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IOM 538
Information Systems Strategy
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Description -
IOM
538, 20898
Spring
2004
Monday,
6:30PM - 9:30 PM, Popovich Hall, room 202
Office hours: M, 3-5PM
Professor Langdon: 310.594.8466, professor@ebizstrategy.org
Executive
Summary
IOM
538 Information Systems Strategy is focused on the impact of digital
interactive technology on business strategy, the structure of distribution
channels and the topology of supply chains.
Description
Overview.
Information
technology can be applied within organizations to improve operations
and to create strategic advantage. This course focuses on the latter.
New online intermediaries such as eBay, Amazon and E-Trade are examples
of how IT has been leveraged to change the strategic landscape in many
markets and industries. This strategic application of online and Internet
technology will be emphasized.
Typically, many information technology (IT) components have to be integrated
into an information system (IS) in order to provide strategic advantage.
The Internet and Web are good examples. Not until the Web browser arrived
in late 1994 did the Web have a strategic business impact—more than
four years after the invention of its core components, the HTTP, HTML
and URL protocols.
As
software code becomes the factory
in the "new economy" it takes (1) IS design skills and (2)
an understanding of the IS implementation process to align new IT capabilities
with business strategy or even exploit IT to develop new strategic options.
Too often, companies fail because the implementation of a business plan
takes too long, is too expensive or not possible at all. The interactive
television (ITV) hype in the early 1990s is a great example. The IS
required for ITV could either not be build or at costs too prohibitive
for any alliance of companies including AOL Time Warner and Microsoft.
Purpose
of the Course. The
course is designed to help you think about IT as an executive or consultant
would need to:
“The
CIO has suddenly become the second most important executive in a company.
A visionary CIO is the key to success” (Vinod Khosla, Co-Founder of
Sun Microsystems and Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
in the Harvard Business Review, July-August 2000, 98).
Therefore,
critical issues of the management of the interface between the business
development side of an organization and the information technology function
will be highlighted.
The
course provides a set of methods to describe, analyze and evaluate IT
developments and their strategic business impact.
A
one-page flyer for IOM 538 Information Systems Strategy can
be downloaded here:
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IOM
538 Flyer
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Course
Format. The course relies on a balanced combination of lectures,
lively group discussions, readings and collaborative case study work.
Cases are used to support certain learning goals and critical thinking
skills, for example:
Typically,
each session is composed of two sections: a lecture and a second part
with group exercises and case discussions.
Course
Objectives. At the conclusion of the course you should be able
to:
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Identify
the strategic/economic potential of information technology (IT)
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Draft
an information systems (IS)-enabled business strategy
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Provide
a business case for an IS project
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Understand
the importance of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) concepts,
Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools and development
methodologies
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Know
how to build Internet-based transaction support systems such as
an Internet retailing business.
Style
and Policy. I
prefer an open learning atmosphere. I encourage you to participate during
the lectures if you have a question, wish to contribute or want to challenge
what I am saying. Please do so without hesitation. If you have any suggestions
or ideas, please bring them to me. If I do not hear from you, then I
will assume that you are feeling comfortable with the course, content,
direction, material and your own progress. The lines of communication
on my part are always open. Please take advantage of my office hours
or make an appointment with me.
Disability.
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability
is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP)
each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations
can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to
me (or to my TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located
in STU 301 and is open 8:30 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The phone
number for DSP is 213.740-0776.
Prerequisites.
There are no course requirements for IOM 538 IS Strategy. Basic knowledge
of how to use a personal computer, and office and communication applications
such as FTP is required. Familiarity with coding in HTML may be helpful
but is not required.
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