Ideas behind the E4MIS Blog...

Elements of the Blog
Debates
I think it is important to use contemporary and historical analyses in debates on crucial issues affecting society, markets, and commerce. The debates constructed here will either boost or criticize a important aspect of management thought or some technologically mediated innovation.

Discussion Format
Two student groups take the opposing views on the stated motion (blue supporting and red attacking). Presentations are allocated 5' followed immediately by 10' discussion. Further summative discussion is encouraged after both presentations have concluded.

Exercises
A small number of spreadsheet exercises and classroom activities are offered to support the subject matter

Notes:
The objective of this blog is to support students with an interest in information systems and who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning; people who are keen to discover and form their own opinions about the impacts, uses and risks of information technology.

The blog offers an eclectic overview of contemporary information systems, products and services. Topics include knowledge, knowledge management, transactional systems, databases, electronic commerce, mobile commerce, issues of privacy, data protection, copyright, outsourcing, and others.

The context for this is information systems and high tech products used or applied in contemporary organisations dealing with pressing needs and demands. Notice I wrote organisations rather than businesses. This is to draw the point that, while much of the industry focus is commercial and this blog arises within the setting of a Business School (formerly Faculty of Commerce), it is important to acknowledge that not all organisational forms are commercial in nature nor is a commercial orientation necessarily the most crucial perspective to apply in organisations generally. However, management responsibility is a necessary condition for effective organisation and therefore the focus on information systems and high technology innovation is orientated towards impactful activities and responsibilities of management.