Faculty: Prof. George S. Geis, University of Alabama

Course Overview
The primary focus is on strategic issues relevant to general managers in their efforts to select, deploy and exploit IT. Through readings, class discussions and case studies, a variety of subjects related to the splintering of traditional business models will be covered. The class alternates between two perspectives: the innovator seeking to build a business around useful technologies and the manager seeking to use technology to address business challenges.

Course Objectives:

• Get a systematic overview of the changing competitive landscape and a framework for thinking through the resulting opportunities
• Examine the use of outsourcing and IT in four diverse industries (transportation, financial services, telecommunications and health care)
• Discuss future prospects of the outsourcing industry