Aspects of Information Society: Theory and Policy

IS478

Half/ full unit

Half

Prof Chrisanthi Avgerou, Room U506
 

This course is optional for MSc Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems and MSc New Media, Information and Society. It is available as an outside option to other MSc students. The course is capped at 30 students. This course is a half unit version of IS412 Information Society: Theory and Policy and cannot be taken with that course. A knowledge of Information Systems equivalent to IS470 Information Systems or an understanding of information systems within organisational contexts.

The course aims to develop an understanding of why information and communication technologies are a subject of policy making by national governments, regional governments, and international institutions such as various United Nations bodies, and what areas of action such policy may comprise. To that end, it introduces theories that elaborate on the way ICT is implicated in contemporary socio-economic change and examines a range of action governments have taken in order to promote ICT for particular socio-economic benefits or to address potentially harmful societal effects of ICTs.

• The socio-economic significance of ICT;
• Theoretical perspectives on the economic significance of technology innovation;
• Theoretical perspectives on the economic significance of ICTs and information;
• Economic, political, and cultural dimensions of globalization;
• Technological, economic, occupational, spatial and cultural meanings of the information society;
• The ‘digital divide’ concern.
• ICT policy action: Fostering competitive
• ICT industries;
• Fostering ICT innovation throughout the economy;
• Telecommunications policy;
• Social concerns stemming from the diffusion of ICTs - national sovereignty, digital exclusion, employment availability and conditions, privacy/security, IPR and know-right.

Lent term

Lectures

10 x 1 hour

Lent term

Seminars

10 x 2 hours

Lent term

consultation sessions for essays

3 x 1 hour

A 1,500 word formative essay in the 5^th week of the term will provide assessment feedback.

A course pack containing essential readings will be available. In addition, students will need to search for relevant literature for their essays. They may need to draw from the following books.

Archibugi, D., Howells, J., and Michie, J. (eds.) Innovation Policy in a Global Economy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999;
Avgerou, C. Information Systems and Global Diversity Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002;
Cassiolato, J.E., Lastres, H.M.M., and Maciel, M.L. (eds.) Systems of Innovation and Development: Evidence from Brazil. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2003;
Castells, M. The Informational City: Information Technology, Economic Restructuring and the Urban-regional Process Basil Blackwell, 1989;
Castells, M. The Internet Galaxy Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2001;
Coopey, R. (ed.) IT Policy: An International History. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2004;
Giddens, A. The Consequences of Modernity Polity Press, Cambridge, 1990;
Kahim B and E. Wilson (eds.), National Information Infrastructure Initiatives, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1997, pp. 150-189;
Mansell, R., and Steinmueller, W.E. Mobilizing the Information Society: strategies for growth and opportunity Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002;
Mansell, R., and Wehn, U. (eds.) Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998;
Perrons, D. Globalization and Social Change Routledge, London, 2004;
Sahay, S., Nicholson, B., and Krishna, S. Global IT Outsourcing: Software Development across Borders Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003;
Webster, F. Theories of the Information Society Routledge, London, 1995;
Woolgar, S. (ed.) Virtual Society? Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002.

An individual essay (up to 5,000 words) on an approved topic. Students are encouraged to choose  as essay topics policy issues and topics related to their IS studies.