INLS 210 (078) - Information Communication Technologies, Organizations and Knowledge Management

Syllabus       

Spring 2006

Instructor:  Deborah Barreau

                    206 Manning Hall, 966-5042

                    barreau@ils.unc.edu

Overview

Information communication technologies (ICT) such as cell phones, PDAs, wireless computer devices, iPODs, global positioning systems, and conferencing systems are changing the ways people work and the ways that people relate to each other.  Many changes happen so quickly that we find ourselves reacting to them rather than managing them, adapting to them rather than maximizing their potential to help us work better and smarter. The goal for this course is to examine and reflect on the power and potential of ICTs for all types of organizations. Among the questions we will address are:

• What is the nature of personal and organizational communication?
• What challenges do organizations face in applying ICTs to real problems?
• What ICTs are most likely to impact organizations in the future, and how can information professionals help organizations to make use of them?
• What threats do ICTs pose to organizations and to personal relationships?
• How do we evaluate ICTs ?

Scholarly Policies and Honor Code

Students are encouraged to become familiar with the UNC Honor Code to understand the rights and responsibilities defined there.  The UNC Honor Code prohibits giving or receiving unauthorized aid on examinations or in the completion of assignments.  While collaboration is encouraged, you must acknowledge the contributions of individual members of your group as well as the support you receive from others.  Whenever you use the words or ideas of others, this should be properly quoted and cited.  You should adopt a style guide (American Psychological Association, Chicago Manual of Style, or Turabian) and use it consistently.  Students who are discovered attempting to take credit for work performed by others will be referred to the Honor Court for resolution.

Please be considerate of others in using reserve and other materials, returning them promptly and in good condition, and of others in sharing lab facilities as well.

Please be considerate of your classmates by arriving in class on time, with cell phones turned off for the duration of the class period.

Spirited discussion is encouraged.

Assignments and Grading

Students will be responsible for assigned readings for the course and will be expected to contribute to class discussions based on the readings.  (25%)

Students will be responsible for two brief analysis papers that examine the features of a particular technology and that describes the potential utility of that technology for an organization that is likely to benefit from it. One of these technologies is the video wall in the UNC Health Sciences Library. The other technology will be the student's choice.  (40%)

Students will be expected to contribute to complete a project or research paper on topics of their choosing. (35%)

General Outline  (Outline is subject to change according to student interests and preferences)

1. Introduction and foundations: Communication and organizational behavior

1.1. Introduction to information communication technologies, organizations, and knowledge management, Thursday, January 12   

1.2. A brief history of communication technologies and their impact on social systems and organizations, Tuesday, January 17   

1.3 The nature and importance of organizational communication, Thursday, January 19

1.4 Overview of relevant theories of organizational communication, Tuesday, January 24

        Diffusion of innovation, social networking, and organizational theories

 1.5. Activity theory, Thursday, January 26

  1.4 Social informatics as a discipline, Tuesday, January 31

No class on Thursday, February 2.  I will be at the NY Public Library.

2. How ICTs work

    2.1 The physics of communication, Tuesday, February 7

Assignment 1 is due.

    2.2 Evaluating ICTs in the organization, Thursday, February 9

            This class will meet in the Health Sciences Library collaboratory.

    2.3 Evaluating ICTs: reflection on the collaboratory, Tuesday, February 14

    2.4 Evaluating ICTs in the organization, Thursday, February 16

    2.5 Cell phones, PDAs, and other portable devices, Tuesday, February 21

Proposal/description of your project or paper is due.

    2.6 Wikis, blogs, email, and listservs and organizational communication, Thursday, February 23

3. Organizational communication and knowledge management

    3.1 Formal and informal communication structures, Tuesday, February 28

           Problem of tacit, explicit and common knowledge

    3.2 Technology and communication, Thursday, March 2

    3.3 Consequences of ICTs in the workplace, Tuesday, March 7

Assignment 2 is due.

    3.4 Challenges for designers and developers, Thursday, March 9

SPRING BREAK, March 13-17, No classes this week

    3.5 Management strategies for capturing knowledge, Tuesday, March 21

    3.6 Social networks and knowledge management, Thursday, March 23

4. Personal knowledge management

    4.1 The user and information technology issues, Tuesday March 28

    4.2 Security and privacy, Thursday, March 30

    4.3 Organizational contexts and personal information management, Tuesday, April 4

5. Other ICT technologies (RFID, smart cards, etc.), Thursday, April 6

6. Other ICT technologies (GIS), Tuesday, April 11

7. Societal impacts of ICTs (summary), Thursday, April 13

8. Organizational impacts of ICTs (summary), Tuesday, April 18

9. Legal issues, Thursday, April 20

10. Presentations

        Tuesday, April 25

        Thursday, April 27

Final project/paper due:  May 9

last updated: January 10, 2006