| Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy |
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BIS B892
Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy
| Introduction |  |
BIS B892 Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy is an elective course for the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science in Information Technology with Internet Applications programmes, as well as one of four core courses for the Master of Electronic Commerce programme. The course is a one-year, ten-credit, higher-level course.
Before taking this course, you are expected to have a basic understanding of information systems (IS) and information and communication technologies (ICT), and an awareness of their applications in Hong Kong business, global commerce, government and public sector management, as well as in our daily lives. This course is designed to strengthen that understanding, and to provide you with the skills to identify how best to apply ICT to develop competitive advantage in today's interconnected world.
| What this course helps you to do | |
BIS B892 Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy evaluates the impact of advanced ICT and the development of e-commerce on today's organizations. Geared towards the business environment, the course examines various strategic issues for the management of intra- and inter-organizational ISs, which include the application of supply chain management systems, enterprise resource planning systems, customer relationship management systems, and knowledge management systems. In addition, topics related to strategic planning, systems development, security management, and system sustainability are discussed extensively.
Study units in this course are developed with local students in mind. In many cases, concepts and ideas are introduced through the use of Hong Kong-based examples and case studies involving business organizations that are well-known in the Asia-Pacific region.
Course aims
BIS B892 Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy aims to:
Provide you with an understanding of the strategic impact of ICT and e-business on organizations, business markets and the global community.
Enhance your understanding of the strategic applications of ICT in brick-and-mortar as well as virtual businesses, and in particular of its critical role in business processes such as supply chain management, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and knowledge management.
- Develop in you the general skills needed for building IS strategies in the e-commerce environment, including the development of IS, appraisal of information security measures, evaluation of system performance, and promoting sustainability.
Course learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
Assess the competitive advantages attributable to IS strategy and IS planning, and to IS applications.
Evaluate the potential of contemporary strategic ISs, including those for material requirement planning, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and supply chain management.
Evaluate the strategic advantages of various knowledge management models.
Appraise the undertaking of systems development, including outsourced and in-house projects.
Analyse the effectiveness of security management strategies for protecting corporate ISs from external and internal threats.
- Evaluate the implications of green computing and globalization on environmental sustainability.
Course overview
Course outline summary Unit Weeks Assessment 1 Strategic advantage in a turbulent environment 1 - 2 2 Enterprise resource planning and e-commerce 3 - 5 3 Strategic customer relationship management 6 - 7 TMA 1 4 Strategic supply chain management 8 - 10 5 Strategic production management 11 - 13 6 Strategic knowledge management 14 - 16 TMA 2 7 Strategic information system planning 17 - 18 8 Systems development and outsourcing 19 - 21 9 Security, privacy and ethics 22 - 24 TMA 3 10 Green computing, globalization and sustainability 25 - 26 TMA 4
(Project)
TMA 5
(Oral Presentation)
| Course materials | |
In addition to this Course Guide, the course has the following important components.
Study units
The course materials for BIS B892 Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy comprise ten study units. You will be required to spend three to four weeks studying each unit. To ensure that you understand the course materials, each study unit will contain self-test questions so that students can check their progress. To encourage critical thinking and participation, the study units will also contain activities such as specially prepared case studies that provide an environment in which you can apply the concepts and knowledge you acquire from the units' text. Suggested feedback to self-test questions and case studies will be given at the end of each unit so that you can compare your own responses.
The study units contain information on the latest developments in the discipline of strategic information systems. They are supplemented by selected academic articles that will be set as required readings for the completion of each unit. You may also need to search the Internet to find information related to the course.
Course textbook
There is no set text book for the course.
Readings
You may be instructed in the study units to read articles or other supplementary materials. These will be available online or provided as hard copies at the backs of the study units.
E-Library E-Reserve readings
You may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the OUHK E-Library and click on 'E-Reserve'. Log in, click 'Accept/Agree' on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the 'Course Code' box, and click 'Search'.
Assignment File
Details for the assignments are contained in the Assignment File, either included in the course material or sent to you separately. Please read the instructions carefully and note the policy on late submission and extension.
You should use word processing software (such as Microsoft Word) to prepare your assignments, and submit them electronically via the Online Learning Environment (OLE). All assignments must be uploaded to the OLE by the due date. Failure to upload an assignment in the required format to the OLE on time will result in the score for the assignment being adjusted to zero.
These assignments will be marked by your tutor and uploaded to the OLE to provide feedback to you in a timely manner.
Presentation Schedule
A separate Presentation Schedule for BIS B892 Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy is available on the Online Learning Environment (OLE). This schedule provides you with the dates when your assignments are due, as well as tutorial dates. Please pay special attention to assignment due dates, and you should guard against falling behind in your work.
Online Learning Environment
This course is supported by the Online Learning Environment (OLE). You can find course materials and the latest course information from the OLE. Through the OLE, you can also communicate with your tutor, the Course Coordinator, and other students. For details about the OLE and how to access it, please refer to the Online Learning Environment User Guide.
| Assessment | |
In addition to the self-assessment exercises included in the study units, formal assessment of your progress will be carried out through continuous assessment and an oral presentation. To pass this course, you are required to fulfil the requirements of, and pass, both the continuous assessment and the oral presentation.
Continuous assessment will be given in the form of three tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and a project, both of which will be designed to check to what extent you achieve the objectives of respective study units and the course learning outcomes.
There is no written final examination for this course.
Tutor-marked assignments
You are required to complete three required tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and a project for this course.
Most of the questions in the TMAs are presented in the context of business cases, and you will be required to apply what you have learned in the units to solve problems that arise. Each of these assignments carries 20% of the total course score..
Project
In addition to the written assignments, you will be asked to develop a case study on a company's strategic use of information technology or the application of IT and e-commerce strategic planning within the company. This project will be worth 20% of your final grade for the course. You will be asked to present your findings during the oral presentation session. This presentation will be worth another 20% of the final grade of the course.
The purpose of this individual project is to study the use of IT/EC in an organization and to explore how the use of IT/EC can integrate and enhance the business of that organization. The following are the essential elements for getting high marks:
Appropriateness of topic.
Background description: e.g. thoroughness of the introduction to the organization. What kind of business is it doing? What is the management hierarchy? What is the organization culture? etc.
Problem definition or issue addressing: Is there a clear problem defined or a clear issue to be addressed in the case, e.g. is the use of IT/EC in the organization for solving some definite problems?
Analysis of the problem/issue: Is the analysis detailed enough? Is there any good judgment or comments?
Presentation: Structure of the case study (should have an introduction, problem description, problem analysis, comments and conclusion); Good use of English.
Use of exhibits: e.g. graphs, tables, etc.
Your schedule of assignments is shown in the chart in the 'Course overview' section of this Course Guide. The assessed assignments are due at the end of Units 2, 5, 7 and 8, including the project. These assignments are all required and will be marked by your tutor.
Oral presentation and grading
You are required to make an oral presentation at the end of the course. The oral presentation will be conducted in the oral presentation session. You need to present the project findings, which should include your understanding of the relevant key concepts/principles embodied in the course and their application in practice. You will fail the course if you are absent from the oral presentation.
Assessment weighting
The total marks allocated to the assessment and to the oral presentation are shown below. In order to pass BIS B892, you must pass both the tutor-marked assessment and the oral presentation.
Assessment type Marks Assignment 1 20% Assignment 2 20% Assignment 3 20% Assignment 4 (project) 20% Assignment 5 (oral presentation) 20% Total 100%
How to submit tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
You must use word processing software (such as Microsoft Word) to prepare the TMAs, and submit your TMAs via the Online Learning Environment (OLE). All assignments must by uploaded to the OLE by the due dates.
Failure to upload a TMA in the required format to the OLE may result in the score of the TMA being adjusted to zero.
TMA extension policy
The assignment policy of the University as stated in the Student Handbook should be observed. Students are required to submit assignments for a course in accordance with the submission method and before the due dates as stipulated in the Assignment File. Students may apply for a submission extension on the grounds of illness, accident, disability, bereavement or other compassionate circumstances.
Applications for extensions of up to seven days should be submitted to your tutor by email, or by writing, to reach your tutor at the latest on or before the TMAs original due dates. Your tutor will consider valid and unexpected emergencies on an individual basis. Normally, documented proof of extenuating circumstances is not required for extensions of up to seven days. Your tutor will decide and advise you of the revised date for submission.
For extensions of over seven days, you should note the following:
If students require an extension of more than seven days on the grounds of illness, accident, disability, bereavement or other compassionate circumstances, they are required to complete an 'Application Form for Assignment Extension over seven days' and submit it to the Course Coordinator, by email or fax. Assignment extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances, which should be interpreted as circumstances that are unexpected. Work commitments and travelling are not regarded as extenuating circumstances unless they are unexpected.
Supporting documents must be submitted along with the application to justify the claim. Applications without supporting documents will not be considered.
The application should be lodged and should reach the Course Coordinator before or on the due dates.
- The decision to grant or refuse an extension is made by:
- the Course Coordinator for extensions of 8 to 21 days; and
- the Dean for extensions of over 21 days.
After an assignment is submitted via the OLE, it is your responsibility to check that the assignment has been successfully submitted. Extension applications due to any problem with uploading will not be accepted. The University cannot accept any responsibility for assignments that are not received by your tutor due to any problem with submission via the OLE. As a precaution, you are advised to keep a copy of each assignment you submit.
According to the University's policy, no extension of the due date will be allowed for the final TMA. This policy will be strictly enforced. Any late submission of the final TMA will result in the score of the TMA being adjusted to zero.
| Support for your study | |
To assist you in your study of this course, ten tutorial sessions will be held by tutors at specific points during the course presentation. There are also supplementary lecture video recordings and online support available via the OUHK's OLE.
Tutors and tutorials
Although tutorials are not meant to replace lectures, they provide a channel that allows students to meet a tutor face-to-face, and an environment in which students can tender their questions and obtain personal assistance. The function of tutorials is to complement the distance learning material.
There are 20 hours of tutorials designed to assist you in your learning. You must keep up-to-date with your studies to gain full advantage from these tutorials. Tutors will lead discussions and need your help to make these sessions successful. You will be notified of the dates, times and locations of these tutorials, together with the name and phone number of your tutor, as soon as you are allocated a tutorial group.
You are strongly recommended to attend these tutorials. They will provide considerable assistance in your study and improve your chances of gaining higher marks. Also, they will bring you into contact with other students who are studying with the OUHK.
Tutors will mark and comment on your assignments, keep a close watch on your progress and on any difficulties you might encounter, and provide assistance to you during the course. Tutor-marked assignments should be submitted electronically via the OLE in accordance with the timetable provided in the Presentation Schedule.They will then be marked by your tutor and returned to you as soon as possible.
You need to attend the oral presentation session and receive a pass mark on your oral presentation in order to get an overall pass grade in the course.
Online support
The course is supported by the Online Learning Environment (OLE). You are expected to log on to the OLE regularly to check on information related to the administration of the course, and to initiate and participate in online discussions -- tutors will usually provide the leadership and monitoring over these discussions.
| About the course developer | |
The course was developed by a consultant, Dr Wan Hak-man, who was previously an assistant professor at the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration of OUHK.
Dr Wan is an experienced course developer at the OUHK. Courses for which Dr Wan was the sole developer include ACT B867CW Accounting Information Systems: A Managerial Perspective, ACT B867 Managerial Control Systems, BIS B842CW Advanced Information Systems and Electronic Commerce Strategy, ACT B304 Accounting Information Systems, BIS B876 Electronic Financial Services and BIS B318C Information System Management. He was also a Course Coordinator for most of the aforementioned courses.
Dr Wan obtained his PhD from Sunderland University in the UK and spent nine years teaching at Lingnan University before joining the OUHK. He is an active researcher and writer of academic articles. His recent publications include the book Electronic Financial Services: Technology and Management, published by Chandos Ltd in the UK.
| Deferment of studies | |
If you wish to defer your studies of this course until a later date, you should apply for deferment of studies. For the regulations governing deferment of studies, please refer to Section 14, 'Regulations for Admission, Registration and Maintenance of Status', in your Student Handbook. If you have applied for deferment of studies you should continue with your studies of this course and submit the required assignments until formal approval is given by the University. Should you have difficulties in submitting an assignment, you are advised to liaise with your Course Coordinator and apply for a TMA extension. Students who have been granted deferment of studies will not be allowed to submit TMAs due before the date that their application for deferment of studies is received by Registry.
| About the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration | |
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