CIS 502
Fall 1999 Session
Introduction to MIS
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

Important Dates and Access to Resources

Part 1 (8/23-8/30): Introduction and The challenge of the new "business-as-usual"

Theory:
The world we live in: the New Economy
Systems theory: an introduction to the course

Part One Case Studies:

About CIS 502 Case Studies (Analyses and Strategic Recommendation Memos)

Good Strategic Recommendation Memorandum Examples to follow, USAA and UBS

Case Presentation Schedule for Wednesdays' CIS 502

Case Presentation Schedule for Thursdays' CIS 502

(8/23)Two Airlines in the Information Age (HBS #9-195-240) (2-pages handed out in class - no need to buy!)
Study Questions:

What assumptions did McPherson make about information technology support at the London-based airlines? Do you believe those are realistic assumptions today?
What were the differences between the Atlanta-based airline's approach and that of the London airline?
What advice would you give the London-based airline's management?
What technologies do you see as strategic necessities?

(8/30) Roberts Rules The Road (September 1998 issue of Fast Company - 4-pages handed out in class)

What characteristics of Roberts processes make it "the ambulance service for industrial freight?"
What new technologies are now used by Roberts to improve customer service?
Why and how did Roberts change its corporate structure to take advantage of the technology?
Why is information power?
Roberts "did not invent the truck, the plane, the phone, the computer, or the satellite -- they put them together": explain.

Assignment 1:

Internet-based Virtual Teamwork Simulation Exercise

The Desert Survival Exercise

Deliverable:
Personal profile as per class directions.

Part Two (9/6-9/13 and beyond): Manageable Trends

Theory:
Introduction to MIS (Ch. 1)
Telecommunications (more telecommunications) Another view: A Telecommunications Primer

Trends and Models
Value Chain and Competition
Part Two Case Studies:
(9/6) OTISLINE (A) (HBS #9-186-304)
Study Questions:

How important is OTISLINE to North American Operations?
What adjustments in the organization were made to accommodate OTISLINE?
What advice would you give Otis management concerning future directions?

(9/13) USAA (HBS #9-190-155)
Study Questions:

USAA is widely recognized as a leader in the use of IT within the insurance industry. What factors have contributed to USAA's successful use of IT?
What are the challenges that USAA faces in the years ahead?
How well positioned is ISD to help USAA meet these challenges?

Deliverable(s):
Virtual Teamwork Analysis (Assignment #1 on 9/6)
Case Study

Part Three (9/20 - 9/27): Information Technology and Strategy

Theory:
Strategic Information Systems Primer in class (edited)
10 principles of business in the New Economy
Village Inn Restaurant (in-class case study)
Decisions and Information Systems

Internet
RSA Security (private and public keys, etc.)
Graphics, and MIS Architectures

Part Three Case Study:
(9/20)Baxter Healthcare Corporation: International OnCall ASAP (HBS #9-195-103)
Study Questions:

What is the role of IT at Baxter Healthcare?, (also 1996-99 reports)
What competitive advantage(s) does OnCall ASAP provide? How sustainable is that advantage?
What advice would you give regarding the future?

A fresh look at Baxter spinnoff's today: Allegiance and Cardinal Health!

What about electronic catalogs? You might also want to check out a case study of financial EDI over the Internet with BankAmerica (see first project report and BankAmerica's press release). Read a draft of the second report.

Assignment #2:
Environmental Scanning in a networked economy: a comparison of competing firms. Due 2 weeks(10/4).

Deliverable:
Case Study

Part Four (10/4-10/11): Engineering Business Processes and Enterprise Modelling

Theory:
Business Process Engineering
Innovation Strategies and Operations
Managing Information Resources
Process Change
Process Innovation (class notes)
BPR FAQ
IDEF-0 Primer
Methodologies, Techniques and Tools (BPWin)
NEW!!! BPwin 2.5 service pack 2 download instructions
(BPwin and IDEF-0) Business Process Engineering Assignments (in 2 parts)

Part Four Case Study:
(10/4)FritoLay, Inc: A Strategic Transition (HBS #9-187-065)
Study Questions:

How has Frito-Lay's strategy changed in the years leading up to the hand-held computer (HHC) project?
What was Bill Korn's long term vision for Frito-Lay? How does the HHC fit with this vision?
Pilot projects designed to test the technical feasibility of the HHC have been completed. As Korn, would you go ahead with the project? How would you justify it?
What are the risks and how should they be managed?

Deliverable(s):
Case Study
Web Enviroscan (Assignment #2)

Part Five (10/18-10/25): Databases and Distributed Systems

Theory:
Relational Databases and Structured Query Language (Microsoft Access from class notes)
SQL Overview
Alternate SQL Tutorial
Practice Questions
SQL Assignment
Instructions for downloading Sample Database

Part Five Case Study:
(10/18)P&G (HBS #9-195-126)
Study Questions:

What were the key decisions taken by P&G in relation to the distribution channel?
How important are the new information technologies in P&G's efforts?
To what extent has P&G changed its strategy to take advantage of ECR?

(10/25)Air Product and Chemicals (HBS #9-397-008)
Study Questions:

Describe and identify the key impacts of the IT architecture on the organizational structure.
What do you think of these impacts? Would you have done anything differently?
Is the Air Products internet strategy appropriate for the company?

Assignment #3 and #4:
Tentative Process Model Analysis in BPWin, Due (10/25), finalized by 11/29
#4: Database Queries in Access, Due (11/15)

Deliverable:
Case Study

Part Six (11/1 thtu 11/22): Information, Collaboratories and Knowledge Management

Theory:
Distributed Systems

Part Six Case Study:
(11/1)Union Bank of Switzerland: ATM Outsourcing (HBS #9-397-103)
Study Questions:

What were the strategic issues for UBS?
How does ATM fit into their strategy?

Deliverable(s):
Case Study
Final Process Model Analysis in BPWin due 11/29

Part Seven (11/29): Virtual Organizations and Virtual Value Chains

Theory:
Decision Support Systems
Group Support Systems
Web Conferencing
Document Management
Virtual Value Chain

Part Seven Case Study:
Internet Firms: Dell, Amazon.com, etc., E*Trade (ECCH Case Studies TBA)
Study Questions:

How has the information superhighway affected these firms?

(11/29)Mondex International: Reengineering Money (download from the 'net).
Study Questions:

Mondex appears to be designed as a networked organization. How would you assess the design of this network? What are the dependencies both vertically and horizontally between Mondex and the stakeholders in the Mondex scheme?
What sources of power can each of those stakeholders exercise?
Which characteristics of the Mondex product provide the basis for competitive advantage?
To what extent is a conventional competitive approach appropriate, and to what extent is a semi-collaborative 'win-win-win' dynamic essential?
If you were to give some advice to Mondex at this point, what would it be? How do you manage a firm that is simultaneously a small startup and a major global player? What are the critical success factors for management?
What kind of internal IT infrastructure will Mondex need in order to survive and thrive? How should management go about sustaining this infrastructure?
Given Porter's Competitive Forces Model, and this group of near-cash (smartcard) payment systems, explain the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the likely market share of each, for consumer-to-business electronic commerce by the year 2007 (ten years from now).

You might want to read a report on attempts to hack the smart cards.

Deliverable(s):
Case Study
Database Queries in Access

Part Eight (12/6-12/13): Exam Prep and Landing!

Theory:
Part Eight Case Studies:
(12/6)Verifone (HBS #9-195-088)
Study Questions:

What are the key attributes of VeriFone's organizational structure?
Some refer to VeriFone as a "Virtual Company," do you agree?
Describe and evaluate the role of the CIO at VeriFone. How is Will Pape's role similar to or different from the CIO roles that you have observed at other companies?
What major challenges will VeriFone senior management face in the future and how should they be addressed?

Deliverables:
Case Study
"Innovated Process" (assignment #5)
Final Exam

Last Changed August 24, 1999

CIS 502 Fall 1999 Session Introduction to MIS TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

CIS 502
Fall 1999 Session
Introduction to MIS
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE