Introduction to MIS
Scottsdale CIS 502
Dr. Stephen Hayne

Class One: Our Changing World, Introduction to MIS, Systems Theory, Group Support Systems, Web Conferencing
Case: Two Airlines in the Information Age (HBS #9-195-240) (2-pages handed out in class)
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?

Case: Roberts Rules The Road (September 1998 issue of Fast Company - 4-pages handed out in class)
Study Questions:

• 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.

Resources: Telecommunications (more telecommunications), Internet, RSA Security, Nuts and Bolts,

Good Strategic Memo Examples: USAA Case, UBS Case,

Deliverable: Personal Profile ASAP!

Class Two: Trends and Models, Value Chain and Competition,
Case: 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?

Resources: Graphics,

Class Three (on campus): Relational Databases and Structured Query Language (Microsoft Access from class notes), Business Process Engineering, Innovation Strategies and Operations
Case: 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?

Resources: SQL Overview, Practice Questions, Instructions for downloading Sample Database,

Deliverable: Virtual Teamwork Analysis

Class Four: SQL Continued, Managing Information Resources, Process Change, Process Innovation,
Case: 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?

Resources:

Deliverable: Process Writeup Web Page

Class Five (on campus): BPR FAQ, IDEF-0 Standard, Methodologies, Techniques and Tools (BPWin), Distributed Systems
Case: Air Product and Chemicals: Internet Strategy (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?

Case: MicroAge (HBS #9-398-063)
Study Questions:

• Is MicroAge truly ready for wholesaler survival?
• What should they do to make their infrastructure more flexible and robust to support their strategy?

Resources: Electronic Commerce and the Web. 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.

Class Six: IT Management Processes
Case: Citiusnet: The Emergence Of A Global Electronic Market (ECCH #696-009-1)

Discussion Article: The Emerging Role of Electronic Marketplaces on the Internet

Case: E*trade, charles schwab and yahoo!: The transformation of on-line brokerage (ECCH #698-029-1)

Resources: eBay, Excite, uBid, AuctionInsider, ePage, AuctionSuperstore, AUCNET, Coke, BroadVision, FireFly, Auto-By-Tel, Travelocity, Onsale, General Electric, Michigan AuctionBot, DomainMart,   Meta Auction Sites - BidFind,

Deliverable: Process Model (added to Web Page)

Class Seven: Decision Support Systems,
Discussion Article: Virtual Value Chain, Harvard Business Review
Discussion Article: Dell - Virtual Integration, Harvard Business Review
Case: Dell Online (HBS #9-598-116)
Study Questions:

• How would you judge Dell's Online success?
• List the strategies that Dell uses for competitive advantage and correlate the technologies with those strategies (if any).
• What influence does technology have on the direct model (and vice versa)?
• How substantial and sustainable are these advantages in comparison to its competitors? Which of its competitors should it worry about? Why?
• How should Dell go about achieving its goal of conducting 50% of its business over the Internet by the year 2000?

Resources:

Class Eight (on campus): DATABASE QUERIES DUE (SQL), Document Management, Virtual Value Chain
Discussion Article: Managing in the Market Space, Harvard Business Review
Case: Amazon.Com: Marketing A New Electronic Go-Between Service Provider (ECCH #598-069-1)

Resources:

Deliverable: Database Queries (SQL)

Class Nine: New Rules for the Networked Economy (original)
Case: Practicum - find companies that fit parameters as determined in class.

Resources:

Deliverable: Draft Final Project

Class Ten: FINAL PRESENTATIONS

Deliverable: Final Presentations

Last Changed December, 1999