Assign: Managing the Digital Firm

Management Information Systems

MANAGING THE DIGITAL FIRM

Chapter 3

Information Systems, Organizations, Management, and Strategy

Kenneth C. Laudon

Jane P. Laudon

9th edition

PEARSON

Prentice Hall

2006

www.prenhall.com/laudon

Chapter 3
Objectives
|After completing this chapter, you will be able to: |
|Identify and describe important features of organizations that managers need to know about in order to build and use information systems successfully. |
|Evaluate the impact of information systems on organizations. |
|Assess how information systems support the activities of managers in organizations. |
|Analyze how information systems support various business strategies for competitive advantage. |
|Assess the challenges posed by strategic information systems and management solutions. |

Discussion Questions: 1. Look at an organization you belong to. How are decisions made in this organization?

2. Describe the difference between the Economic Theory and the Behavioral Theory of how information systems affect organizations.

3. What synergies do you see in the merged AOL/TimeWarner Company that can give it the competitive advantage? In your opinion, why hasn’t the merger between these two companies been more successful?

4. How can managers’ roles be enhanced with a well-integrated information system? How can their roles be diminished with a poorly-integrated information system?

5. Ask yourself these questions about your own firm:

a. What is the structure of