The transition from one economic form to another has always brought with it changes in industries, companies and managerial requirements. This was true as we moved from a society based on agriculture to one based in manufacturing. It is equally true as we now move to an information-based service society.

This course focuses on information technology and the changes it is bringing about. As such, the course deals with three topics:

1. Technology required for doing business in an electronic (web-based) environment;
2. Technology needed for building the technological infrastructure needed to support business operations;
3. Keeping the technology effort and organization aligned with evolving business objectives.

The required texts serve two objectives. They provide a good overview of the enduring concepts underlying the use of information technology. They also provide a roadmap to the changing technologies and their impact on a broad range of company activities. Keep in mind that the roadmap is constantly changing. Always check the course web site for references to late-breaking changes.

• H - Hannon, Neal J., The Business of the Internet, Cambridge, Mass: Course Technology, 1998.
• R - B20.2109 Reading Packet
• SV – Shapiro and Varian – Information Rules, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard Business School Press, 1999.

Your grade in this course will be based on the following components:
 
 

Additional guidelines for these activities will be found on the course web site.

Comments on Assignments: Because of the large class size, you will not generally be getting detailed comments on each individual case. Feedback will be handled by providing you with a general checklist. Detailed comments will be provided for the optional sections of each assignment. General comments will be provided in the course web site.

I will always be available after class and in my office for detailed discussions of assignments.

Deadlines. Papers are due on the dates listed on the assignment sheet and web site. They must be turned in at the beginning of the class session. If you are travelling or otherwise unable to attend class, they should be submitted in advance or as an email attachment or fax. (The same deadline applies). You will be penalized for late submissions.

Under no circumstances will I accept items that are more than one week overdue. (The reasoning is quite simple – late items penalize those people who work hard to adhere to deadlines).

Mandatory Curve: The Dean’s Office has mandated that no more than 35% of the grades in a core course be A or A-. (This relates to all of the core courses)!

The general outline of the course is shown below. Note that the topics are not necessarily covered in the same order.

• Introduction

• Overview of the course
• Structure for analysis

• Doing business in an electronic environment

• The electronic commerce business model (focus on the supporting technologies and issues
• Analysis of a web site -- how they work and why
• The electronic business model
• Critical technologies and issues – hypertext, agents, delivery channels, etc. – the changing paradigm.
• Data mining and knowledge management
• Privacy, security and payment systems
• Microsoft - digital convergence and the changing regulatory environment - what are the real issues

• The technology infrastructure needed to support changing business

• Overview of the issues
• Y2K – How could it happen? How serious is it?
• Personalization, privacy and security
• Workflow and work management

• Impact Analysis and Management

• Y2K - How could happen? How serious is it really? A study of changing computer architecture, legacy systems and IT investment
• IT-driven business redesign
• Organizational impact and on-going alignment of the IT effort and changing corporate needs

A separate web site supports the activities in this course. It is located at http: hercules.stern.nyu.edu/mikesummercore. The web site is designed to accomplish several objectives at the same time.

• It provides you with detailed instructions for all aspects of the course.
• It helps you access the essential materials needed for each session in the course. (NOTE: This does not preclude the desirability of going to references beyond those specified).
• It facilitates access to web sites related to each session in the course.

• An outline of the course.
• Detailed assignments and instructions for each assignment. The assignments will frequently include questions designed to help you focus on important issues raised within the case or reading assignment.
• References to other web sites that will be helpful to you.
• Session summaries prepared by study groups in the class.
• Copies of PowerPoint slides used for each session.
• Bulletins regarding clarifications, schedules, or other last minute items.
• Facilitated email contact with me.

Two important points must be kept in mind. First, in an effort to be as current as possible, the web site will always be a 'work in progress.' I have consciously traded off 'pretty' for 'currency.' And second, if there are any discrepancies between this document and the web site, the web version dominates.

The best way to contact me is by email. I monitor it from early morning through roughly 11:00 p.m. in the evening. I also monitor it over the weekend. My

Everyone must read each case and come to class prepared to discuss it.

Everyone must prepare and submit written analyses of two cases. A sign-up sheet will be passed around during the second class. You should skim the cases quickly, so that you can position yourselves carefully. (Hint: do one case early, so that you get quick feedback and guidance).

Case analyses are intended to test your ability to understand a complex situation, put it in a broadly defined business context, and analyze the information systems implications of the situation. Cases do not have to be descriptions of something that is wrong. They can just as easily be situations raising interesting discussion points.

Be sure to review the company web site before preparing each case. It will certainly contain interesting supplementary information.

Cases should be a maximum of 10 pages long, typed double-spaced (of course). They must be in outline (PowerPoint) form. Use the following outline:

• Title page (name, student identification number, course, phone number). The title page does not count in the 10-page limit.
• Company description
• Industry description – Who are the major competitors? What is the basis for competition (now and in the future)? Where does the company stand in this competitive environment?
• Critical business and issues – Defend your choices.
• Information systems recommendations – Defend your choices, including justified statements regarding the likely impact of following your suggestions. Be specific!
• Recommendations regarding future business directions.

Prepare a 5-page paper reviewing the Y2K situation as it impacts your firm. (Feel free to call other people in the firm). Be as specific as possible. What areas of exposure are present? How serious are these areas? What is your firm doing to minimize the Y2K risk? Do you think that, when all is said and done (2001?), the firm will be better or worse off? Defend your points.

If you are not employed and have no access to a specific firm, you should base the above on a good (and documented) literature search.

Papers must be turned in at the start of class on the day on which it is assigned. You will lose credit for anything that is submitted after that point.

Select one or topics discussed in this course and write a paper expanding upon it. You may want to deal with one topic, e.g., the browser or search engine of the future. You may also want to combine several topics, e.g., the relationship between data warehouses, knowledge management and electronic business models. You may also want to look at changing business models. Consider the following example. Television and the Internet are clearly coming together. We increasingly see programs and commercials saying something to the effect of "for more information, go to our site. Microsoft recently invested in WebTV. Analog television will be replaced with digital television within five year! What does all of this mean?

• Identify your topic(s).
• Why is it important?
• Describe the technology
• Identify and describe two or more examples where it is being used.
• Make and defend your prediction of where things will go over the next five years. What is the significance of these trends?

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The changing technologies also include the use of hypertext, public key encryption, intelligent agents, and push technologies.

The key point is that these technology advances are having two different types of effects. First, they are changing the way we do things we have always done, e.g., searching. Second, and more significantly, they are changing the ways in which we think. The combination of these two phenomena results in changes to companies, industries, and market structures!

• Find and compare two similar sites or companies that appear to be using different technologies.
• What is their line of business? Identify the products or services and describe how the business works.
• How does the company make a profit from this use of electronic business?
• How is the company using ‘intelligent’ technologies, e.g., agents, cookies, push technologies, etc.? What is likely to happen in the future? What is the impact of using these technologies?
• How does money change hands?
• What security issues are present? How are they handled?

This paper must be turned in to my office by class time on July 27. No late papers will be accepted.