and the transformation of work. In C. Dunlop and Kling, R. (Eds.) Computerization and controversy: Value conflicts and social choices. Boston, Academic Press. : .
Earl, M. J. and Skyrme, D. J. (1992). Hybrid managers - what do we know about them? Journal of Information Systems, 2 : 169-187.
Fulk, J. and DeSanctis, G. (1995). Electronic communication and changing organizational forms. Organization Science, 6 (4, July - August): 337-349.
Fuller, M. K. and Swanson, E. B. (1992). Information centers as organizational innovation. Journal of Management Information Systems, 9 (1, Summer): .
Goodhue, D. L., Kirsch, L. J., Quillard, J. A. and Wybo, M. D. (1992). Strategic data planning: lessons from the field. MIS Quarterly, 16 (1, March): .
Goodman, S. E., Press, L. I., Ruth, S. R. and Rutkowski, A. M. (1994). The global diffusion of the Internet: patterns and problems. Communications of the ACM, 37 (8 August): .
Harrison, A. W. and Rainer, R. K. (1992). The influence of individual differences on skill in end-user computing. Journal of Management Information Systems, 9 (1, Summer): .
Henderson, J. C. (1990). Plugging into strategic partnerships: the critical IS connection. Sloan Management Review, (Spring): 7-17.
Hirschheim, R. and Klein, H. K. (1989). Four paradigms of information systems development. Communications of the ACM, 32 (10): 1199-1216.
Ives, B. and Learmonth, G. P. (1984). The information system as a competitive weapon. Communications of the ACM, 27 (12): 1193-1201.
Johnston, H. R. and Carrico, S. R. (1988). Developing capabilities to use information strategically. MIS Quarterly, (March): 37-48.
Johnston, H. R. and Vitale, M. R. (1988). Creating competitive advantage with interorganizational information systems. MIS Quarterly, (June): 153-165.
Keen, P. G. W. (1981). Information systems and organisational change. Communications of the ACM, 24 (1, January): 24-33.
Kelley, M. R. (1994). Productivity and information technology: The elusive connection. Management Science, 40 (11): 1406-1425.
Kettinger, W. J., Grover, V., Guha, S. and Segars, A. H. (1994). Strategic information systems revisited: A study in sustainability and performance. MIS Quarterly, (March): 31-55.
Kovacevic, A. and Majluf, N. (1993). Six stages of IT strategic management. Sloan Management Review, (Summer): 77-87.
Lacity, M. C., Willcocks, L. P. and Feeny, D. F. (1995). IT outsourcing: maximize flexibility and control. Harvard Business Review, (May- June): .
Lederer, A. L. and Mendelow, A. L. (1990). The impact of the environment on the management of information systems. Information Systems Research, 1 (2): 205-222.
Leifer, R. (1988). Matching computer-based information systems with organizational structures. MIS Quarterly, (March): 63-73.
Loh, L. and Venkatraman, N. (1992). Determinants of information technology outsourcing. Journal of Management Information Systems, 9 (1, Summer): .
Lucas, H. C. and Baroudi, J. (1994). The role of information technology in organizatio design. Journal of Management Information Systems, 10 (4, Spring)
Markus, M. L. (1983). Power, politics, and MIS implementation. Communications of the ACM, 26 (6 June): .
Markus, M. L. and Robey, D. (1988). Information technology and organizational change: causal structure in theory and research. Management Science, 34 (5): 583-598.
Markus, M. L. and Keil, M. (1994). If we build it, they will come: designing information systems that people want to use. Sloan Management Review, (Summer): 11-25.
Martinez, E. V. (1995). Successful reengineering demands IS/business partnerships. Sloan Management Review, (Summer): 51-60.
Mason, R. O. (1986). Four ethical issues in the information age. MIS Quarterly, 10 (1 March): .
McFarlan, F. W. (1984). Information technology changes the way you compete. Harvard Business Review, 62 (3, May-June): 98-103.
Mooney, J., Gurbaxani, V. and Kraemer, K. L. ( 1995). A process oriented framework for assessing the business value of information technology. International Conference on Information Systems, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ICIS.
Orlikowski, W. J. and Robey, D. (1991). Information technology and the structuring of organizations. Information Systems Research, 2 (2 June): .
Orlikowski, W. J. (1992). The duality of technology in organizations. Organization Science, 3 (3 August): .
Osterman, P. (1991)., Impact of IT on jobs and skills. In M. S. Scott Morton (Eds.) The corporation of the 1990s: information technology and organizational transformation. New York, Oxford University Press. : 220-243.
Porter, M. E. and Millar, V. E. (1985). How information gives you competitive advantage. Harvard Business Review, 63 (4, July/August): 149-160.
Soh, C. and Markus, M. L. (1995). How IT creates business value: a process theory synthesis. International Conference on Information Systems, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ICIS.
Trauth, E. M. and Cole, E. (1992). The organizational interface: a method for supporting end users of packaged software. MIS Quarterly, 16 (1, March): .
Venkatraman, N. (1994). IT-enabled business transformation: From Automation to business scope redefinition. SLoan Management Review, (Winter): 73-87.
Weill, P. (1992). The relationship between investment in information technology and firm performance: A study of the valve manufacturing sector. Information Systems Research, 3 (4): 307-333.
Yetton, P. W., Johnston, K. D. and Craig, J. F. (1994). Computer-aided architects: a case study of IT and strategic change. Sloan Management Review, (Summer): 57-67.