The central theme for the module is the use of Information Systems in the management of organizations. Below is an overview of the module showing, on a lecture by lecture basis, the topic, associated key concepts and a brief indication of the content. Further details on each lecture topic can be obtained by following the links in the topic column. A brief summary of the module can be found in the final section: review and conclusions.
The pages for each of the topics below has a set of links associated with it. If you wish to search for more detail on any of the topic, you can use the MIS links page. There are also a number of alternative textbooks for this course. The choice of which book(s) to select will depend on your background, experience and interests. Please see the list of Information Systems Books. Here you will find several books listed, each with a short review to help you decide which is the most suitable for you.
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Lecture |
Topic |
Key Concepts |
Content |
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1 |
Background and context, Interrelatedness, Data, Information and Knowledge |
This section presents underlying assumptions and a framework for the module and discusses the terms Data, Information and Knowledge. |
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2 |
The Knowledge Based Economy, Globalization, Rate of Change |
This section reviews Bell, Toffler, and others to produce a high level list of Business Challenges |
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3 |
Tactical Responses, Organizational Processes and Organizational Structure |
This section reviews Tactical Responses to the Information Revolution and looks at attempts to change a business' internal processes or organizational structure. |
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4 |
Strategic Responses, Risk and Benefit, Co-ordination, Control and Collaboration |
This section reviews Porter and Neumann and using the list from section (2) points out the tensions between control (cost driven) and co-ordination (value driven) approaches to strategy. |
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5 |
Speaker |
Date/Speaker to be confirmed |
Date/Speaker to be confirmed |
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6 |
Technology, Change, Technological Determinism, Linear Models and Integrationist Models |
This section examine various models of the relationship between technology and change such as technological determinist, managerialist and integrationist models. |
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7 |
Technological solution (1) - Information Management Systems |
Information Management Systems: Processing Power and Storage. Databases, Document Management Systems, Data Warehouses |
This section reviews some examples of technological solutions to business problems: Management Information Systems, Document Management Systems, Data Warehouses. |
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8 |
Technological solution (2) - Knowledge Management Systems |
Knowledge Management Systems: Organizational Memories, Expert Systems, Communications and Mobile Computing |
This section reviews some further examples of technological solutions to business problems: Knowledge Management Systems, Networks, Expert Systems, Communications and Mobile Computing. |
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9 |
Managerial solution (1) - The Bureaucratic Organization |
Methods of Control: Operating Procedures, Bureaucracy, Policies and Working Practices |
This section reviews some examples of managerial solutions to business problems based on control: Bureaucratic and hierarchical organizations. |
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10 |
Managerial solution (2) - The Networked Organization |
Responsiveness and Flexibility: Co-ordination, Common Goals, Distributed Teamworking and The Learning organization |
This section reviews some examples of managerial solutions to business problems based on collaboration: Teams, Network Building and Computer Supported Co-operative Work (CSCW). |
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11 |
Speaker |
Date/Speaker to be confirmed |
Date/Speaker to be confirmed |
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12 |
Virtual Organizations: Overcoming Time, Place and Cultural differences? |
This section will use the example of the Virtual Organization to examine one means of realizing a strategic vision. |
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13 |
Telework, Home Based Work, Remote Working |
This section looks at doing work "any place, any time, anywhere" rather than "being told what to do by a machine". |
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14 |
Task Groups, Mobile and Distributed Team Work, Virtual Teams |
This section examines adding value through exploiting reliable and consistent communications. |
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15 |
Communities of Practice, Face to Face working, co-located work |
This section examines how people and the interactions between can provide 'added value' for the organization. |
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16 |
Capture, Codify, Store: Organizational Memories, Knowledge Repositories |
This section looks at adding value through "knowledge" which has been stored in a durable and re-usable form. |
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17 |
Groupware, HCI, CMC and CSCW |
This section examines some of the issues associated with the design of collaborative systems using the example of Groupware. |
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18 |
A final review of Management and Information Systems |
This section is a high level review that should prompt you to think about the links between "Management" and "Information Systems". |