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Regular version of the site
Bachelor 2019/2020

Introduction to information systems

Area of studies: Business Informatics
Delivered by: School of Business Informatics
When: 2 year, 1, 3, 4 module
Mode of studies: offline
Language: English
ECTS credits: 8
Contact hours: 124

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
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
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • explain fundamental assumptions made in studying information and communications technologies in organisations as sociotechnical systems in contrast to purely technical or managerial views
  • 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
  • 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
  • explain the various functions of systems and network software and various classes of businessoriented application packages
  • describe fundamental principles that can be applied to ensure that security and personal privacy is respected in information systems
  • explain the tasks required when undertaking the establishment of a new information system and be able to contrast alternative approaches to development
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction
    Introduction, information about coursework, a short history of IS
  • Information systems in organizations
    What do information systems do? Enterprise scale: architecture and information systems. Governance of information systems. Information systems from a societal perspective. Practical study of information systems. Personal data protection. Mobile operators and their business opportunities based on data. E-procurement systems.
  • Information systems development
    Approaches to the development of information systems. Systems development life cycle. Organising systems development. Modelling techniques for analysis and design. Organisational change.
  • Concepts underlying information systems
    Information and data. The "systems" of information systems. Managing data with technologies. Information systems infrastructure: software and services.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Autumn exam
  • non-blocking Homework assignments
  • non-blocking Classroom activity
  • non-blocking Mock exam
  • non-blocking Final exam
    Examination format: The exam is taken written. The platform: The exam is taken on Zoom platform. Students are required to join a session 15 minutes before the beginning. The computers must meet the following technical requirements: https://docs.microsoft.com/ru-ru/microsoftteams/hardware-requirements-for-the-teams-app A student is supposed to follow the requirements below: Check your computer for compliance with technical requirements no later than 7 days before the exam; Sign in with your corporate account (@edu.hse.ru); Check your microphone, speakers or headphones, webcam, Internet connection (we recommend connecting your computer to the network with a cable, if possible); Prepare the necessary writing equipment, such as pens, pencils, pieces of paper, and others. Disable applications on the computer's task other than the Zoom application or the browser that will be used to log in to the Zoom platform. If one of the necessary requirements for participation in the exam cannot be met, a student is obliged to inform a professor and a manager of a program 2 weeks before the exam date to decide on the student's participation in the exams. Students are not allowed to: Turn off the video camera; Use notes, textbooks, and other educational materials; Leave the place where the exam task is taken (go beyond the camera's viewing angle); Look away from your computer screen or desktop; Use smart gadgets (smartphone, tablet, etc.) Involve outsiders for help during the exam, talk to outsiders during the examination tasks; Read tasks out loud. Students are allowed to: Write on a piece of paper, use a pen for making notes and calculations; Use a calculator; Turn on the microphone to answer the teacher’s questions; Ask a teacher for additional information related to understanding the exam task. Connection failures: A short-term communication failure during the exam is considered to be the loss of a student's network connection with the Zoom platform for no longer than 1 minute. A long-term communication failure during the exam is considered to be the loss of a student's network connection with the Zoom platform for longer than 1 minute. A student cannot continue to participate in the exam, if there is a long-term communication failure appeared. The retake procedure is similar to the exam procedure. In case of long-term communication failure in the Zoom platform during the examination task, the student must notify the teacher, record the fact of loss of connection with the platform (screenshot, a response from the Internet provider). Then contact the manager of a program with an explanatory note about the incident to decide on retaking the exam.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (1 module)
    30% of class activity and 70% of exam
  • Interim assessment (4 module)
    0.1 * Classroom activity + 0.5 * Final exam + 0.1 * Homework assignments + 0.1 * Interim assessment (1 module) + 0.2 * Mock exam
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