Information Systems and Strategy

Session

Topic

Web Page

Content

1

This session is an introduction to the course as a whole. The aim of the session is to introduce you to the broad themes that will be covered and to provide a firm foundation upon which to build.

Introduction, Scope and Key Themes

• Review of key terms used in the course
• Review of long term trends in technology and business
• Review of key technical, managerial business issues
• Discussion of alignment of IS / business strategies

2

The focus of this session is on different types or categories of information system. The aim of the session is to give you a better understanding of what types of information system there are, what they do and the choices that need to be faced when developing or acquiring such systems.

Types of information system, their design and acquisition

• Evaluation of the different types and categories of information system available
• Review of the different approaches and techniques for the acquisition of information systems
• Analysis of the choices (strategic / tactical / social / ethical) facing businesses when investing in IT

3

The focus of the session will be on exploring the concept of a business model. The objective is to understand the ways in which information technology can transform an existing business and/or offer completely new ways of doing business. The aim is to further explore the links between Information technology / information systems strategies and business strategies.

Business Models and Organizational Transformation

• Review of the concept of competitive advantage
• Review of concept of business models and its links to IS/IT
• Analysis of the use of IS / IT to change organizations and their structure
• Discussion of the requirements for the first assessment (25% of marks)

4

This session will focus on the contribution that information systems can make to the way a business operates internally. The aim of the session is to give you an understanding of the strength and weaknesses of the 'classic' view of MIS, i.e. the means by which an organization fine-tunes its competitive position.

Information systems, knowledge management and business processes

• Review of business processes and résumé of 'classic' view of MIS + case study of BPR (Mahindra and Mahindra)
• Review of knowledge management and the learning organization + case study of KM (Xerox)
• Discussion based around selected articles available via EBSCO

5

This session will focus on the impact that information technology can have on the way a business is structured. The aim of the session is to give you an understanding of the ways in which recent approaches to information systems can used to transform an organization's structure, the way it does business and the broader implications of these changes.

Distributed working, innovation and the blurring of organizational boundaries

• Review of distributed working and résumé of 'new' view of MIS + case study of a virtual organization (Pay Zone)
• Review of collaborative working and innovation + case study of KM and Innovation (Siemens)
• Discussion based around selected articles available via EBSCO

6

The final session will focus on how changes in information technology can affect the market as a whole. The aim of the session is to give you an insight into the recursive relationship between developments in information technology, business strategy and the broader context in which strategy is formed.

Globalization, keystones and ecosystems

• Review of keystone strategies and ecosystems + case study of globalization (Li & Fung)
• Review of IT / IS and globalization + case study on Globalization (Internet Censorship)
• Discussion based around selected articles available via EBSCO