Prof Chrisanthi Avgerou

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation. This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MiM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange, MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MSc in Management (1 Year Programme), MSc in Media and Communications (Media and Communications Governance) and Master of Public Administration. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course explores the theoretical foundations for the study of digital innovation and concomitant organizational and social change. It integrates concepts and perspectives from the field of information systems and a range of other disciplines of the social sciences. By the end of this course, students will be able to draw from existing theories to address critically issues of digital innovation, organizational change and information systems management.



The lectures cover literature related to three broad themes: digital ecosystems; the socio-technical process of the construction of digital technologies; information technology and organizational change. For each of these themes we identify and discuss relevant theoretical concepts and perspectives. The discussion of theories is structured in terms of technical/rational and socially embedded approaches.

15 hours of lectures, 18 hours of seminars and 5 hours of workshops in the MT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of the MT. There will be no teaching during this week.

Formative feedback is provided at the seminars and the workshops. Seminars guide students to discuss selected journal articles that elaborate on concepts and theories introduced at the lectures. Workshops assist students to develop their critical literature review essay.

In addition, students will complete a formative essay of 750 words on which feedback will be provided.

A mock examination, shared with MG472 and MG481 will be held. 

• Brynjolfsson E (2010), Wired for innovation, Cambridge, MA, The MIT Press

• Ciborra, C (1993) Teams, Markets, and Systems: Business Innovation and Information Technology Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

• Ciborra, C. (2000) From Control to Drift: The Dynamics of Corporate Information Infrastructures Oxford, OUP.

• Gawer, A. (ed) (2009), Platforms, Markets and Innovation, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar.

• Latour, B. (2005) Reassembling the Social: an Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory.  Oxford, OUP.

• Tiwana, A. (2013) Platform Ecosystems: Aligning Architecture, Governance and Strategy, Amsterdam, Elsevier.

• Willcocks, L., and Mingers, J. (2004) Social Theory and Philosophy for Information Systems, Chichester, Wiley.

Exam (50%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Essay (50%, 3000 words) in the MT.

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