ISM510: Information Technology in the Global Enterprise
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
This course provides an in-depth look at the challenges organizations face as they operate in a global economy.
Students will describe utilization of virtual teams, management strategies, and effective uses of IT for
establishing an organization’s worldwide presence.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Analyze and evaluate the challenges of managing IT operations in a multinational enterprise
1. Work with virtual teams and to accomplish IT objectives
2. Evaluate the impacts and challenges of adaptation of information technology in a global organization
3. Understand and optimize the multicultural opportunities of a diverse workplace
4. Maximize and consolidate IT investments and or assets in a global enterprise
5. Evaluate financial implications of IT decisions that have an impact on enterprise
deployment/implementations
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
No required textbook for this course; each module contains its own unique set of required readings, all of which
are accessible through the CSU-Global library or available online.
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
 Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
 Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT.
Week #
Readings
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1
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2
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Assignments
Buss, M. D. J. (1982). Managing international information
systems. Harvard Business Review, 60(5), 153–162.
Feeny, D. F., & Willcocks, L. P. (1998). Core IS capabilities for
exploiting information technology. Sloan Management Review,
39(3), 9-21.
Ives, B., & Jarvenpaa, S. L. (1991). Applications of global
information technology: Key issues for management. MIS
Quarterly, 15(1), 17-33.
King, W. R. (2006). Developing global IT capabilities. Information
Systems Management, 23(4), 78-79.
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
Gray, P. (1996). The global information infrastructure: from the
Internet toward worldwide commerce. Information Systems
Management, 13(3), 7–14.
Kumar, R. L. (2004). A Framework for assessing the business value
of information technology infrastructures. Journal of
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
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3
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4
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5
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6
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Management Information Systems, 21(2), 11-32.
Rolland, K. H., & Monteiro, E. (2002). Balancing the local and the
global in infrastructural information systems. The Information
Society, 18(2), 87–100.
Tan, D. S., & Uijttenbroek, A. A. (1997). Information infrastructure
management. Information Systems Management, 14(4), 33.
Cavaye, A. L. M. (1997). Challenges during the development of
transnational information systems. Journal of Information
Technology, 12(2), 99–106.
Kneitel, A. M. (1980). Evolving and implementing a worldwide
management information system (IMS/MIS). MIS Quarterly, 4(3),
31-40.
Loeb, K., Rai., A., Ramaprasad, A., & Sharma, S. (1998). Design,
development, and implementation of a global information
warehouse: a case study at IBM. Information Systems Journal,
8(4), 291-311.
Tractinsky, N., & Jarvenpaa, S. L. (1995). Information systems
design decisions in a global versus domestic context. MIS
Quarterly, 19(4), 507-534.
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
Hahn, E. D., Doh, J. P., & Bunyaratavej, K. (2009). The evolution of
risk in information systems offshoring: The impact of home
country risk, firm learning, and competitive dynamics. MIS
Quarterly, 33(3), 597-616.
King, W. R. (2007). The IS organization of the future: Impacts of
global sourcing. Information Systems Management, 24(2), 121127.
Oshri, I., Kotlarsky, J., Rottman, J. W., & Willcocks, L. L. (2009).
Global sourcing: recent trends and issues. Information Technology
& People, 22(3), 192-200.
Trent, R. J., & Monczka, R. M. (2005). Achieving excellence in
global sourcing. MIT Sloan Management Review, 47(1), 24-32.
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
Lai, V. S., & Chung, W. (2002). Managing international data
communications. Communications of the ACM, 45(3), 89-93.
Sambharya, R.B., & Phatak, A. (1990). The effect of transborder
data flow restrictions on American multinational corporations.
Management International Review, 30(3), 267-290.
Sarkar, M., Cavusgil, S., & Aulakh, P. S. (1999). International
expansion of telecommunication carriers: The influence of market
structure, network characteristics, and entry imperfections.
Journal Of International Business Studies, 30(2), 361-381.
Steinbart, P. J., & Nath, R. (1992). Problems and issues in the
management of international data communications networks:
The experiences of American companies. MIS Quarterly , 16(1),
55-76.
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75)
Hofstede, G. (1994). Management scientists are human.
Management Science, 40(1), 4-13.
Leidner, D. E., & Kayworth, T. (2006). Review: A review of culture
in information systems research: Toward a theory of information
technology culture conflict. MIS Quarterly, 30(2), 357-399.
Walsham, G. (2002). Cross-cultural software production and use:
A structurational analysis. MIS Quarterly, 26(4), 359-380.
Weisinger, J. Y., & Trauth, E. M. (2002). Situating culture in the
global information sector. Information Technology & People,
15(4), 306-320.
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75)
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7
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8
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Chudoba, K. M., Wynn, E., Lu, M., & Watson-Manheim, M. B.
(2005). How virtual are we? Measuring virtuality and
understanding its impact in a global organization. Information
Systems Journal, 15(4), 279-306.
Manzevski, M. L., & Chudoba, K. M. (2000). Bridging space over
time: Global virtual team dynamics and effectiveness.
Organization Science, 11(5), 473-492.
Montoya Weiss, M. M., Massey, A. P., & Song, M. (2001). Getting
it together: Temporal coordination and conflict management in
global virtual teams. The Academy of Management Journal, 44(6),
1251-1262.
Siebdrat, F., Hoegl, M., & Ernst, H. (2009). How to manage virtual
teams. MIT Sloan Management Review, 50(4), 63-68.
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Discussion (25 points)
Chen, C. C., & Harris, A. L. (2007). Corporate IT strategies in the
global economy. In P. Palvia, S. Palvia, & A. Harris, (Eds.),
Managing global information technology: Strategies and
challenges (pp. 119-149), Ivy League Publishing. Available at
http://www1.appstate.edu/~harrisal/Harris-Chen.pdf
Karimi, J., & Konsynski, B.R. (1991). Globalization and information
management strategies. Journal of Management Information
Systems, 7(4), 7-26.
King, W. R. (1996). Achieving global strategic advantage.
Information Systems Management, 13(4), 57-59.
Selig, G. (1982). Approaches to strategic planning for information
resource management (IRM) in multinational companies. MIS
Quarterly, 6(2), 33-45.
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Discussion (25 points)
Portfolio (350 points)
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 1
CRITICAL THINKING: Critical Essay 1 (75 Points)
Supported by the readings from Module 1 and at least three additional scholarly references:
1.
2.
3.
Identify and analyze what managers can do to accomplish core IT capabilities.
Describe the issues and challenges faced by managers in managing information systems in a multinational
corporation.
Summarize what managers can accomplish with core IT capabilities and how managers can exploit IT
capabilities to address the issues and overcome the challenges in a global enterprise.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, well-written, and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
Style. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find scholarly sources.
Module 2
CRITICAL THINKING: Critical Essay 2 (75 Points)
Supported by the readings from Module 2 and at least three additional scholarly references:
1.
Discuss the major components of global information infrastructures (GII) for a multinational corporation.
2.
3.
Discuss how the architecture and the included components of a company’s GII affect its core IT
capabilities.
Describe how managers should appropriately assess the business value of GII and the feasible strategies
to effectively manage GII.
The CSU-Global Library is a good place to get scholarly sources.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, well-written, and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
Style.
Module 3
CRITICAL THINKING: Critical Essay 3 (75 Points)
Supported by the readings from Module 3 and at least three additional scholarly references:
1.
2.
3.
Identify the major processes of designing, developing, and implementing global information systems.
Discuss how the level of global information infrastructures affects the design, development, and
implementation of global information systems and how these processes differ from those in a domestic
context.
Explain how firms should employ appropriate global information infrastructures to support those
processes.
The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find scholarly sources.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, well-written, and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
Style.
Module 4
CRITICAL THINKING: Critical Essay 4 (75 Points)
Supported by the readings from Module 4 and at least three additional scholarly references:
1.
2.
3.
List the major decisions that firms have to make in global outsourcing and indicate how firms decide
whether or not they should engage in global outsourcing.
List and compare the major host countries where U.S. companies have been outsourcing their IT products
and services and discuss the risks associated with each of these countries.
Summarize what firms should do in order to achieve excellence in global outsourcing.
The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find scholarly sources.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, well-written, and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
Style.
Module 5
CRITICAL THINKING: Critical Essay 5 (75 Points)
Supported by the readings from Module 5 and at least three additional scholarly references:
1.
2.
Examine the major restrictions of trans-border data flow for U.S. multinational corporations and describe
how firms can deal with these restrictions.
Identify the major challenges of managing a global telecommunications network and tell how firms can
effectively manage international data communications.
The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find scholarly sources.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, well-written, and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
Style.
Module 6
CRITICAL THINKING: Critical Essay 6 (75 Points)
Supported by the readings from Module 6 and at least three additional scholarly references:
1.
2.
3.
Define culture and the major elements in a culture.
Explain your understanding of culture in a global enterprise and explain your position on whether or not
culture is a critical factor in managing IT in a global enterprise.
Defend your position on whether or not culture can be managed and how firms can understand and
improve their cultures to support IT management in a global enterprise.
The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find scholarly articles.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, well-written, and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
Style.
Module 8
PORTFOLIO PROJECT: (350 points)
The purpose of the project is to apply the knowledge and techniques you learn from this class to study real world
problems. You will need to research a specific topic in the context of global IT management and write a 10-12 page
paper. The paper should be well written, formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA Style, and
supported by the readings and at least six additional references. At least three of these additional references
should be from peer-reviewed scholarly journals. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find peer-reviewed
scholarly journals.
Select a topic from the following list and study how it can be managed or developed in a global context:
 Knowledge management
 Business Intelligence
 Supply chain management
 Enterprise resource planning
 Customer relationship management
The topic you choose should be explored through perspectives covered in the 8 modules. For instance, if you
choose knowledge management as your topic, you can identify the challenges of knowledge management in a
global environment, describe the impact of global information infrastructures, illustrate the problems in
developing global knowledge management systems, discuss the trans-border data flows restrictions on knowledge
management, interpret the current status of outsourcing knowledge management products and services,
investigate the issues of managing knowledge in virtual teams with different cultural perspectives, and develop
strategies for knowledge management in a global enterprise.
Apply tools and techniques that are appropriate from various sources including all the readings and external
references. A typical final project report will include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Description of topic
Project objective
Structuring your analysis to discuss how you recommend addressing the problems
Conclusion (summary, special problems faced and solved, lessons learned, contribution, etc.)
The project report will be evaluated on structure, content, and delivery. Note that this is only a suggested outline.
Please feel free to choose any format that fits your needs.
Course Policies
Late Work
Students are permitted a 7 day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after
the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will
be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more
days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class
unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy.
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
45% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
FN*
Failure for Nonparticipation
I**
Incomplete
* Students who stop attending class and fail the course for nonparticipation will be issued the “FN” grade. The FN grade may have
implications for financial aid and scholarship awards.
** An “I” grade may be assigned at the Instructor’s discretion to students who are in good standing (passing) in the course. Students
should have completed a majority of the coursework in order to be eligible for the “I” grade. Students should request an "I" grade from
the Instructor with a written justification, which must include explanation of extenuating circumstances that prevented timely
completion of the coursework. If the request is approved, the Instructor will require a written agreement consisting of a) the specific
coursework to be completed, b) the plan to complete the coursework, and c) the deadline for completion. The agreement will be kept on
file at CSU-Global Campus. An incomplete course must be satisfactorily completed within the time frame stipulated in the agreement, but
no later than the end of the following semester from the date the “I” was given. An incomplete not removed within one year shall
convert to an F and be included in the computation of the student’s grade point average.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other
work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating,
plagiarism, unauthorized possession of academic materials, and falsification. The Student Handbook
provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use library
and internet resources appropriately with proper citation. Please refer to the Academic Catalog for complete
policies regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
APA
Students are expected to follow the CSU-Global APA requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style
Manual, 6th edition). For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources located under the
Library tab in Blackboard.
Netiquette
All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in a professional and respectful manner in
accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you
meant? How will the person on the other end read the words?
Any derogatory or inappropriate comments regarding race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, are
unacceptable and subject to disciplinary action.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.
Institutional Policies
Refer to the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-GC institutional policies.