Table of Contents
WEEK 2: INNOVATION IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS (I), DEFINITION AND EXAMPLES OF DIGITAL BUSINESS
MODELS; THE CONCEPT OF PLATFORMS; EXAMPLES FROM THE HISTORY OF IT; THE CONCEPT OF
ECOSYSTEM; THE ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS: THE ARCHITECTURE OF PLATFORMS.
..................................................................................................................................................................................4
2018: EXPLORE THE FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS THAT UNDERPIN THE CONCEPT OF A BUSINESS MODEL. EXPLAIN WHY THE
BUSINESS MODEL CONCEPT HAS BEEN SO WIDELY USED WHEN DISCUSSING DIGITAL INNOVATION. ............................................ 4
EXAMPLE/2017: OUTLINE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL BUSINESS MODELS. IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS THE BUSINESS MODEL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOLLOWING: A) CROWDSOURCING PLATFORMS, B) SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS .................................. 4
MADE-UP QUESTION: ANALYZE THE TRANSFORMATION OF IBM FROM A VERTICALLY INTEGRATED COMPUTER MANUFACTURER TO
A MODULAR ARCHITECTURE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE IT INDUSTRY. DISCUSS HOW THIS SHIFT FOSTERED WIDESPREAD INNOVATION
POTENTIAL AND THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS. PROVIDE EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENTS ........................ 5
WEEK 3: INNOVATION IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS (II) PLATFORM GOVERNANCE; CONTROL AND
GENERATIVITY; THE ECONOMICS OF MULTISIDED PLATFORMS. ..........................................................................8
2020: EXPLAIN HOW DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS CAN PRODUCE INNOVATION. DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC AND GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS
THROUGH WHICH SOME DIGITAL PLATFORMS ACQUIRE NEAR MONOPOLY STATUS. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER... 8
2019: OUTLINE THE ARCHITECTURE OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS. DISCUSS DIFFICULTIES THAT CONFRONT THE LAUNCHING OF
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES ON DOUBLE-SIDED PLATFORMS AND STRATEGIES THAT PLATFORM OWNERS MAY ADOPT TO ADDRESS
THEM. DISCUSS MONETIZATION STRATEGIES FOR DOUBLE-SIDED DIGITAL BUSINESS FIRMS. 1. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR
ANSWERS TO ALL PARTS OF THIS QUESTION. ................................................................................................................... 8
2018: EXPLAIN THE VARIOUS WAYS THAT THE CONCEPT OF A PLATFORM IS USED IN DIGITAL INNOVATION RESEARCH. IN YOUR
ANSWER CONSIDER THE RANGE OF THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS THAT ARE FOUND IN PLATFORM LITERATURE, AND HOW THEY
HELP EXPLAIN THE WAYS THAT PLATFORMS SERVE BUSINESS INTERESTS. .............................................................................. 8
2016: OUTLINE THE DESIGN LOGIC OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND DISCUSS THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PLATFORM
STRUCTURE FOR THE IT INDUSTRY. IDENTIFY THE CONSTITUENT COMPONENTS OF THE DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS OF THE MICROSOFT
WINDOWS PLATFORM. DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES PLATFORM OWNERS FACE IN THEIR EFFORT TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE
ECOSYSTEMS. ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
2022: DISCUSS HOW THE BUSINESS SUCCESS OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS MAY BE AFFECTED, POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY, BY THE
FOLLOWING: USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWERS. A) COMPLEMENTORS (THIRD-PARTY DEVELOPERS) AND USERS B)
REGULATION AND PUBLIC OPINION ............................................................................................................................14
2019: IDENTIFY AND CRITICALLY DISCUSS INSTITUTIONAL FORCES AND CONDITIONS THAT MAY FACILITATE OR CONSTRAIN BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER.............................................................. 14
WEEK 4: INNOVATION IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS (III): THE SOCIAL EMBEDDEDNESS OF DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS:
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DATA DEPENDENCE; PERSPECTIVES FROM POLITICAL ECONOMY. ................................17
EXAMPLE/2020: EXPLAIN WHY DATA HAS BECOME SIGNIFICANT IN THE DIGITAL BUSINESS CONTEXT. WHAT RISKS FOR SOCIETY
DOES THE BUSINESS FIRMS’ QUEST FOR DATA ENTAIL? ................................................................................................... 17
WEEK 5: THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (I): THE ENGINEERING RATIONALITY OF IS
DEVELOPMENT; FORMAL METHODS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT; AGILE APPROACHES; OPEN SOURCE
SOFTWARE .............................................................................................................................................................19
2016: DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORMAL RATIONALITY AND BOUNDED RATIONALITY. USE EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER. .............................................................................. 19
EXAMPLE: DISCUSS WHY ENGINEERING METHODS ALONE CANNOT GUARANTEE SUCCESSFUL ORGANISATION INFORMATION
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER WITH INSIGHTS FROM SOCIO-TECHNICAL THEORIES......................... 20
2020: WHY IS REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING A WICKED PROBLEM IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT? HOW DOES AGILE
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ADDRESS THE DIFFICULTY OF REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING? IN WHAT WAY IS THE REQUIREMENTS
ENGINEERING OF MACHINE LEARNING SYSTEMS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF ORDINARY SOFTWARE SYSTEMS? ........................... 22
MADE UP: DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPING INFORMATION SYSTEMS WITH PACKAGED SOFTWARE ON THE TRADITIONAL
PRINCIPLE OF DESIGNING SOFTWARE TO SATISFY USER REQUIREMENTS. CONSIDER THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
USING ERP PACKAGES/SYSTEMS AND THE ROLE OF THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT IN SOFTWARE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ......... 24
,WEEK 5 – THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (I) THE ENGINEERING RATIONALITY OF IS
DEVELOPMENT: FORMAL METHODS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT; AGILE APPROACHES; OPEN SOURCE
SOFTWARE. ............................................................................................................................................................25
MOCK B – “OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE IS NOT AN ALTRUISTIC WAY OF MAKING SOFTWARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. IT IS A
BUSINESS MODEL”. DISCUSS. .................................................................................................................................... 25
2021: DISCUSS HOW OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (OSS) CHALLENGES THE CONVENTIONAL ECONOMIC LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE
ACTION. DRAW ON EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER. SUGGEST HOW OSS PRACTICES CAN BE EXTENDED TO INFORM
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OUTSIDE OSS...................................................................................................... 25
2019: OUTLINE THE MAIN FEATURES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (OSS). DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC RATIONALITY OF OSS
PRODUCTION. DISCUSS WHY COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FIRMS BECOME INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF OSS. .. 25
2017: A) EXPLAIN THE ECONOMIC RATIONALITY OF FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (FOSS). B) IT HAS BEEN ARGUED THAT THE
OPEN SOURCE PHENOMENON HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED FROM ITS ORIGINAL FREE SOFTWARE ANTECEDENT. OUTLINE THE MAIN
TRANSFORMATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND EXPLAIN WHY MAJOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) FIRMS, SUCH AS IBM,
GOOGLE AND MICROSOFT, ARE NOW INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE .............25
2016: WHAT IS OPEN INNOVATION? GIVE EXAMPLES OF OPEN INNOVATION USING DIGITAL PLATFORMS. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE
PRODUCTION OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE AS AN OPEN INNOVATION BUSINESS MODEL. ...................................................... 25
WEEK 7: THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (II) SOCIALLY EMBEDDED APPROACHES;
EXPLANATIONS OF RESISTANCE TO CHANGE AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOCIOTECHNICAL THINKING; SOCIAL
CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY THEORIES, ACTOR NETWORK THEORY ........................................................29
EXAMPLE: EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY-DETERMINISTIC, SOCIO-DETERMINISTIC AND SOCIO-TECHNICAL
PERSPECTIVES OF THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL INNOVATION. DISCUSS PROJECTED IMPACTS OF BLOCKCHAIN ON A CHOSEN INDUSTRY
(FOR EXAMPLE FINANCIAL SERVICES) TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWERS. ...............................................................................29
MOCK: SAME FIRST PART, BUT COMMENT ON FORECASTS OF THE IMPACT OF AI ON THE FUTURE OF WORK TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR
ANSWERS. ............................................................................................................................................................. 29
2018: IN WHAT WAYS CAN INSIGHTS FROM IS THEORY HELP MANAGERS OF IT–LED ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE PROJECTS AVOID
RESISTANCE FROM USERS, OR HELP THEM MAKE SENSIBLE DECISIONS WHEN IT OCCURS? ...................................................... 29
2017: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING TWO VIEWS: 1. A) “INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, AS ANY OTHER
TECHNOLOGY, ARE SHAPED BY SOCIETY, SO IT INNOVATION CAN ONLY REINFORCE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONAL
AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES.” 2. B) “DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY RESHAPES WHOLE INDUSTRIES, ECONOMIES AND
SOCIETIES.” DRAWING FROM THEORIES YOU STUDIED IN THIS COURSE, OUTLINE YOUR OWN VIEW ABOUT
WHETHER AND HOW IT INNOVATION MAY RESULT IN ORGANISATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE. ..... 29
2016: DISCUSS THE INSIGHTS OF ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY (ANT) FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS INNOVATION. HOW DOES ANT AVOID THE PITFALLS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM AND SOCIAL DETERMINISM? .... 29
2021. CRITICALLY ASSESS THE MEANINGS AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE STATEMENT BELOW USING ANY TWO OF THE FOLLOWING
THEORIES/PERSPECTIVES: A) SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY B) ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY C) THEORIES OF SITUATED
PRACTICE. STATEMENT: “ANY SINGLE-DIMENSIONAL DEFINITION OF ‘WHAT TWITTER IS’ IS UNTENABLE SINCE TWITTER IS A
SOCIOTECHNICAL ASSEMBLAGE BLENDING MULTIPLE LOGICS OF SOCIAL RELATIONS, DIGITAL BUSINESS MODELS, AND SURVEILLANCE
CAPITALISM”. SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER WITH ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES ABOUT THE TWITTER PLATFORM. ................................. 29
2020: WHAT IS IT PROJECT ESCALATION? DRAWING FROM THEORIES DISCUSSED IN THIS COURSE EXPLAIN WHY IT PROJECT
ESCALATION HAPPENS.............................................................................................................................................. 29
WEEK 8 – IT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (I): TECHNICAL RATIONAL APPROACHES FOR MANAGING IT
INNOVATION TO ACHIEVE ORGANIZATIONAL BENEFITS .....................................................................................33
2019: WHAT STRATEGIC BENEFITS CAN ORGANIZATIONS PURSUE WITH IT INNOVATION? CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE VIEW THAT IT
INNOVATION IN ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH BUSINESS STRATEGY ................................................................ 33
MOCK A- CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF ALIGNMENT OF IT WITH BUSINESS STRATEGY AND ITS ADEQUACY TO GUIDE
DIGITAL STRATEGY. WHAT THEORETICAL IDEAS ARE BETTER SUITED TO INFORM THE MAKING OF DIGITAL STRATEGY? ................. 33
2017: OUTLINE THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ORGANISATIONS. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE ‘STRATEGIC
ALIGNMENT MODEL’ AS GUIDANCE TO MANAGERS ON HOW TO CREATE VALUE FROM DIGITAL RESOURCES ..............................34
2018: DESCRIBE HOW ONE OF THE THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES BELOW HAS BEEN USED TO ADDRESS ENDURING QUESTIONS IN IS
RESEARCH. YOUR ANSWER SHOULD ASSESS THE RELEVANCE OF YOUR CHOSEN THEORY TO THE ENDURING QUESTION OR QUESTIONS
YOU IDENTIFY, AND NOT BE SIMPLY A DESCRIPTION OF THE THEORY ITSELF. 1. ACTOR NETWORK THEORY (ANT) 2. RESOURCE
BASED VIEW OF THE FIRM (RBV). 3. TRANSACTION COST ECONOMICS (TCE) ...................................................................34
2021: 1. “THE STRENGTH OF A FIRM'S DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES IS VITAL IN MANY WAYS TO ITS ABILITY TO MAINTAIN PROFITABILITY
OVER THE LONG TERM, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO DESIGN AND ADJUST BUSINESS MODELS” (TEECE, 2018). 1. WHAT DO YOU
, UNDERSTAND BY DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES AND HOW CAN THEY HELP A FIRM ACHIEVE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE? DRAW ON EXAMPLES
TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER. ..................................................................................................................................... 37
WEEK 10: IT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (III): SOCIALLY EMBEDDED PERSPECTIVES, SITUATED PRACTICE
AND INSTITUTIONAL THEORIES OF ORGANIZATIONAL SOCIOLOGY ...................................................................38
EXAMPLE/2021: COMPARE AND CONTRAST DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO REORGANISING WORK PROCESSES WHEN INTRODUCING
NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. DISCUSS ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES ARE BASED. ...................... 38
2019: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING TWO WAYS OF IT-ENABLED ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE: 1. BY RE-DESIGNING BUSINESS
PROCESSES AS PART OF THE DESIGN OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS; 2. BY SITUATED PRACTICE AFTER NEW INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE
IMPLEMENTED. ...................................................................................................................................................... 39
2018: OUTLINE THE ‘SITUATED PRACTICE PERSPECTIVE’. DISCUSS THE INSIGHTS IT CAN PROVIDE TO HELP ONE OF THESE IS
PROFESSIONALS: A) A DIGITAL STRATEGIST TO UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE B) A PROJECT MANAGER TO
STRUCTURE A TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ..................................................................................................... 39
2022: DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MINDFUL AND MINDLESS IT INNOVATION. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR
ANSWER. .............................................................................................................................................................. 41
2020: HOW IS AN ORGANISING VISION ABOUT A NEW TECHNOLOGY FORMED? WHAT RISKS DOES THE MINDLESS ADOPTION OF THE
ORGANIZING VISION OF A TECHNOLOGY ENTAIL AND HOW CAN IT BE AVOIDED? USE THE EXAMPLE OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO
ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER. ...................................................................................................................................... 41
2016: SUPPOSE YOU ARE MANAGING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN E-COMMERCE SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW A FIRM TO SELL, TAKE
PAYMENTS, AND RESPOND TO CUSTOMER QUERIES THROUGH THE INTERNET. DOING BUSINESS THROUGH THE E-COMMERCE
SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE MAJOR CHANGES OF ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES. WOULD YOU ADOPT A PLANNED, SITUATED, OR MIXED
APPROACH? JUSTIFY YOUR CHOICE BY DISCUSSING THE RELEVANCE AND MERITS OF EACH OF THESE APPROACHES FOR THE E-
COMMERCE PROJECT. .............................................................................................................................................. 42
, Week 2: Innovation in digital ecosystems (I), Definition and examples of digital business models; The
concept of platforms; examples from the history of IT; The concept of ecosystem; The engineering
perspective of digital platforms: the architecture of platforms.
DRAWS FROM TECHNICAL RATIONAL
2018: Explore the fundamental assumptions that underpin the concept of a business model. Explain why the
business model concept has been so widely used when discussing digital innovation.
Example/2017: Outline the characteristics of digital business models. Identify and discuss the business model
characteristics of the following: a) Crowdsourcing platforms, b) Social media platforms
Point 1: Business Model
• Point: A normal business model defines the customer value proposition and the revenue creation
mechanism for the firm providing the value.
• A Misconception about business models:
- The revenue of a business firm is not necessarily generated from selling products or services at
the right market price.
• The business model concept separates revenue generation from the creation of value for ‘customers’.
Business firms may create value for more than one group of customers, some of which may generate
income streams while others are subsidized.
Point 1: Digital Business model
• Point: A digital business model creates value based on identifying new digital products and services of
value for customers - from adding digital features to existing range of products to offering online
services. The aim of the solution is to generate an advantage for which customers are willing to pay.
• Evidence:
- Tech: they are tech-driven, leveraging digital tools and infrastructure to create, deliver, and
capture value. Reliance on technology enables scalability, as digital goods and services can reach
millions of users without significant cost increases.
- Data: Digital business models capitalize on data, employing analytics to inform decision-making,
personalize experiences, and target offerings.
- Network effects: They exploit network effects, where the value of the platform increases as
more users participate, fostering growth and attracting new users.
• Digital innovation occurs when “a product, process, or business model that is perceived as new, requires
some significant changes on the part of the adopters, and is embodied in or enabled by IT” (Fichman et
al, 2014, p.330)
- the implementation of new IT products in organizations entails new organizational processes;
for example, firms adopting ERP also redesign their business processes;
• The adoption of new IT products and services often becomes the basis for new business models
- “A business model articulates the logic, the data, and other evidence that support a value
proposition for the customer, and a viable structure of revenues and costs for the enterprise
delivering that value” (Teece, 2010, p. 179)
Ø the enterprise may produce value for more than one categories of customers;
Ø and generate revenue from some of them and not others
• Examples of successful business models:
- E-commerce Marketplace: Platforms like Amazon and Alibaba connect buyers and sellers,
facilitating online transactions and generating revenue through commissions, fees, and
advertising.
- Subscription-based Content Platforms: Netflix and Spotify offer access to a library of movies,
music through a subscription, generating recurring revenue.
- Freemium Model: Companies like Dropbox offer a basic version of their product for free/ charge
for premium features/enhanced functionality to subset of users
WEEK 2: INNOVATION IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS (I), DEFINITION AND EXAMPLES OF DIGITAL BUSINESS
MODELS; THE CONCEPT OF PLATFORMS; EXAMPLES FROM THE HISTORY OF IT; THE CONCEPT OF
ECOSYSTEM; THE ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS: THE ARCHITECTURE OF PLATFORMS.
..................................................................................................................................................................................4
2018: EXPLORE THE FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS THAT UNDERPIN THE CONCEPT OF A BUSINESS MODEL. EXPLAIN WHY THE
BUSINESS MODEL CONCEPT HAS BEEN SO WIDELY USED WHEN DISCUSSING DIGITAL INNOVATION. ............................................ 4
EXAMPLE/2017: OUTLINE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL BUSINESS MODELS. IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS THE BUSINESS MODEL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOLLOWING: A) CROWDSOURCING PLATFORMS, B) SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS .................................. 4
MADE-UP QUESTION: ANALYZE THE TRANSFORMATION OF IBM FROM A VERTICALLY INTEGRATED COMPUTER MANUFACTURER TO
A MODULAR ARCHITECTURE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE IT INDUSTRY. DISCUSS HOW THIS SHIFT FOSTERED WIDESPREAD INNOVATION
POTENTIAL AND THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS. PROVIDE EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENTS ........................ 5
WEEK 3: INNOVATION IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS (II) PLATFORM GOVERNANCE; CONTROL AND
GENERATIVITY; THE ECONOMICS OF MULTISIDED PLATFORMS. ..........................................................................8
2020: EXPLAIN HOW DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS CAN PRODUCE INNOVATION. DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC AND GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS
THROUGH WHICH SOME DIGITAL PLATFORMS ACQUIRE NEAR MONOPOLY STATUS. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER... 8
2019: OUTLINE THE ARCHITECTURE OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS. DISCUSS DIFFICULTIES THAT CONFRONT THE LAUNCHING OF
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES ON DOUBLE-SIDED PLATFORMS AND STRATEGIES THAT PLATFORM OWNERS MAY ADOPT TO ADDRESS
THEM. DISCUSS MONETIZATION STRATEGIES FOR DOUBLE-SIDED DIGITAL BUSINESS FIRMS. 1. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR
ANSWERS TO ALL PARTS OF THIS QUESTION. ................................................................................................................... 8
2018: EXPLAIN THE VARIOUS WAYS THAT THE CONCEPT OF A PLATFORM IS USED IN DIGITAL INNOVATION RESEARCH. IN YOUR
ANSWER CONSIDER THE RANGE OF THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS THAT ARE FOUND IN PLATFORM LITERATURE, AND HOW THEY
HELP EXPLAIN THE WAYS THAT PLATFORMS SERVE BUSINESS INTERESTS. .............................................................................. 8
2016: OUTLINE THE DESIGN LOGIC OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND DISCUSS THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PLATFORM
STRUCTURE FOR THE IT INDUSTRY. IDENTIFY THE CONSTITUENT COMPONENTS OF THE DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS OF THE MICROSOFT
WINDOWS PLATFORM. DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES PLATFORM OWNERS FACE IN THEIR EFFORT TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE
ECOSYSTEMS. ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
2022: DISCUSS HOW THE BUSINESS SUCCESS OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS MAY BE AFFECTED, POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY, BY THE
FOLLOWING: USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWERS. A) COMPLEMENTORS (THIRD-PARTY DEVELOPERS) AND USERS B)
REGULATION AND PUBLIC OPINION ............................................................................................................................14
2019: IDENTIFY AND CRITICALLY DISCUSS INSTITUTIONAL FORCES AND CONDITIONS THAT MAY FACILITATE OR CONSTRAIN BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER.............................................................. 14
WEEK 4: INNOVATION IN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS (III): THE SOCIAL EMBEDDEDNESS OF DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS:
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DATA DEPENDENCE; PERSPECTIVES FROM POLITICAL ECONOMY. ................................17
EXAMPLE/2020: EXPLAIN WHY DATA HAS BECOME SIGNIFICANT IN THE DIGITAL BUSINESS CONTEXT. WHAT RISKS FOR SOCIETY
DOES THE BUSINESS FIRMS’ QUEST FOR DATA ENTAIL? ................................................................................................... 17
WEEK 5: THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (I): THE ENGINEERING RATIONALITY OF IS
DEVELOPMENT; FORMAL METHODS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT; AGILE APPROACHES; OPEN SOURCE
SOFTWARE .............................................................................................................................................................19
2016: DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORMAL RATIONALITY AND BOUNDED RATIONALITY. USE EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER. .............................................................................. 19
EXAMPLE: DISCUSS WHY ENGINEERING METHODS ALONE CANNOT GUARANTEE SUCCESSFUL ORGANISATION INFORMATION
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER WITH INSIGHTS FROM SOCIO-TECHNICAL THEORIES......................... 20
2020: WHY IS REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING A WICKED PROBLEM IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT? HOW DOES AGILE
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ADDRESS THE DIFFICULTY OF REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING? IN WHAT WAY IS THE REQUIREMENTS
ENGINEERING OF MACHINE LEARNING SYSTEMS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF ORDINARY SOFTWARE SYSTEMS? ........................... 22
MADE UP: DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPING INFORMATION SYSTEMS WITH PACKAGED SOFTWARE ON THE TRADITIONAL
PRINCIPLE OF DESIGNING SOFTWARE TO SATISFY USER REQUIREMENTS. CONSIDER THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
USING ERP PACKAGES/SYSTEMS AND THE ROLE OF THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT IN SOFTWARE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ......... 24
,WEEK 5 – THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (I) THE ENGINEERING RATIONALITY OF IS
DEVELOPMENT: FORMAL METHODS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT; AGILE APPROACHES; OPEN SOURCE
SOFTWARE. ............................................................................................................................................................25
MOCK B – “OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE IS NOT AN ALTRUISTIC WAY OF MAKING SOFTWARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. IT IS A
BUSINESS MODEL”. DISCUSS. .................................................................................................................................... 25
2021: DISCUSS HOW OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (OSS) CHALLENGES THE CONVENTIONAL ECONOMIC LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE
ACTION. DRAW ON EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER. SUGGEST HOW OSS PRACTICES CAN BE EXTENDED TO INFORM
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OUTSIDE OSS...................................................................................................... 25
2019: OUTLINE THE MAIN FEATURES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (OSS). DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC RATIONALITY OF OSS
PRODUCTION. DISCUSS WHY COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FIRMS BECOME INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF OSS. .. 25
2017: A) EXPLAIN THE ECONOMIC RATIONALITY OF FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (FOSS). B) IT HAS BEEN ARGUED THAT THE
OPEN SOURCE PHENOMENON HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED FROM ITS ORIGINAL FREE SOFTWARE ANTECEDENT. OUTLINE THE MAIN
TRANSFORMATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND EXPLAIN WHY MAJOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) FIRMS, SUCH AS IBM,
GOOGLE AND MICROSOFT, ARE NOW INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE .............25
2016: WHAT IS OPEN INNOVATION? GIVE EXAMPLES OF OPEN INNOVATION USING DIGITAL PLATFORMS. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE
PRODUCTION OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE AS AN OPEN INNOVATION BUSINESS MODEL. ...................................................... 25
WEEK 7: THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (II) SOCIALLY EMBEDDED APPROACHES;
EXPLANATIONS OF RESISTANCE TO CHANGE AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOCIOTECHNICAL THINKING; SOCIAL
CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY THEORIES, ACTOR NETWORK THEORY ........................................................29
EXAMPLE: EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY-DETERMINISTIC, SOCIO-DETERMINISTIC AND SOCIO-TECHNICAL
PERSPECTIVES OF THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL INNOVATION. DISCUSS PROJECTED IMPACTS OF BLOCKCHAIN ON A CHOSEN INDUSTRY
(FOR EXAMPLE FINANCIAL SERVICES) TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWERS. ...............................................................................29
MOCK: SAME FIRST PART, BUT COMMENT ON FORECASTS OF THE IMPACT OF AI ON THE FUTURE OF WORK TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR
ANSWERS. ............................................................................................................................................................. 29
2018: IN WHAT WAYS CAN INSIGHTS FROM IS THEORY HELP MANAGERS OF IT–LED ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE PROJECTS AVOID
RESISTANCE FROM USERS, OR HELP THEM MAKE SENSIBLE DECISIONS WHEN IT OCCURS? ...................................................... 29
2017: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING TWO VIEWS: 1. A) “INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, AS ANY OTHER
TECHNOLOGY, ARE SHAPED BY SOCIETY, SO IT INNOVATION CAN ONLY REINFORCE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONAL
AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES.” 2. B) “DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY RESHAPES WHOLE INDUSTRIES, ECONOMIES AND
SOCIETIES.” DRAWING FROM THEORIES YOU STUDIED IN THIS COURSE, OUTLINE YOUR OWN VIEW ABOUT
WHETHER AND HOW IT INNOVATION MAY RESULT IN ORGANISATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE. ..... 29
2016: DISCUSS THE INSIGHTS OF ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY (ANT) FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS INNOVATION. HOW DOES ANT AVOID THE PITFALLS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM AND SOCIAL DETERMINISM? .... 29
2021. CRITICALLY ASSESS THE MEANINGS AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE STATEMENT BELOW USING ANY TWO OF THE FOLLOWING
THEORIES/PERSPECTIVES: A) SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY B) ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY C) THEORIES OF SITUATED
PRACTICE. STATEMENT: “ANY SINGLE-DIMENSIONAL DEFINITION OF ‘WHAT TWITTER IS’ IS UNTENABLE SINCE TWITTER IS A
SOCIOTECHNICAL ASSEMBLAGE BLENDING MULTIPLE LOGICS OF SOCIAL RELATIONS, DIGITAL BUSINESS MODELS, AND SURVEILLANCE
CAPITALISM”. SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER WITH ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES ABOUT THE TWITTER PLATFORM. ................................. 29
2020: WHAT IS IT PROJECT ESCALATION? DRAWING FROM THEORIES DISCUSSED IN THIS COURSE EXPLAIN WHY IT PROJECT
ESCALATION HAPPENS.............................................................................................................................................. 29
WEEK 8 – IT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (I): TECHNICAL RATIONAL APPROACHES FOR MANAGING IT
INNOVATION TO ACHIEVE ORGANIZATIONAL BENEFITS .....................................................................................33
2019: WHAT STRATEGIC BENEFITS CAN ORGANIZATIONS PURSUE WITH IT INNOVATION? CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE VIEW THAT IT
INNOVATION IN ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH BUSINESS STRATEGY ................................................................ 33
MOCK A- CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF ALIGNMENT OF IT WITH BUSINESS STRATEGY AND ITS ADEQUACY TO GUIDE
DIGITAL STRATEGY. WHAT THEORETICAL IDEAS ARE BETTER SUITED TO INFORM THE MAKING OF DIGITAL STRATEGY? ................. 33
2017: OUTLINE THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ORGANISATIONS. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE ‘STRATEGIC
ALIGNMENT MODEL’ AS GUIDANCE TO MANAGERS ON HOW TO CREATE VALUE FROM DIGITAL RESOURCES ..............................34
2018: DESCRIBE HOW ONE OF THE THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES BELOW HAS BEEN USED TO ADDRESS ENDURING QUESTIONS IN IS
RESEARCH. YOUR ANSWER SHOULD ASSESS THE RELEVANCE OF YOUR CHOSEN THEORY TO THE ENDURING QUESTION OR QUESTIONS
YOU IDENTIFY, AND NOT BE SIMPLY A DESCRIPTION OF THE THEORY ITSELF. 1. ACTOR NETWORK THEORY (ANT) 2. RESOURCE
BASED VIEW OF THE FIRM (RBV). 3. TRANSACTION COST ECONOMICS (TCE) ...................................................................34
2021: 1. “THE STRENGTH OF A FIRM'S DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES IS VITAL IN MANY WAYS TO ITS ABILITY TO MAINTAIN PROFITABILITY
OVER THE LONG TERM, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO DESIGN AND ADJUST BUSINESS MODELS” (TEECE, 2018). 1. WHAT DO YOU
, UNDERSTAND BY DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES AND HOW CAN THEY HELP A FIRM ACHIEVE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE? DRAW ON EXAMPLES
TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER. ..................................................................................................................................... 37
WEEK 10: IT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (III): SOCIALLY EMBEDDED PERSPECTIVES, SITUATED PRACTICE
AND INSTITUTIONAL THEORIES OF ORGANIZATIONAL SOCIOLOGY ...................................................................38
EXAMPLE/2021: COMPARE AND CONTRAST DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO REORGANISING WORK PROCESSES WHEN INTRODUCING
NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. DISCUSS ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES ARE BASED. ...................... 38
2019: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING TWO WAYS OF IT-ENABLED ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE: 1. BY RE-DESIGNING BUSINESS
PROCESSES AS PART OF THE DESIGN OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS; 2. BY SITUATED PRACTICE AFTER NEW INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE
IMPLEMENTED. ...................................................................................................................................................... 39
2018: OUTLINE THE ‘SITUATED PRACTICE PERSPECTIVE’. DISCUSS THE INSIGHTS IT CAN PROVIDE TO HELP ONE OF THESE IS
PROFESSIONALS: A) A DIGITAL STRATEGIST TO UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE B) A PROJECT MANAGER TO
STRUCTURE A TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ..................................................................................................... 39
2022: DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MINDFUL AND MINDLESS IT INNOVATION. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR
ANSWER. .............................................................................................................................................................. 41
2020: HOW IS AN ORGANISING VISION ABOUT A NEW TECHNOLOGY FORMED? WHAT RISKS DOES THE MINDLESS ADOPTION OF THE
ORGANIZING VISION OF A TECHNOLOGY ENTAIL AND HOW CAN IT BE AVOIDED? USE THE EXAMPLE OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO
ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER. ...................................................................................................................................... 41
2016: SUPPOSE YOU ARE MANAGING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN E-COMMERCE SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW A FIRM TO SELL, TAKE
PAYMENTS, AND RESPOND TO CUSTOMER QUERIES THROUGH THE INTERNET. DOING BUSINESS THROUGH THE E-COMMERCE
SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE MAJOR CHANGES OF ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES. WOULD YOU ADOPT A PLANNED, SITUATED, OR MIXED
APPROACH? JUSTIFY YOUR CHOICE BY DISCUSSING THE RELEVANCE AND MERITS OF EACH OF THESE APPROACHES FOR THE E-
COMMERCE PROJECT. .............................................................................................................................................. 42
, Week 2: Innovation in digital ecosystems (I), Definition and examples of digital business models; The
concept of platforms; examples from the history of IT; The concept of ecosystem; The engineering
perspective of digital platforms: the architecture of platforms.
DRAWS FROM TECHNICAL RATIONAL
2018: Explore the fundamental assumptions that underpin the concept of a business model. Explain why the
business model concept has been so widely used when discussing digital innovation.
Example/2017: Outline the characteristics of digital business models. Identify and discuss the business model
characteristics of the following: a) Crowdsourcing platforms, b) Social media platforms
Point 1: Business Model
• Point: A normal business model defines the customer value proposition and the revenue creation
mechanism for the firm providing the value.
• A Misconception about business models:
- The revenue of a business firm is not necessarily generated from selling products or services at
the right market price.
• The business model concept separates revenue generation from the creation of value for ‘customers’.
Business firms may create value for more than one group of customers, some of which may generate
income streams while others are subsidized.
Point 1: Digital Business model
• Point: A digital business model creates value based on identifying new digital products and services of
value for customers - from adding digital features to existing range of products to offering online
services. The aim of the solution is to generate an advantage for which customers are willing to pay.
• Evidence:
- Tech: they are tech-driven, leveraging digital tools and infrastructure to create, deliver, and
capture value. Reliance on technology enables scalability, as digital goods and services can reach
millions of users without significant cost increases.
- Data: Digital business models capitalize on data, employing analytics to inform decision-making,
personalize experiences, and target offerings.
- Network effects: They exploit network effects, where the value of the platform increases as
more users participate, fostering growth and attracting new users.
• Digital innovation occurs when “a product, process, or business model that is perceived as new, requires
some significant changes on the part of the adopters, and is embodied in or enabled by IT” (Fichman et
al, 2014, p.330)
- the implementation of new IT products in organizations entails new organizational processes;
for example, firms adopting ERP also redesign their business processes;
• The adoption of new IT products and services often becomes the basis for new business models
- “A business model articulates the logic, the data, and other evidence that support a value
proposition for the customer, and a viable structure of revenues and costs for the enterprise
delivering that value” (Teece, 2010, p. 179)
Ø the enterprise may produce value for more than one categories of customers;
Ø and generate revenue from some of them and not others
• Examples of successful business models:
- E-commerce Marketplace: Platforms like Amazon and Alibaba connect buyers and sellers,
facilitating online transactions and generating revenue through commissions, fees, and
advertising.
- Subscription-based Content Platforms: Netflix and Spotify offer access to a library of movies,
music through a subscription, generating recurring revenue.
- Freemium Model: Companies like Dropbox offer a basic version of their product for free/ charge
for premium features/enhanced functionality to subset of users
