MET CS 782: IT Management and Strategy

 

 

 

 

REGISTERED STUDENTS: PLEASE GO TO http://blackboard.bu.edu

TO SEE THE CURRENT SYLLABUS ETC.

 

PLEASE NOTE: BELOW FROM THE 2008 VERSION OF THE CLASS

 

 

 

Last updated January 7, 2009

Background of the Instructor  changed if this is red

Learning Objectives changed if this is red

Contacting Eric Braude changed if this is red

References and Plagiarism changed if this is red

Evaluation of Students changed if this is red

Policies - Miscellaneous changed if this is red

Forums: Past and Present changed if this is red

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Textbooks and Materials changed if this is red

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Topics, Class Dates & Readings         changed if this is red

 

Description

 

This course provides an overview of contemporary information systems technology (IT) management. It explains the relevant issues of effective management of information services activities and highlights the areas of greatest potential application of the technology. We will study the IT infrastructure, architecture and applications used in enterprise information systems -- both within organizations, and in interaction with customers, suppliers, partners, and other.  The focus of the course includes the operational, competitive and strategic value of information technology, and how its management and governance contributes to the realization of that value.

 

Prerequisites

No assumptions are made concerning the reader's experience with IT, but it is assumed that the reader has some coursework or work experience in administration of management.

Learning Goals 

 

Understand the following.

·        Business models and business relationships 

·        E-business and E-commerce

·        IT infrastructure basics 

·        Competitive use of IT

·        Use of IT in the enterprise

·        How IT is managed and governed 

·        How firms deal with privacy and security concerns

Textbook and Materials

 

Required

Management Information Systems: Managing Information Technology in the E-Business Enterprise (Hardcover)

by James A. O'Brien and Geroge Marakas

McGraw-Hill/Irwin; 9 edition (October 23, 2008)

ISBN-10: 0073376760

ISBN-13: 978-0073376769

 

 

 

Evaluation of Students

 

Assignments:    50%

Term Paper:      50%

 

Paper

The paper will be in three phases, weighted as follows:

            phase 1 (problem statement): -- 1/7

            phase 2 (study design and plan): -- 2/7

            phase 3 (final paper, including critical review and presentation): -- 4/7

 

 

Participation

 

Students are required to participate in class discussions because this is an effective and, for many, an enjoyable way to learn.  I often ask question of the class to encourage participation.  Good questions of yours will also be considered contributions.  You are encouraged to ask about anything that requires clarification.  A good question is one that you have thought about, does not have a ready answer in the notes, and which is clearly phrased.

 

Late homework…

 

…will not be accepted unless there is a reason why it was not reasonably possible to perform the work in time given work and emergency conditions.  In that case, e-mail the written reason should be attached to the homework, which will be graded on a pass/fail basis if the reason is accepted by me.

 

Click here for generic information on how grades are allocated and averaged in all of my classes.

References and Caution Concerning Plagiarism

 

Please cite all references and uses of the work of other.  All instances of plagiarism must be reported to the College for action.  e-mail, see or call me if you have any doubts about the proper use of others’ material. In any case, clearly acknowledge all sources in the context they are used, including code, of course.  See plagiarism and reference policies for examples and a fuller explanation.

Presentation Guidelines

 

Here is a suggested (but not mandatory) outline.  Your presentation should take a maximum of 15 minutes, without questions.  

 

1.  Goals; Background of and introduction to the topic                 Approximately 3 minutes

2.  Must-do Goals and criteria                                                    Approximately 10 minutes

3.  Conclusion                                                                           Approximately 2 minutes

 

Topics and Class Dates

 

Please note that the syllabus is liable to change up to 20% because of students’ varying background.

 

Class

#

Date

Topics

Main O’Brien Chapters

Comment

(Dates are approximate.  See homework site for due dates.)

1

 

Introduction

 

 

2

 

Foundations

  • IT in business
  • IT components

Competing with IT

  • Meaning of “strategic advantage”
  • Using IT for strategic advantage

1, 2

Assign phase 1

3

 

Hardware and Software in the IT environment

  • Applications
  • Systems software

3,4

 

4

 

Data Management implications for IT and the Enterprise

 

Telecommunications implications for IT and the Enterprise

5,6

Assign phase 2

5

 

Electronic Business Systems

  • Enterprise Business Systems
  • Functional Business Systems

7

Phase1 due

 

6

 

E-Commerce

Enterprise E-commerce

Functional E-commerce

9

 

7

 

Enterprise Business Systems

  • CRM
  • ERP
  • SCM

8

Phase 2 due

Assign phase 3

8

 

Decision Support Systems 1/2

10

 

9

 

Decision Support Systems 2/2

 

 

10

 

Business / IT Strategies

  • The planning activity
  • Anticipating implementation problems

11

 

11

 

Developing Business / IT Solutions

[if time: Security and Ethics]

12, 13

 

12

 

Management of Enterprise and Global IT

14

 

13

 

Presentations

 

Phase 3 due

Presentations

 

 

Forum

 

Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/782Sp08

Group email address: 782Sp08@yahoogroups.com