Resource 2: Sample Syllabi

Undergraduate or Graduate Course in Bussiness Management

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Readings from C&C2 used as a major unit on technology within a broader course, or as an organizational framework to which case studies (e.g., from Harvard Business School Press) and other material may be added to form a complete course.

This syllabus is designed to compliment the strategies that we discussed in Challenge 3, "choosing topics and materials." We have focused here solely on selecting and sequencing the reading material, and have suggested readings solely from C&C2. In adapting these suggestions to your own course, you may wish to consider other articles from C&C2, as well as some of the other sources that we have recommended in Challenge 3. You may also need to adjust the amount of reading to provide, for example, for midterm exams, holidays, class administration, laboratory sessions, and so on.

The section number and sequence letter for each recommended article shows its location in C&C2.

Introduction

One or two class meetings.

III. D. Morton, Michael Scott. "How Information Technologies Can Transform Organizations"
III. A. The Centrality of Organizations in the Computerization of Society-- Rob Kling
II. C. Feder, Barnaby J. "Getting the Electronics Just Right"
III. E. Frantz, Douglas. "B of A's Plans for Computer Don't Add Up."

One to two weeks. The Gary Marx article is foregrounded for the same reason as the Jacky article in the previous syllabus--shock value. The Clement article at the end of this unit provides a dramatic contrast in management attitudes toward workers.

IV. C. Marx, Gary. The Case of the Omniscient Organization.
IV. D. Horwitz, Tony. Mr. Edens Profits from Watching His Workers' Every Move.
IV. A. Computerization at Work--Rob Kling
IV. B. Iacono, Suzanne and Rob Kling. ``Office Routine: The Automated Pink Collar"
IV. G. Clement, Andrew. Computing at Work: Empowering Action by `Low-level Users'.

One or two class meetings. Might be supplemented with a software demonstration or project, for example if Lotus Notes is available.

III. F. Kirkpatrick, David. "Groupware goes boom."
IV. F. Bullen, Christine and John Bennett. "Groupware in Practice: An Interpretation of Work Experience"
III. G. Orlikowski, Wanda J. Learning from Notes: Organizational Issues in Groupware Implementation.

One or two class meetings.

III. J. Baily, Martin Neal. "Great Expectations: PCs and Productivity"
III. K. Attewell, Paul. "Information Technology and the Productivity Challenge."
III. L. King, John. Where is the Payoff from Computing?

One week. If you can find a video-tape copy of the now-out-of-print NOVA production titled "We Know Where You Live", it can serve as an interesting supplement to these readings.

VI. A. Information Technologies and the Shifting Balance Between Privacy and Social Control--Rob Kling
VI. H. Hatch, Denison. "How Much Data Do Direct Marketers Really Need?"
VI. I. Posch, Robert. "Direct Marketing is Not a Significant Privacy Threat"
VI. K. Laudon, Ken. "Markets and Privacy."

One or two class meetings.

VII. G. Williamson, Evan. "Caught in the Grip of RSI: A First-hand Account".
VII. H. Khalil, Omar E M and Melcher, Jessie E. "Office Automation's Threat to Health and Productivity: a New Management Concern."