Module Identifier MBM9110  
Module Title INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THE DIGITAL FIRM  
Academic Year 2006/2007  
Co-ordinator Dr Ian H Harris  
Semester Semester 1  
Mutually Exclusive ILM5810  
Course delivery Lecture   2 Hours. (8 2-hour lectures)  
  Seminars / Tutorials   2 Hours. (2 1-hour tutorial)  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Group 'seen' examination questions, researched in groups but individually assessed at examination.  50%
Semester Assessment Critically evaluate one aspect in the planing, development or implementation of an holistic information system within an organisation of your choice and comment critically on the management chanllanges and techniques that can be used.50%
Supplementary Assessment Resit or Resubmission as appropriate.  100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Demonstrate a full understanding of the global environment that drives business change

Analyse and critically evaluate the role of Information Systems in both mitigating and creating global business challenges.

Identify and discourse the Management Challenges of building and further developing Management Information Systems.

Evaluate the relationship between business processes and Information System input, codification and output.

Explain how information systems create new efficiencies in working practice.

Analyse the relationship between an information system and an organisation.

Describe and fully articulate the decision processes seen in an organisation.

Evaluate organisational inhibitors and understand the cost/benefit of information systems implementation.

Critically argue that the strategy and business plan drives the development and further planning of an information system.

Identify the core competencies required in the systems development process.

Evaluate the principal causes of information system failure.

Select appropriate implementation strategies for information systems development.

Compare and contrast the global strategies for developing a business information system.

Aims

The aim of this module is to provide students with a full and experiential understanding of the challenges that managers have when choosing, implementing and using Information Systems. Major emphasis is made on the humanistic influences of effective Information System implementation and transformation. Additionally, the module seeks to create an awareness of the information systems that may be utilised by management in an attempt to make their actions more effective. A substantial part of the teaching involves case study'r where the students can empathise fully with the issues and gain a more complete understanding of the issues. Finally, the students are made aware of the psychologies and methodologies associated with Information System implementation.

Brief description

Today it is widely recognized that information systems knowledge is essential for managers, because most organizations need information systems to survive and prosper. Information systems can help companies extend their reach to faraway locations, offer new products and services, reshape jobs and work flows, and perhaps profoundly change the way they conduct business.

Four powerful worldwide changes have altered the business environment. The first change is the emergence and strengthening of the global economy. The second change is the transformation of industrial economies and societies into knowledge- and information-based service economies. The third is the transformation of the business enterprise. The fourth is the emergence of the digital firm. These changes in the business environment and climate, pose a number of new challenges to business firms and their management.

Content

1. Managing the Digital Firm
2. Information Systems in the Enterprise
3. Information Systems, Organizations, Management, and Strategy
4. Managing Data Resources
5. Redesigning the Organization with Information Systems
6. Understanding the Business Value of Information Systems and Managing Change
7. Enhancing Management Decision Making for the Digital Firm
8. Managing International Information Systems

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Kenneth C. Laudon and Jane P. Laudon (2003 (2005)) Essentials of Management Information Systems, fifth edition.
Christine Urquhart (2000) Information systems analysis and implementation
D E Avison (2002) Information systems development: methodologies, techniques and tools
Diane L Bordent and Kerric Harvey (1998) The Electronic Grapevine
Donal J Flynn (1998) Information systems requirements: determination and analysis
Robert Schultheis (1995) Management information systems: the manager's view
Wendy Robson (1997) Strategic management and information systems: an integrated approach

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7