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INFM 731
Environmental Scanning for Information Managers

Pre- or Co-requisites

Pre: INFM 600, Information Environments
Pre or Co: INFM 612, Management of Information Programs and Services

Catalog Description

Methods and techniques to monitor the environment to identify opportunities and threats and relate them to the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. Develop and implement plans to identify and track external events that impact strategic information management within an organization and prepare reports.

Extended Description


Scanning is how managers keep in touch with their external environment as well as with what their own organization is doing; understanding these issues allows the manager to initiate change in response to what he learns. Information professionals may use scanning both in their roles as managers of their own departments and as providers of information to other staff involved in monitoring the environment. INFM 731 Environmental Scanning for Information Managers will explore the theoretical issues associated with identifying the types and sources of information relevant to departmental and organizational scanning needs as well as the practical issues associated with collecting that information. There is no single right or wrong way to conduct an environmental scan. It can be as simple as regularly surfing Web sites and reading magazines. Or it can be as sophisticated as conducting formal literature reviews, distributing surveys, and convening focus groups. Methods and techniques for collecting information about an organization’s internal and external environment will be discussed. The organization's financial and human resources as well as its strategic priorities should determine the size and scope of the project.

Statement of Goals

After completing this course, students will:
  • Understand the nature and importance of environmental scanning
    Activities
  • Analyze an organization's internal and external environment to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis)
  • Determine relevant types and sources of information to support an organization's strategic environmental scanning needs
  • Create a plan for collecting and communicating information about the environment
 

Topics

  • Nature and importance of environmental scanning and the
    information professional's role in support of these activities
  • Analyzing organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
    threats (SWOT analysis)
  • Identifying critical information needs
  • Determining relevant types and sources of information to meet
    these needs
  • Designing and implementing cost-effective data collection
    Strategies
  • Communicating findings effectively

Course Approach / Teaching and Instructional Methods

The course will be conducted in the style of a seminar to develop students' analytical abilities in the area of environmental scanning systems and methods. The course is divided into logical and specific linked segments to provide an incremental approach to build expertise. Class time will be divided into lecture, discussions, and student presentations, case study, which are integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding to the field of Environmental Scanning. Students are expected to participate in class discussions, to ask questions, to identify readings related to the project work and share experiences with other students. Specific readings will be provided for each segment before hand and students are highly encouraged to attend classes regularly and to participate in the classroom discussion. Each student will complete an environmental scanning exercise (in the form of a project) and will make a oral class presentation on the findings during the last meeting. A final written report of findings should be submitted to the instructor for evaluation on the last day of the class.

Student Requirements /Methods of Evaluation

Both regular attendance of the classes and active participation in the class room discussions will be necessary for successful completion of each segment, as well as for completing the project. All assignments should be submitted in complete form on agreed schedule. As the course is taught in seminar style, student participation is mandatory. Students will be asked to make oral presentations as required in the class. In general, the following percentages will serve as guidelines in the evaluation of one's performance and relative contribution to the final grade.

Each student will develop a course project that includes:

Scenario describing an organization and its environmental context
Basic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to that organization

  • List of critical information needs
  • Types and sources of information should be used to monitor the
    organization's internal and external environment
  • Plan for collecting data
  • Plan for communicating the findings

Course readings

  1. Choo, Chun Wei. Information Management for the Information Professional: The Art of scanning the Environment. 3rd ed. Medford, N.J., Information Today, 2002.
  2. Miller, Jerry P. Millennium Intelligence: Understanding and Conducting Competitive Intelligence in the Digital Age. Medford, N.J., CyberAge Books, 2001.
  3. Other readings as assigned.
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