6150 Management of Information Systems and Technology

Class 1

Information, Information Technology,

Information Systems and Organizations

Asper School of Business - MBA Program6150 Management of Information Systems & Technology

April-June 2009Instructor: Bob Travica

Updated April 2009

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OutlineOutline

• Management of Information Technology & SystemsManagement of Information Technology & Systems

• Data, Information, Knowledge Data, Information, Knowledge

• Data, Information, Knowledge and OccupationsData, Information, Knowledge and Occupations

• Information Technology and Information SystemInformation Technology and Information System

• Putting on Information System LensesPutting on Information System Lenses

• Management Topics, Information Systems, and CasesManagement Topics, Information Systems, and Cases

• Organization-Systems Trajectory at Mead-WestvacoOrganization-Systems Trajectory at Mead-Westvaco

• Putting MIS6150 Themes TogetherPutting MIS6150 Themes Together

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Management of Information Technology & Systems

• Management of information technology (IT) and information systems (IS, systems) is similar to “Management Information Systems” (MIS): Utilizing IT/IS and information these support to solve business problems and support organizational performance.

More…

• MIS 6150 is not:

- A detailed technical look at various IT

- A laconic survey of capabilities of various IT ("you can do this

and that")

- Hand-on course on IT use

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• MIS 6150 is about managing IT/IS to accomplish

- Strategic goals (organizational effectiveness), and

- Operational objectives (efficiency/productivity in daily operations)

• Two levels of analysis:

- IT/IS as asset, “strategic weapon”, “nervous system” (strategic level) vs. tool, commodity (operational level)

Management of Information Technology & Systems

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Data, Information, Knowledge

• Relationships – simple just in textbooks

Data (Letters, numbers, graphics…

Representing reality and knowledge)

Information(Data understood,

meaning)

Knowledge(Complex cognitive entity;

cause-effect theories, vocabularies/conceptual

maps, know-how, experience)

Domain of Technology

Domain of Human Brain

More…

• Knowledge is also embedded in computer software! (e.g., math operations in Excel, procedures in Accounting IS, decision trees in Expert Systems)

• In plain English, we often do not differentiate between data, information and knowledge, simply calling it all “information”.

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Data, Information, Knowledge and Occupations

Professionals

Clerks

Information

Know

ledge

Data

Managers

• Where the primary focus of job is.

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• What do we mean by "IT"?

Any tool for manipulating data, information

- electronic: computer software and hardware - our

focus

_Concept of Information Technology (IT)_Concept of Information Technology (IT)

- paper: documents, filing techniques… - still there, gradually transformed into electronic

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Concept of Information System (IS, system)

Information Technology (IT)

(Computers, Other)

Users(Organizational members:

Managers, Professionals, Clerks)

• Data (organized, meaningful)

• Representations of

Knowledge

Use Procedur

es

InformationSystem (IS)

Use

Information, Knowledge-----------------

Task, Business ProcessPerform on

Supports

• In plain English, we often do not differentiate between data, information and knowledge, simply calling it all “information”.• We often use term “technology” to refer to either IT or IS.

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Putting on Information System Lenses

Brainstorm

• What is the frequent (or important) task or process you work on?

• What information is part of your work?

• Is something missing in your information/technology?

These questions help to focus on MIS6150 perspective, study and do assignments.

First part ofAnalytical Processaddressed

• How is this information supported by technology?

.

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• Electronic Commerce (Buying & selling via Internet), Demand pull; Sales & manufacturing systems innovation and integration, Supply chain systems innovation

• Knowledge management, communication, hierarchy “demise”; Communication and Document management systems innovation

• Efficiency & effectiveness driven organizational change, Teamwork, internal/external process improvement, any time/space-operations; groupware, distributed systems, computer networks, enterprise systems, transaction processing/reporting systems

Management Topics , Information Systems, and Cases

Compaq/

Dell,

Healthcare

Exchange

DrKW,

Accenture

Mapping intoOur Teaching Cases:

Xerox HK,

Clearwater,

PPC, MNP

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- Centralized mainframe data processing centre (1960s)

- Decentralization – organizational and technological (mini computers 1970s, PCs 1980s, networks, Client-Server)

- Recentralization and Enterprise Resource Planning

system

- IS evolution: Transactions tracking to office work support to decision making support to professional work support

- Role of IS Department: Support to operations to Strategic business partner; interfacing with business and computer vendors; shared IT governance.

Organization-Systems Trajectory of MeadWestvaco

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Putting MIS6150 Themes Together

Professionals,Clerks, Managers

Adopt, Use

SystemDesign & Development

Provide SystemRequirements

• Define strategic and operational targets, and role of technology• Manage people, work, time and money in system use, development, and adoption• Evaluate relationships b/w Users--System and System--Organizational Performance

IS Dept.

Design & Build

Vendors

Managers:

Task, Proces

s---

Infor-matio

n

Productivity?

StrategyAccomplishment?