Information Systems: Management Approach

This unique new text, written for the management information systems course at the undergraduate or graduate level, prepares students for business settings in which they will use information systems to become more productive managers. This organizational approach to M.I.S. is strengthened by the unique pairing of an author from the Organizational Behavior field, Judith Gordon, and one with years of real-world expertise in M.I.S. Steve Gordon. These two experienced authors have combined their talents to create a user-friendly text that uses numerous experiential activities to reinforce M.I.S. concepts. Features: * The text incorporates numerous experential activities designed to enhance student problem solving skills and give them real-world experience, these include minicases, debates, simulations, group work, in-class projects, computer exercises and activities involving contact with individuals outside the classroom. Full-length cases and readings are in an appendix. * Technical information is presented from the user's point of view, enabling students to more easily understand and use text material. * The book presents a four-step approach (Chapter 1) to the management of information: diagnosis, evaluation, design, and implementation. The entire organization of the book complements this approach. Students can practice each step of the management approach before adding the next step. * In cases interspersed throughout the text, real-world examples illustrate how information, information technology, and information systems are used by actual organizations. * Each chapter's opening scenario is integrated through the chapter's material. The scenario introduces the main chapter topics, is used as a reference throughout the chapter to further aid understanding. * Going beyond a U.S. perspective, issues of global information management are integrated throughout the chapters, international issues in database management (Ch. 7), data communication (8), information technology architecture, and communications infrastructure (14) are given in-depth coverage in the appropriate chapters. * Videocases, which were created specifically to present M.I.S. concepts, are included at the end of each part (Alamo Rent-a-Car, Dell Computer Corporation, McKesson Corp., and UPS). * The text includes the most current research and information systems topics available including coverage of group decision support systems, business process redesign, client-server architecture, the Internet, outsourcing, fuzzy logic, and virtual reality. * Primary-source articles, located in the appendix, enrich text material, presenting input from writers and researchers in the field of information systems. Discussion questions follow each reading. * Chapter 14 covers legal issues of privacy, fraud, software liability, viruses, copyright protection, and security.