Syllabus University of Manitoba I. H. Asper School of Business Department of Accounting and Finance MIS 4500 - MIS STRATEGY Course Outline - Term 2, 2015-2016 Instructor: Mary Brabston Office: 432 Drake Centre Phone: O: 474-8444 / H: 487-4113/ Fax: 474-7545 E-mail: Mary.Brabston@umanitoba.ca Home Page: http://www.umanitoba.ca/d2l Office Hours: 11:15 a.m. 12:00 p.m. MW, 2:00-3:30 p.m., M and by appointment. Text: Pearlson, K.E., and C.S. Saunders. (2013) Managing and Using Information Systems: A Strategic Approach, Fifth Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Additional readings as assigned. Calendar Description: A survey of the various issues associated with managing information as a resource. Explores MIS planning frameworks and tools and the linkages between information systems, organizational structure, and organizational strategy. Prerequisites: At least two of the following: MIS 3500, 3510, 3520, 3530, 4250. Technology changes at a rapid pace; humans and organizations (composed of humans) change slowly. Rapidly changing information technology is one of the key factors in organizations achieving a competitive advantage today. In this course, students will learn how to think strategically about information systems. This course will explore how organizations determine and implement information systems to yield a competitive advantage and will explore advancing technologies capable of adding to that competitive advantage. In addition, attention will be focused on the management of information as a resource (IRM). This course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in prior MIS courses. Students are assumed to have a general understanding of information technology and its applications. The first part of the course explores the management of information as a resource, including a discussion of IS planning, budgeting, human resource management, quality, and performance evaluation. The second section of the course looks at how information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) (also known as information systems and technology IST) can be used strategically. The third part of the course looks at the real world, careers, and IS professionals in Winnipeg and the world beyond. Two projects will focus attention on these issues. Because much of the IST work done in the business world is performed in teams, student teams will be formed by the third day of class. These teams will be responsible for both class projects; the two midterm examinations and class participation are based on individual performance. Student teams will review and critique information resource management (IRM) at a small- to medium-sized local firm and will prepare written reports as the output for the IRM project (see separate instructions). Student teams will
prepare a proposal for a new strategic information system (SIS) for a small- to medium-sized local firm (see separate instructions) and will present their proposals to the class. Students will also individually participate in class discussions. As many of you know, our faculty has set eight curriculum wide learning goals. Each course in our curriculum addresses at least one of these goals. In MIS 4500, we address the following goals: AACSB Assurance of Learning Goals and Objectives. The Asper School of Business is proudly accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Colleges and Schools of Business (AACSB). Accreditation requires a process of continuous improvement of the School and our students. Part of student improvement is ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their careers. To do so, the Asper School has set the learning goals and objectives listed below for the Undergraduate Program. The checked goal(s) and objective(s) will be addressed in this course and done so by means of the items listed next to the checkmark. Goals & Objectives in the Undergraduate Program 1 Quantitative Reasoning A. Determine which quantitative analysis technique is appropriate for solving a specific problem. B. Use the appropriate quantitative method in a technically correct way to solve a business problem. C. Analyze quantitative output and arrive at a conclusion. 2 Written Communication A. Use correct English grammar and mechanics in their written work. B. Communicate in a coherent and logical manner.on C. Present ideas in a clear and organized fashion. 3 Ethical Thinking A. Identify ethical issues in a problem or case situation. 2 Goals & Objectives Addressed in this Course Course Item(s) Relevant to these Goals& Objectives SIS project Two papers Two papers; exam questions; presentation Two papers; exam questions; presentation Ethics chapter B. Identify the stakeholders in the situation. Ethics chapter C. Analyze the consequences of alternatives from an ethical standpoint. Ethics chapter
D. Discuss the ethical implications of the decision. Two papers; presentation; class discussions 4 Core Business Knowledge Entire course Tentative Allocation of Marks Midterm Exams 55 IRM Paper* 15 SIS Paper* 15 Participation* 15 Total Points in Course 100 Team marks Half of the participation mark may be substituted at the student s discretion with a 6-page (plus title page and reference page) research paper (see research paper assignment). Tentative Allocation of Grades A+ 90+ C+ 65-69 A 80-89 C 60-64 B+ 75-79 D 50-59 B 70-74 F <50 Additional information about the exams, assignments, and guest lectures will be provided in class. The scheduled dates for the exams, assignments, etc. are subject to change, but all changes will be discussed in class. All students must take the examinations at the scheduled time except for emergencies. Late assignments receive a penalty of 10% per day (starting with the first late minute). Assignments are designed to be learning tools and to represent real-world situations; students should seek help from the instructor when unsure of how to proceed. Students are expected to attend classes and are responsible for obtaining information from missed classes from other students (this includes changes to due dates and assignments). Every student is expected to schedule four (4) appointments with the instructor: 1) two appointments to review their midterm examinations (individual); 2) a late January/early February update on both projects (team); and 3) an early March update on both projects (team). One participation point (as though the student had participated in class that day) will be given for each appointment satisfactorily completed (not late, prepared, active participation in meeting, etc.). All meetings must be scheduled in advance. NOTE: All team members must be present for the team meetings. Team Formation and Team Work Students are responsible for forming teams of three students. However, depending on the composition of the class, there will be no teams composed of all males or all females. This should help to ensure diversity within each team. No teams may have members who are related by birth or who date each other. Each team must also have at least one member who is a native 3
speaker of English. This should help to ensure that all of the colloquial and cultural misunderstandings that can occur in conducting team projects are less likely to occur. Readings All readings are to have been completed before class. In the real world, IST professionals are expected to be prepared for meetings and to participate actively. Student participation in class will prepare students for this real world environment. Students are expected to participate in discussions, to ask questions, and to seek answers to the difficult concepts and managerial issues that will be raised. Participation counts 15% and is expected of all students. Students need to attend class in order to keep up with class activities and discussion and to be able to master the competencies required in the course as well as to participate. Mere attendance, however, does not count at all toward participation. Students do not have to participate every day to achieve high participation marks but must contribute frequently and intelligently to discussions, presentations, and other in-class activities and must be present almost every day. Student participation must be cogent and specific and must relate to the topic being discussed. Merely echoing another student s comments (or those of the instructor) does not count for participation. If a student cannot be present for class for a legitimate reason, notifying the instructor in advance will ensure that participation marks are not deducted for a specific absence. Participation marks can range from 1 to +1 for a given day or activity. Tardiness interrupts the class and counts as negative participation marks as does other disruptive behaviour (talking to other students during class, using email, surfing the Web during class, etc.). A student with four or more unexcused absences (determined by the instructor) may be debarred from the class. Students caught surfing the Web or using their computers or other electronic devices for other than class purposes (approved by the professor) may also be debarred from the class. Additional readings will be assigned from time to time. Students should have read not only the assigned chapter(s), but also the assigned associated readings and thought about the issues raised therein before the relevant class period. If students are not prepared for the discussion, short answer quizzes or papers may be assigned to be turned in on the date the reading is discussed in class (marks on these quizzes may be deducted from the participation mark). Assigned projects and class presentation are detailed elsewhere. There are many excellent periodicals with the most current information about MIS strategy, IRM, and SIS. Some of these include: Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Journal of Information Systems Management, CIO, and Computerworld. In addition, most business periodicals (e.g., the Financial Post, Globe and Mail, Wall Street Journal, Canadian Business, Maclean s, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Executive) and The Winnipeg Free Press have informative articles about these topics. Many of these periodicals are available online and contain subscription features for receiving periodic emailed newsletters for free. Students are expected to become familiar with these periodicals and occasionally may be assigned additional articles to read and discuss. 4
E-Mail All e-mail you send to me must have a subject line that starts with MIS 4500 and the topic of the e-mail; for example, a subject line that reads MIS 4500, Question on IRM Project. Otherwise, your e-mails could wind up in my Junk E-Mail folder. If you are a student at the UofM, you must send all emails from your UofM email account. All official notices from the University will be sent to your UofM email account, and be aware that certain University electronic communications may be time-critical. Students are responsible for checking their University email account on a regular basis in order to stay current with University communications. For assistance with your university email or to activate your email account, please contact the IST Help and Solutions Centre: https://webtools.cc.umanitoba.ca/webmail/horde/imp/altlogin/custom_login.php. Remember to include your full name and student number in all correspondence. For more information, visit: http://umanitoba.ca/registrar/e-mail_policy. Students with Disabilities Any student who, because of a disability of any kind, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact either Student Accessibility Services at 204-474-6213 or the instructor as soon as possible to make the necessary accommodations. Academic Integrity It is critical to the reputation of the Asper School of Business and of our degrees that everyone associated with our faculty behaves with the highest academic integrity. As the faculty that helps create business and government leaders, we have a special obligation to ensure that our ethical standards are beyond reproach. Any dishonesty in our academic transactions violates this trust. The University of Manitoba General Calendar addresses the issue of academic dishonesty under the heading "Plagiarism and Cheating." Specifically, acts of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to: using the exact words of a published or unpublished author without quotation marks and without referencing the source of these words duplicating a table, graph or diagram, in whole or in part, without referencing the source paraphrasing the conceptual framework, research design, interpretation, or any other ideas of another person, whether written or verbal (e.g., personal communications, ideas from a verbal presentation) without referencing the source copying the answers of another student in any test, examination, or take-home assignment 5
providing answers to another student in any test, examination, or take-home assignment taking any unauthorized materials into an examination or term test (crib notes) impersonating another student or allowing another person to impersonate oneself for the purpose of submitting academic work or writing any test or examination stealing or mutilating library materials accessing tests prior to the time and date of the sitting changing name or answer(s) on a test after that test has been graded and returned submitting the same paper or portions thereof for more than one assignment, without discussions with the instructors involved. Group Projects and Group Work Many courses in the Asper School of Business require group projects. Students should be aware that group projects are subject to the same rules regarding academic dishonesty. Because of the unique nature of group projects, all group members should exercise special care to insure that the group project does not violate the policy on Academic Integrity. Should a violation occur, group members are jointly accountable unless the violation can be attributed to a specific individual(s). Some courses, while not requiring group projects, encourage students to work together in groups (or at least do not prohibit it) before submitting individual assignments. Students are encouraged to discuss this issue as it related to academic integrity with their instructor to avoid violating this policy. In the Asper School of Business, all suspected cases of academic dishonesty are passed to the Dean s office in order to ensure consistency of treatment. 6
Tentative Schedule (These dates will change depending upon the pace of the course.) Dates Topics Readings Due Dates Jan. 6 Introduction to Course Nameplates 11 The IS Strategy Triangle Introduction & Chapter 1 13 Organizational Strategy Chapter 3 Teams Formed and ISs Does IT Matter? with responses 18 NO Class A good time for team meetings; time will be made up by midterm exams 20 ISs & The Design of Work Chapter 4 25 Architecture & Chapter 6 IRM Proposals Due Infrastructure 27 The Business of IT Chapter 7 SIS Proposals Due Feb 1 IS Sourcing Chapter 9. 3 Governance of the IS Chapter 8 Organization 8 Managing IT Projects Chapter 10 9 Midterm Examination #1 5:30-7:30 p.m. Scotiabank Computer Laboratory (not a regular class period) 10 NO Class Class time made up by midterm exams 15 Semester Break! 17 Semester Break! 22 Role of the CIO Readings you select Class Discussion from your readings 24 Strategic Use of Information Resources Chapter 2 Team Meetings with 29 ISs for Managing Business Chapter 5 Individual Meetings with Processes March 2 Guest speaker 7 Knowledge Management, Chapter 11 BI, & Analytics 9 New Business Models Lucas: Chapter 3 14 Implementing IT Lucas: Chapter 9 Team Meetings with 16 Midterm Examination #2 5:30-7:30 p.m. Scotiabank Computer Laboratory (no regular class period) March 18 is Last Day for Voluntary Withdrawal 21 Using IT Ethically Chapter 12 23 The Digital Divide Lucas: Chapter 20 IRM Papers Due 2:30 p.m. 28 Guest speaker Readings to be Assigned 30 Guest speaker Readings to be Assigned Individual Meetings with April 4 Guest speaker Readings to be Assigned 6 Guest speaker Readings to be Assigned SIS Papers Due 2:30 p.m. 10 SIS Presentations Teams 1-3; Closing Comments Last updated: January 1, 2016