Kennesaw State University
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
IS 8600, Global IS Management
Course Description:
Prerequisites:
This course examines the concepts and issues inherent in
global/international IT. The global IS economy is characterized by an
environment where customer and supplier organizations can buy or
sell IS products and services from/to anywhere on the globe. This
new environment is largely fostered by the spread of the Internet,
global software development standards, global software packages,
and fewer trade restrictions, U.S. organizations now regularly source
software development, software maintenance, systems upgrades,
platform transitions, help desks, and other IS-related work globally. In
this course, students will use case studies and readings to analyze,
interpret, and discuss companies that compete in the global IT
environment.
IS 8005 or permission of the MSIS Director.
Textbook and Resources:
Palvia, P.C., Palvia, S.C.J., and Roche, E.M. (Ed) Global Information
Technology and Electronic Commerce: Issues for the New
Millennium, Ivy League Publishing, 2009.
Palvia, S., Palvia, P. and Zigli, R. (Ed) The Global Issues of
Information Technology Management, Idea Group Publishing,
2004.
Harvard Business Cases book - available from the Bookstore.
Instructor:
These textbook(s) will be used to support the learning outcomes for
this course, through readings, examples, and exercises.
Dr. Donald L. Amoroso
Office:
CL 3005
Email Address:
awoszczy@kennesaw.edu
Phone:
770.423.6005
Learning Outcomes:
As a result of completing this course, students will be able to:
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Describe the global/international technology environment,
Discuss global IT strategy and management,
Explain electronic commerce and its global context,
Analyze global systems development and implementation,
Describe global software outsourcing,
Discuss global IT infrastructure and operations
Explain world geography, non-US culture, and other
international issues relevant to a global IS company.
Create a significant strategic technology policy focused on a
non-US country.
Understand how to develop a change document for ICT in
countries outside the US.
Tentative Course Schedule
Note: All assignments due in class at 5:00 pm on date specified.
Topic
Reading Case/Project Due
s
Week
1
Jan 13, 2009
Introduction, Global Issues
2
Jan 20, 2009
ONLINE: Discussion board on posted topics
3
Jan 27, 2009
Global Perspective: Issues in Advanced and
Developing Nations
4
Feb 3, 2009
ONLINE:
5
Feb 10, 2009
Global Information Systems
6
Feb 17, 2009
ONLINE:
7
Feb 24, 2009
Multinational Issues
8
Mar 3, 2009
ONLINE:
Mar 10, 2009
Spring Break
9
Mar 17, 2009
Outsourcing Issues
10
Mar 24, 2009
ONLINE:
11
Mar 31, 2009
Technology Transfer, Adoption, & Diffusion
12
Apr 7, 2009
ONLINE
13
Apr 14, 2009
Measuring Innovation
14
Apr 21, 2009
ONLINE
15
Apr 28, 2009
World Area Issues Report Presentations
16
May 5, 2009
Outsourcing Presentations
A1
Case 1 Due
A2
Discussion of Case 1
Case 2 Due
A3
Discussion of Case 2
Case 3 Due
A4
Discussion of Case 3
Case 4 Due
A5
Discussion of Case 4
Outsourcing Paper Due
A6
Case 5 Due
Discussion of Case 5
A7
World Area Issue Report Due
ASSIGNMENTS:
Outsourcing Paper / 15%
Research one side of the outsourcing issue (the side will be assigned by the instructor). In addition to
presenting your arguments and thoughts on the issue in the class discussion, you are to write a 4-5 page
report that cites 4-6 references (none of the references can be from assigned readings). The report should
present the salient issues of the side of the controversy that you have been assigned. Use a title and section
headers to organize your work. The outsourcing report must be turned in by the midpoint of the class.
Participation / Presentations / Discussion Board Activity / 10%
Since this is a hybrid class, student participation in the classroom and in discussion board activity is essential
for success. In the classroom, meaningful contribution will be evaluated as it pertains to course topics and
case content. Silence and questions will not work in a case class. In the discussion board, students will be
evaluated on participation, timeliness of submissions, thoughtful analyses of the discussion board topics, and
communication skills. A critical component of all graduate courses is an active and lively debate and
discussion. Feel free to offer your comments and to challenge (in a positive way please!) other class members
on their observations during case study and/or other discussion board postings in WebCT. If you do not
participate much, it is impossible to get an A or B in the course. If you cannot make a class, you must notify
the instructor in advance.
Case Analysis / 60%
Students will be required to conduct case analyses for cases in the class and present a write-up based upon
thoughtful and timely analysis and contribution to the discussion. In addition to the individual submission of a
case study, students will be asked to engaged in group collaborative discussion during class in order to bring
together meaningful case discussion. Traditional case analysis uses some basic questions to drive the
analysis:
 What is the problem, update, strategy? The basic assumption is that there is no decision to be made if
there are no problems. To understand the problem, we need to know the business of the firm
(business model), how well the firm is doing (market share, profits, etc.), industry and competition.
What is (are) the decisions being considered and why? As the course progresses, we will see

analytical tools and frameworks to improve your analysis of the problem definition.
What are the alternatives and recommendations? There is always the “do nothing” alternative. If
everything went well (rosy scenario) what would we like to do? If everything went wrong (doomsday
scenario) what should we do? What can we do in between the rosy and the doomsday scenarios?
What are the pros and cons of each alternative? What criteria should we use to select the most
suitable alternative in the case? Why are you recommending one alternative versus another? How
does this alternative satisfy your criteria? How will you implement the alternative you selected? How
much will each alternative cost?
Each case analysis should have the following headings and sections:
1. Problem definition
2. Research on where the company is now and competition
3. Strategic Model Analysis
4. Alternatives (follows from model analysis)
5. Technology and costs
6. Recommendation
Your case analysis should look like an industry white paper. The format should be single-spaced, 10-point
font, 2-3 columns, charts and graphics, color, headings and appropriate bulleted information.
World Area Issues Report (IPR) / 15%
Each student will be assigned an area of the world (Europe, Asia, Central/South America, Africa/Developing
countries). During the last four class sessions, you will prepare and present a report and short oral
presentation on the issues impacting your area of the world. Your report should be 4-5 pages long, should cite
5-7 references, and should present the salient issues of global/international IT for the area. Use proper
references in your report for work or statistics cited. Reports that are of a minimum length (less than 4 ½
pages long) and contain minimum references (5 or fewer) will generally receive a minimum (C) grade.
Prepare a short presentation based upon your final paper. Every article (PDF and full text), annotated
bibliography and all attachments should be written to a CD to be turned in at the end of class.
ASSESSMENT:
Outsourcing Paper
Participation/Presentations/DB
Case Analysis
World Area Issues Report
Total
15%
10%
60%
15%
100%