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BAD 84007 Fall 2008 Datta

B AD 84007: Fall 2008: Information Technology Research

Readings, Design, and Implementation

 

Syllabus and Schedule (Click here for SCHEDULE)

                                                                              

 

Class Time:                  Tuesday: 2 pm- 4:45 pm @ the M&IS Conference Room (A404)    

                                   

Professor:                     Dr. Pratim Datta

Office Location:           A 408             

Telephone:                    (330) 672-1229

Office Hours:               Tuesdays 11:00 am- 1:00 pm or via email

Email:                           pdatta@kent.edu

Class Web WebCT :    http://vista.kent.edu

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This is an introductory seminar in information technology research. Its major objective is to help seminar participants understand the role of IS research in an academic community, and the methods of social science research. Additionally, the seminar seeks to develop participant motivation to become a contributor to the organizational sciences and information systems research communities by examining:

· The research process, methodologies and strategies

· The information systems research context

· The nature of organizational sciences research

· The major streams of information systems research

 

Another objective of this seminar is to also provide you the ammunition for your comprehensive exams that will follow later in your PhD years. MOST OF ALL, use this seminar to interest yourself in topics that you can carry over to your dissertation (believe me, it really helps smoothen the process).

 

Over the duration of this course, you will focus on reading the craft of writing and reviewing journal articles, most of which are conceptual or synthetic in nature. The articles and journals involved are readily available via the library. The class will follow a schedule where one member will champion a topic at random and lead the discussion for a specific week. I will follow on with asking questions and facilitating the discussions as we progress through the topic on hand. Your discussions and participations are KEY to your success.

 

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO READ AND SUMMARIZE READINGS FOR EVERY FOLLOWING WEEK.

 

 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Seminar grades will be based on students' performance on six required assignments:

 

  1. (15%) Participate in and lead seminar discussions.
  2. (10%) Prepare a critical conceptual review of a scholarly manuscript (6 pages double spaced).
  3. (25%) Complete a mid-term examination (research philosophy and literature review).
  4. (20%) Construct a novel causal model and draw your own hypotheses (10 pages double spaced).
  5. (30% + 10%) Build on your existing work to prepare and present a research paper on the literature review and causal model (motivation, contributions to research and practice, literature review, theory development, hypotheses, discussion, limitations, conclusion.

 

The standard letter grading scale (A to C) will be used for these seminar requirements and for the overall grade. Late assignments will not be accepted. I will gladly talk with you (and examine written materials) regarding assignments prior to their assigned dates.

 

READINGS & WRITING

The day a journal article or a chapter is assigned, prepare a two-page set of “bullets highlighting (i) interesting, (ii) intriguing, (iii) problematic, and (iv) confusing aspects of each of the assigned reading. What were the most important insights you obtained from the article, e.g., what ...do you know now that you didn't know ... do you now think about differently ... surprised you the most? And, what didn’t you understand? Finally, how would you craft your own ontology and/or epistemology? We will use these pages to drive the discussion of each reading. Post them via WebCT for distribution to all seminar participants.

 

RESEARCH MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

You are expected to select a phenomenon of interest, draw on an appropriate theoretical perspective (not restricted to the subset that is covered in the course) and submit a conceptual paper. The paper must display knowledge of related literature in the domain and of organizational theory, demonstrating the ability to integrate different perspectives. For instance, the paper can propose a theoretical model to examine a specific issue and suggest a research design to study it. Alternatively, the paper could review of the literature in any area of your interest and provide an organizing framework that reveals issues that require further exploration, laying out a research agenda for the field. This paper is expected to be of the quality accepted in conferences such as ICIS, AMCIS, HICSS, and SIGCPR.

I expect that you will at least hand in an outline of the paper accompanied by an annotated bibliography at the end of the term. I will be glad to clarify issues related to completed paper.

 

NOTE: If you cannot arrive at a concept yourself and require my assistance in crafting the model, I am ethically obliged to become a primary author/co-author on the manuscript over its lifecycle. You are free to work with me or any of your mentors or other faculty that you choose.

 

NOTE: These pieces are required as a preface to research. These should help you craft your paper for the semester and more:

 

  1. Straub, D. (2008) Why do Top Journals Reject Good Papers? MIS Quarterly Editor’s Comments, September.
  2. Langley, A. (1999) Strategies for Theorizing from Process Data Academy of Management ReviewVol. 24(4), pp. 691-710
  3. Types of Validities in Research (http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/measval.php)

 

CLASS DISCUSSION LEADERSHIP

A key aspect of preparing for an academic career is the ability to lead and direct an academic discussion. Based on random assignment, I will call upon each seminar participant to be responsible for leading one class session. You will be in charge of the session you are assigned to lead.

 

REQUIREMENT: BUILDING A CAUSAL MODEL

You are to build a causal model representing some aspect of the core elements or forces associated with the phenomenon which is serving as the basis for your research paper (Requirement #4).

This report will most likely be between 5 and 10 pages in length, including diagrams, tables, etc. More specific instructions include:

· Define all entities and constructs

· Describe the nature of relationships among the system entities

· Provide diagrams of these relationships

· Be sensitive to the trade-off between simplicity and completeness

The “structure” of this report should follow this form:

· Introduction

· statement of the aspect of your phenomenon to be modeled

· explanation as to why this is a significant topic

· a `road map' of the remainder of the paper

· Your model

· definitions of elements

· discussion of relationships

· Conclusion

· summary of key issues raised in the paper

· statement of key idea(s) you wish readers to take away after reading this essay

 

REQUIREMENT: CRITIQUE OF A SCHOLARLY MANUSCRIPT

You will be given a scholarly manuscript, which has recently been accepted for publication at MIS Quarterly, to read. Prepare a critique of this manuscript. Your review should be about 3 to 5 pages in length. Do not unnecessarily worry about the organization and style of your critique. I am more concerned about your communicating your ideas to the author of the manuscript.

Begin by pointing out the paper's strengths and weaknesses and describe the various issues tat seem important to you. Look towards referent literature to find if similar work has been done and how the authors have pushed the envelope.

In addition to pointing out the manuscript's strengths and weaknesses, be sure to provide the author with suggestions regarding actions to be taken to improve the manuscript. The “structure” of your review should follow this form:

· Recommendation

· Overview of strengths and weaknesses

· Detailed comments

· Directions/suggestions for improving manuscript

 

REQUIREMENT: RESEARCH PAPER

This research paper should develop and present a conceptual model(s) and/or frame(s) that synthesizes current ideas (obtained through a careful examination of relevant scholarly journals) on your assigned topic.

 

The paper itself can be no more than 25 pages in length, including figures, tables and reference list. The structure of the paper should be as follows:

 

· Introduction that clearly describes the phenomenon you will be investigating, its importance to research and practice, and your motivation to pursue that topic.

· Theory development: background literature

· Theory development: the causal model

· Future directions, summary, and conclusion

 

For the presentation, your grade will be decided by an average of my own grading of the presentation and by grades by your peers. We shall discuss this issue during the course of the semester.

Course developed with the help of UMD, LSU, University of Minnesota, and UT-Austin

 


TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF WEEKLY TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Week

Date

Topic

Assignment

1

Aug 26th

Introduction to course

Domains of IS research

Reference disciplines

Introduction, Overview of course and IS research, Journals and Conferences, Approaches and best practices, Assignment of discussion leaders, Syllabus and Schedule

Understanding Ontology vs. Epistemology vs. Methodology, Rationalism vs. Empiricism, Objectivism vs. Constructivism.

 

2

Sept. 2nd

Research purposes & approaches

Benbasat, I., and Weber, R., Rethinking “Diversity” in Information Systems Research, Information Systems Research (7:4), 1996, 389-199.

Robey, D., Diversity in Information Systems Research: Threat, Promise, and Responsibility, Information Systems Research (7:4), 1996, 400-408..

Kuhn, T.S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962. ISBN 0-226-45808-3 (http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/Kuhn.html).

Markus, M.L. & Robey, D. (1988) Information Technology and Organizational change: Causal Structure in Research and Practice Management Science Vol. 34(5), pp. 583-598.

Murray S. (1971). That's Interesting: Toward a Phenomenology of Sociology and a Sociology of Phenomenonology. Philosophy of Social Science(1), 309-344 (http://www.mang.canterbury.ac.nz/writing_guide/marketing/index.shtml).

Discussion Leader:

Thomas

Food for thought:

Assignment:

3

Sept. 9th

Scholarly writing

Orlikowski, W. and Baroudi, J., Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions, Information Systems Research, 2(1), 1991, 1-28.

Boland, R., and Tenkasi, R., Perspective Making and Perspective Taking in Communities of Knowing, Organization Science, 6(4), 1994, 350-372. Research methods

Lee, A. S. Integrating Positivist and Interpretive Approaches to Organizational Research, Organization Science, (2), 1991, 342-365.

Weick, Karl E. (1989). Theory Construction as Disciplined Imagination. Academy of Management

Review, 14(4), 516-531

Bagozzi, R.P. (1984). A prospectus for theory construction in Marketing. Journal of Marketing,

48(Winter), 11-29.

Discussion Leader:

Yaman

Food for thought:

Assignment:

4

Sept. 16th

Research on IS in Organizations:

DeSanctis, Gerardine, and M.Scott Poole. (1994). Capturing the Complexity in Advanced

Technology Use: Adaptive Structuration Theory. Organization Science, 5(2), 121-147

Kappos, A. & Rivard, S. (2008) A Three-Perspective Model of Culture, Information Systems, and Their Development and Use, MIS Quarterly, 32(3), 601-634.

Kirsch, Laurie J. (1997). Portfolios of Control Modes and IS Project Management. Information

Systems Research, 8(3), 215-239.

Henderson, John. C, and Soonchul Lee. (1992). Managing I/S Design Teams: A Control Theories

Perspective. Management Science, 38(6), 757-777.

Kirsch, Laurie J. (1997). Portfolios of Control Modes and IS Project Management. Information

Systems Research, 8(3), 215-239.

Discussion Leader:

Byron

Food for thought:

Assignment:

Critical Review of a Scholarly Manuscript due Sept. 22nd.

5

Sept. 22nd

IT Impacts

Markus, L. and Robey, D., (1988) Information Technology and Organizational Change: Causal Structure in Theory and Research, Management Science, 34(5), 583-598.

Shapiro, Carl, and Hal Varian. The Art of the Standards Wars. California Management Review, Winter 1999, pp. 8-32.

Swanson, B., (1994) Information Systems Innovation among Organizations, Management Science, 40(9), 1069-1092.

DeLone, W. and Mclean, E., (1992) Information Systems Success: The Quest for the Dependent Variable, Information Systems Research (3:1), 60-95.

Discussion Leader:

Fengkun

Food for thought:

Assignment:

6

Sept. 29th

IT and Digital Networks

Parthasarathy, M. and Bhattacherjee, A. (1998). Understanding post-adoption behavior in the context of online services. Information Systems Research. 9:4.

Malone, Thomas W., Joanne Yates, and R.I. Benjamin. (1987). Electronic Markets and Electronic

Hierarchies: Effects of Information Technologies on Market Structure and Corporate Strategies.

Communications of the ACM, 30(6), 484-497.

Kauffman, R., McAndrews, J., and Wang, Y-M. (2000). Opening the black box of network externalities in network adoption. Information Systems Research. 11:1.

Datta, P. & Chatterjee, S. (2008) The economics and psychology of consumer trust in intermediaries in electronic markets: the EM-Trust Framework, European Journal of Information Systems 17, 12–28.

Discussion Leader:

Joseph

Food for thought:

Assignment:

7

Oct. 7th

IT and Security, Ethics, and Privacy.

Grazioli, S. & Jarvenpaa, S. Deceived! Under target on line. Communications of the ACM, 46(12), 2003, pp. 196-205.

Hossain, M. M. & Prybotok, V. R. (2008) Consumer Acceptance of RFID Technology: An Exploratory Study, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management; 55 (2), pp. 316-328.

McNulty, E. (2007) Boss, I Think Someone Stole Our Customer Data, Harvard Business Review, September 01.

Wang, J., Chaudhury, A. & Rao, R. (2008) A Value-at-Risk Approach to Information Security Investment, Information Systems Research, 19(1), pp. 106-120

Discussion Leader:

Thomas

Food for thought:

Assignment:

Midterm 1 (Take Home)

8

Oct. 14th

IT Organization and Knowledge Management

Madhok, Anoop. (1996). The Organization of Economic Activity: Transaction Costs, Firm Capabilities, and the Nature of Governance. Organization Science, 7(5), 577-590.

Conner, Kathleen R., and C.K. Prahalad. (1996). A Resource Based Theory of the Firm: Knowledge

Versus Opportunism. Organization Science, 7(5), 477-501.

Alavi, M. and Leidner, D. (2001), Knowledge Management and Knowledge Management Systems: Conceptual Foundation and An Agenda for Research, MIS Quarterly, March, pp. 107-136.

Datta, P. (2007) “An Agent-Mediated Knowledge in Motion (KiM) Model,” Journal of the Association of Information Systems (JAIS), Vol. 8 (5), pp. 1-26.

Simonin, Bernard L. (1997). The Importance of Collaborative Know-How: An Empirical Test of the

Learning Organization. Academy of Management Journal, 40(5), 1150-1174

Discussion Leader:

Yaman

Food for thought:

Assignment:

9

Oct. 21st

IT and Global Systems Development

Newman, M., & Robey, D. (1992). A Social Process Model of User-Analyst Relationships. MIS Quarterly, 16(2), 249-266.

Byrd, T., Cossick, K., and Zmud, R.W., (1992) A Synthesis of Research on Requirements Analysis and Knowledge Acquisition Techniques, MIS Quarterly, 16(1), 1992, 117-138.

Beath, C. M., & Orlikowski, W. J. (1994). The contradictory structure of systems development methodologies: Deconstructing the IS-user relationship in Information Engineering. Information Systems Research, 5(4), 350-377.

Cusumano, M. et al. "Software Development Worldwide: The State of the Practice." IEEE Software 20, no. 6 (November-December 2003): 28-34.

Farrell, D. (2006) Smarter Offshoring, Harvard Business Review, June.

Aron, R. & Singh, J. (2005) Getting Offshoring Right, Harvard Business Review, December.

Hu, Qing, Carol Saunders, and Mary Gebelt. (1997). Research Report: Diffusion of Information

Systems Outsourcing: A Reevaluation of Influence Sources. Information Systems Research, 8(3), 288-

301.

Discussion Leader:

Byron

Food for thought:

Assignment:

10

Oct 28th

IT and the emergent Design Theory:

Orlikowski, W. and C. Iacono (2001). Desperately Seeking the "IT" in IT Research - A Call to Theorizing the IT Artifact. Information Systems Research 12(2): 121-134.

Walls, J., Widmeyer, G. and El Sawy, O. (1992). Building an Information System Design Theory for Vigilant EIS. Information Systems Research 3(1), 36 – 59.

Markus, M.L., Majchrzak, A., & Gasser, L. (2002), A Design Theory for Systems That Support Emergent Knowledge Processes, MIS Quarterly, 26(3), 179-212.

March, S., Hevner, A. and Ram, S. (2000). Research Commentary: An Agenda for Information Technology Research in Heterogeneous and Distributed Environments. Information Systems Research 11(4): 327-341.

Walls, J., Widmeyer, G. and El Sawy, O. (1992). Building an Information System Design Theory for Vigilant EIS. Information Systems Research 3(1), 36 - 59

Discussion Leader:

Fengkun

Food for thought:

Assignment:

Manuscript for Causal Models (Assignment #4) Due for Feedback

11

Nov. 4th

Other IS Research:

Wilson, S. & Kambil, A. (2008), Open Source: Salvation or Suicide? Harvard Business Review Case Study, April 1.

Rettig, C. (2007) The Trouble With Enterprise Software, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 49(1), pp. 21-27

Al-Khouri, A. M. & Bal, J. (2007) A Comprehensive Approach to Security, A Brief synopsis of Digital Identities and the Promise of the Technology Trio: PKI, Smart Cards, and Biometrics (Journal of Computer Science 3, no. 5 (2007):361-367), Sloan Management Review, Vol. 48(4), p. 8

Weill, P. & Ross, J. (2005) A Matrixed Approach to Designing IT Governance, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 46(2), pp. 26–34.

Gottfredson, M., Puryear, R. & Phillips, S. (2005) Strategic Sourcing: From Periphery to the Core, Harvard Business Review, February 01

Liker, J. F. & Choi, T. Y. (2004) Building Deep Supplier Relationships, Harvard Business Review, December 01.

Lee, H. (2004) The Triple-A Supply Chain, Harvard Business Review, October 01.

Discussion Leader:

Joseph

Food for thought:

Assignment:

12

Nov. 11th

Veteran’s Day: No Class

 

13

Nov. 18th

Discussion of Causal Models and Validity Issues: Handling Manuscript related issues.

 

14

Nov. 25th

Thanksgiving Break: No Class

 

15

Dec. 2nd

Presentation of final model and paper.

 

 

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