Management Information Systems

MIS 561: Competitive Information Systems

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Registration Info:

Catalog Reference Number: 0635

Description

This course explores the use of computers and other hard and soft technologies (including the Internet) to gain a competitive advantage in a rapidly changing business environment. This course can be taken as part of the Master's degree in Management Information Systems or as an elective in other programs. There are no prerequisites, although several years of prior work experience in any type of organization would be helpful.

The title of this course, Competitive Information Systems, does not convey the scope of this course. Perhaps a more suitable title would be: How to gain a competitive advantage and a sustainable competitive advantage through the use of hard technologies, soft technologies, competitive information, and advanced decision making processes. This longer title requires explanation.

Competitive advantage: Products or services that are positioned in the marketplace in such a way to confer an advantage over the competition. For example, Windows has given Microsoft a competitive advantage. However, it is not a sustainable competitive advantage. A new operating system, Linux, is making major inroads into the Windows market. In addition, the Internet (which is dramatically changing the business world) may make all computer-resident operating systems obsolete.

Sustainable competitive advantage: Whereas new products or services can result in a short term competitive advantage, a sustainable competitive advantage results from having processes that are difficult for competitors to copy. For example, if a company had a unique decision making process that resulted in smarter decisions than the competition, and if that process included continuous improvement of that decision making process, they could enjoy a sustainable competitive advantage.

Hard technologies: Hardware such as computers, cell phones, etc.

Soft technologies: Software, Internet Service Providers such as AOL, wireless services, etc.

Competitive Information: Information needed to make smart decisions. This includes information about competitors, but also includes information about other aspects of the external environment.

Advanced decision making processes: Attaining a competitive advantage and a sustainable competitive advantage is largely a matter of having a decisionmaking process that is better than that of the competition.

Academic prerequisites, requirements, or restrictions

This course is open to graduate students who are not majoring in Management Information Systems, as well as for those who are.

There are no prerequisites, although several years of prior work experience in any type of organization is extremely valuable. Students right out of undergraduate school who have no work experience are advised to take at least two other graduate courses of any kind prior to taking this course.

Technology requirements

Windows95, Pentium Processor (or equivalent), 28.8 modem or faster, Word 95 or 97(preferred) and an appropriate browser.

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Details

Summer Semester 2001
4 credit hours
Course Begins: June 4, 2001

Instructor: David O'Gorman, Ph.D.

• Office: L-109

• Home Phone: (314) 727-2545
(Preferred to university phone)

• Office Phone: (217) 206-6067

• Office Fax: (217) 206-7543

• E-mail: ogorman@uis.edu

• Mailing Address: