Faculty of Business School of Information Systems, Technology and Management. Information Technology and Business Strategy INFS5731

Transcription

1 Faculty of Business School of Information Systems, Technology and Management Information Technology and Business Strategy INFS5731 Course Outline Session 1, 2007

2 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 1 ABOUT THE COURSE COURSE OVERVIEW AND AIMS LEARNING OUTCOMES COURSE STRUCTURE FORMAT AND TEACHING APPROACH 4 2 CONTACT AND CONSULTATION DETAILS STAFF CONTACT DETAILS: ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THE COURSE STUDENT CONSULTATION 5 3 RESOURCES WEEKLY STUDY GUIDES THE TEXTBOOK AND READINGS COURSE WEBSITE OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES 6 4 ASSESSMENT SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS 7 5 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES 9 6 COURSE SCHEDULE 10 2 INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1, 2007

3 1 About the Course 1.1 Course overview and aims Information systems and information technology are integral components of every modern organisation and are relied upon by all but the smallest businesses for their day-to-day operation. Traditionally these information systems and associated information technology infrastructure were either developed or acquired when the need for them became obvious or budget permitted; more often than not delivering the desired benefits well after the optimal time to capture those benefits had passed. More recently we have seen a shift towards improving the nexus between future business directions and the information systems planning process though the development of IS/IT strategies derived from the business strategy. While these efforts have created a reasonable alignment between business needs and information systems capability, this approach has lacked the capacity to fully exploit the potential presented by the information systems, resulting in few strategic information systems. The rapid rise of e-business dispelled any doubt that information systems themselves presented capability that could be capitalised upon to create future directions for the business. For many organizations, the information systems strategy process is now seen as an integral part the business strategy process. Making efficient and effective use of IS/IT resources in the pursuit and support of the sustainability and competitiveness of business is now a key concern of management. This course investigates the process by which these information system strategies are created, the context in which they are developed and the various factors encountered. Our investigation will include analysis of practitioner and academic papers and practice notes, review of cases and examples, and discussion of class exercises and experience of the course participants. This course will be of benefit to all IS/IT practitioners who are interested in how information systems are managed and have career aspirations in senior roles in IS/IT management or consulting. The course would also be very useful for those who envisage, or perhaps already have, launched their own business ventures Assumed knowledge It is assumed that you are familiar with the general concepts of IS/IT and that you understand the general principles of systems development. It is also assumed that you have some experience working within the business environment and familiar with the day to day processes and practices of business. INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1,

4 1.2 Learning outcomes After studying this course you will be able to: Discuss how IS can assist organisations to meet strategic goals; Develop an IS strategy and implementation plan and explain the use and usefulness of a range of tools, techniques and methods in the strategy formulation process; Discuss and analyse the relevant factors contributing to decisions about applications portfolio management, the use of organizational information resources, and planning for IS/IT infrastructure and IT service capability; Discuss and analyse the key considerations involved in the management of IS/IT resources and investment in those resources; and Discuss the key concerns that IS management will be alert to in the future. 1.3 Course structure The course starts with an overview of the contemporary role of information systems in the organizational environment (Week 2), the business strategy process (Week 3) and the IS strategy process (Week 4). The course then addresses the three steps in the IS strategy formulation process being: understanding the current situation of the business and its IS/IT (Week 5), determining the future potential (Week 6) and developing the strategy and its implementation plan (Week 7). The course then examines each of the key aspects involved in implementing IS strategic plans looking at the management of the application portfolio (Week 8), the management of the overall IS/IT resource (Week 9), the justification of investment in IS/IT (Week 10), the management of information resources (Week 11) and the management of IT services (Week 12). Our course concludes with a look at the future directions in both business and IS/IT strategy (Week 13 and Week 14). 1.4 Format and teaching approach Each week involves a set of essential readings and self assessment exercises which you are required to work though. These readings and questions, along with the learning outcomes and other information are set out in the individual weekly guides included in this study guide. The exam and assessments will assume you are familiar with the essential readings. Each seminar is two hours long and will involve a wide variety of activities including short presentations by the course co-ordinator, individual and group exercises and class discussions. The seminars will be highly interactive and some preparation is required, including completion of the essential readings and the seminar preparation activities for the relevant topic. Details of the preparation required for each seminar are set out in the individual Weekly Study Guides included in this study guide. A number of special guest lecturers may also present during the session. The seminars for this course are held Week 1 to Week 14 on Monday evening between 6pm and 8.30 pm in Old Main Building (OMB) 144A. Each topic also includes some optional readings for those who might want to explore various aspects of the topic in more detail. The optional readings are not examinable. 4 INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1, 2007

5 2 Contact and consultation details For enquiries related to the course please contact the course coordinator during business hours. If the coordinator is not available contact the administration coordinator. If you are experiencing communication difficulties with your course coordinator please contact the MIS Director or the School. 2.1 Staff contact details: The course co-ordinator is Ken Stevens Ph: (02) , Quad Building, Room About the course coordinator: Ken Stevens is a lecturer in the School of Information Systems, Technology and Management and teaches courses postgraduate courses in information systems management and project management. Ken has a MComm (Information Systems) from UNSW and is currently completing a PhD in the IS project risk management. Ken's other key research interests include management of Information Systems. Prior to joining academe, Ken worked in business systems consulting for both large and small consulting houses. Ken is a Chartered Accountant Other teaching staff Other teaching staff may be drawn from the School of Information Systems Organisation and Management. All staff are highly qualified and experienced as lecturers and facilitators. The course may also make use of guest lecturers from industry Administration Coordinator Mrs. Tricia Hartley, the SISTM administrator p.hartley@unsw.edu.au, Ph: , Quad Building, Room 2091E 2.2 Announcements about the course Announcements relating the course will be made in the seminar and posted on the course website. Urgent announcements will be made via to your student account (which you should check on a regular basis) contacts and usage Students should note that it is school policy to only respond to messages that are clearly identifiable as having originated from legitimate accounts. Messages from Hotmail, Yahoo, Google and other similar services will not be replied to. All students and staff are expected to use responsibly and respectfully. 2.3 Student Consultation The course coordinator will be available immediately after the weekly seminar for consultation. Other times by appointment only. INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1,

6 3 Resources 3.1 Weekly study guides Study guides for each of the fourteen weeks of the course are available on the course website. Each study guide contains a brief overview of the key concepts, expected reading, selfassessment exercises and learning activities associated with each week s topic as well as the agenda for each week s seminar. 3.2 The textbook and readings The text for the course is: Ward, J & Peppard, J (2002) Strategic Planning for Information Systems, 3 rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester (ISBN: ) The readings set out below are all available in PDF format from the Sirius system at the UNSW Library. 3.3 Course Website Master of Information Systems courses use a WebCT Vista environment for all on-line components. The course website includes lecture notes, assignment details and other course information. The website is accessed via the elearning gateway at Other useful resources The following journals and websites are key references for this course: Journal of Strategic Management Journal of Management Information Systems Harvard Business Review Sloan Management Review The Australian IT section online ( CIO online magazine ( 6 INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1, 2007

7 4 Assessment All assessment tasks are subject to the following School of Information Systems, Technology and Management (SISTM) policies: Any number of the assessment components may be scaled All components of assessment must be completed at a minimum acceptable level (normally a mark of 40%). If this level of performance is not achieved in any component a failing grade (UF) may be awarded This course will be assessed in accordance with the School's assessment policies that can be found at: sistm.web.unsw.edu.au Late assignment submission (without an approved extension) will be subject to a penalty. The penalty is 10% of the weight of the assignment for each day that the assignment is late. For the full School Policy on assessment and submission of assignments please refer to the MIS Student Guide. 4.1 Summary of requirements The summary table below provides an overview of the assessment tasks, due dates and relative weighting. Assessment task Due date Weight Assignment 1 Week 6 20% Assignment 2 Week 12 30% Open book exam Exam period 50% TOTAL 100% Assignment 1: Developing the IS/IT Strategy Assignment 1 in the Week 6 Seminar (April 2). It is worth 20% of your overall assessment. Assignment 1 is concerned with the way in which organizations go about setting there IS/IT strategies. There are two options for this assignment: 1. An investigation of what your organization (or SBU) goes about developing its strategic plan for IS/IT and an analysis of the adequacy of that process. 2. An investigation of the academic and professional literature academic regarding the key concerns / problems / difficulties associated with the development of IS/IT strategic plans. Both options involve the preparation of a business report of no more than 2000 words. Assignment 1 addresses the following learning outcomes: Discuss how IS can assist organisations to meet strategic goals. Develop an IS strategy and implementation plan and explain the use and usefulness of a range of tools, techniques and methods in the strategy formulation process. INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1,

8 Both options will be assessed on the quality of the description, discussion and analysis presented. The specific criteria for grading will set out in the assignment requirements. Please note that the assignment grading criteria will include marks for the clarity of the report and the quality and appropriateness of the references used. The detailed requirements for the assignment will be posted to the course website in Week 1 and will be discussed in the Week 2 Seminar Assignment 2: Valuing IT Investments Assignment 2 is due in the Week 12 Seminar (May 21). It is worth 30% of your overall assessment. Assignment 2 is concerned with the way organizations value their IT investments. There are two options for this assignment: 1. An investigation of what your organization (or SBU) goes in regard to valuing its IT/IS investments and an analysis of the adequacy of that valuation. 2. An investigation of the academic and professional literature academic regarding the key concerns / problems / difficulties associated with the value and valuation of IS/IT investment. Both options involve the preparation of a business report of no more than 3000 words. Assignment 2 addresses the following learning outcomes: Discuss and analyse the key considerations involved in the management of IS/IT resources and investment in those resources. Discuss the key concerns that IS management will be alert to in the future. Both options will be assessed on the quality of the description, discussion and analysis presented. The specific criteria for grading will set out in the assignment requirements. Please note that the assignment grading criteria will include marks for the clarity of the report and the quality and appropriateness of the references used. The detailed requirements for the assignment will be posted to the course website in Week 7 and will be discussed in the Week 8 Seminar Assignment submission All assignments must be handed in at the start of the seminar in the week in which they are due. All assignments must include a signed and dated Assessment Cover Sheet (available on the course website). Word count limits will be enforced and penalties may be applied to assignments that exceed the word limit. Assignments 1 and 2 are in the format of a business report. The course website provides details as to what is entailed in a business report Final examination The final exam will be a 2 hour written paper held in the formal examination period (15 June to 3 July). The examination is worth 50% of your overall assessment. The examination will be open book. The recommended readings for the course will be allowed into the examination room, as well as your study notes, which may be annotated with your own notes or bookmarks. No electronic devices will be required or allowed. The format and coverage of the exam will be discussed in Week 12. All exams are conducted in accordance with the UNSW Rules for the Conduct of Examinations and it is the student s responsibility to be familiar with these rules. Information about exams is available from my.unsw.edu.au 8 INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1, 2007

9 5 Student responsibilities Attendance and participation Students are expected to attend all the seminars in this course. It is important to note that if students attend less than eighty per cent of their possible classes they may be refused final assessment. You should notify the course coordinator if you cannot make a seminar Academic honesty Students and staff are governed by the normal laws which regulate our daily lives. But in addition the University has its own code of rules and conduct. This is because good conduct and academic honesty are fundamental to the mission of the University as an institution devoted to the pursuit of excellence in scholarship and research, and to the service of society. These principles apply not only to students but to the whole University community, including staff engaged in research. They have been developed over many years and are widely supported by staff and students. Staff and students are committed to good conduct and academic honesty and are keen to see that these values and principles are upheld. The University Council has defined student misconduct as follows (29 th August 1994): Student misconduct includes student academic misconduct and also encompasses conduct which impairs the reasonable freedom of other persons to pursue their studies or research or to participate in the life of the University. It is the responsibility of all students to familiarise themselves with the rules that govern student and academic misconduct. For more information, please see: Plagiarism Plagiarism is considered academic misconduct and, as such, will be severely penalised. Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one s own. Acts of plagiarism include copying parts of a document without acknowledging and providing the source for each quotation or piece of borrowed material. These rules against plagiarism apply whatever the source of the work relied upon may be, whether printed, stored on a compact disc or other medium, found on the World Wide Web or Internet. Similarly, using or extracting another person s concepts, experimental results or conclusions, summarising another person s work or, where, there is collaborative preparatory work, submitting substantially the same final version of any material as another student constitutes plagiarism. It is your responsibility to make sure you acknowledge within your writing where you have sourced the information, ideas and facts etc. The basic principles are that you should not attempt to pass off the work of another person as your own, and it should be possible for a reader to check the information and ideas that you have used by going to the original source material. Acknowledgment should be sufficiently accurate to enable the source to be located speedily. If you are unsure whether, or how, to make an acknowledgment, consult your lecturer. For more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it, visit the UNSW Learning Centre website: INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1,

10 6 Course Schedule Week Topic Text Reading Assessment 0 ORIENTATION WEEK (19/2/06 23/2/06) 1 Introduction Assignment 1 released 2 The Role of Information Systems in Business 1 Assignment 1 discussed in seminar 3 Business Strategy Practices 2 4 Developing an IS/IT Strategy 3 5 Assessing and Understanding the Current Situation 4 6 Determining Future Potential 5 Assignment 1 due MID SESSION RECESS (9/4/06 13/4/06) 7 Determining the Business IS Strategy 6 Assignment 2 released 8 Managing the Applications Portfolio 7 Assignment 2 discussed in seminar 9 Strategic Management of IS/IT Resources 8 10 Strategic Management of IS/IT Resources (continued) 8 11 Managing Investment in IS/IT 9 12 Strategies of Information Management 10 Assignment 2 due Examination discussed in seminar 13 Managing the Supply of IT Services, Applications and Infrastructure Future Directions 12 EXAMINATION PERIOD (15/6/06 3/7/06) Closed book exam 10 INFS5731: Information Technology and Business Strategy, Session 1, 2007