Courses and Curriculum

IKNS K4300.  Information and Knowledge in the 21st Century Economy. 3 pts.

Description

(Has both an online and face-to-face component)

How do decision makers identify strategic options, debate the pros and cons of competing choices and determine the specifics of their organizations’ knowledge strategy? This course tackles these questions, providing students with an understanding of the issues that encompass the field of information management, and knowledge sharing, including the models, methods, processes, and organizational culture required to facilitate innovation and change in organizations. Case studies and other approaches are used to familiarize students with issues such as managing intellectual capital, knowledge asset management, the information/knowledge audit, customer service, and measurement and evaluation of knowledge services.

IKNS K4301. Management and Leadership in the Knowledge Domain. 3 pts. (Offered Online)

Description

What are the management issues facing leaders in an increasingly complex information and knowledge environment, and how do we address them? In this course students learn the basic principles of management and leadership, specifically as they relate to enterprise-wide information and knowledge services management. Attention is given to such topics as planning, financial management, human resources, change management, and the corporate culture. Classroom discussions focus on leadership skills and knowledge sharing in the promotion of innovation and change. The course covers the “aspirational “elements of knowledge strategy, and includes extended discussion of the practical aspects of implementation.

IKNS K4302. Organizing and Accessing Information and Knowledge: Practice and Methods. 3 pts. (Offered Online)

Description

How do we organize and insure quick and effective access to a wide range of information in the digital age? In this course students learn the basic principles of categorization and classification of information through an understanding of metadata and taxonomies. Metadata is an essential component of making knowledge and information in computer-readable systems accessible. Metadata standards, creation of user-focused metadata schemas, the use and importance of controlled vocabularies, taxonomy development, elements of search and retrieval, ontologies and semantic web are examined and discussed in depth.

IKNS K4303. Enterprise-Wide Applications and Project Management. 3 pts. (Offered Online)

Description

How do information professionals ensure that investment in enterprise wide business systems meet strategic objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner? This course provides an introduction to enterprise-wide applications such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems. Classroom discussions focus on what these systems encompass, examining case studies on actual project implementation and their impact, project management as well as current and emerging trends in search technology.

IKNS K4304.  Business Analytics and Strategic Intelligence. 3 pts. (Offered Online)

Description

How do organizations leverage their own data and information and what are the most effective approaches to tracking and analyzing the competition? Emphasizing the need to continually innovate and understand the competitive environment, this course explores business and strategic intelligence, focusing on methods and tools for gathering, storing, analyzing and providing access to data to facilitate effective decision making.

IKNS K4305. Networks and Collaboration: Issues and Methods. 3 pts.

Description

(Has both an online and face-to-face component)

How do we learn to share knowledge and effectively use collaborative tools in an increasingly virtual workspace? Collaboration, networks and teamwork are essential components of organizational life. While the need for collaboration is widely recognized, truly effective collaboration is seldom realized. This course takes a look at what it is that motivates individuals to want to work together to achieve a goal. Through classroom dynamics, students learn what it takes to collaborate successfully in the pursuit of outcomes that better facilitate innovation and change. Interactive class discussions examine techniques and tools for communicating internally and externally in organizations in order to influence decision-making and involve staff and stakeholders in the development of new approaches, products and services.

IKNS K4306. Information Policy and Regulatory Issues. 3 pts.

Description

(Has both an online and face-to-face component)

How do decision makers deal with the constantly evolving legal issues generated by the growing importance and value of information and knowledge? This course uses the Socratic Method to stimulate rational thinking and illuminate ideas, while introducing the fundamental principles and practical consequences of recent developments in legislation and case law, including legal issues with respect to labor and employment litigation, intellectual property, privacy regulations, and electronic discovery in investigations and commercial litigation. Governance, security, and regulatory issues relating to information and knowledge management are also covered in this course.

IKNS K4335. Visualization of Information (Online). 3 pts.

Description

In this course students will study techniques for creating effective visualizations based on principles and techniques from graphic design, visual art, perceptual psychology, and cognitive science. The amount and complexity of data and information produced in business, scientific fields and everyday life is increasing exponentially. This course provides a background on visual representation methods and techniques that increase the understanding of complex data. The objective of good visual interpretation of data is to improve comprehension, communication, and decision making.The course is targeted both towards students interested in using visualization in their own work, as well as those interested in understanding the process of building better visualization tools and systems. It will focus on fundamental strategies of analytical design, evaluating evidence used in presentations; statistical data: tables, graphics, and semi-graphics business, scientific, research, and financial presentations; and complexity and clarity in effective presentations. Elective
 

IKNS K4336. Social Media in the Organization (Online). 3 pts.

Description

Executives see the energy, engagement and sheer scale of the social web and ask how it applies to their organizations. This course concentrates on how organizations use social media technologies to tap into the collective genius of customers, associates, and other interested parties to create business results. While most organizations continue to invest in social media based marketing, leaders are creating collaborative communities to execute their strategy, co-ordinate complex customer service, and collaborate across knowledge workers to reach new levels of performance. This course looks at the following issues: How are organizations creating new forms of collaboration via social media? Where are the best opportunities for applying social media in an organization and with customers? How do you launch and manage social media based on a collaborative community? How do you measure, manage and learn via mass collaboration? What knowledge assets are being created and how are they leveraged? Elective

IKNS K4337. Building Successful Knowledge Services for Organizations (Online). 3 pts.

Description

Drawing on examples from a variety of organizations, this course will focus directly on strategies for building a successful knowledge service within an organization or institution. Topics will include ways to talk to management about knowledge services, building sustainable stakeholders, knowledge services that work, communicating knowledge services, ways to measure success, building communities of practice, and creating a reflective practitioner environment through the use of stories.  Elective
 

IKNS K4350. Capstone Project Seminar. 6 pts.

Description

The Capstone Project Seminar reinforces the practical focus of the program and ensures that graduates are prepared to undertake and implement information and knowledge-related projects and solutions in professional settings. In a collaborative environment students work with a team of two faculty to discuss research methods, including how to undertake surveys, interviewing techniques and the preparation of written and presentation portfolios. Individual coaching on projects is also provided.

At the outset of the Capstone Project Seminar each student chooses a project drawn from his or her current professional experience or special interest. Over the course of twelve weeks students develop and produce projects reflecting the key components of information management and knowledge sharing, involving the analysis of a workplace problem, a trend, or related issue that requires in-depth research. Potential benefits might include the presentation and implementation of a student’s ideas into his or her actual workplace. During the final residency phase in September, students present their project proposals, highlight their research approaches, and summarize expected results. In December each student gives a final presentation online and submits his or her research portfolio.