Dr Tony Cornford, NAB3.29

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.

None, but a basic understanding of information systems within organizational contexts is assumed.

This course addresses theoretical and conceptual foundations for the study of information systems within organizational 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.

10 two-hour lectures, 5 one-hour lectures and 9 one-hour classes in the MT.

A formative essay of 1000 words to be submitted in the approximately the 5th week of term. 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, Chrisanthi (2002) Information systems and global diversity New York, OUP. Avgerou, Chrisanthi, Ciborra, Claudio, and Land, Frank (2004) The social study of information and communication technology: innovation, actors and contexts Oxford, OUP. Ciborra, C (1993) Teams, markets, and systems: business innovation and information technology Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Ciborra, Claudio (2002) The labyrinths of information: challenging the wisdom of systems Oxford, OUP Ciborra, Claudio (2000) From control to drift: the dynamics of corporate information infastructures Oxford, OUP. Currie, Wendy, and Galliers, Robert (1999) Rethinking management information systems: an interdisciplinary perspective Oxford, OUP. Howcroft, Debra, and Trauth, Eileen Moore (2005) Handbook of critical information systems research: theory and application Cheltenham, Edward Elgar. Kaplan, Bonnie Mae (2004) Information systems research: relevant theory and informed practice : Massachusetts, Kluwer. Latour, Bruno (2005) Reassembling the social: an introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford, OUP. Lloyd-Jones, Raymond, Coakes, Elayne, and Willis, Dianne (2000) The new SocioTech: graffiti on the long wall London, Springer. Walsham, Geoff (1993) Interpreting information systems in organizations Chichester, Wiley. Weick, Karl E (2001) Making sense of the organization Oxford, Blackwell. Willcocks, Leslie, and Mingers, John (2004) Social theory and philosophy for information systems Chichester, Wiley.

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