Information Systems Management
(Information Systems 157.700)
Course Syllabus - Semester 2, 2010

Department of Management (Albany)
Massey University - Auckland

Note: This is a DRAFT syllabus and some of the information / class materials are not available as of this date, 29 January 2010. Keep checking back for updates. A complete and final syllabus is expected to be posted here and on WebCT no later than 9 July 2010.

Navigation quick links: 157.700 syllabus (this page), 157.700 schedule, 157.700 assessment

• How can we use ICT to achieve or maintain competitive advantage?
• How will new forms of ICT transform my job? My organisation? My industry?
• How can information systems support managerial decision making?
• What do I need to know about ICT to survive in today's environment?

General information about the course -- target audience, course activities, resources -- is provided on this page (the course syllabus). A course schedule outlines the activities that will occur during the weekly lectures including reading assignments, in-class activities and guest speakers. An assessment page contains information about the course assignments.

Welcome to Information Systems Management! I hope you enjoy the course and learn heaps.

Some topics are strategic (e.g., ICT for competitive advantage, ICT role in organisational design, IS risk), a few topics have a technological focus (e.g., ICT architecture and infrastructure, wireless telecommunications), many topics are managerial (e.g., redesigning business processes with ICT, ethical use of ICT, knowledge management, Enterprise 2.0) and some topics (e.g., IS governance, assessing ICT investments, development of information systems) will help you work more effectively with computing professionals in your workplace.

Most learning and topics will be prescribed, following the textbook and supplemental readings. However, there are also significant opportunities for personal exploration of topics in class discussions and in the assignments.

Dr Viehland's research and teaching interests are in mobile business, e-business strategy and the innovative use of information and communications technologies to manage Information Age organisations, especially Enterprise 2.0 technologies. He is a co-author of Electronic Commerce 2008: A Managerial Perspective and a contributor to Information Technology for Management. His contributions to these books are in the areas of mobile business, e-business strategy, launching an on-line business, strategic information systems and how to write an e-business plan.

Dennis' office is in Quadrangle Building A, room QA3.23 on the Albany campus. He is happy to meet with students at any time, either stopping by during office hours (3.00-5.00pm on Tuesdays during the first semester) or by appointment. His telephone numbers are 09-414-0800 extn 9501 (office), 09-414-1025 (home) and 021-414-722 (mobile). The best way to contact Dennis is via e-mail: d.viehland@massey.ac.nz.

To fulfil that prescription, the principal objective of Information Systems Management is to expose participants to a set of information and communications technology issues and concepts so that they may play a leading role in the effective application of ICT in the organisations in which they work. This objective is achieved through the following learning outcomes:

• Analyse the potential for information systems to support organisational strategy and goals.
• Evaluate the technological infrastructures that support work in Information Age organisations.
• Evaluate organisational and ethical issues involved in the management and supply of IS services.
• Analyse and describe managerial aspects of information systems selection, development and implementation.
• Apply knowledge of information systems techniques to organisational settings.

At the conclusion of the course it is expected that participants will have gained an awareness of contemporary issues in the management of information and communication technologies and have a reasonable understanding of implementation processes for ICT in modern business organisations.

• Effective use of Massey University Library facilities, especially to search for and locate academic articles, journals and books in a variety of online databases. The ICT Frontier assignments require you seek out and interpret research-based information on a topic of personal interest. Use of the Massey Library is required.
• Ability to write and present at the highest level of professional standards. Your submitted work will be assessed on both what you say (e.g., content, compliance with assignment guidelines, no plagiarism) and how you say it (e.g., accurate and concise writing, proper grammar and punctuation, no misspelled words, complete sentences, idea flow).
• Ability to use a word processor and, especially, proficient use of the Internet. Being able to type a keyword into Google is not enough, you are expected to be able to find and evaluate information based on its validity and accuracy. For example, undated and unauthored articles that promote a selective point of view without empirical evidence should be used rarely and always in context.

• Strategic IS: The course begins, appropriately enough, with an examination of how information systems and ICT can be used to support organisational strategy and goals. This introductory section concludes with an examination of the impact of ICT on the organisation and the world of work.
• Technological ICT: Next our attention turns to the technological infrastructure that supports work in Information Age organisations. The principal focus here is on architecture and infrastructure, including the Internet and wireless telecommunication networks.
• Organisational IS: The broadest section of the course examines the use of information systems for decision making and organisational management. This includes the role of IS to change and manage business processes, to reduce costs, to capture and distribute knowledge, ethical considerations in the use of ICT and the emerging Enterprise 2.0.
• IS management: The course concludes with a brief but intense examination of the world of IS management - an introduction to the world of the IS professional - in order to understand managerial and operational aspects of information systems funding, development and governance.

• Content lecture: This lecture, usually the first 50-60 minutes, covers the content that is in the textbook and supplemental readings. The lecture adds value to the readings because the content is examined in a New Zealand context and illustrated with case studies. This lecture also includes key points to remember, lecturer questions and student questions.
• Guest speaker: During some weeks, guest speakers from business, non-profit organisations and government agencies will make a presentation about the management and use of ICT in their firm. Normally, these will be 60 minutes in the second hour of the lecture.
• Interactive exercise: Normally, the final hour of lecture will be devoted to an interactive discussion, game, group discussion, analysis of a case study or student presentations. However, this time may sometimes be used for a supplemental lecture and facilitated discussion that delivers information beyond what is in the textbook or readings.

Supplemental readings: However, the textbook is deficient in several areas -- there isn't enough information about modern telecommunication networks, Enterprise 2.0 technologies barely get a mention and, of course, this all needs to be put in a New Zealand context. For these reasons, there are a variety of supplemental readings for your study and use. Most of these will be made available on WebCT during in the semester. A bibliography of the supplemental readings is available at the bottom of the course schedule page.

157.700 WebCT site: The 157.700 WebCT site offers: (a) a course materials page for access to lecture slides, supplemental readings and other information about the course and (b) a discussion board for announcements and student questions. Additionally, the e-mail facilities of WebCT will be used for lecturer-to-student communications (hint: make sure your email-address-of-record is current and spam filters are set to receive mail from @massey.ac.nz).

The 157.700 assessment page describes all assessment requirements in considerable detail and further explanations and feedback about assignment requirements will be provided in lecture and on WebCT.

Letter grades will be based on the class curve. At the end of the semester, students will be ranked according to their final mark. College guidelines and overall class performance will be used to determine the number of A's, B's, etc. that are awarded. This means each student competes with every other student in the class to determine final grades and 157.700 does not necessarily use the standard grading scheme. To pass the paper you must gain at least 50 percent of all marks.

Attendance at all class sessions is expected and is, implicitly, part of overall assessment. Generally, students (and the instructor) are allowed one absence from class during the 12-week semester. After that, additional absences can result in decrements in the final grade (e.g., from an A to an A-) through adjustments in marks on the final two assessments.

This page was last updated on 29 January 2010.
Please send comments, dead links or questions to d.viehland@massey.ac.nz