Information Technology and Business Strategy

Catalog description

Strategic use and management of information technology in digital global economy. MIS 446 Information Technology and Business Strategy (3) This course introduces the basics on the interplay between information technology and business strategies. The course starts with the general topic of strategic use of information technology in business (as enabler, differentiator, and disruptor) using examples from a variety of industries, followed by detailed coverage of the information technology strategy in individual industries including e-logistics, e-tailing, e-marketing, e-finance. The course also covers basics on the business information technology infrastructure and environments (Internet, Web, service-oriented computing, and security and risks). Towards the end, the course discusses the role of information technology in the global economy, business value of the explosively growing digital social networks, and other emerging trends and new technology opportunities. Topics include: - Information technology strategy. IT-business strategy alignment; IT as enabler, differentiator, and disruptor.- Internet and Web infrastructure; extranet, intranet, hosting strategies; platform independence; eBusiness technology standards; open versus proprietary technologies; interoperability.- Web Services for implementing business applications; software as a service; Services science and services oriented architectures.- Overview of E-Business models, B2B, B2C, (x2y).- E-logistics and supply chain: Analysis of Dell model; Internet auctions, eBay; e-hubs; i-mode, GPS, RFID.- E-tailing: Amazon, eBay, Walmart, recommendation systems, reputation systems.- E-marketing: search engine advertising (Google AdWords/AdSense, Yahoo Search Marketing); database marketing (precision targeting).- E-finance: online brokerage (Schwab, E*Trade), wealth management (e-strategy, technology for churn prediction and customer acquisition/retention), payment technologies (paypal), computational trading strategies.- Collaboration/Community technologies: Blogs, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Voice over IP, videoconferencing, RSS, etc.; Impact on business communication and media industry. - Need for security in ecommerce - threats and solutions.- Globalization and IT. Offshoring and outsourcing.- Emerging trends and technology opportunities.