15.568B Management Information Systems: Generating Business Value from Information Technology, Spring 2003

Abstract

Concepts, frameworks, tools, techniques, and processes that assist management in its interaction with and direction of computer-based information systems today. Discusses the impact of the Internet, changes in the IT industry, and changes in other industries as a result of IT. Also notes the redesign of information flows to meet the needs of both control and empowerment in the era of the global information infrastructure and networked organizations. Emphasizes managerial point of view and organizational issues involved in managing a firm's information resources. From the course home page: Course Description Information Technology is pervasive in today's firms. For many firms IT is the single largest capital investment, often exceeding 50% of capital expenditure. As a result, in this course we take the strategic perspective of the general manager and study how these leading firms get more value from their IT investments. The course focuses on the business value that can be achieved rather than the details of the technology. Issues around IT governance will pervade the course. An IT background is not required and this is not a "technical" course. This is, however, an integrative course, including issues of business strategy, finance, and the study of organizations and people, which are also covered in other parts of the Sloan MBA program. The creation of business value requires the successful integration of these issues with the potential of IT. Spring 2003 was the last time that this course was taught as 15.568B. In the future, this course will be named 15.571, Generating Business Value from IT.