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Department of Marketing & Consumer Studies

MCS*2020

MARKETING INFORMATION MANAGEMENT WINTER 2014

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Course Description & Objectives

Welcome to the Information Age! A time so profoundly influenced by the ubiquitous distribution of information that the identity of an entire epoch is defined around it. The promise and premise of information technologies has led scholars, policy makers, technologists, businesses, researchers and pundits alike to contend that profound transformations will happen in business and society. And they are. The structure of information acquisition, sharing, manipulation and management as we know it is being revolutionized.

In this course students are introduced to the concepts and principles of information acquisition, manipulation, and management, as relevant to organizational decision-making and the individual user (consumer) experience. Experience in the evaluation of information technology applications used in organizations is provided. Current issues and the implications of the Information Age on social, economic and related market trends are explored through a variety of applications. Prerequisite: 5.00 credits including MCS*1000. Course Topics As Albert Einstein so simply put – “information is not knowledge”. Indeed, knowing how to use information is essential in today’s business environment… e.g., what good is collecting information on your customers and sales if you don’t know how to use it for problem solving or long term strategic planning? In this course we will unpack critical issues at the intersection of information, technology and people. Topics include: management information systems, information theory, intellectual property, information ethics, data security, search engines, accessibility, e-commerce, m-commerce, online advertising, global information systems, and social software.

Office: MINS257 Office Hours: Mon & Weds, 12:30-1:30pm

Email me for a phone appointment. mccallun@uoguelph.ca

@NikkiJade #MCS2020

Class Times and Location: Section 01: M/W/F 10:30 am – 11:20 am, MACS 209 Section 02: M/W/F 11:30 am – 12:20 pm, MACS 209

Instructor: Nicole McCallum

MCS2020 in 140characters:

#MCS2020--Information

theory/strategy for personal &

business decision-making.

Considers info technology from

iPhone to Fortune 500 systems.

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Course Learning Objectives This course is designed with an interactive framework to integrate learning and application of theory. At the end of this course, you should be able to:

Apply theoretical learning and reflect upon your experience in the information sector Investigate current, real world business and marketing problems using information

management tools. Describe how effective information management contributes to competitive advantage,

value creation, and organizational decision making Differentiate between various information systems used to manage information and apply

strategic thinking in their development and alignment with business objectives. Develop an analytical toolkit to evaluate the impact of new information technologies,

such as the Internet, on business processes and broad ethical issues (e.g., privacy, property). Recognize an information need and develop strategy to acquire the needed information Pose relevant questions and direct your own course of inquiry Work collaboratively to solve problems, propose solutions and defend recommendations Evaluate information and information sources critically Demonstrate proficiency in professional business communication (writing, presenting) Develop metacognition through self-reflection and personal assessment

Course Website Course readings, grades, lecture notes, announcements, research help tutorials, and other class materials are available on the Courselink website. Check it regularly for helpful tips and updates.

Textbook & Readings The required book for this course is below. Additional short readings from newspapers, industry publications, academic journals, and websites will also be required during the semester.

Consumers, Incentives and the Information Age, 2013. Compiled by. Nicole McCallum (2013). Pearson Canada. ISBN: 978-1-269-52958-7

Can’t buy the text? No problem! It’s on reserve in the library, along with the following books:

1. D’Elia, M.J. (2009). Exploring the Edges of the Information Age. Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt. ISBN: 978-0-7575-6620-2

This was the old textbook for the course, and is still highly relevant. If you are using this book, you can figure out what topics are missing by the class schedule below – I denoted ones that are not covered by this book with an asterisk.

2. Laudon K. & Laudon, J. & Barbston (2012). Managing the Digital Firm. Pearson Canada. The alternative version of Laudon & Laudon’s book, Essentials of Management Information Systems, is very similar to the digital firm version and can be used interchangeably. Online Communication Check Courselink and your <uoguelph.ca> email regularly. I often post answers to

frequently asked questions, tips, and general feedback on the newsfeed. If you have not received a response to an email, chances are its there.

If it’s urgent or timely, I may communicate via your central email account <uoguelph.ca>.

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I encourage you to make use of the discussion board on Courselink for peer learning. I do not monitor the discussion board, but it is valuable for discussing quizzes/assignments, course topics, and generally sharing resources and knowledge.

Emailing the instructor:

I endeavour to check my email daily (excluding weekends), so you can reasonably expect a response within 2 business days.

Please do: o Include the course code in the subject line of your email – I have a lot of students,

multiple courses, and clients I deal with daily. Please do not:

o Be lazy – check Courselink, assignment outlines, discussion board, and the syllabus before you ask me questions. There are 280 of you, 1 of me. I provide resources for your learning, and my efficiency, so utilize them well.

o Email me questions about a topic that require a long explanation, i.e., for problems with individual/group work, assignment feedback, or related questions that would work better speaking about in person.

Ultimately do not hesitate to ask me anything. Just don’t be lazy. Check all resources, then consider whether you can get the depth of the response you need in a few sentences of email text. If not, make an appointment to see me so we can discuss the concept, issue or question properly

Teaching Philosophy

You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.” -Galileo I believe that learning is a shared responsibility amongst the teacher and students. I have been fortunate enough to begin professionally teaching young and through a variety of mediums, and I’ve come to cherish the concept of engaged learning. I strive to teach you where to look, not tell you what to see – you determine the latter based on how you engage with the course.

Put simply, I believe students learn best when they are active participants in their own education and have ownership of their learning. To get something out of this course you have to choose to participate in it. I do not consider myself a final authority on all matters related to information management; instead, my goal is to facilitate an exploration of the key issues in this current paradigm, and provide you with a tool kit to apply your learning to real issues. It is your job to make sense of the material and construct your own learning. Similarly, an effective instructor needs to be constantly connected to the students to truly be able to adapt a course to meet diverse learning needs. Accordingly, I endeavour to design and deliver courses that are challenging, interesting, relevant and current. I will do my best to use current examples, effective presentation slides, and other media to make the content engaging, and generally foster a simulating and collaborative learning environment. This philosophy also means I deeply value feedback – both the feedback I offer you, and that which you share with me. So come to me with anything – that is how we both learn best. Sometimes I will tell you my exact expectations, but most of the time I will challenge you to awaken your own.

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Teaching Approach “Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not information alone, but also judgement, the manner in which information is collected and used” – Carl Sagan (astronomer, writer and scientist, 1934 – 1996)

Learning and retention are most effective when you are given an opportunity to put your knowledge into

practice. To this end, I use class time for more than just lectures. I will also feature a variety of active

learning techniques such as class and case discussions; reading assignments; guest presentation(s); and

the group assignments. These activities will provide the student with the opportunity to learn the

concepts and theories of the subject area and to apply this knowledge in a systematic and logical manner

consistent with the stated learning outcomes.

In addition to the theoretical side of information management, developing a practical skill set to use and

apply information – i.e., manage it – is the compelling motive for the approach used in this course:

Problem-Based Learning (PBL). PBL requires you to work collaboratively with your classmates to solve

problems and reflect on your experience. You will have to work together to clarify problems, identify

potential solutions, ask relevant questions, and, ultimately, propose workable solutions. I believe that this

methodology best reflects the kind of information and technology challenges that people face in the “real

world.” Learning to work with others, to direct your own course of inquiry, and to negotiate complex

organizational problems are skills that will serve you well in the future.

Evaluation I use both summative assessment (exams) and formative assessment (facilitated problem solving) in this course. Don’t get overwhelmed by the list of assignments below. A few of the assignments are group assignments and you will be given some class time to work on them.

Item Due Date Weight

Group Team Portfolio

i. Contract

ii. Debrief

Fri, Jan 31st, dropbox/soft copy

Fri Feb 28th dropbox/soft copy

6%

PBL1 Solution (report) Wednesday Feb 12th, in class 12%

PBL2 Solution (video +

abstract & appendix)

Week 11 – dropbox submission 20%

Individual Quizzes – Best 2 of 3 quizzes Each Friday – week 3, 6, 9 online 20%

Research Component Report (date varies depending on studies) 2%

Individual Reflection Week 12 10%

Final Exam (2 hours) TBD (check exam schedule) 30%

Time conflicts with other courses are your responsibility. Group Work / Peer Evaluation Since this course uses Problem-Based Learning, it features a fair amount of group work. I recognize that group work can be challenging for some students, but I am committed to helping each group function effectively. To help reduce the tension caused by group work, as well as develop professional debriefing skills, each group should draft and sign a contract at the beginning of the semester, and perform strategic debriefs at the end of each assignment.

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After the group assignments you will have the opportunity to evaluate the contributions made by each group member (including yourself). Your contribution to your group will directly correlate to your mark, and to your peers’ evaluation of you. I cannot stress this enough – I take peer evaluations very seriously, and reserve the right to penalize you if you do not contribute to your group. I will use the feedback from the peer assessments to adjust the grades for each individual. More details of the peer assessments will be available for each assignment. It is your responsibility to address any conflict with group members in a timely and professional manner. I am here to assist you with any mediation. Late Policy 10% per day will be deducted for late assignments, where weekends count for each day (20%). After five days, the assignment will not be accepted. Extensions may be granted only in extenuating circumstances approved far in advance (do not come to me the day before), and with documentation. Approvals for late submission should be requested in-person during office hours or by appointment (i.e. not before/after lectures, or via email).

Description of Assignments and Exams Below you will find a brief description of the assignments in this course. More specific information will be distributed during the semester on Courselink. PBL Assignments (x2): You will be given two (2) different problems to discuss throughout the semester. These problems will simulate real-world scenarios and will require you to collaborate with your team. Together you will use a problem-based learning process to arrive at a workable solution. These problems will deal with issues discussed in the course, but you should expect to conduct additional research as required. The problems will increase in complexity throughout the semester. Grading will be based on the evidence that you worked through the problem systematically, the quality and use of your inquiry/research, and the efficacy of your solution. Note: These problems are not case studies. Case studies typically include all of the necessary information you will need for analysis up front. The problems for this course are designed to be incomplete. It will be your job to flesh out the problem with questions and direct your own investigation. This is overwhelming to some students at first, which is why we have class time dedicated to working on these problems.

Team Portfolio This assignment is about forming your groups and establishing norms. Your three main objectives are: 1)

to assess the unique skills and abilities that each member brings to the team; 2) to develop a shared

understanding of how the group will work together by drafting a team contract; 3) to build team capacity

by debriefing on performance.

Individual Reflection: This assignment provides you with an opportunity to reflect on some of the course content and on your

own personal learning throughout the semester. I will assign specific articles and questions during the

semester. Please note: this is an individual assignment.

Research Component Report (Individual): 2% You will participate in research studies conducted by faculty members and/or graduate students from the Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies. More details will be posted on

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Courselink and discussed in class by the SONA administrator. Please note this assignment is organized and graded by the department, not me, so direct your questions to the email address of the SONA administrator.

Tests (Individual): There will be three online tests for MCS*2020 throughout the term. Two of these four will count for your grade. These will be open-book, delivered via Courselink (i.e, online test). Quizzes will be available on the “quizzes” tab on courselink from Friday 8:30am-11:59pm. You must make arrangements to write the exam during this time period. The quizzes will consist of 25 multiple choice questions of varying levels of difficulty. You will have 30 minutes to complete the quiz. Treat it like an in-class test. Cheating or collaborating on quizzes is strictly prohibited. Evidence of this type of activity can result in serious consequences, including expulsion. Note that the questions will be randomized so that no student receives exactly the same quiz.

Final Exam: 30% The final exam will follow a similar format as the tests given throughout the term. Students will be responsible for material covered during the entire term in lectures, including guest lectures and assigned readings, as well as the textbook. The final exam will be a closed-book 2 hour examination, written during the official examination period. Students are expected to check the official exam calendar to confirm the date and location. Students should make the necessary arrangements to ensure their attendance at the final exam. MCS*2020: Brief Schedule of Topics *subject to change. I’ll announce on Courselink if it changes significantly.

Dates

Topics Readings

* Note: The textbook is compiled from multiple books.

Abbreviations denoted below.

ITC: Information, Technology, Consumers

LLB: Laudon, Laudon & Barbston

Activities/Assignments

*All PBL workshops take

place on Fridays.

Week 1

Mon, Jan 6

Weds, Jan 8

Fri, Jan 10

The Information Age

Welcome to MCS*2020

Intro to the Information Age:

Information Concepts, Technology and

Systems.

Intro to group work & PBL

Intro Prezi ITC 1.1, 1.2,

LLB ch 1.1-1.3

Lec 1c

Syllabus

Intro to PBL

Resources

Group Dynamics

Week 2

Mon, Jan 13

Wed, Jan 15

Fri, Jan 17

The Information Environment

The Information Economy

Information & the Organization (intro)

Information and knowledge transfer

PBL 0

ITC 1.3; 2.1, 2.2, 3.4 LLB ch 3.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4

ITC 3.1, 3.2

PBL Workshop I:

Resources: PBL Scenario 0

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Dates

Topics Readings

* Note: The textbook is compiled from multiple books.

Abbreviations denoted below.

ITC: Information, Technology, Consumers

LLB: Laudon, Laudon & Barbston

Activities/Assignments

*All PBL workshops take

place on Fridays.

Week 3

Mon, Jan 20

Wed, Jan 22

Fri, Jan 24

Information & the Organization I

Using information in business

Information systems

PBL 0 & PBL 1

LLB ch 3.1, 3.2, ITC 2.4, 2.5 LLB ch 9

PBL Workshop II:

PBL 0 Solution

PBL1 Released

QUIZ 1

Week 4

Mon, Jan 27

Wed, Jan 29

Fri, Jan 31

Information & the Organization II

Information & Competitive Advantage

Information & Consumers;

Marketing Info Management

LLB ch 3.3, 3.4 ITC – 3.3, 3.6

Check week 4 readings on Course link

PBL1 Work period (30min)

Group Contracts Due

(Friday - Dropbox)

Week 5

Mon, Feb 3

Wed, Feb 5

Fri, Feb 7

Information Fluencies

Evaluating Information Systems,

Database Management Systems

Data Collection and Information

Evaluation

Information Literacy & Technological

Competency

ITC 4.1 LLB ch 6

ITC 4.2, 3.4

Check week 5 readings on Courselink

PBL1 work period (30 min)

Get ready--quiz 2 next

week!

Week 6

Mon, Feb 10

Wed, Feb 12

Fri, Feb 14

Information paradigm

The rise of the Internet

Information Infrastructure

Intro to the digital paradigm – Tools &

Tech Trends. Guest Speaker.

ITC 5.1, additional

readings on Courselink

LLB ch 7, ch 5.1, 5.2

PBL1 due Wednesday in

class (hard copy) PBL2 Released

QUIZ 2

Week of Feb 17th – Reading Week, no classes. Enjoy!

Week 7

Mon, Feb 24

Wed, Feb 26

Fri, Feb 28

Information Paradigm, continued…

Organizing and retrieving information;

Findability

Online Consumers & Search Engine

Optimization

Application: the emerging digital firm

ITC 5.2, 5.3 LLB ch 5.3-5.4

ITC 6.1-6.3

LLB ch 10

PBL 1 Peer Evaluations

& Debrief due Friday (dropbox)

Week 8

Mon, Mar 3

Wed, Mar 5

Fri, Mar 7

Information Ethics

Models of analysis, ethical issues

Ethics in Practice – Privacy, Profiling

Ethics activity; PBL 2 Workshop

LLB ch 4 ITC - 7.1 – 7.4

Additional readings on

Courselink - Aaron

Swartz; NSA

(Snowden)

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Week 9

Mon, Mar 10

Wed, Mar 12

Fri, Mar 14

Information Security & Privacy

Privacy legislation & identity,

database, & customer profiling.

Surveillance, Hackers & Computer

Crime

Information Security Strategy

ITC 8.1-8.3

LLB ch 8

Additional Readings:

Collecting consumer

information

Security Case – Estonia

QUIZ 3

(open until 11:59pm Fri on

Courselink < Quizzes)

Week 10

Mon, Mar 17

Wed, Mar 19

Fri, Mar 21

Property

IP in the information age – Copyright,

patents, trademarks

Information Participation – “Web

2.0” / Social Media (Guest Speaker)

ITC - 9.1, 9.2

ITC 6.1-6.3

Week 11

Mon, Mar 24

Wed, Mar 26

Fri, Mar 28

Information Accessibility &

Participation

Democratization of information

the Digital Divide & the Future Web

PBL 2 in-class showcase (all week)

ITC 10.1-10.4 Additional readings on

Courselink

PBL 2 Due (in the

Dropbox & in class):

Monday Mar 24, 8:00AM

Week 12

Mon, Mar 31

Wed, Apr 2

Fri, Apr 4

Global Information Management

Global Information Management;

PBL2 in-class showcase (all week)

Final exam information

LLB ch 13 Additional readings on

courselink

Final reflection due

(dropbox)

Final Exam

…tbd

The (Exciting) Conclusion

Location to be determined (check the

official exam schedule)

Epilogue

Postscript

Additional Notes: Missed Exams You require appropriate documentation to be considered for deferment of the final exam for medical or compassionate reasons. If you miss the exam without appropriate documentation, you will receive a zero (0) grade and receive an “incomplete” for your final grade. Accommodation for Students with Disabilities If you require special accommodation when writing examinations please contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities (http://www.csd.uoguelph.ca/csd/) and make appropriate arrangements. For online quizzes, simply speak to me.

Research and Referencing Since assignments in this course will require additional reading and research, students will be required to appropriately cite their resources. References and in-text citations must follow the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. For a quick reference on using APA style use this handout: http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/assistance/writing_services/components/documents/apa_2010_ccupdated.pdf

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If you need help finding resources for this course you can visit the Research Help desk (first floor of the Library) or use one of the online options: http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/assistance/ask_us/ Back up Your Work You need to keep a copy of all of your work (including any rough drafts) until the final marks have been recorded and submitted at the end of the semester. Technical difficulties, while uncommon, can occur with Courselink or with your computer so remember to back up your work. You may be asked to resubmit your work at any time.

Policies and Regulations You are expected to abide by the University’s academic regulations in the completion of your academic work, as set out in the undergraduate calendar. Some regulations are highlighted below.

Academic Integrity The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and directs all members of the University community – faculty, staff and students – to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible to prevent academic offences from occurring. The University of Guelph takes a serious view of academic misconduct and it is your responsibility as a student to be aware of and to abide by the University’s policy. Included in the definition of academic misconduct are such activities as cheating on examinations, plagiarism, misrepresentation, and submitting the same material in two different courses without written permission. You are expected to submit assignments and examinations that are based on individual work (with the exception of group assignments) and are reminded that cheating can result in a grade of zero (0). Instructors have the right to use software to aid in the detection of plagiarism or copying and to examine students orally on submitted work. In instances when work is suspected of being copied and/or plagiarized, all students involved will be notified. For students found guilty of academic misconduct, serious penalties, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the University can be imposed. To better understand your responsibilities, read the Undergraduate Calendar at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/current/c08/c08-amisconduct.shtml You are encouraged to discuss any questions you may have with your course instructor, teaching assistant, Academic Advisor or Academic Counsellor. For more information on proper academic conduct visit: http://www.academicintegrity.uoguelph.ca/

Academic Consideration If you find that you will be unable to meet the course requirements by the deadline or criteria expected because of medical, psychological or compassionate circumstances beyond your control, you should review the regulations on Academic Consideration in the Undergraduate Calendar and discuss your situation with the instructor, Program Counsellor or Academic Advisor as appropriate. For more information visit: http://www.uoguelph.ca/undergrad_calendar/c08/c08-ac.shtml Religious Holidays If you need to miss a scheduled test, midterm examination, final examination, or requirement to attend class for religious reasons, please advise me within two weeks of the distribution of this course outline so that we can make alternate arrangements. For further information visit: http://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/current/c08/c08-accomrelig.shtml