Course Schedule

Check this page weekly for notes, assignments, links and more!

Week 1: Understanding emerging infrastructure for IT

Sep 6

Topic

Technology Framework eBusiness
Media and Network Convergence
WWW concepts and Web Applications

Technology Basics Notes

Discuss

How does the client/server model work? What are its advantages?
What is the HTTP? What does it mean to say HTTP is stateless? What are its implications?
How does HTML enable universal readership?
What are the major features of HTML?
Which browser should you choose for your organization? Why?
Is the Web flexible? Can it accommodate completely new data types? How? Why?
What is CGI? How are applications developed for the web?
How does JAVA work? What are its implications?
How is the WWW evolving? What are some of the trends?
What is XML? What is its potential?
Is the Web a good medium for developing applications?
How do you manage "state" in web applications?
How can web applications access databases?

What is multi-tier architecture?

Links (Browse)

Telecommunications Online	http://www.telecoms-mag.com/
Internet2	http://www.internet2.edu/
Network Tools	http://www.network-tools.com/
HTML Reference Links	http://www.w3.org/

Week 2: IT Characteristics

Sep 13

Topic

IT Characteristics Notes

Information

Information Products & Services

Information Characeristics

Managerial Implications

Read

Chapter 1 - Information Rules

Links (Read)

Economic Characteristics of Information Products (upto section 3)

Week 3 : IT Trends

Sep 20

Topic

Technology Trends Notes

Streaming Technology

DHTML

XML

Java

Intelligent Agents

Internet2

IPv6

Fiber Optics

DSL

VPN

VoIP

SOAP

Read

IT Predictions 2006

Hot IT Topics

Links (Browse)

Intelligent Agents:

FEATURE ARTICLE: Intelligent Agents: A Primer http://www.botknowledge.com

Is there an Intelligent Agent in Your Future?

Software Agents: An Overview

Bots and Intelligent Agents

Fiber Optics:

FEATURE ARTICLE: Boosting Bits Across the Network

Use fiber to link PC's? You bet! from Computerworld

Fiber Optics 101 from Computerworld

VoIP and DSL:

TechGuide

Week 4 : Pricing of IT goods and services

Sep 27

Topic

IT Pricing - Notes

Commoditization

Traditional strategies

Incumbent Strategies

Value based pricing

Peronalized Pricing

Group Pricing

Browse

Non-Techical Introduction to game Theory (Browse first four chapters)

Read

Chapter 2 - Information Rules

Assignment

Assignment 1 (Due on 11-Oct)

Week 5 : Managing and Pricing hardware services

Oct 4

Topic

Hardware services

Queues

Delays and delay cost

Centralized resource management

Internalizing externality

Capacity determination

Peak Load Pricing

Read

Readings on Capacity Pricing and Management

Week 6 : Managing IT Resources / Personalization and Customization

Oct 11

Topic

Managing and Pricing IT hardware services-Part II Notes (from last week)
Managing IT Resources Notes

Managing IT Departments

Cost and profit center approaches

Personalization and Customization - Notes

Read

Chapter 2, Information Rules

Readings on Pricing and Managing IT departments

Case

Everdream

Discuss

What is EverDream's value proposition? Who are its target customers?
What are the important success factors in this business? Analyze its attractiveness (The case provides some relevant data)
The case describes different guarantees that are being considered. Should EverDream offer them? Why or Why not? What are the implications?
Should EverDream consider becoming an ASP (Application Service Provider)? Why or Why not?
What are the next steps for EverDream?
Can EverDream's approach be applied at other related industries?

Links (Browse)

Assignment

Assignment 2 (Due on 18-Oct)

Week 7 : Introducing New Technology Products

Oct 18

Topic

Introducing New IT Products and Services - Notes

Introducing NewIT Products and Services

Uncertainty in valuation

Screening / signalling

Contingency pricing

Guidelines

Read

30 Seconds or Free! Managing Quality Uncertainty Through Contingency Pricing

Week 8 : Versioning Information

Oct 25

Topic

Versioning Information Notes

Benefits of versions

How do you version?

When does versioning work?

Pricing through versions

Read

Chapter 3, Information Rules

Case

E-Trade

Discuss

What do you recommend to E*Trade management?

Some issues to consider to support your recommendation are:
How is eBusiness transforming this industry?
What are E*Trade's core competencies?
How can E*Trade enhance its value proposition?
What strategies should they adopt? How can E*Trade sustain its profitability?
How do these strategies deal with various competitive forces impacting the industry?
Are there strategic information technology based opportunities that e-trade can exploit? Are there technological risks that they should be concerned about?

Assignment

Assignment 3 (Due on 1-Nov)

Week 9 : Bundling Information Goods and Services

Nov 1

Topic

Bundling Information

Basics of bundling

Market expansion

Information goods suitability for bundling

Guidelines for bundling

Read

Chapter 3, Information Rules

Assignment

Week 10 : Rights Management

Nov 8

Topic

Bundling Continued

IP management - Notes

Production and Distribution costs

Technological solutions

Economic solutions

Complementary products

Conditions of sale

Read

Chapter 4, Information Rules

Case

Yahoo

Discuss

How attractive is the Internet portal industry? In your analysis, it may useful to consider a framework – say Porter's five forces analysis. Consider the technological and business characteristics of portals.
What is your assessment of Yahoo's performance and strategy to date?
Is first-mover advantage significant in the portals business? Why or Why not?
What are the drivers for the spate of merger and acquisition activity among Yahoo's competitors?
What are your recommendations for the next steps at Yahoo?
Identify key technologies that may play a large role the evolution of portals

Case Related Readings

The Killer Ad Machine, Forbes, Dec 11, 2000.

"Google searches for dollars," Forbes, March 15, 2001.

"Yahoo's grand vision for web advertising takes some hard hits," Wall Street Journal, Spetember 1, 2000.

Week 11 : Rights Management Continued

Nov 15

Topic

IP management - Notes

Production and Distribution costs

Technological solutions

Economic solutions

Complementary products

Conditions of sale

Read

Chapter 4, Information Rules

Assignment

Assignment 4 (Due on 29-Nov)

Week 12

Nov 22

No Class Meeting; ThanksGiving Break

Week 13 : Managing Lock-ins

Nov 29

Topic

Managing Lock-in

Recognizing Lock-in

Switching costs

Managing Lock-in

Exploiting Lock-in

Read

Chapters 5, 6: Information Rules

Case

Leadership Online: Barnes & Noble vs. Amazon.com

Discuss

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Barnes & Nobles's traditional business model(s)?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Amazon.com's online business model?
Critically evaluate Barnes & Nobles's online offensive.
Analyze the impact on the attractiveness of bookselling industry
What are the next steps for Barnes and Noble? Amazon?
Are there any properties of information goods that can be exploited to compete in this market?
Do you expect more price dispersion for book in the on-line or off-line market? Why?

Week 14: Network Externality and positive feedback

Dec 6

Topic

Network Externality Notes

Positive Feedback

Demand side economies of scale

Strategies under network externalities

Read

Chapter 7, Information Rules

Week 15: Standards and compatibility

Course Wrap-up

Dec 13

Topic

Standards and Compatibility - Notes

Course Wrap-up

Cooperation and compatibility

Standards Evolution

Managing Standards

Open and proprietary systems

Read

Chapters 8, 9, Information Rules

Week 16: Final Exam

Dec 20

Topic

Final Exam - Open Book Open Notes