Select a major topic related to this class. Some topics are listed below. Others are possible. Please clear your topic with one of the instructors. You will:

(1) be responsible for one week of the class on this topic; for which you will:

a - Select the readings
b - Lead the discussion

If you wish, you can have the class do a case study, a group exercise...whatever you think is appropriate. The instructors and the TA will consult with you on this.

(2) write a substantive paper on this topic, relating it to information organizations and functions.

The literature that you have us read, and that you use in your paper, should be well-grounded in management theory; e.g. how-we-did-it-in-our-organization readings and opinion pieces are not sufficient. For example, the first topic, virtual organizations, should be grounded in theories and past practice in organizational design, coordination and control, and employee commitment and motivation, not simply how you (or someone else) thinks a virtual organization might work.

Possible topics include:

• The virtual organization: including issues of organizational design, coordination and control, and motivation.
• Management of knowledge organizations, and/or of organizations’ knowledge resources;
• Strategy, mission, and new foci: how organizations choose and change mission and direction;
• Organizational change; which may address introduction of information technology but in a larger context of organizational transformation;
• Work teams.

[Feel free to suggest other topics.]