Syllabus

Overview:BA302 integrates core concepts from Management Information System (MIS) with those of Operations Management (OM) and introduces a process-oriented view of the flows of materials, information, products and services through and across organizational functions. All organizations must carefully analyze and document their business processes and must continuously assess the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes to minimize cost and maximize value creation.

The course helps students identify information-bearing events, assess and improve process efficiency, learn to model and analyze business processes, recognize probabilistic components of business processes and understand the interactions between human behavior and process design. Hands-on, case-based assignments allow practicing some of the principles addressed.

Prerequisites: MTH 245 and sophomore standing.

Students who successfully complete BA302 can:

• conceptualize business operations as processes.
• model simple business processes in terms of the actors and activity sequences involved, the data flowing through those sequences and the dependencies between data and business activities.
• recognize probabilistic components of business processes and can assign distributions to these components.
• characterize business processes in terms of their key operations characteristics; e.g., productivity, efficiency, service quality, sustainability, time and costs associated with waiting, material volume and service/product customization.
• formulate improvements to observed processes and estimate the effects of these improvements with the help of simulation.
• identify the role of information systems in business processes; e.g., recognize and specify where information technology can be applied; recognize the role of ERP systems.
  
• recognize the interdependencies of business processes within and across organizational boundaries.

H1N1 Issues: OSU is preparing for the possibility of H1N1 on campus. For more information, please see the university alert. However, If you have flu-like symptoms, do not come to class and stay home until fever is gone for 24 hours (without being on fever reducing medicines). You will still be responsible for material covered in class and downloading the lecture slides from blackboard and asking other students for notes are two methods of staying caught up even if you have to miss class. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Consider wearing a facemask, and clean your hands with alcohol sanitizer to prevent transmission of flu symptoms.

How to be successful in this class:

• Read your assigned texts before you come to class! Make (lots of) notes while reading.
• Come to class.
• In class take lots of notes!!
• Work out these notes after class!!! (don't wait too long). Mark the things you do not quite comprehend and if you cannot figure them out (try!!), go see your instructor, or the TA.

Word to the wise: Some things in this course are not immediately obvious. If you lose track in class, DO NOT RELINQUISH YOUR ATTENTION!!

• Ask for clarification! Ask questions!
• Keep making notes and try working them out later. If you remain stuck, go see your instructor or the TA.

Homework assignments:

• The primary purpose of the homework is for you to practice your understanding of the materials discussed in class.
• READ THE ASSIGNMENT CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY !!!
• Don't gamble! Consult your instructor if you have doubts on what is requested or on how to do things.
  

OSU 'No Show Drop' rule

Note that for this course the OSU 'No Show Drop' rule will be strictly enforced. This rule: Academic regulations AR 9§b reads as follows:

"If it is anticipated that the demand for enrollment in a given course will exceed the maximum number that can be accommodated, the department offering the course may designate it in the Schedule of Classes with the code "NSHD" (no-show-drop). A student who is registered for such a course who attends no meetings of the course during the first five school days of the term will be dropped from the course by the instructor, unless the student has obtained prior permission for absence. If such action is taken, the instructor will send written notice through the department to the Registrar’s Office, which in turn will notify the student that the course has been dropped from his or her schedule. Students should not assume they have been dropped unless they receive notification from the Registrar’s Office. No fee will be charged."

Email: Note that if you email your instructor from any off-campus email account/server; e.g., gmail or hotmail, there is NO GUARANTEE(!!) that your email is delivered or that you receive a reply. Bypassing or not using the OSU campus email facilities carries 'no delivery' risks for which you are responsible.

Academic Dishonesty: The penalty for academic dishonesty is severe. Any student guilty of academic dishonesty may be subject to receive a failing grade for the exam, assignment, quiz, or class participation exercise as deemed appropriate by the instructor.  Students are expected to know and understand these policies and regulations.  If there is any doubt about their meaning and interpretation please ask for an explanation. Direct or indirect use of student work from previous terms to complete your exams or assignments is a violation of academic honesty. If you turn in all or part of someone else's work as your own or allow someone else to turn in your work as theirs, then you have committed a violation of academic honesty and will be dealt with in accordance with regulations of the University.  If you would like to know more about how this works, I recommend reading more about the University's Office of Student Conduct.

Behavior in class: Behavior in class should be professional at all times. People must treat each other with dignity and respect in order for scholarship to thrive. Behaviors that are disruptive to learning will not be tolerated and may be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.  Please keep the side conversations to a minimum and turn your cell phones off during class. No headphones may be used during class. If you need to leave during class, please exit quietly

Discrimination and harassment: Discrimination and/or harassment will not be tolerated in the classroom. In most cases, discrimination and/or harassment violates Federal and State laws and/or University Policies and Regulations. Intentional discrimination and/or harassment will be referred to the Affirmative Action Office and dealt with in accordance with the appropriate rules and regulations.

Students with Disabilities: Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Disability Access Services (DAS). Students with accommodations approved through DAS are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS immediately at 737-4098.

Syllabus:  This syllabus and schedule are a guide, not a contract. They will change during the term as I attempt to provide the most compelling and useful learning experience possible.   If things do not make sense, please talk with me. As changes are made, I will announce them in class. You should check the syllabus at least once a week for course updates.  Not reading the syllabus does not constituent a valid excuse for missing a milestone.

You are expected to read any reading assignment prior to class attendance. Additionally, you may choose to print out the class lecture slides before class to take notes digitally.

Business Process Management; BA302 (BPM BA302). Available from the OSU bookstore or online as an eText

OR

Fitzsimmons, J. & Fitzsimmons, M. (2008) Service Management: Operations, Strategy, Information Technology. McGraw-Hill Irwin, Sixth edition; Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, Appendix C, D. Available online as an E-Text

AND
 
Magal, S., Word, J. (2009) Essentials of Business Processes and Information Systems with WileyPlus registration code. This book (and included registration code for on-line exercises) is available from the OSU bookstore and on-line ($31.50).

Announcements: I will use Blackboard to communicate announcements, changes in schedule or assignments.  Students are expected to check Blackboard and email daily.

Assignments:  The class schedule will indicate the required reading and any deliverables due for that day. Class notes are also available and valuable for exam preparation.  Late assignments will be deducted 10% and assignments more than 2 days late are not accepted.

Midterm & Final: Dates posted in the syllabus for the midterm and final will not be altered to accommodate your schedule. It is your responsibility to be at the stated location to take these exams.

Assignments & Homework:  Start your assignments early! Frequently, students that wait until the day prior end up getting stuck on some technical point they do not know how to resolve and fail to complete the assignment on time. Start assignments as soon as they are discussed in class so that you can get assistance if needed and complete the assignment on time. Ask questions in class if you are unsure of how to complete something.

Course Grades:   Letter grades will be assigned according to the number of points accumulated on activities and exams. The following table will give you a general sense of how I intend to evaluate your performance.

Activity	Percentage of total
Homework 1 -business process (pass/fail)	10%
Homework 2 -activity diagram (pass/fail)	10%
Homework 3 -WileyPlus SAP simulation (pass/fail)	5%
Homework 4 -simulation model (pass/fail)	10%
Midterm	30%
Final Exam	35%
Total	100%

Participation: There is no formal grade for class participation, but I reserve the right to adjust your final grade up based on your conduct in class. If a grade is borderline between then I will take participation into consideration to decide whether to adjust the grade (e.g., adjusting an 89.4 to A- versus a B+). Participation will be an evaluation based on your attendance in class, evidence of having completed the reading assignments, and level of participation in class. Being late, absent, disruptive, sleeping, or not participating in discussions are examples of behavior that will lower your grade.

Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

Grade	Percentage	Grade	Percentage
A	< 93%	C+	77-80%
A-	90-93%	C	73-77%
B+	87-90%	C-	70-73%
B	83-87%	D	60-70%
B-	80-83%	F	<60%