ISM158 - Business Strategy and Information Systems
Winter Quarter - 2003
12:00 to 1:45 PM, Baskin 156

INSTRUCTOR: Jack D. Callon
Office: Baskin Engineering 125
Office Telephone: 831-459-2122
Office Hours: 2:00 to 4:00 PM Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment
Email addresses: Callon@soe.ucsc.edu (school) and mailto:Jdcallon@aol.com (home)

OBJECTIVES OF THE CLASS: This class considers the use of information systems to support the strategies and tactics of a business in its endeavor to achieve a high level of success. The successful use of information systems by a business enterprise to accomplish this is often an elusive goal. Why some organizations are very successful while others experience frustration and disappointment will be evaluated. Students should also gain an understanding and appreciation for the use of information systems to obtain organizational efficiencies, increase individual effectiveness and/or gain a competitive advantage. In today's global economy the appropriate role and use of information technology should receive careful consideration within an enterprise. Information systems are being used to shape products and services, companies, industries and countries. Technological change, including information systems, can be the most prominent of all the things that can be the key strategic level in transforming the rules of competition, how an organization operates and whether it is successful.

Specifically this course will address:

• Business Environment and Challenges
• Factors that Drive a Business
• Business Success Factors
• Globalization
• The Competitive Role of a Nation
• Industry Structure Analysis Using the Porter Competitive Model
• The Three Potential Roles of Information Systems
• Management Roles and Relationships
• Information Systems as a Business Within a Business
• Technology Transfer Through Organizational Learning
• Identifying Strategic Information Systems Applications
• Examples of Successful Organizations That Put a Major Emphasis on the Use of Information Systems
• The Use of Information Systems as a Catalyst for Change
• Telecommunications as the Delivery Vehicle
• A Success Factor Profile
• Information Systems Organization and Considerations
• The Value of Information Systems
• Financial Justification and Strategy
• Integrating Information Systems into the Business Plan
• Planning Methodologies
• Total Quality Management and How It Relates to Information Systems
• Reasons That the Use of Information Systems to Compete Is Not Always Successful

TEXTBOOK: Competitive Advantage Through Information Systems (CAIS) by Jack D. Callon. All chapter reading assignments noted below are in this textbook.

CLASS SCHEDULE:

1. Jan. 6 (T) Class Objectives, Overview, Structure, Assignments and Grading and Challenges: Information Technology Management
   Read and clearly understand the class syllabus, the contents of the textbook and the analysis term paper assignment.
   Read Preface in CAIS.

2. Jan. 8 (TH) Business and Information Management Challenges
   Read Chapter 1, Business and Information Challenges in CAIS

   DUE: COMPANY REQUESTS FOR THE ANALYSIS TERM PAPER
   Indicate a preference for three different companies and reasons why you would like to evaluate each of these companies.

   PERSONAL LETTER OF INTRODUCTION.
   Include a) a short personal introduction, b) personal work experience, c) computer related experience including classes, d) and your short-term job objectives. The introduction letter should be in a formal business format addressed to the instructor and must be prepared using a word processor. Assume that you are meeting the instructor for the first time.

3. Jan. 13 (T) Challenges: Information Technology Management (Continued), Business Environment
   Read Chapter 2, Business and Competitive Environment, in CAIS.

   INSTRUCTOR WILL FINALIZE ANALYSIS TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENTS

4. Jan. 15 (TH) Business Environment (Continued) and Porter Competitive Model
   Read Chapter 3, Porter Competitive Model for Industry Analysis, in CAIS.
5. Jan. 20 (T) Porter Competitive Model (Continued) and Airline Industry Analysis
   Read Chapter 4, Airline Industry Analysis, in CAIS.

6. Jan. 22 (TH) Information Systems Redefine Competitive Boundaries
   Read Chapter 5, Information Systems Can Redefine Competitive Boundaries, in CAIS.

7. Jan. 27 (T) Business Vision
   Read Chapter 6, Business Vision, in CAIS.

8. Jan. 29 (TH) Strategy, Tactics and Business Plan
   Read Chapter 7, Implementing a Vision: Strategy, Tactics and Business Plan.

9. Feb. 3 (T) Mid-Term Exam (15% of course grade)
   Review all material covered to date.

10. Feb. 5 (TH) Strategic Option Generator
    Read Chapter 8, Evaluating Strategy and Understanding Competitive Options through the Use of Information Systems, in CAIS.

    The Roles, Roles and Relationships Concept
    Read Chapter 9, The Roles, Roles and Relationships Concept, in CAIS.

    DUE: SECTION I AND II OF ANALYSIS TERM PAPER!

11. Feb. 10 (T) Advisement Day -- No class scheduled
    

12. Feb. 12 (TH) Redefine/Define Concept
    Read Chapter 10, The Redefine/Define Concept and Change Management, in CAIS.

13. Feb. 17 (T) Telecom Networks and Success Factor Profile
    Read Chapter 11, Telecommunications as the Delivery Vehicle, in CAIS.
    Read Chapter 12, Using IS to Compete: A Success Factor Profile, in CAIS.

14. Feb. 19 (TH) Information Systems Organization
    Read Chapter 13, IS Organization and Personnel Considerations, in CAIS.
    Review questions on the first page of the chapter and be prepared to discuss them in class.

15. Feb. 24 (T) Information Systems Value and Financial Strategy
    Read Chapter 14, Information Systems Value and Financial Strategy.

16. Feb. 26 (Th) Information Systems as an Integral Part of the Business Plan
    Read Chapter 15, Information Systems into the Business Plan, in CAIS.

17. Mar. 2 (T) TQM and Information Systems
    Read Chapter 16, TQM and the Role of Information Systems, in CAIS.

    DUE: SECTION I, II, III AND IV OF THE ANALYSIS TERM PAPER.

18. Mar. 4 (TH) Guest Lecture - Information Systems Challenges and Management

19. Mar. 9 (T) Student Presentations of Analysis Term Papers

20. Mar. 11 (TH) Conclusions and Class Summary
    Read Chapter 17, Some Final Considerations, in CAIS.

    Mar. 16 (T) Final Exam - 4 to 7 PM
    

    GRADE STRUCTURE:

    Introduction Letter	2%
    Oral Presentation	3%
    Analysis Term Paper	50% (10, 10, 25, 5)
    Midterm Exam	15%
    Comprehensive Final Exam	30%

    Note: Exams will NOT be open book or open notes.

    DUE DATES: All written assignments are due on the dates indicated. Late papers will receive a letter grade reduction for each calendar day that they are late up to the day that graded papers are returned to the students (e.g., a B becomes a B- if it is a day late). No papers will be accepted after papers have been graded and returned to students. Absence from class does not excuse late papers unless arrangements have been made with the instructor before class on the day that the paper is due.

    MAKE-UP EXAMS: Exams should be taken when they are scheduled. Make-up exams will be available only if the student has received permission from the lecturer to take a make-up exam before the exam is given to the rest of the class.

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