This course is designed to give you an appreciation for the management issues surrounding the development and use of information technology in organizations. In particular, we will discuss how information technology can play a fundamental role in enabling significant changes in organizations’ business processes, work practices, organizational designs, and performance. The course is structured around two main themes:

Technology and the Internet

These sessions examine the key concepts, innovations, and emerging technologies that underlie the sophisticated technological capabilities currently available to companies, including the Internet and some of the business opportunities and challenges presented here.

Technology and the Organization

These sessions examine a number of organizational applications enabled by information technology, as well as addressing some of the issues associated with effectively managing information technology in organizations.

The best way to appreciate the organizational implications of information technology is through extensive and thoughtful discussions in the classroom. We view this course as a cooperative learning experience and expect students to share the insights the have gained from their work experience as well as the readings. Class participation constitutes 25% of the grade. You are encouraged to form study groups to discuss the readings and cases before class. Most of the topics include optional readings for students interested in a more detailed treatment of the issues. This course assumes a minimal familiarity with computer technology and terminology. Students with no prior exposure to computers are encouraged to review the following books put on reserve at Dewey Library:

Laudon, K.C. and Laudon J.P. Management Information Systems (5^th ed.), NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1998.

Technology Forecast. Menlo Park, CA: Price Waterhouse World Technology Center, 1998.