Download Syllabus (2008)

Fall 2008 MGD423H5: Technology in Organizations (DEM)

Meeting Time:   Thursday 2-4 pm CCIT 2130
Office Hours:     Thursday 1-2 pm CCIT 3010
Email:            max.evans (at) utoronto (dot) ca

Course Ran from: Sept. 11, 2008 to Dec. 4, 2008

Introduction:
Information technologies such as the Internet make it feasible for organizations to exploit new business opportunities and markets anywhere in the world while drawing upon input resources that may be located anywhere. At the same time, virtually every internal business process depends on technology. Information technologies have therefore become a critical element in the success, and even survival, of organizations.

Since systems were first introduced in organizations around thirty five years ago, they have evolved in application. They have moved beyond the automation of back office functions, into the foreground of organization strategy. They play critical roles in competitive advantage, business reengineering, and collaboration. The successful organizations in the next decade will be those that have redesigned their organizations to fully exploit the potential of the technologies available.

This course is designed to give students an appreciation of the technology and management issues surrounding the development and use of information technology in organizations. It builds on the knowledge and skills students will have developed in CCT 325. Three main themes are emphasized in this course:

1.    Understanding information technology and its role in organizations
2.    Understanding how managers gain a competitive advantage by using information technology
3.    Understanding how managers use information technology to redesign their organizations and industries

Students will be asked to form groups and complete a term long case analysis and business reengineering project. In addition, they will be responsible for summarizing academic and business journal articles, leading class discussions, and presenting their term project findings to the class.

Course Website: University of Toronto Blackboard

Prerequisites: MGM101; CCT224; CCT225
Only the Director of the CCIT program has the authority to give permission to waive course prerequisites.  Prerequisites are enforced and students without pre- and co-requisites will be deregistered from this course.

Course Readings: There is no required text to buy. Students will be required to read a variety of background material which will typically be available online. Much of the material will take the form of journal articles or book chapters. These will be selected and assigned throughout the term. All readings will be announced and posted to the course website at least one week prior to their discussion in class.

Assignments and Grading:
Class Participation    10%
Assignment 1: Article Review    10%
Part 1: IT in the Workplace Examination    20%
Assignment 2: Group Project    55%
     Assignment 2A: Company Background    5%
     Assignment 2B: The Context Diagram    10%
     Assignment 2C: As-Is Situation    15%
     Assignment 2D: Recommendations and To-Be Situation    15%
     Project Presentations (Graded Individually)    10%
Cognitive and Heuristic Walkthrough Workshop    5%

Class Participation:
Class participation accounts for a 10% of each student's grade, reflecting the importance of class discussion. The quality as well as quantity of the input is recognized; the most important comments are those that take the discussion to another level, which deepen the class's understanding of the complex management situation, or which show a particularly clear and appropriate application of one of the concepts or issues being studied. All readings are required, and each student should prepare for every class. Informed discussion is important for the success of the class. Please be prepared and participate fully.

Assignment 1: Article Review
Each student will be required to write one article review.  The main task is to confirm understanding and assist other classmates in better understanding the article under review. The review should be no more than 500 words and contain material which may lead into a substantive class discussion of the article. Reviews should briefly cover the author’s background and perspective, the aims and intended audience of the article as well as the key points. Particular attention should be given to the relationship of the article to other readings and to the course more generally, along with the article's main strengths and weaknesses (i.e. a reasoned critique), and the interesting questions raised. You may draw from current events and other readings on related topics.

The review should summarize the article and address the following questions:
1.    What are the main points of the paper?
2.    What are the main strengths and shortcomings of the paper?
3.    Does the author succeed in achieving his/her purpose?
4.    How useful (or not) is this paper for students in this course?

Think of the readership of this review as your classmates looking for assistance in understanding the article better and how it fits with the course. The review should be no longer than 2 double-spaced pages (500 words). Pay close attention to the clarity, correctness and succinctness of your writing!

IT in the Workplace Examination: The first and only exam in the course will be given February 7th. Exam questions will be selected from material covered during class (this includes assigned readings, lectures, and class discussions).
 
Assignment 2: Business Process Reengineering
For the second assignment each group (2-3 members) will select an organizational setting and analyze a business process within the company that they feel may benefit from process reengineering. After analyzing the existing methodology each group will be asked to identify and model methods on how the process can be reengineered using information systems and technology. Each project will consist of 4 parts (Company Background; The Context Diagram; As-Is Situation; Recommendations and To-Be Situation) and a presentation. Specific directions on each part will be handed out throughout the semester. Final Projects are due the day your group is scheduled to give their presentation.

Reading Assignments:
Week 1: IT Doesn't Matter (Carr, 2003) & Does IT Matter? (HBR, 2003)
Week 2: Chapters 1 and 2 in Concepts in Enterprise Resource Planning (Monk, 2006)
Week 3: Individual article reviews
Week 4-5: Whitten and Bentley’s (WB) Systems Analysis and Design Methods Chapters 6 and 9 OR Satzinger, Jackson, and Burd’s (SJB) Systems Analysis & Design Ch 4; Ch 5 p158-167; and Ch 6 p201-217.
Week 6: Beyond re-engineering: The three phases of business transformation (Davidson, 1999) & Reengineering Work - Don't Automate, Obliterate (Hammer, 1990)
Classroom and University Policies

Missed Tests: The UTM policy on term tests is presented in the Erindale College 2007-2008 Calendar.  To summarize:  Students who miss a term test will be assigned a mark of zero for that test unless they can document a compelling reason for missing it and present valid documentation, such as a University of Toronto medical certificate.  Students in that position must submit a written request to their professor with appropriate documentation.  If the request is accepted, the weighting of other graded work will be increased by the amount of the missed test. 

Re-marking: Assignments can be submitted for remark up to one month after they have been returned. Students must indicate their reasons for requesting a remark and they are reminded that remarks may result in marks being changed in any direction, not simply upwards.

Late Assignments: Assignments must be handed in at the beginning of the class on the date that they are due. Late assignments will be accepted but the final grade will be reduced by 5% per day or part of a day between the date of submission and the due date.

Academic Misconduct: Honesty and fairness are considered fundamental to the University’s mission, and, as a result, all those who violate those principles are dealt with as if they were damaging the integrity of the University itself.  When students are suspected of cheating or a similar academic offence, they are typically surprised at how formal and seriously the matter is dealt with – and how severe the consequences can be if it is determined that cheating did occur.  The University of Toronto treats academic offences very seriously.  Students should note that copying, plagiarizing, or other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated.  Any student caught engaging in such activities will be subject to academic discipline ranging from a mark of zero on the assignment, test or examination to dismissal from the university as outlined in the UTM calendar.  Any student abating or otherwise assisting in such misconduct will also be subject to academic penalties. 

Students are assumed to be informed about plagiarism and are expected to be familiar the handout, titled "Plagiarism and Reference Format". How not to plagiarize, written by Margaret Procter, is a valuable and succinct source of information on the topic. You are also supposed to be familiar, and considered as being familiar, with the Faculty Rules and Regulations, Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (see 2007-2008 UTM Calendar) and Code of Student Conduct (see 2007-2008 UTM Calendar) , which spell out your rights, your duties and provide all the details on grading regulations and academic offenses at the University of Toronto”. 

AccessAbility: The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the AccessAbility Resource Centre. Please let me know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. (2007-08 UTM Calendar Section 6.3 AccessAbility Resource Centre).

Academic Skills Centre:  The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre offers both individual appointments and workshops for students having difficulty with reading and writing skills. 

Classroom Management: You are expected to come to class on time, turn off cell phones and pagers, use laptops in class for note-taking only (not for web surfing, email etc.).

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Published on: 2006-09-18 (2690 reads)