INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT BANGALORE

Management of Information Systems & Technology(MIST)

Course Objectives
Modern organisations across the world are being driven by information technology to change and adapt
the way they do business. There is a need by commercial firms to constantly innovate owing to
relentless evolution in information technology and to massive competitive pressure. Firms have
evolved new strategies, new processes and new products through the creative use of IT. Others have re-
invented their existing markets. But there are also firms that have not responded to the massive changes
wrought by IT and many of these firms have either disappeared, or are struggling to adapt.
Though the innovations in IT dazzle with the possibilities they promise, they also present
considerable challenges to the firm to adapt to new ways of doing business. The main challenge is that
of managing the innovations brought forth by IT.
This course introduces students to the basic theory of information systems and technology
within the frame of innovation. Aspects of technology, such as networks, databases, applications, are
understood from the viewpoint of innovation and change. How organisations can implement and adapt
to change are discussed from the perspective of decisions and decision making. Technology
innovations such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, open source, agile software development, social
networks are understood from the lens of change and decision making.
The course assumes the perspective of a manager and all the topics are approached from this
viewpoint. Thus, when technology is discussed, it is covered from the standpoint of a person who has
to make decisions regarding the technology and its use, rather than from the perspective of a
programmer or a computer scientist who is interested in design or construction of the technology.
The basic learning objectives of this course are:
● an understanding of the competitive need for information technology used by organizations
● an understanding of the issues of managing innovation with IT
● an overview of some technology innovations, such as AI, Blockchain, etc
● an understanding of innovations in software development
● an overview of some IT applications
● an understanding of ethical and social issues emerging from innovations in IT
● an understanding of ICT innovations in society and government.

Textbook
MIS: Managing Information Systems in Business, Government and Society, De, R. (Second Edition,
2018), Wiley India. Additional reading materials will be available on Moodle.

Evaluation
The grade for the course will be based on evaluation along the following modules:

Component Percentage
Class Participation 15
Term Paper 20

1
 Component Percentage
Mid-Term 30
Final Exam 35

Online quizzes will be held in almost every class. Students must bring their own devices to class to take
these quizzes – devices such as laptops, smart phones and tablets will be permitted. Phones must be on
silent mode. The quizzes are meant for in-class interaction and review of concepts. They will not count
towards the final grade.

The topic for the term paper will be specified in advance. The term paper has to be done in groups (of
4) and has to be about 2000 words in length (about 8 pages double-spaced) and will consist of two
components. The first component, a proposal, will have to be submitted by the middle of the term (25%
of points) and the second and final report will have to submitted by the end of the term (75% of points).
The paper topic should focus on a current IT innovation. All groups must submit a peer-evaluation of
the group contribution to the report. Details will be provided in class.

Attendance
Attendance requirements are according to PGP rules.

Course Outline
(This is a tentative outline. Readings and topics will be updated as needed.)
Session Topic and Readings
1 Topics
Introduction to Course
IT and Competitive Difference
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 2
2. “IT That Makes a Competitive Difference,” McAfee and Brynjolfsson, Harvard
Business Review, 2008.
2 Topic
Cutting Edge Innovation in IT (1)
Blockchain
Cloud and IoT
Readings
1. “What problems will you solve with Blockchain,” Felin and Lakhani, Sloan
Management Review, 2018.
2. “Blockchain is changing how media and entertainment companies compete,”
Dutra, Tumasjan and Welpe, Sloan Management Review, 2018.
3. “How Smart, Connected Products are Transforming Competition,” Porter and
Heppelman, Harvard Business Review, 2014.
4. Chapter 10

2
 Session Topic and Readings
3 Topics
Cutting Edge Innovation in IT (2)
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Augmented Reality
Readings
1. "The Business of Artificial Intelligence: What it Can—and Cannot—Do for Your
Organization." Brynjolfsson, Erik and Andrew McAfee. Harvard Business Review,
July 2017.
2. “Why Every Organization Needs an Augmented Reality Strategy,” Porter and
Heppelman, Harvard Business Review, 2017.
4 Topic
Digital Transformation
MIS Decisions for Managers
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 1
2. “Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem,” Weill and Woerner, Sloan
Management Review, 2015.
5 Topic
Information Economy
IT Innovation
Readings
1. “The Manager's Guide to IT Innovation Waves” Swanson, Sloan Management
Review, 2012.
2. Text: Chapter 4
6 Topic
Understanding Telecommunications Networks
Reading
1. Text: Chapter 11
7 Topic
Security and Control
Internet Governance
Reading
1. Text: Chapter 12
8 Topic
Case Discussion
9 Topic
Software Development; Software Project Management
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 13
2. “Why the Vasa Sank? 10 Problems and Some Antidotes for Software Projects?”
Fairley and Wilshire, IEEE Software, 2003.

3
 Session Topic and Readings
10 Topic
Database Essentials
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 14
2. “Analytics 3.0” Davenport, Harvard Business Review, 2013.
11 Topic
The Challenge of Open Source Software
Reading
1. Text: Chapter 20
12 Topic
Social Networking and Open Collaboration
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 19
2. “How to Manage Outside Innovation,” Boudreau & Lakhani, SMR, 2009.
13 Topic
Case Discussion
Reading
1. “Using Open Innovation to Identify the Best Ideas,” King and Lakhani, SMR,
2013.
14 Topic
Enterprise Computing
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 15
2. “The Trouble with Enterprise Software,” by Rettig, Sloan Management Review,
Fall 2007.
3. “Revisiting Complexity in the Digital Age” Mocker, Weill and Woerner, SMR,
2014.
15 Topic
Decision Support Systems and Analytics; Knowledge Management
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 16
16 Topic
Artificial Intelligence
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 17
17 Topic
Ethical Issues; Workplace Monitoring and Privacy
Readings
1. Text: Chapter 7
2. “The Dark Side of Information Technology,” Tarafdar, D'Arcy, Turel, Gupta,
SMR, 2015.

4
 Session Topic and Readings
18 Topic
Digital Divide; ICT for Development; Telecenters, Community Radio
Readings
Text: Chapter 18
19 Topic
E-Government Systems
Greet IT and Smart Cities
Readings
1. “Digital Government Evolution: From Transformation to Contextualization,” T.
Janowski, Government Information Quarterly, 2015.
2. Text: Chapter 8
20 Topic
Concluding Case/ Guest Lecture

Technology
Students are encouraged to use Free and Open Source software for this course, such as Libre Office.
Moodle (an Open Source Learning Management tool) will be used throughout the course. Please note
that all lectures will be recorded and made available for review through Moodle.

Teaching Philosophy
Learning is an active and collaborative process. As the instructor, I will guide you towards concepts
and ideas, and encourage discussion around them in class. Your learning will come from reading the
material, seeing assigned videos, contributing to discussions, including case discussions, participating
in the online quizzes and surveys and completing the assignments.