Proferssor C Avgerou, NAB3.22 and Dr Shirin Madon, NAB3.31.

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

The course explores the theoretical foundations for the study of organizational and social innovation and the particular role of information systems in such change. It integrates concepts and perspectives of innovation from a range of disciplines. In completing this course students should be able to draw critically from existing theories in order to address issues of technology-based innovation, organizational change and information systems management.

The lectures cover literature related to three broad themes: innovation and organizational change; information technology and organizational change; and information technology innovation and socio-economic change. For each of these themes we identify and discuss relevant theoretical concepts and perspectives. The discussion of theories is structured in terms of technical/rational and socially embedded approaches.
In addition we provide five formative sessions on essay preparation.

10 two-hour lectures, 5 one-hour lectures and 10 one-hour classes.

Classes are based around reading and discussing selected journal articles from the course study pack. Formative feedback is provided on class participation.
In addition, students will complete a formative essay of 2000 words on which feedback will be provided.
A mock examination, with questions from IS470, IS471 and IS472 is held in January.

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

Brynjolfsson E (2010), Wired for innovation; The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA; Ciborra, C (1993) Teams, markets, and systems: business innovation and information technology Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Ciborra, C. (2000) From control to drift: the dynamics of corporate information infastructures Oxford, OUP. Conway, S. and Steward, F. (2009) Managing and Shaping innovation Oxford OUP. Currie, W., and Galliers, R. (1999) Rethinking management information systems: an interdisciplinary perspective Oxford, OUP. Fagerberg, J. Mowery,D.C., and Nelson, R. (2005) The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Oxford, OUP. Flichy, F. (2007) Understanding Technological Innovation: A socio-technical approach Cheltenham, Edward Elgar. Howcroft, D., and Trauth, E.M. (2005) Handbook of critical information systems research: theory and application Cheltenham, Edward Elgar. Latour, B. (2005) Reassembling the social: an introduction to actor-network-theory Oxford, OUP. Lloyd-Jones, R., Coakes, E., and Willis, D. (2000) The new SocioTech: graffiti on the long wall London, Springer. Mansell, R., Avgerou,C. Quah, D., Silverstone, R. (2007) The Oxford Handbook of Information and Communication Technologies Oxford, OUP. Walsham, G. (1993) Interpreting information systems in organizations Chichester, Wiley. Weick, K. E. (2001) Making sense of the organization Oxford, Blackwell. Willcocks, L., and Mingers, J. (2004) Social theory and philosophy for information systems Chichester, Wiley.

A 3,000 word individual literature-based essay on an approved topic, due mid December (50%)
A two-hour unseen examination taken in the ST (50%).