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Regular version of the site

Information Systems and Organisations

2021/2022
Academic Year
ENG
Instruction in English
5
ECTS credits
Course type:
Compulsory course
When:
2 year, 3, 4 module

Instructor

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The subject of information systems includes a rather broad set of topics and issues. The concerns we will address here certainly go beyond a narrow focus on technology – that is a subject that might be better studied under the heading of ‘computer science’ or ‘computer engineering’. Rather, this subject, and this course, investigates what we do with this particular technology in the world, why we choose to use it, who is affected or interested in its uses and how we organise ourselves to be able to get the best from it. We even go a bit further, beyond questions of what uses are found for information and communication technologies (ICTs), to questions about the consequences that follow – what are often spoken of as the impacts or the ‘so what?’ questions. Information systems are considered in terms of the needs and tasks required by formal organisations. Often we will focus on business organisations – firms or companies – but we will also consider public sector organisations – a government ministry or some public agency such as a school or police district. Sometimes we may consider other kinds of organisations that need information systems such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and voluntary organisations. As a student, you need to understand from the start of this course that we are concerned with more than just computers and networks and their most direct uses. Rather, we are studying the information systems which are found in, and are a fundamental part of, all manner of human organisations. Of course, these information systems may not use much digital information and communications technology (i.e. computers) – a paper notebook or diary, a noticeboard, a meeting room or a conversation can each serve as a part of an information system too. However, here we are mostly concerned with the more formal and deliberately structured information systems found in organisations and which, in most countries of the world, draw in large part on digital technology. Some "hot" topics of todays business environment will also be covere during the course, like different types of personal data depending on the context, mobile operators and their business based on data, human-computer interaction and different examples of interfaces.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Provide students with an appropriate balance of technical and organisational perspectives to serve as the basis for further study in the field, including understanding of development and implementation of information systems.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • debate the relevance of the sociotechnical approach and demonstrate this through the study of a number of practical business and administrative information systems within real organisations
  • demonstrate, through project work, understanding of the analysis and design of small projects using database and spreadsheet programs, and the ability to write brief but informative reports on such work.
  • describe and justify a range of professional roles in information systems development activity, and their changing nature, reflecting in part changes in technology use in and between organisations
  • describe fundamental principles that can be applied to ensure that security and personal privacy is respected in information systems
  • discuss the social, organisational, legal and economic context of computer use and be able to debate the significance of information and communications technologies on the economy and society
  • explain fundamental assumptions made in studying information and communications technologies in organisations as sociotechnical systems in contrast to purely technical or managerial views
  • explain the tasks required when undertaking the establishment of a new information system and be able to contrast alternative approaches to development
  • explain the various functions of systems and network software and various classes of businessoriented application packages
  • express a logical understanding of how the technical parts of computer-based information systems work, their principal structures and components, including contemporary technologies for information storage, processing and communications
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Information systems in organizations
  • Information systems development
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking MOCK Examination
    MOCK - is and exam which is based the UoL examination. Students need to answer 3 of the given 8 questions.
  • blocking UoL Final Exam
  • non-blocking Online quizz
    Questions of the quizz are based on the content from the lectures.
  • non-blocking Seminar assignments
    Seminar assignments are held in a form of training for the students to answer open-book questions, to equip them with examples and improve their critical thinking approach.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2021/2022 4th module
    0.1 * Seminar assignments + 0.46 * UoL Final Exam + 0.15 * Online quizz + 0.29 * MOCK Examination
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2018). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, Global Edition (Vol. Fifteenth edition). NY NY: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1594480

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Beynon-Davies, P. (2013). Business Information Systems (Vol. 2nd edition). Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1523300