50493 Managing Information

Handbook description

This subject examines notions of information and knowledge in organisations. In the first part, students explore the nature of organisations, their structure, strategic intent and culture, and develop an understanding of records, documents, information and knowledge management within organisations. Students learn and use techniques for analysing and evaluating the internal and external information and knowledge environments of organisations. In the second part of the subject, information and knowledge processes are discussed in terms of their value, benefits and use in strategic planning, managing, marketing, stakeholder relationships and decision making within organisations. Contemporary management theory and practices are introduced in the context of planning and delivery of information management functions within organisations. The opportunity is provided for students to explore information management issues in particular areas of practice.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject students are expected to be able to:

1. describe and analyse information and knowledge flows and processes within organisations
2. describe the technological, cultural, legislative, regulatory and contextual dimensions of organisations
3. plan the management and delivery of information and information services within organisations
4. demonstrate capabilities for managing information and knowledge flows and processes to meet organisational strategies
5. understand the generation, design, structuring, access, communication, use and management of information and knowledge within a variety of organisational contexts
6. prepare and write reports and proposals.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject provides the students with an understanding of the contemporary issues, trends and innovations in the field and in practice and enables them to respond to these in appropriate professional ways (Objectives a, b, d, e). It provides a firm basis on which to work capably as an early-career information professional in the generation, design, structuring, access, communication, use, and management of information and knowledge (Objectives c, d and e). The subject also enables students to have practical experience in a range of professional communication and planning skills (Objectives c and f).

Teaching and learning strategies

There will be a range of activities reflecting communication conventions within organisations such as agenda setting, meeting procedures, team presentation, analysis of case studies, report and proposal writing. These conventions will shape the lectures, tutorials, study groups and online discussions.

UTSOnline will be used as an information and discussion forum for the subject and to facilitate class and assignment work.

Active participation at all stages will be essential for successful completion of this course. Students will be expected to prepare for class discussions, using readings and case studies as required. Some activities will be conducted out of class time on UTSOnline.

Content

There are two general themes in the subject.

Information in the organisation (Objectives a, b, e and f):

• Understanding of organisational objectives and strategy
• Functional analysis of organisations and their environments
• Methods for analysing formal and informal information flows
• Identification of dynamic information processes and technologies
• Different approaches to mapping information and knowledge including risk analysis, information inventory and auditing, and gap analysis.

Designing and implementing information and knowledge initiatives in organisations (Objectives c, d and f)

• Design of information content, processes, protocols and strategies to maximise organisational capabilities
• Project planning and management, resource management and strategies for exploiting complex information spaces
• Comparison of best practices, benchmarking, standards and notions of value adding with information management
• Identifying management styles, leadership roles and work practices
• Information professionals skills and roles.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Topic Paper

Assessment item 2: Information Analysis Report

Assessment item 3: Project Management Learning Module (Group Work)

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Attendance is particularly important in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students who attend fewer than ten classes are advised that their final work will not be assessed and that they are likely to fail the subject.

Indicative references

Additional references on topics will be provided on UTSOnline.

Management and organisations
Buchanan, D.A. 2004, Organizational behaviour: an introductory text. 5th edn, Prentice Hall, Harlow
Clegg, S., Kornberger, M.and Pitsis, T. 2005, Managing and organizations : an introduction to theory and practice, Sage, London
Davidson, P. & Griffin, R.W. 2006, Management, 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Qld.
George, J.M. 2004, Understanding and managing organizational behaviour, 4th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Mintzberg, H. 1979, The structuring of organizations: a synthesis of the research, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Morgan, G. 2006, Images of organization, (6th Edition) Sage, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Nankervis, A. 2005, Managing services, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne
Robbins, S.P. & Coulter, M. 2005, Management, 8th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Robbins, S. P., Millett, B., and Waters-Marsh, T. 2004, Organisational behaviour, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W

Information functions in organisations
Asprey, l and Middleton, M. 2002, Integrative document and content management : strategies for exploiting enterprise knowledge, Idea Group Pub, Hershey PA
Boddy, D., Boonstra, A., Kennedy, G. 2004, Managing information systems: an organisational perspective, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, Harlow, England
Choo, Chun Wei 2002, Information management for the intelligent organization, 3rd edn, Information Today, Medford, NJ.
Choo, Chun Wei 2006, The knowing organization: how organizations use information to construct meaning, create knowledge, and make decisions, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, New York
Davenport, T. H. 2000, Working knowledge: how organizations manage what they know, 2nd edn, Harvard Business School, Boston, Mass
Mac Morrow, N. 2001, Knowledge Management: an Introduction. Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST), vol.35, pp.381-422.
Megill, K. A., 2005, Corporate memory: records and information management in the knowledge age,2nd Edition, Munich, K.G.Saur
Nardi, B.A. & O'Day, V.L. 2000, Information ecologies: using technology with heart, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

Analysing information environments
Buchanan, S., & Gibb, F. 1998, The information audit: an integrated strategic approach, International Journal of Information Management, vol.18, no.1,pp. 29-47.
Henczel, S. 2001, The information audit : a practical guide, K.G. Saur, München
Hibberd, B. & Evatt, A. 2004, Mapping information flows, Information Management Journal, vol.38, no.1, pp. 58-63
Jones, H. 2005, Risking knowledge management: an information audit of risk management activities within the Hobart City Council, Library Management, vol.26, no.6/7, pp.397-407
Orna, E. 1999, Practical information policies, 2nd ed., Gower, Brookfield, VT
Orna, E. 2004, Information strategy in practice, Gower, Aldershot, Hants.

Information management - general
Abell, A., & Oxbrow, N. 2001, Competing with knowledge : the information professional in the knowledge management age, Library Association, London
Choo, C. W., & Bontis, N. (eds.) 2002, The strategic management of intellectual capital and organizational knowledge, Oxford University Press, New York
Evans, G. & Ward, P.L. 2003, Beyond the basics: a management guide for library and information professionals, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York
Hinton, M. (ed.) 2005, Introducing information management, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford
Maceviciute, E. & Wilson, T.D. 2005, Introducing information management: an information research reader, Facet, London
Orna, E. 2005, Making knowledge visible: communicating knowledge through information products, Gower, Aldershot
Pearlson, K. 2005, Managing and using information systems: a strategic approach, Wiley, New York

Information services
Bryson, J. 2006, Managing information services: a transformational approach, Ashgate, Burlington, VT
Corrall, S. 2000, Strategic management of information services: a planning handbook, ASLIB/IMI, London
Pantry, S. & Griffiths, P. 2002, Creating a successful e-information service, Facet, London
Pugh, L. 2007, Change management in information services, Gower, Aldershot, UK.
Roberts, S. & Rowley, J. 2004, Managing information services, 2nd edition. Gower, Aldershot
Rowley, J. 2006, Information marketing, Ashgate, Aldershot

Managing projects
Allan, B. 2004, Tools and techniques for today's ILS professionals, Facet Publishing, London
Andersen, E.S. et al, Goal directed project management: effective techniques and strategies, Kogan Page, London, 2004
Frame, J. D. 2003, Managing projects in organizations: how to make the best use of time, techniques, and people, 3rd edn, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco
Polonsky, M.J. & Waller, D. Designing and managing a research project: a business student's guide, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, Calif.,2005
Watson, M., Managing smaller projects: a practical guide, Project Manager Today, Hook, 2002