Info Systems Midterm

Information Systems in Management


What is an Information System?


What is Management?

  • The organization and coordination of efforts in order to achieve defined objectives

  • Can you name some management activities?

  • We can manage:

    • Information Systems toward strategic alignment – MIS

    • Projects toward success – Project Management

    • People through change – Change Management


Who is Responsible for IS in an Organization?

  • The MIS Department

  • Strategic Vs. Support View of IS?

  • Static or Dynamic?


MIS In Different Contexts:

  • Are the considerations different in different types of organizations (e.g. for profit vs not for profit)?

  • Different focus in IBH vs Commerce class (e.g. IBH 2AB3 vs Comm 2KA3)?


Working In Teams


The Project Team:

  • A project team is:

    • a group of individuals working interdependently to accomplish the project objective.

  • Teamwork is:

    • the cooperative effort by members of a team to accomplish a common goal.

      • Effective teamwork = project success

      • How can we develop effective teams?

  •  Like anything, teamwork has pros & cons. Can you name some of each?

  • Is teamwork important?

  • Is teamwork a skill that can be learned?


Characteristics of Effective Teams:

  • Clear understanding of the project objective

  • Clear expectations of each person’s role and responsibilities

  • Results orientation

  • High degree of cooperation and collaboration

  • High level of trust

High-Performing Teams:


Constructive Team Roles vs. Destructive Team Roles:


Key Considerations When Working In Teams:

  • Planning (tasks, timing)

  • Communication

  • Conflict resolution





Managing Conflict:

  • Styles of handling conflict

  1. Forcing/ Competing

  2. Withdrawing/ Avoiding

  3. Smoothing/ Accommodating

  4. Compromising

  5. Collaborating/ Problem Solving