Information Systems for Managers

COURSE OUTLINE V2
GENERAL INFORMATION
Course Number CMIS 641 Section # 701 Term Winter Year 2024

Course Pre-requisite(s) N/A

Course Co-requisite(s) N/A
Course Schedule Fridays, 6:05 pm to 8:55 pm (ENGMD 280)

COURSE LECTURER’S INFORMATION

Name Stéphane Gagnon, Ph.D.
Email stephane.gagnon2@mcgill.ca
Telephone NA
Office hours Questions welcome during break & after class (and appointments by email)

COURSE OVERVIEW
Introduction to the importance of information systems (IS) and the digital transformation of companies from a managerial
perspective. Overview of the strategic importance of information technology (IT) and IS, including implementing IS and
IT projects for creating and capturing value and making companies more competitive. Consideration of managerial,
informational, and technological issues arising from the use of IS, IT, and their respective processes. Application of a
strategic framework for managing companies, especially digitized companies, more effectively.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students will be able to (please see Additional Information below for more details):

1. Identify why it is important for functional managers to be involved in information systems decisions.
2. Understand the role of enterprise systems in process integration and supply chain management.
3. Describe the fundamentals of knowledge management and business intelligence.
4. Identify the main business models used on the Internet and understand the main implications of electronic
commerce.
5. Discuss the Web 2.0, Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 phenomenon and evaluate its technological and organizational
manifestations.
6. Define and utilize the concept of IT-dependent strategic initiatives.
7. Articulate the role of the general and functional managers in IS budgeting decisions.
8. Understand the main IT security threats and how to mitigate them.
9. Contribute to designing successful information systems.
10. Perform IS assessment and to troubleshoot problematic IS implementations
11. Analyze the potential of IT-dependent strategic initiatives in creating sustainable competitive advantages.

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INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD
Lecture with discussion, small group discussion, and case studies. To receive the best value from this course, it is
strongly encouraged to attend class. Moreover, since discussion and case studies are important components of the
course structure, students are expected to read the required material before coming to class.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIAL

1- Book: Gabe Piccoli. (2022). Information Systems for Managers (5th Edition), Prospect Press VT.
ISBN 978-1-943153-83-1 https://www.prospectpressvt.com/textbooks/piccoli-information-systems-for-managers-5-0
(e-book) (Available via RedShelf or VitalSource or via the link provided above)

2- Additional required reading material will be available through the course MyCourses folder.

OPTIONAL COURSE MATERIAL

Laudon, K. & Laudon, J. (2022). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (17th edition), Pearson
Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780136971542

Roch, S., Fowler, J., Smith, J. L., Bourgeois, D. T. (2022). Information Systems for Business and Beyond – Canadian
edition. Fanshawe College Pressbooks. Clone of 2019 edition, ISBN 9785533948760.

The instructor will put additional readings on current IT research via MyCourses folder.

In majority of classes, we will have a case study, which will be discussed in the class.

ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATIONS

-The final exam is an open book exam questions Assessment Item Name Due Date %
are given on 8th April 2024 at 8 am until 15th April
2024 at 8 am (online take-home). Group Assignment 22-Apr-24 20
-The mid-term exam is an online open book time-
limited exam that tests both the level of knowledge Participation Weekly 10
and skills acquired by the students during the
course. There are eight to ten short essay Mid-Term exam 16-Feb-24 30
questions. Those questions cover some of the
concepts and/or frameworks included in the Final exam 15-Apr-24 40
course from Course 1 to Course 6 included.
The exam questions will be made available online
16 February 2024 between 6 pm to 9 pm.
-The one written assignment is done in teams of
3 (minimum) to 4 (maximum) persons. Any late
submission will be penalized by 10% per day. The
due date of assignment is given in this course
syllabus. There will be allocated time slots during
the semester so that students can interact with
each other.

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SDETAILED COURSE CONTENT
Class/
Date Content Description
Topic
1 5-Jan-24 • Fundamental IT Trends
• How Do These Trends Affect Today’s Managers?
• Why Can’t We Just Hire Good IT People?
• General and Functional Managers versus End Users
• The Next Wave of CIOs
Reading(s): Chapter 1 (PPT)
Group assignment (written case study) guidelines
2 12-Jan-24 • IS, Not IT
• Information Systems as Sociotechnical Systems
• The Four Components of an Information System
• Why Do Organizations Build Information Systems?
• Information Systems in the Organizational Context
• Information Systems and Organizational implementation
• Change Culture and Information Systems

Reading(s): Chapter 2 (PPT)

3 19-Jan-24 • The Information System Cycle
• The Integration Imperative
• Enterprise Systems (ESs)
• Supply Chain Management
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Customer Relationship MGMT

Reading(s): Chapter 3 (PPT)

4 26-Jan-24 • Network Economics

• The Economics of Information
• Information in Networks
• The Internet Changes Everything?
• A Note about Disruptive Technology

Reading(s): Chapter 4 (PPT)

5 2-Feb-24 • The Internet
• Manifestations of eCommerce and eBusiness
• The Implications of eCommerce
• Digital business: From Novelty to the Mainstream

Reading(s): Chapter 5 (PPT)

6 9-Feb-24 • Strategic Alignment

• The Purpose of Strategic Information Systems Planning
• The Strategic Information Systems Planning Process
• Information System Assessments

Reading(s): Chapter 6 (PPT)

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Class/
Date Content Description
Topic
7 16-Feb-24 Midterm Exam (6-9pm)
8 23-Feb-24 • Strategic Information Systems
• Traditional Models of Value Creation with IT
• Emerging Frameworks

Reading(s): Chapter 7 (highlights of chapter 7), and Chapter 8

(PPT)
9 1-Mar-24 • IT-dependent Strategic Initiatives
• Appropriating Value Over Time: Sustainability Framework
• Applying the Framework
• IT to managers and Leadership

Reading(s): Chapter 9 (PPT)

10 15-Mar-24 • Information Systems Governance
• Funding Information Systems
• The Budgeting and Project Prioritization Process
• Funding Information Systems Projects: Making the Business Case
• Outsourcing

Reading(s): Chapter 10 (PPT)

Group assignment due date

11 22-Mar-24 • Fulfilling Information Processing Needs

• Build Your Own: Systems Design and Development
• End-User Development
• Concept and Use of Open-Source Software

Reading(s): Chapter 11 (PPT)

12 5-Apr-24 • The Mobile Platform
• Internet of Things
• Customer-Managed Interactions
• Digital Manufacturing
• Trends of Machine Learning, Deep Learning and AI
• Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Reading(s): Chapter 12 (PPT)

8-Apr-24 Final exam questions available
13 12-Apr-24 • IT Risk Management and Security
• Privacy
• Ethics
Reading(s): Chapter 13 (PPT) (optional course)
(A recorded version will be made available online)
15-Apr-24 Final exam due date
22-Apr-24 Group assignment (written case study) due date
29-Apr-24 Final grades submitted by prof to School of Continuing Studies (SCS)

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 Grading System
Undergraduate Courses
You must obtain a grade of C or better in courses that you take to fulfil program requirements. You may not register
in a course unless you have passed all the prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better, except by written
permission of the appropriate department chair.

Graduate Courses
You must obtain a grade of B- or better in courses that you take to fulfil program requirements. You may not
register in a course unless you have passed all the prerequisite courses with a grade of B- or better, except by
written permission of the appropriate department chair.

What does a final course grade of “J” mean?

A “J” grade is a failing grade due either to (i) an unexcused absence for an official final exam, or (ii) failure to
submit required work worth more than 20% of the final grade for the course as a whole. A “J” is calculated as a
failure in the TGPA and the CGPA.

Graduate Level Grade Undergraduate

Level
(85-100%) Pass A (85-100%)
(80-84%) A- (80-84%)
(75-79%) B+ (75-79%)
(70-74%) B (70-74%)
(65-69%) B-* (65-69%)
C+ (60-64%)
C (55-59%)
D** (50-54%)
(0-64%) Failure F (0-49%) Failure
Pass P Pass
* B- is the minimum required grade for all Certificate in Translation courses & CMSC000.
** Although a D is a passing grade, it will not permit entry into a subsequent course for which it is a prerequisite, and nor will it be
recognized if the course is a required course in your program.

To learn more about University letter grades, visit this page: https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2018-
2019/university_regulations_and_resources/continuing/scs_gi_student_records_grading_grade_point_average.
To learn more about assessment of student work, consult this page:
https://mcgill.ca/secretariat/files/secretariat/2016-04_student_assessment_policy.pdf.

Final Grades
The official final course grade is the one that appears in Minerva. An unofficial final grade appearing in other
locations may be subject to change. The School of Continuing Studies reserves the right to correct mistakes.

Important Information

Land Acknowledgment

McGill University is located on land that has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples,
including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. McGill honours, recognizes, and respects these nations as the
traditional stewards of the lands and waters on which we meet today.

1. McGill Resources for Academic Success

(a) Inclusive Learning Environment

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McGill is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment. If you experience barriers to learning in this
course, do not hesitate to discuss them with your instructor. If you have a special learning need or disability, you are
encouraged to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities. For more information, visit their website at
https://mcgill.ca/osd/.

(b) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

McGill University is committed to promoting an equitable environment where the fundamental dignity of all of its members is
respected. The objectives of McGill’s Policy on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prohibited by Law are to promote
education and awareness about equity issues and to ensure that procedures are in place to address complaints of harassment, sexual
harassment and discrimination prohibited by law.

McGill University is also committed to creating and sustaining a safe environment through proactive, visible, accessible and effective
approaches that seek to prevent and respond to sexual violence. McGill's Policy against Sexual Violence underlines this commitment
and ensures that procedures are in place to address complaints of sexual violence.

Should you experience discrimination, harassment, bullying, or any other form of victimization, contact the Senior Equity & Inclusion
Advisor (SEIA). Visit their website at: https://www.mcgill.ca/how-to-report/about-contact/seia.

If you are interested in learning more about equity, diversity, and inclusion, visit the Social Equity and Diversity (SEDE) website at:
https://www.mcgill.ca/branches-program/.

(c) Health and Wellness

Student well-being is a priority for the University, the School (SCS), and the McGill Association of Continuing Education Students
(MACES). Should you find yourself in need of support, please keep in mind that there are a number of resources available to
help you.

Many SCS students are automatically covered by the MACES Health and Dental Plan. For further details, please visit the MACES
website at https://maces.ca/. In addition, effective September 2021, eligible students will also be covered by a virtual
healthcare service provided by “Dialogue” through MACES. The Dialogue service allows students to connect virtually with
nurses and physicians in Canada via a mobile or web app. Both the MACES Health and Dental Plan and the Dialogue app include
access to professional psychologists. MACES students also currently have free access to Keep.meSAFE, a psychological
counselling service where students can speak to a counsellor in one of six languages. For more information, please visit the SCS
Student Services web page at https://www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/student-services.

(d) COVID-19 Academic Considerations Framework

The University has put in place a protocol for students who receive a positive COVID-19 test, start exhibiting symptoms, or have
been asked to self-quarantine due to contact with someone who has tested positive. Note that students in any of these
circumstances must follow certain protocols that will ensure their own health and safety and that of the rest of the McGill
community. Please consult this page for what steps to follow: https://www.mcgill.ca/coronavirus/health-guidelines/potential-
covid-19-exposure-what-do.

The University has also put in place a protocol for students who may require academic considerations in the Fall 2021 semester
related to COVID-19. Please consult the Academic Considerations Framework document on this page:
https://www.mcgill.ca/coronavirus/return-campus-fall-2021/fall-2021-students/faqs-students. The document can be found
under the follow FAQ: “What academic accommodations related to COVID-19 are available to students.”

(e) Student Services

• Various services
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 Various services such as Walksafe, McGill Libraries, the Writing Centre, the bookstore, etc., are available to Continuing
Education students at Student Services and Resources: https://www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/getting-started.

• Computer Labs
Free access to computer labs is available at 688 Sherbrooke (12th floor), MACES, the McLennan Library and other locations on
campus

• Minerva and Online Resources

Access your personal student information online with Minerva: https://horizon.mcgill.ca/pban1/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin. For
issues related to student accounts, call 514-398-7878. Information related to online resources such as email, VPN, myCourses,
etc. can be found at IT Services: https://www.mcgill.ca/it/.Free access to computer labs is available at 688 Sherbrooke (12th
floor), MACES, the McLennan Library and other locations on campus.

• MACES
The McGill Association of Continuing Education Students, MACES: https://maces.ca/, is located at 3437 Peel, 2nd floor, tel.
(514) 398-4974services such as Walksafe, McGill Libraries, the Writing Centre, the bookstore, etc., are available to
Continuing Education students at Student Services and Resources: https://www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/getting-
started.

(f) McGill Writing Centre (MWC) Tutorial Service

Writing well is key to both academic and professional success. The McGill Writing Centre (MWC) offers credit courses in
academic and professional writing, and a tutorial service open to all McGill students. The tutorial service offers one-to-one
sessions with seasoned instructors and experienced tutors who will work with you at any stage of the writing process.

For information about the availability of in-person and online appointments, please visit the following website:
https://www.mcgill.ca/mwc/tutorial-service.

(g) McGill Library

Find a workshop, learn about library services, and reach out to your liaison librarian for research help at
https://www.mcgill.ca/library/orientation.

2. Academic Conduct

(a) Academic Integrity

Students are responsible for knowing McGill’s rules and regulations concerning academic honesty, which can be found on the
Student Rights and Responsibilities website. Violations of academic integrity undermine not only the value of honest students'
work, but also the academic integrity of the University and the value of a McGill credential. The Student Rights and
Responsibilities website provides resources that can help students avoid dishonest work, and an explanation of the disciplinary
measures that go with it. To learn more about academic integrity, visit the following website: https://mcgill.ca/students/srr/.

As of Fall 2019, all newly admitted students must complete the Academic Integrity Tutorial (AIT) in Minerva during their first
semester at McGill. Failure to complete the tutorial will place a hold in Minerva and restrict the student from registering for
courses in the following semester. The Tutorial can be accessed as follows: Minerva → Student Menu → Academic Integrity
Tutorial.

Work submitted for evaluation as part of this course may be checked with text-matching software within myCourses.

(b) Respectful and Professional Communication

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This course is designed to help you learn to communicate professionally both during your time at McGill and in your future
workplaces. In keeping with McGill’s policies on student rights and responsibilities, it is expected that during class discussions
and small group interactions you will communicate constructively and respectfully. Sexist, racist, homophobic, ageist, and
ableist expressions will not be tolerated in the classroom or during group meetings held outside of class.

To learn more about these policies, please consult this site:

https://mcgill.ca/students/srr/policies-student-rights-and-responsibilities.

3. Policy Against Sexual Harassment and Violence

McGill University is committed to creating and sustaining a safe environment through proactive, visible, accessible, and
effective approaches that seek to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence. McGill's Policy against Sexual
Violence underlines this commitment and ensures that procedures are in place to address complaints. To learn more, visit the
Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support, and Education website at this link: https://www.mcgill.ca/osvrse/.

Sexual Violence Training: “It Takes All of Us”

In accordance with Québec law (Bill 151), all newly admitted students must complete the sexual violence training course, called
“It Takes All of Us,” in myCourses during their first semester at McGill. Failure to complete the training will place a hold in
Minerva and restrict the student from registering for courses in the following semester. The training can be accessed through
myCourses and will appear as a separate course in your profile. For more information, please visit this site:
https://www.mcgill.ca/osvrse/.

4. Policy on Harassment and Discrimination

McGill University is committed to promoting an equitable environment where the fundamental dignity of all of its members is
respected. The objectives of McGill’s Policy on Harassment and Discrimination Prohibited by Law are to promote education and
awareness about equity issues and to ensure that procedures are in place to address complaints. To learn more about McGill’s
policy, including how to report a complaint, visit this site: https://www.mcgill.ca/how-to-report/.

• COURSE is administered via myCourses. Students are advised to check the myCourses site on a daily basis. Failure to do
so may result in your missing important information. Neither absence from class nor failure to check myCourses is an
acceptable excuse for being unaware of important course-related information.

• Assignment Submission: Please refer to the section “ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATIONS” shown above concerning
assignment submission for this course. Legitimate exceptions for late submission of assignments include documented medical,
family, and personal emergencies, and observance of holy days. Students planning to observe holy days
https://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates/holy-days-0/policy-holy-days listed in the McGill calendar should notify the instructor by
email no less than two weeks prior, and preferably at the beginning of the course.

• Recording class activities: Students may not record any class proceedings or collect any electronic data (including
photos and videos) from class activities without the express consent of the instructor.

• Instructor generated course materials (e.g., handouts, notes, summaries, test questions, etc.) are protected by law and
may not be copied or distributed in any form or in any medium without the explicit permission of the instructor. Note that
infringements of copyright can be subject to follow up by the University under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary
Procedures https://www.mcgill.ca/deanofstudents/students/student-rights-responsibilities/code.

• Email communication: Note that, in accordance with McGill University’s official email policy, the instructor will not
respond to email messages sent from outside the McGill network (e.g., hotmail). As well, while instructors appreciate that email

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correspondence is an efficient method of communication, students should keep in mind that instructors are not on call.
Students should therefore not expect a response to emails during the weekend or after 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
Prior to contacting instructors via email, students seeking course-related information, including information about assignments,
should first attempt to locate that information by (a) consulting the course syllabus or textbook, (b) consulting materials
uploaded to the course website (myCourses), or (c) consulting with other students in the class. Generally speaking, during the
week, a valid request submitted via e-mail will receive a response within 36 hours, exclusive of weekends and statutory
holidays.

5. Exam Policy

• Right to submit in English or French

In accord with McGill University's Charter of Students' Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in
French any written work that is to be graded. However, in cases where language acquisition is part of the assessment
objectives, the work must be submitted in the language to be evaluated.

• Midterm Exam Conflicts

Students requesting the rescheduling of a mid-term examination(s) due to a religious, business-related, or scheduling conflict
must submit the Mid-term Examination Conflict form, together with supporting documentation, to the School of Continuing
Studies, Client Services Office, at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the scheduled mid-term examination(s).

Students who miss a mid-term examination(s) due to medical reasons must complete and submit the Mid-term Examination
Conflict form, with supporting documentation, within two (2) business days from the date of the missed mid-term
examination(s).

The relevant form can be found on this web page: www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/forms.

• Final Exam Policy

Students should not make other commitments during the final exam period. Vacation plans do not constitute valid grounds
for the deferral or the rescheduling of examinations. See the School of Continuing Studies Calendar for the regulations
governing examinations, or consult this web page: www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/exams.

• Identification
Students are required to present their McGill photo I.D. card for entrance to their examination.

• Exam Schedule
Examination schedules are posted online approximately 6 weeks before the examination period begins. The exam schedule
can be found on this web page: www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/important-dates-exam-information.

• Final Exam Conflicts and Deferrals

An exam conflict is defined ONLY as either two or more exams scheduled on the same date at the same time, OR a conflict
created by religious constraints. Details about conflict procedures can be found on the Final Examination Conflict form.

Students may request a deferral of final examinations or timed tests for medical reasons or out-of-town business
commitments, both of which must be validated in writing with a medical certificate or company letter. Vacations are not
considered a valid reason for requesting a deferral.

The relevant form can be found on this web page: www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/exams-conflicts-deferrals-and-rereads.

• Return of Assignments
Marked assignments cannot be picked up from the offices of the School of Continuing Studies. Therefore, if your marked
assignments are not available in class before the end of term, you must submit a self- addressed stamped envelope to your
instructor; otherwise, these assignments will not be returned. Remember to keep a photocopy or back-up of your work
before it is handed-in to your instructor.
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 • Please note that the schedule and/or topics in this outline may be modified as needed during the semester.
• Given the virtual delivery mode of the class, we will have a few guest speakers during the classes.
• Due to space limitations in the design of the standard template for course outline, the Learning Outcomes above are the
core ones. Please find below a more detailed list of outcomes that we will be aiming at this semester, in addition to the
methods of evaluation for those outcomes:

1. Define the basic components of information technology infrastructure.

2. Identify why it is important for functional managers to be involved in information systems decisions.
3. Understand the role of enterprise systems in process integration and supply chain management.
4. Describe the fundamentals of knowledge management and business intelligence.
5. Identify the main business models used on the Internet and understand the main implications of electronic commerce.
6. Discuss the Web 2.0 phenomenon and evaluate its technological and organizational manifestations.
7. Define and utilize the concept of IT-dependent strategic initiatives.
8. Articulate the role of the general and functional managers in IS budgeting decisions.
9. Evaluate the main funding methods of information systems.
10. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various information systems sourcing options.
11. Describe the main methodologies of software development.
12. Define information systems trends, including cloud computing and software-as-a-service.
13. Understand the main IT security threats and how to mitigate them.
14. Identify privacy concerns faced by modern organizations.
15. Learn how to contribute to designing successful information systems.
16. Learn how to perform IS assessment and to troubleshoot problematic IS implementations
17. Learn how to use models of value creation to identify and develop IT-dependent strategic initiative.
18. Learn how to analyze the potential of IT-dependent strategic initiatives in creating sustainable competitive advantage.
19. To appreciate the importance of IS in adding value and in supporting and/or driving strategic initiatives
20. To recognize that it is imperative for the functional manager to take an active role in IT decisions

Methods of Evaluation/Assessment

1) One written group assignment

2) Mid-term examination (Open book, Online- time-limited 3hrs)
3) Take-Home Final examination (Essay-type examination, Open Book)
4) Weekly participation*

* Participation: Students are required to interact with the peers and course lecturer on the topic of the week. Lecturer will
put forward questions related to each week at the beginning of each class. There will be 15-30 minutes of discussion on
the topic in each class.

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The official version of this course outline is the version posted on myCourses.

In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, the content and/or evaluation
scheme in this course is subject to change.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Use this space to add any complementary information

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