Social Study of Information Systems

IS470

Half/ full unit

Half

Prof Chrisanthi Avgerou   Room tbc
Dr Tony Cornford            Room tbc
Dr E Klecun                     Room tbc

This course is compulsory for MSc Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems, MSc Media and Communications and MSc Media and Communications (Research).
It is optional for MPA Public and Economic Policy/MPA Public Policy and Management/MPA International Development/MPA European Public and Economic Policy. It is available as an outside option to other MSc students.

 A basic understanding of information systems within organisational contexts is assumed.

The course addresses theoretical and conceptual foundations for the study of information systems within organisational settings.

This course addresses theoretical and conceptual foundations for the study of information systems within organizational settings. The course provides an introduction to the study of information systems within organizational settings considering major themes addressed and theoretical perspectives used. The course introduces selected contemporary approaches to the study of information systems that underpin both practice and research, including organizational information processing, institutionalist theory and sociology of technology.

Michaelmas term

Lectures

10 x 2 hours
5   x 1 hour

Michaelmas term

Classes

9   x 1 hour

A formative essay of 1000 words to be submitted in the 8^th week of the course. Classes are based around reading and discussing selected journal papers from the course study pack. There is also a mock exam in January shared with IS471 and IS472.

Core readings will be made available in a study pack for students. Other references include:

• Avgerou C., (2002) Information systems and global diversity New York, OUP.
• Avgerou C., C Ciborra & F Land (eds), (2004) Social Study of ICT, Oxford University Press,
• Ciborra C., (1993) Teams, Markets and Systems, Cambridge University Press,
• Ciborra C., (2000) From Control to Drift: the Dynamics of Corporate Information Infastructure, Oxford University Press,
• Ciborra C., (2002) The Labyrinths of Information: Challenging the Wisdom of Systems, Oxford University Press
• Currie W. L. & B Galliers (eds), (1999) Rethinking Management Information Systems, Oxford University Press,
• Howcroft D., and E M Trauth, (eds) (2005) Handbook of critical information systems research: theory and application Cheltenham, Edward Elgar.
• Kaplan B. M., (2004) Information systems research: relevant theory and informed practice : Massachusetts, Kluwer.
• Latour B., (2005) Reassembling the social: an introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford, OUP.
• Lloyd-Jones R. E Coakes and D Willis, (2000) The new SocioTech: graffiti on the long wall London, Springer.
• G Walsham G., (1993) Interpreting information systems in organizations Chichester, Wiley
• Weick K. E., (2001) Making sense of the organization Oxford, Blackwell
• Willcocks L. and J Mingers (eds), (2004)  Social Theory and Philosophy for Information Systems, Wiley

50%  for a 3,000 word literature review essay due mid December and 50% for a two-hour unseen examination taken in the Summer term.