Information Systems

General characterization

Prerequisites

Bibliography

Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon, Management Information Systems, 15th Edition, Pearson, 2018 – Global Edition

Teaching method

Theoretical Lectures and Practical classes with IS/IT case discussion and student investigation.

In-Class Participation
 
Objective
In Class participation will be used to make sure that students are keeping up with the course content and to evaluate their improvement. All students participation will be accounted.
Participation grade
It will account for your final grade. More specifically, 5% in theoretical classes and 10% in practical classes.

Scoring system
Practical classes – Each every 2 weeks you’ll have to conclude a quiz about a case on Moodle (see Graded Exercises section). In the immediate following week, you will discuss in class the case that you were tested. All students are invited to participate in the discussion in order to count for the continual evaluation. Unjustified absence to any case discussion will mean a zero grade for that class’s participation. Class participation grades will be based on your input and positive contribution to the discussion. Please use a name tag to turn grading easier during class discussion.

Theoretical classes – Theoretical classes will have a weekly system similar to the presented above. However, instead of having a discussion about the quizzes previously done, you will have to discuss a specific case, video or text previously uploaded that you’ll need to read and prepare for discussion in class. This preparation means answering specific questions on Moodle.
Please use a name tag to turn grading easier during class discussion.

Evaluation method

Regular Exam Period
•    In-class participation: 15% of final grade (5% in Theoretical Classes, 10% in Practical Classes)
•    Graded Exercises (quizzes) (GE 1..12): 15% of final grade (best 8 out of 12)
•    Project: 20% of final grade (group)
•    Final Exam: 50% of final grade (individual)

Students who attend the Regular Exam will have to consider the Continuous Evaluation Grade.
In this case a student approves if has a final grade (weighted average) higher or equal to 50%, with a minimum grade of 42.5% in the exam.

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A student approves if:

1.    Has an Exam Grade higher or equal to 42.5%.
2.    Has a final grade higher or equal to 50%.

Resit Exam Period
 
•    Students who attend the Resit Exam will have considered only the 100% of the Resit Exam Grade.
•    In this case a student approves if has a final grade higher or equal to 50%.

Grade Improvement in Regular Period
•    Students who attend the Regular Exam for Grade Improvement will have considered the Exam for 100%.
•    In this case a student approves if has a final grade higher or equal to 50%.


Grade Improvement in Resit Period
•    Students who attend the Resit Exam for Grade Improvement will have considered the Exam for 100%.
•    In this case a student approves if has a final grade higher or equal to 50%.

Subject matter

1.    How are information systems transforming business and what is their relationship to globalization. Why are information systems so essential for running and managing a business today. What exactly is an information system and how does it work. What are its management, organization, technology components, and complementary assets. Why are complementary assets essential for ensuring that information systems provide genuine value for an organization. What are the academic disciplines used to study information systems. How each contribute to an understanding of information systems. What is a sociotechnical systems perspective.
2.    What are business processes and how they relate to information systems. How do systems serve the different management groups in a business. How do systems that link the enterprise improve organizational performance. Why systems for collaboration and teamwork are so important and what technologies do they use. What is the role of the information systems function in a business.
3.    Which features of organizations do managers need to know about to build and use information systems successfully. What is the impact of information systems on organizations. How does Porter’s competitive forces model help companies develop competitive strategies using information systems. How do the value chain and value web models help businesses identify opportunities for strategic information system applications. How do information systems help businesses use synergies, core competencies, and network-based strategies to achieve competitive advantage. What are the challenges posed by strategic information systems and how should they be addressed.
4.    What ethical, social, and political issues are raised by information systems. What specific principles for conduct can be used to guide ethical decisions. Why do contemporary information systems technology and the Internet pose challenges to the protection of individual privacy and intellectual property. How have information systems affected everyday life
5.    What is IT infrastructure and what are its components. What are the stages and technology drivers of IT infrastructure evolution. What are the current trends in computer hardware platforms. What are the current trends in software platforms. What are the challenges of managing IT infrastructure and management solutions.
6.    What are the problems of managing data resources in a traditional file environment and how are they solved by a database management system. What are the major capabilities of database management systems (DBMS) and why is a relational DBMS so powerful. What are some important principles of database design. What are the principal tools and technologies for accessing information from databases to improve business performance and decision making. Why are information policy, data administration, and data quality assurance essential for managing the firm’s data resources.
7.    What are the principal components of telecommunications networks and key networking technologies. What are the different types of networks. How do the Internet and Internet technology work, and how do they support communication
 
and e-business. What are the principal technologies and standards for wireless networking, communication, and Internet access. Why are radio frequency identification (RFID) and wireless sensor networks valuable for business.
8.    Why are information systems vulnerable to destruction, error, and abuse. What is the business value of security and control. What are the components of an organizational framework for security and control. What are the most important tools and technologies for safeguarding information resources.
9.    How do enterprise systems help businesses achieve operational excellence. How do supply chain management systems coordinate planning, production, and logistics with suppliers. How do customer relationship management systems help firms achieve customer intimacy. What are the challenges posed by enterprise applications. How are enterprise applications taking advantage of new technologies.
10.    What are the unique features of e-commerce, digital markets, and digital goods. What are the principal e-commerce business and revenue models. How has e- commerce transformed marketing. How has e-commerce affected business-to- business transactions. What is the role of m-commerce in business, and what are the most important m-commerce applications. What issues must be addressed when building an e-commerce Web site.
11.    What is the role of knowledge management and knowledge management programs in business. What types of systems are used for enterprise-wide knowledge management and how do they provide value for businesses. What are the major types of knowledge work systems and how do they provide value for firms. What are the business benefits of using intelligent techniques for knowledge management.
12.    What are the different types of decisions and how does the decision-making process work. How do information systems support the activities of managers and management decision making. How do business intelligence and business analytics support decision making. How do different decision-making constituencies in an organization use business intelligence. What is the role of information systems in helping people working in a group make decisions more efficiently.
From the following 3 parts, only one will be chosen.
13.    How building new systems produce organizational change. What are the core activities in the systems development process. What are the principal methodologies for modeling and designing systems. What are the alternative methods for building information systems. What are new approaches for system building in the digital firm era.
14.    What are the objectives of project management and why is it so essential in developing information systems. What methods can be used for selecting and evaluating information systems projects and aligning them with the firm’s business goals. How can firms assess the business value of information systems projects. What are the principal risk factors in information systems projects. What strategies are useful for managing project risk and system implementation.
 
15.    What major factors are driving the internationalization of business. What are the alternative strategies for developing global businesses. How can information systems support different global business strategies. What are the challenges posed by global information systems and management solutions for these challenges. What are the issues and technical alternatives to be considered when developing international information systems.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: