The University of Texas at Dallas 12 Week Summer, 2005

Dr. Dachang Cong 972-883-2297

Class Meetings: S: 9 AM - 1 PM dccong@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: M and W: 10 AM – 12 PM GR 2.210

MAIS 5300/081

Managing the Digital Economy

Course Description

The goal of this course is to examine how the digital economy (chip-making, computing, ERP, IT
services, and telecommunications) has transformed American business and created management
conundrums. The course also examines the high-tech meltdown, financial bubbles, and business
scandals. While American businesses are moving towards a significant recovery, Americans are still
facing a difficult job market and a stressful workplace. The course seeks to understand the pitfalls of the
digital economy and management challenges for the 21st century. Other topics include business ethics,
career development, corporate governance, entrepreneurship, financialization, globalization, leadership,
and Wall Street. Each student is required to write a study report and complete a take-home exam.
There are no prerequisites.

Required Readings

Drucker, Peter.
Management Challenges for the 21st Century.
Head, Simon.
The New Ruthless Economy.

Method of Evaluation

1) study report 50% of final grade

2) take-home exam 50% of final grade
MAIS 5300 Page 2

Topics and Reading Assignments

I Orientation May 22
A Review of the Digital Revolution
An Introduction to High-Tech Hubs (Silicon Valley, Telecom Corridor, and Austin)

II New Paradigms and New Certainties May 29

The New Job Market
Career Development
Focus on Wal-Mart

Drucker, Management Challenges for the 21st Century, pp. 1-69.

III Change and Information June 5

Stock Market Capitalism and Welfare Capitalism
American Management and Japanese Management
Focus on Kyocera

Drucker, Management Challenges for the 21st Century, pp. 71-132.

IV Knowledge Worker and Self-Management June 12

Drucker on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Focus on Microsoft

Drucker, Management Challenges for the 21st Century, pp. 132-195.

*prospectus for study report due

V Decoding the New Economy (1) June 19

Competition and Strategy in the Digital Economy
Trust, Fairness, and Business Ethics
Focus on TI

Head, The New Ruthless Economy, pp. 1-59.

VI Decoding the New Economy (2) June 26

Leadership and Organization in the Digital Economy
Corporate Culture and Corporate Governance
Focus on Enron
 Head, The New Ruthless Economy, pp. 60-116.

MAIS 5300 Page 3

VII Decoding the New Economy (3) July 3

Innovation in the Digital Economy
Focus on eBay

Head, The New Ruthless Economy, pp. 117-189.

VIII Christensen on Innovator’s Dilemma July 10

Leonard-Barton on Innovation and Learning
Focus on Amazon

IX Tech Trends in the Beginning of the New Millennium July 17

Kurzweil on Computing and AI
Focus on Sony

**Take-home exam questions to be distributed

X Understanding Wall Street July 24

Financial Crises
Lowenstein on the Origins of the Stock Market Crash

XI Study Report and Take-Home Exam Due July 28