London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Modules

Economics, Management, Finance and the Social Sciences -

136 Information systems and organisations

Prerequisites None. Exclusion

This unit may not be taken with unit 60 Introduction to information systems or 37
Computer based information systems.
Aims of the unit
This unit studies information systems in organisations.
The first part of the unit identifies three models of information system design -
focusing on data processing, decision making and transaction costs – and explores
their organisational implications.
The second part of the unit deals with a critical revision of the key concepts of
strategy, technology infrastructure and implementation issues.
The specific aims of the unit are:
? to provide students with the fundamental concepts needed for understanding
information technology in organisations from information systems theory,
organisation theory and economics perspectives
? to introduce students to some new, critical ideas in management thinking
related to the use and implementation of information technology in
organisations.
Learning objectives
On completion of this unit and relevant readings, students should be able to:
? discuss the organisational implications of ICT deployment;
? critically appraise the validity of concerns expressed in particular cases of ICT
choices, their merits, shortcomings and feasibility of implementation;
? identify and discuss the merits and shortcomings of the major theoretical
perspectives that inform the design and deployment of ICT in organisations;
? understand technical innovation as a process involving both technology
development and organisational change;
? describe the actions and interventions that are associated with ICT strategies.
Syllabus
Section 1: background and models of information system design

A Introduction
Overview of the basic functionalities of a computer; Hardware functions;
Operating Systems; Application software; Networks; Internet and Internet
Protocols.
B Information systems design
Logics underpinning information systems design; Prototyping; Organisational
analysis and requirement analysis; Information systems design as outcome of
organisational analysis; Limits of the models.
C Theory for information systems design and analysis
? Why and how people in organisations use, produce and communicate
information;
?
What is the role that information technology can play with respect to the
human information processing identified above;
? How to design information technology applications that support the current or
desired ways to process information;
? How to go about the implementation of the designed systems and applications.
Three main theories are presented and discussed in the unit: data model; decision-making
model and transaction costs model
Section 2: Information systems and business strategies
The following topics are approached from both the ‘hard’ technological view and
from the ‘softer’ socio-cultural view.
? Strategic management and use of information systems and technologies to
help firms accrue a competitive advantage
? Strategic information systems planning
? Strategic use of data and knowledge management, change management and
more.
Essential reading
Laudon, K.C. and J.P. Laudon Management Information Systems & Multimedia
CD PK. (Prentice Hall, 2007) tenth edition [ISBN 978-0132304610].
Curtis, G. and D. Cobham Business Information Systems: Analysis, Design and
Practice. (New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2005) fifth edition [ISBN
0273687921]. Assessment
This unit is assessed by a three hour unseen written examination.
All information in this document is subject to confirmation in the Programme Regulations for
degrees and diplomas in Economics, Management, Finance and the Social Sciences that are
reviewed annually. Notice is also given in the Regulations of any units which are being phased
out and students are advised to check unit availability.