Mobile Business
(Information Systems 157.777)
Course Syllabus - Semester 1, 2011

School of Management
Massey University - Albany

Navigation quick links: 157.777 syllabus (this page), 31 March-2 April course schedule, 12-14 May course schedule, research report

Welcome to Mobile Business
General information about Mobile Business -- course coordinator, prescription and learning outcomes, resources and assessment -- is provided on this page (the course syllabus). Course schedules for 31 March-2 April and 12-14 May describe the activities that will occur during the two contact periods including reading assignments, in-class activities and guest speakers. A research report page contains information about the major assignment required for Mobile Business.

Course Coordinator
The course coordinator for 157.777 is Dennis Viehland. Dennis is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia (BA, MA) and the University of Arizona (PhD). Dennis is in his third career, being employed in various positions in university administration and information systems management before shifting to New Zealand in 1991 to begin an academic career.

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 currently teaches papers in Management Information Systems (115.107), Information Systems Management (157.700) and, of course, Mobile Business (157.777).

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) 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.

Overview
The prescription for Mobile Business is: "A study of mobile business concepts, business models, challenges, applications and technologies from a managerial perspective. The paper examines current and future trends in mobile business and how mobile business applications can be applied to fulfil organisational goals and objectives."

Mobile Business is based on the premise that the increasing power, functionality and proliferation of mobile computing devices means new opportunities are available for businesses to improve customer service, mobilise the sales force, increase productivity in field service, reduce costs, build new business models and seek strategic competitive advantage in the marketplace. The purpose of Mobile Business is to introduce participants to the fundamental concepts, strategies and technologies associated with the implementation of mobile computing so they can play an active role in the development of mobile business opportunities in the organisations in which they work.

Although the emphasis is on commercial enterprises, much of what is discussed applies to non-profit organisations and government agencies, who also are looking to mobile computing solutions to improve customer service, reduce costs and increase employee productivity.

The learning outcomes for Mobile Business are as follows:
  1. Critically appraise principles and conceptual models relevant to mobile business.
  2. Demonstrate a clear understanding of mobile technologies and their application in commercial, non-profit and governmental organisations.
  3. Evaluate the implications -- strategies, benefits, risks and impacts -- of adopting mobile applications in the modern workplace.
  4. Analyse and explain how mobile business might be applied in a specific business-oriented context.
The first three outcomes are assessed via class participation and the two tests. The fourth outcome is assessed via a research report on a topic of interest to the student.

Schedule
Mobile Business is taught in block mode. Two contact periods and intensive study occur over a 12-week period in the first semester.

Your attendance in class on all hours of all days is compulsory. Unexcused absence from class will result in deduction of marks (see assessment below) and an absence of more than four hours will result in a DNC (did not complete) grade. See Dennis in advance if you have a legitimate reason to be absent from class, otherwise it is an unexcused absence and penalties will apply.

While significant learning will happen in the classroom, it is only the tip of the iceberg for student exploration of mobile business topics. The vast majority of your time devoted to the paper will occur outside the classroom and so will your learning.

Resources
Readings for Mobile Business: Mobile Business does not use a textbook because a suitable textbook hasn't been written yet. Instead selected readings and case studies have been complied from industry white papers, business magazines and information systems journals and conferences. These readings are available on Stream.

A set of study questions has been written for each reading and are published in Readings for Mobile Business, available on Stream. These study questions highlight the key learning points to be taken from each reading. These study questions will also form the basis for the two tests at the commencement of each block period.

Mobile Business Web Site: This site is easily found by googling 157.777 It includes:

This site may change during the paper with major updates being announced via the Stream discussion forum (recommendation: adjust your Stream settings to receive updates to the forum to your email box).

Assessment
Mobile Business is assessed by student participation in class, two tests and a research report on a topic of interest to the student, as follows:

Assessment activity

Due date

Marks

Class participation

 

10

Introductory essay (research report)

31 March

10

Test one

1 April

20

Test two

12 May

20

In-class presentation (research report)

14 May

5

Final research report

27 May

30

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.

Class participation: Nothing crystallises learning more than participation in a discussion about that learning. It is assumed you will have read the readings before coming to class. 157.777 uses facilitated discussion, not lecture, to reinforce those readings. Your class participation marks will be awarded both on the quantity and quality of your contributions to discussion about the readings and related activities in class.

Obviously a key part of participation is attendance during the contact periods. For this reason, a one-mark penalty will be assessed for each quarter hour of unexcused absence from class and an absence of more than four hours will result in a DNC (did not complete) grade. See Dennis in advance if you have a legitimate reason to be absent from class, otherwise it is an unexcused absence.

Tests: Tests one and two are closed-book tests of 60 minutes duration to be conducted at the beginning of each contact period. Test one (9.00am on 1 April) covers all readings assigned for the first contact period. Test two (1.00pm on 12 May) covers all readings assigned for the second contact period.

Each test will consist of one or two mandatory short-answer questions and three or four optional short-answer questions from a list of four or five questions (e.g., answer 4 of the following 5 questions). For the most part, test questions will be selected from the study questions associated with the assigned readings.

Research Report: This report will be assessed in several stages -- an introductory essay, an in-class presentation and a final report -- as described on the research report page.

This page was last updated on 28 Feburary 2011.
Please send comments, dead links, questions, etc to d.viehland@massey.ac.nz