Monthly Archives: November 2014
Executive Report #3 – due by Dec. 12
Executive Report #3 Topic #2 – References
- Alaska Airlines, Flying above an Industry’s Troubles – New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/business/alaska-airlines-flying-above-an-industrys-troubles.html?ref=technology
- M.C. Lacity, L.P. Willcocks, and D.F. Feeny, “The Value of Selective IT Outsourcing,” MIT Sloan Management Review (Spring 1996)
- J.C. Linder, “Transformational Outsourcing,” MIT Sloan Management Review (Winter 2004)
- J. Ross and N.O. Fonstad, “Planning a Strategic Outsourcing Profile,” MIT Center for Information Systems Research
- J. Ross and C.M. Beath, “Sustainable Value from Outsourcing: Finding the Sweet Spot,” MIT Center for Information Systems Research
Executive Report #3 Topic #3 – References
- R. Norlan and M.F. McFarlan, “Information Technology and the Board of Directors,” Harvard Business Review (October 2005)
- R.D. Austin and C.A.R. Darby, “The Myth of Secure Computing,” Harvard Business Review (June 2003)
- G. Westerman and R. Hunter, “Developing a Common Language about IT Risk Management,” MIT Center for Information Systems Research
- G. Westerman, “What Makes an IT Risk Management Process Effective?” MIT Center for Information Systems Research
- Why Security Matters Now – CIO Magazine http://www.cio.com/article/504837/
- How CIOs Can Learn to Catch Insider Crime – CIO Magazine http://www.cio.com/article/702107/
Day 12 – IT Adventures Ch. 10 & 11 – brief guidelines
Read Chapter 10 and 11 of IT Adventures and summarize with the following focuses.
- What happened at IVK on Thursday, June 28?
- What are the issues with regard to disclosure?
- What are the three recovery plans? What is Mr. Barton’s recommendation and why did he recommend it? What is Mr. Williams decision?
Unofficial LETTER GRADES as of Nov 20
The unofficial LETTER GRADES as of Nov. 20 are available on Blackboard.
Do keep in mind that these grades are strictly unofficial and only to inform the current standing in this course. The final grades will depend on the performance in the rest of the semester including Executive Report #3.
Homework #2 grading completed
The grades are available on Blackboard.
Grading briefs of Bharti Airtel completed
Day 11 Strategic IT Outsourcing – online discussion questions
- What constitutes “transaction costs” in capital expenditures?
- How unconventional are the proposed deals with the network vendors and IBM?
- Whose wage structures are similar to restaurant servers? Why do they get paid similar to servers?
- What would be the reasons for Ericsson or IBM to sign the deal with Bharti? What would be the reasons not to sign?
- Why do trust and mutual cooperation matter in a long-term outsourcing contract?
- Why is a service-level agreement important?
Day 11 – Strategic IT Outsourcing (II) – class slides and video
Updates in Homework #2
There has been three changes in Homework #2.
MIS 3534 Fall 2014 – Homework #2.pdf
- The due date has been extended to Wednesday, November 19.
- The payback period is NOT required.
- Please make sure to put upfront costs and ongoing costs in Exhibit 14A in thousands $. For example, if the costs are $100,000, put it as 100.
Day 11 – Strategic IT Outsourcing (II) – in-class discussion questions
- If you are a parent of a high-school kid, how would you write a private-tutoring contract with a tutor? If you are a tutor, how would you?
- What’s the strategic position of Bharti Airtel in the industry? Is it doing well? What are Bharti’s core competencies?
- Why did Mr. Gupta, the managing director of Bharti, say “Budgeting for capital expenditures was a nightmare”? (p. 1)
- Think about the relationship between Bharti and Ericsson, a network equipment vendor. What are the interests of Bharti? What are the interests of Ericsson? Are they in the same boat?
- In the proposed outsourcing contract with the network vendors, how will Bharti pay, for what? With IBM, how will it pay, for what?
- If you were a network or IT engineer, would you work for Bharti or Nokia/IBM?
- What could go wrong in Bharti’s long-term outsourcing relationship?
- Should two roommates write and sign an agreement? Or can they?
We’ll discuss these questions in-class next Monday. Do not write comments here.
Extended office hours for Homework #2 – Wed. Nov. 19, 1 – 5pm
I will have extended office hours for Homework #2 on Wednesday, Nov. 19 between 1 and 5pm. There will be no office hours this Friday (Nov 14), but I will be able to help by emails.
Homework #2 due date EXTENDED – by Wed. Nov 19
Homework #2 is now due by Wednesday, Nov. 19, 11:59PM.
Day 11 – Bharti Airtel – Reading Brief guidelines
- What are Bharti Airtel’s business areas and key business functions?
- What is the unique nature of the proposed outsourcing deal of Bharti?
- Why does Mr. Gupta propose this deal?
- What are the reactions to this deal from Bharti and the vendors?
Your brief does not need to cover “History and Background” and “Indian Market for Telecom,” but DO NOT skip to read them. Also, don’t forget to bring “Bharti Airtel – One Year Later” case to the class as well, but you don’t need to read it.
Executive Report #2 – grading completed
Grades are available in Blackboard.