Doctoral Program in Information Systems

The Information Systems Ph.D. prepares students for academic positions in leading business schools. The focus of the concentration is on learning and contributing to our understanding of the complex interplay between IT, organizations and markets, and in particular on the role of IT in creating competitive advantage of firms, in improving the operations of organizations and on how to effectively manage IT assets and capabilities.

Researchers from variety of disciplines conduct their research under the auspices of the Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations (CRITO), a multidisciplinary Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, and one of the only two such centers sponsored by the National Science Foundation in business schools. Industry sponsors include leading technology providers such as IBM, Intel and Microsoft and innovative users such as Boeing, Conexant and the US Department of Defense.

Information technology is a strategic focus for the Paul Merage School of Business, and students have access to one of the most sophisticated IT infrastructures among U.S. business schools. All accepted doctoral students receive fellowships, participate in school-wide and area seminars, and work with faculty on research projects in area such as electronic commerce, electronic marketplaces, returns to IT investments, IT governance, outsourcing and the globalization of IT production and use.

Research Approach

The doctoral program in information systems focuses on the impacts of IT on organizations, management and society at large. Students are exposed to the principal theories, methodologies and empirical results on the economic, organizational and social impacts of IT. This approach evolves around four interdependent themes.

The impact of IT on organizations and markets, or how information technology is reshaping markets and organizations.
The impact of IT on management, or how the use of information technology is changing the practice of functional and general management.
The management of IT, or how to effectively manage an organization's information infrastructure.
Management in the IT industry, focusing on understanding trends in the production and use of IT worldwide.

This approach to the study of the impacts of IT greatly benefits from the research of the faculty at UC Irvine, which spans all of the above areas.

Information Systems Faculty

Faculty profiles, courses and other area information can be found on the Information Systems Academic Area page.

Student Support

Students admitted in the doctoral program in information technology are eligible to receive a three- or four-year support package covering tuition, fees and a living stipend. This support is provided through a combination of scholarships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships.

Requirements - Phase I: Qualification

The Qualification phase must be completed by the end of the third year. During their first year, students typically will take required courses, including graduate level courses in economics, behavioral science and quantitative methods, certain technology courses, and Ph.D. classes from a menu required for all GSM students. Most students take additional electives chosen in consultation with their faculty advisor. Students must complete a Phase I progress exam by the end of the first quarter of their second year, and choose a Phase I faculty advisor. The remaining Phase I requirements are decided in consultation with the Phase I advisor, and typically include advanced electives in information systems, one or more classes in research methodology, as well as courses specific to the student's area of research. At this time, students are expected to actively participate in the Information Technology Research Colloquia series consisting of seminars by external and internal speakers. The students are required to write two Qualification papers, one theoretical and one empirical, and they must successfully complete a qualifying exam typically taken near the end of their second year.

Requirements - Phase II: Dissertation

The principal activity in Phase II is the doctoral dissertation. During this period of time, students may also wish to supplement their background with additional advanced classes in their area of interest. Continued attendance in the Research Colloquia series is expected. Working with his/her Phase II advisor and Dissertation Committee, the student should formulate a dissertation proposal clearly outlining the nature of the research, its importance and contribution, the research methods to be employed and the anticipated results. Once the proposal has been approved by the student's advisor and dissertation committee, work on the dissertation may begin. At the completion of the dissertation, the student will undertake the dissertation defense, where the results of the research will be presented.

IT at the Paul Merage School of Business

The IS faculty at the Paul Merage School of Business has been ranked among the top 10 nationally in research productivity. UC Irvine was recently the home of Information Systems Research, the premier journal for IT research. Individual faculty serve on the editorial boards of major IT journals, including Information Systems Research, Management Science, and the Journal of Electronic Commerce.

Information technology is a strategic focus for the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. As a result, doctoral students have access to a computing infrastructure that was rated number 1 among MBA programs. They also enjoy the opportunity to acquire teaching experience through teaching assistantships for several MBA-level IT courses in a program that has been nationally ranked in the top 25 "techno-MBAs". Qualified advanced doctoral students may get the opportunity to teach courses in the MBA and undergraduate minor programs.

The Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations (CRITO)

CRITO exists to foster research into the relationship between information technology and organizations, and to disseminate the results of this research through teaching, publication, and exchange with scholarly and professional communities. CRITO houses and supports most research projects of the IS faculty, as well as research projects associated with other faculty associates in GSM, UC Irvine and other major research universities.

CRITO facilitates interaction and collaboration among faculty, students and the professional community and it actively pursues government and industry support for projects compatible with its research foci. CRITO provides several opportunities for doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows, including research apprenticeships, seminars and research colloquia, experience in proposal development, experience in project coordination and management, and financial support. CRITO research funding routinely supports a minimum of four doctoral students.

Selected currently funded CRITO projects (and their sponsors):

Economic and Organizational Impacts of Electronic Commerce
Business Value of IT (IBM, NSF)
Nationwide Study of Computing in Schools (NSF, Department of Education)
Computing in the Home (NSF)
Large Scale Implementation of Groupware Technologies (NSF)

For more information, visit CRITO's website.

Joint Appointments with ICS

The following faculty from the School of Information and Computer Science hold joint appointments in the Paul Merage School of Business, are actively pursuing research on the organizational, social and economic impacts of information technology, and have historically worked with students in the doctoral program.

Mark Ackerman Assistant Professor of Information and Computer Science. Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professor Ackerman designs, builds and evaluates leading edge information systems to support the sharing of technical expertise among knowledge workers and professionals.

Doctoral Students

The Paul Merage School of Business typically admits two doctoral students per year in the Information Systems area, resulting in a group of 8-10 active students, which guarantees an excellent student-to-faculty ratio. As a result, doctoral students enjoy easy access to and close cooperation with the IS faculty.

Recent graduates of the Doctoral Program (and their current positions):

Judy Scott, 1995. Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin
John Tilquist, 1996. Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia
John Mooney, 1996. Lecturer, University College, Dublin, Ireland
Bill Armour, 1995. Lecturer and Director of the Professional Track in IT, UC Irvine
J.P. Allen, 1995. Assistant Professor, Cambridge University, United Kingdom
Alain Pinsonneault, 1990. Assistant Professor, HEC, Montreal, Canada
Kevin Kobelsky, 1999. Assistant Professor, University of Southern California