MIS 688: Information Systems and Strategies in Organizations
Section: 1 Schedule No: 22170 Units: 3.0
Fall 2014
Instructor:
Phone:
E-mail:
Dr. Theo Addo
(619) 594-3013
taddo@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours:
Office:
Class Meeting:
MW: 12:00 noon - 1:30pm
SS-3109
Thurs: 4:00pm-6:40pm (EBA 247)
Required Text
Pearlson, K. and Saunders, C., Managing and Using Information Systems: A Strategic Approach (5th ed),
John Wiley, 2013.
Supplementary Reading
The student is expected to keep abreast of current organizational information systems and technology
issues by reading extensively from the current journals. Active classroom discussion of these issues is
strongly encouraged. IT journals generally fall into two main categories: practitioner-oriented and
academic/research-oriented. It is advisable to read from both categories for comprehensive coverage
and understanding of the critical issues. The following are some examples of these journals:
Practitioner-oriented journals: CIO, InfoWorld, Information Week, PC World, Computer World, etc.
Academic/research-oriented journals: MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Research Journal,
Communications of the ACM, Journal of MIS, Information and Management, Journal of Information
Technology, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Information Resources Management Journal, etc.
MBA and MSIS Program Goals
This course is part of the MBA and MSIS degree programs. MBA students will graduate with: a) a solid
foundation in theoretical concepts and managerial skills needed to lead business organizations; b) the
ability to analyze environments in which managers make and implement business decisions; and c) the
skills to formulate, communicate, and coordinate strategies to solve business problems and pursue
opportunities.
MSIS students will graduate with the ability to: a) analyze organizational data, information, and
knowledge requirements for the design and implementation of information systems; b) understand
business implications of enterprise information systems infrastructure and architecture in a global
environment; c) align information systems strategies with organizational business strategies; and d)
understand threats, challenges, and trends of information systems in the global environment and
develop adequate solutions.
MIS 688 contributes to the above sets of goals through its specific objectives and student learning
outcomes.
Course Objectives
Students will be exposed to ways in which modern organizations utilize information systems strategically
to enhance their competitive positions in an increasingly complex, electronic, and global business
environment. Technological as well as organizational and behavioral issues confronting today’s
information systems executive are explored, and analytical approaches to addressing these issues are
developed.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
 describe and explain the evolving business and information systems environments
 describe and explain the need for alignment between business strategies and information systems
strategies
 describe strategic information systems planning and decision making in the new networked global
economy
 apply theoretical business and information systems models to management and problem-solving
situations
 explain the concept of business process reengineering
 describe ways of measuring organizational IT performance
 describe IS governance and the management of change
 describe the ethical responsibilities of today’s information systems professional
Course Policies
1. All written assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class on the day they are due. In
general, there are no make-ups for any missed assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted
without a valid and verifiable excuse, such as a doctor’s note (on an official letterhead). All students
will be expected to participate actively in classroom discussions of assignments and other relevant
topics.
2. Assignments may involve individual or group participation. Some may also involve formal oral
presentations to the class; these presentations will be critically evaluated.
3. All announcements made in class or via e-mail or Blackboard are binding. Students are encouraged
to check their e-mail and Blackboard regularly, and to also inform me in advance of any inability to
attend class on a particular day.
4. Dishonest academic behavior (plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration on assignments, cheating on
tests, etc.) will be grounds for failure (grade of ‘F’) or dismissal from the course. Any incident of
academic dishonesty, regardless of how it is resolved, will be reported to the university—this is
university policy. SDSU defines plagiarism as follows:
“…the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another, whether purchased,
borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the university as one’s own work to fulfill
academic requirements without giving credit to the appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but
not be limited to (a) submitting work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting
footnotes for ideas, statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation
marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof; (d)
close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e) submitting another person’s artistic
works, such as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f)
submitting as one’s own work papers purchased from research companies. This definition may be
found in section 2.2 (page 18) of the SDSU policy file, available at
http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/universitysenate/images/2010pffinal.pdf.
To discourage plagiarism, some assignments may be checked for originality using online verification
and validation resources such as TurnItIn.com.
5. University policies on Adds, Drops, Withdrawals, and Incompletes are strictly enforced. Be sure to
familiarize yourself with these policies and procedures, noting deadlines and other relevant
information.
6. If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is
your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the
receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible.
Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations
based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services.
Grading Scheme
Individual projects /assignments (incl. in-class exercises):
Midterm Exam:
Group IT paper project & presentation:
Final (group) project & presentation:
Class participation:
14%
20%
28%
30%
8%
100%
====
Scale: A (90-100%), B (80-89.9%), C (70-79.9%), D (60-69.9%), F (< 60%)
Letter grades with pluses and minuses are also awarded.
Assignment and Project Specifications
Detailed requirements and specifications for each assignment and project (including oral presentations)
will be provided in class or via Blackboard. Grading of these projects will be in strict accordance with the
specifications.
Class Participation
Class participation points will be awarded based on the overall quality of participation throughout the
semester. Please note that class attendance does not necessarily equate to class participation. The
criteria used in assessing class participation include, but are not limited to, the following: consistency
and constructiveness of contributions to class discussions; willingness to voluntarily contribute ideas and
opinions; quality and insightfulness of responses when asked questions; and regularity of attendance in
class.
MIS 688: Tentative Course Schedule
Week
Date
Topic
Reading Assignment
1
Aug 28
Intro to course
Overview of IS Mgmt issues & challenges
2
Sep 4
A changing business / IT environment
Intro; Ch 4; Ch 7(206-209)
3
Sep 11
Models of information management
Ch 1; Ch 2
4
Sep 18
IS Strategic Planning and Project Management
Ch 1; Ch 3(85-89); Ch 10
Intro
5
Sep 25
Business Process Reengineering
Information Systems and Change Management
6
Oct 2
Organizational / IS transformations
7
Oct 9
Group IT paper & presentations
8
Oct 16
Group IT paper & presentations
9
Oct 23
Guest speaker (tentative)
10
Oct 30
11
Nov 6
12
Nov 13
Midterm Exam
IT Governance
International dimensions of IS
IT valuation and measurement
Ethics and the IS professional
13
Nov 20
Final (group) project & presentations
14
Nov 27
Thanksgiving recess – no class
15
Dec 4
Final (group) project & presentations
16
Dec 11
Final exam (scheduled for 4:00 pm) – no final exam
Ch 5
Ch 4(128-130)
Ch 3(74-84); Ch 6; Ch 9
Ch 8
Ch 3(89-95); Ch 7(203-204)
Ch 7
Ch 12