Information Resource Management

Information systems can either maintain the status quo (and thus be considered only as a necessary cost item) or go beyond it to add value to the organization. Considering the rapid evolution in the state of the art and the state of the practice, maintaining the status quo generally results in falling behind the competition. It is important that both computer professionals and computer consumers recognize that information resource management is increasingly important in the success not only of individual information systems but also of the whole organization.

This course will investigate the main aspects necessary for organizational information resource management and creative techniques for profitably managing information resources.

Prof. Jim Carter <carter@cs.usask.ca>

Text / Recommended Reading:

There is no single published source of information that is up to date with the full range of topics for this course. Rather than purchase a book that is either dated or incomplete, students will be provided with a set of links to various Web based resources.

Lectures:

The role of the lecture sessions is to present important material to the students and to allow discussion of this material by all the class participants. Questions and discussions are highly encouraged. Students will be responsible for all material covered in the class lecture sessions.

Assignments/Project:

Students will be expected to become familiar with the assigned text readings prior to the class in which they will be discussed. Students will be assigned to prepare critiques of particular readings. The number and nature of these critiques will be discussed during the first class.

A major project will encourage students to investigate a related topic in greater detail than is covered in the class. Students will be required to make a short presentation about their project in class.

Marking:

10% Assignments

30% Term Project

25% Project Report

05% Class Presentation

20% Midterm

40% Final Exam

Course Outline

Week	Topics: Basic Concepts	Reference Materials
1	Introduction - Information as a valuable resource - Information based business - Identifying information resources
2	Information Economics - Information value volatility - Influence of time on info value - Influence of exclusivity on value	Speculative Microeconomics for Tomorrow's Economy" provides some useful insights into how the Internet changes traditional economic assumptions. However it is more focused at e-Commerce rather than at the economics of information. The Digital Dilemma: Intellectual Property in the Information Age, Appendix D: Information Economics, pp. 271-281 (unfortunately to access this chapter for free, you must do so one page at a time) http://print.nap.edu/pdf/0309064996/pdf_image/271.pdf discusses the costs going into the creation of information and some general strategies for obtaining payments to cover these costs. "Versioning Information Goods" provides a discussion of stratified pricing of information goods - where the same information good is sold in various qualities for differing prices. Your Knowledge @ Work KM Primer Part A KM Primer Part B
3	Information Control - Providing and keeping information - Intellectual property - Privacy	The AICPA/CICA WEBTRUST (SM/TM) SECURITY PRINCIPLE AND CRITERIA provides a basis for understanding the certification expectations of information security. You should also download the main document on WEBTRUST certification of security The class page on intellectual property . The Principles of the "Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act" of Canada provide a basis for understanding legislated expectation of information privacy. AICPA/CICA WEBTRUST (SM/TM) CONFIDENTIALITY PRINCIPLE AND CRITERIA discusses an overall approach to privacy. You should also download the main document on WEBTRUST certification of confidentiality.
4	IRM in Local Industry - Guest Presentations - IRM in mass media publishing - IRM in bioinformatics

Week	Topics: Data & Its Derivatives
5	Databases and Data Warehouses - What databases can do for you - Database components and tools - Database design - Data warehouse issues
6	Value Added Computing - OLAP & Data mining - Finding new value in existing information - Expanding existing system boundaries	General Overview of Data Mining Perspectives on Data Mining Determining a Value for Data Mining Measuring the Value of Mined Information The technology involved in Data Mining A Characterization of Data Mining Technologies and Processes The Application of Data Mining Web Mining: Information and Pattern Discovery on the World Wide Web OLAP & Data Mining Bridging the Gap
7	Information Engineering - Increasing efficiency via reducing redundancy - Increasing accuracy via centralization - Increasing accessibility via distribution - Meta-data, meta-information, and knowledge	Association Matrix Background and Context Association Matrix: Concepts and technique data model Association Matrix: Process models and Formalization Role of Information Technology in Managing Organizational Change and Organizational Interdependence (abstract) 1. Introduction 2. Environmental Change, IT and Organizational Structure 3. Open Systems Theory and Environmental Change 4. IT-Organizational Interdependence Understood Through Open Systems Theory 5. Limitations and Conclusions

Week	Topics: Taking Charge
8	Gaining Control - Identifying and exploiting new trends - Becoming the gatekeeper to information - Customer relationship management	SAP's white paper on "Analytical Customer Relationship Management"
9	Developing New Markets for Information - Repackaging information - Similar markets for existing information - Marketing new information
10	Long Term Systems Planning - Managing versions - Controlling costs - Tradeoffs between local and corporate efficiency	The Benefits of Software Configuration Management Business Case for Software Configuration Management There's Quality and then There's Quality What is SPICE? An Introduction to the SPICE Documents ISO 15504-2 - SPICE - A Model for Process Management
11	Information Systems Risk Management - Identifying risks - Evaluating risks - Handling risks	e-Commerce Risk Management ISO 15504-8 - SPICE - Guide for Use in Determining Supplier Process Capability
12	Computer Security - Intranets, Extranets, and the Internet - Firewalls - Encryption and Certification
13	The Complete Organizational Information Domain	Designing Organizational Memory: Preserving Intellectual Assets in a Knowledge Economy
13	Student Presentations