Organisations and ICT (OICT) is an English-taught course that introduces the students with the interplay between organisations and information & communication technology (ICT). The main thrust behind the course is to create awareness and deliver knowledge on the importance of considering ICT within the context of the organisation(s) that make use of ICT systems. OICT is an essential component of the information science curriculum (informatiekunde), but it is also useful for students attending computer science (informatica). OICT is about understanding and analysing an organisational context where an ICT solution is to be devised, in order to identify the problem and the needs in that context. This is a preliminary and necessary step to the design and engineering of information systems--taught in the follow-up course Informatiesystemen--that fulfill the identified problems and needs.

Specifically, OICT has the following intended learning outcomes that the successful student should have achieved by the end of the course:

• Apply well-established organisational theories to explain how existing organisations are designed and why they behave the way they do
• Explain how the key types of ICT systems can support organisations in achieving their goals
• Critically analyse the ICT systems that are embedded within one organisation, with respect to their suitability, advantages and limitations
• Explain the fundamentals and the challenges of effectively integrating ICT within an organisation
• Apply reengineering methods and modelling languages in order to improve the economic, social and environmental performance of an organisation

In order to achieve these objectives, the course will be taught as an interplay of lectures, practical activities in the lab, and guest lectures on selected topic given by experts in the field. An integral part of the course will be a project, delivered by weekly or bi-weekly assignments, where groups of students will take an organisation of their choice, and will use various methods to model, analyse and redesign the business strategies and goals, organisational structure, business processes, knowledge management practices, security and risk management practices, as well as improving their social and environmental impact.

The course will cover the following topics:

• introduction to modern information systems
• organisational theory
• organisational strategy
• organisational design
• organisational structure
• business processes
• information systems within organisations
• responsible software to increase the sustainability of organisations
• security and risk in information systems
• knowledge management
• foundations of business intelligence

For any questions, please contact Dr. Sergio España via e-mail

Main recommended book (mandatory): Kenneth C. Laudon and Jane P. Laudon, "Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital firm, 16th edition", 2015, ISBN-13: 9781292296562. Many mandatory readings are from this book, which addresses ICT-related topics (e.g. what types of ICT we typically encounter in organisations, what competitive advantages does ICT bring to organisations, what security risks need to be considered). Note: you could also get the book version with ISBN-13: 9781292296715, but it is more expensive and we do NOT need the 'Pearson MyLab MIS with Pearson eText' component, so probably it is not worthwhile to buy it on purpose.

Second recommended book (optional): Richard L. Daft, Jonathan Murphy and Hugh Willmott, “Organization Theory & Design: An International Perspective, 4th edition", 2020, ISBN-13: 9781473765900. This book complements the one by Laudon and Laudon by addressing organisational management topics. It is a really nice book and we do recommend buying it, but if you attend the lectures, collect the slides and make your own notes, you would also be fine.

While owning or buying earlier versions of these books should also be fine, please do that at your own risk. Always check that the content of your book that is considered in the OICT course matches the content of the latest version. "But I was using an earlier version of the book" is not a valid excuse during exam inspections.

Notice that the books do not cover all of the contents that will be taught in the lectures. We therefore recommend the students to attend the lectures: all the presented material can be part of the midterm and final exams.

Books are available through the book sale of Sticky or your most usual brick&mortar or online shop

• midterm exam: 30%
• final exam: 35%
• project: 35% ((bi)weekly assignments and presentations)