Information technologies have fundamentally changed the way in which businesses operate and profit. Understanding the impact and challenges of managing information technologies is an inherent part of every knowledge worker and manager's core competence. This course is designed to provide a broad coverage of what a business manager and worker should know about information systems. There is no programming, software training or website construction. It is about understanding how information technology has transformed business processes, and how IT-enabled innovations improve individual and organizational effectiveness.

Together, we will examine issues related to business use of information technologies. Through a combination of readings, discussions, and in-class exercises, we will study: (i) the role and impact of IT on organizational strategy and performance, (ii) basic IT technologies, components and functions, (iii) the use of IT to support business operations, customer relationship management, managerial decision making, and team collaboration, (iv) emergent technological trends, and (v) social and ethical issues associated with IT such as privacy, compliances, and rules to follow in collecting and sharing customer data.