Course 2007-2008 a.y.

Course Objectives

The potential impact of new technologies on real business has often created naive enthusiasm and inflated expectations. Yet what are the effective changes that recent ICT innovations have produced on the structure and operating processes of organizations? Nowadays, firms rely on ICT in order to cope with fundamental aspects of their core functioning mechanisms. As a meaningful example, national and multinational corporations expect people to work in geographically dispersed teams.
Firms rely on several tools in order to manage distance. The most important and diffused tool is computer-mediated communication.
The implementation of computer-mediated coordination and communication systems has significant impact on the entire organization, on groups of employees and on single individuals within the firm.
Generalizing, the introduction of ICTs in large and multinational organizations may be affected by individual and organizational factors, such as acceptance, diffusion, interiorization and fit.
This course aims at providing students with theoretical and practical tools required to understand and manage these dynamics, in order to avoid technology rejection phenomena.
Through a balanced teaching scheme, theoretical lessons is paired with the discussion of business cases, lab experiments utilizing up to date managerial software and interactive workshops with industry practitioners.
Following job market requests, this course aims at developing the following core competences:

• Organizational design and implementation of computer mediated communication tools;
• Management of ICT individual adoption behaviours;
• Innovation management of computer-mediated communication processes;
• Management of organizational change processes induced by new technologies

Course Content Summary

The first part of the course develops the theoretical background necessary to interpret and understand the organizational impacts of ICTs. Theories as Teamwork Quality, Technology Acceptance, Technology Diffusion, Task Technology Fit are thoroughly discussed along with data and case analysis.

The second part consists of lab experiments aimed to the understanding of technology impacts, while the third part is devoted to a field project, with the instructors support.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Written exam

Textbooks

Attending Students
Handout prepared by Professor Proserpio.
Non attending students
Non-attending students will be required to study 15 theoretical and managerial papers, then prepare a written essay, along with an oral exam. Titles of papers have to be requested to the professor.