BA 370 - BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS OVERVIEW
Summer 2008

Instructor and Classroom Information

Instructor:  Bob Miller

• Office Phone: 541-737-3089
• E-mail:   bob.miller@bus.oregonstate.edu
• Office: Bexell Hall  309
• Office Hours: Monday 10:30 – 11:30, or by arrangement  

Course Description

BA 370 BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS OVERVIEW(4)

Introduce students to the field of information management. Topics include information systems technology, the strategic role of IT, the business applications of networks, databases and Internet technologies, and the development and implementation of information systems.

As a part of this class you will, in small teams, research a specific MIS topic and present and discuss your results both to the class and in a report.  You will also use relational database models to design a real-world case study.

Other Prerequisites: BA 213, BA 275, junior standing.
 

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

Learn how information systems work. In any medium to large-scale business, information systems play a much larger role than personal productivity tools like Microsoft Office. The coverage of Information Systems will begin by defining an information technology infrastructure, and developing an understanding of both its technological (hardware, software, data, and networks) and human (people, values/culture, and management system) components. 

Additionally, each student will work in a group to research and learn current developments about a specific information system topic. Each group will prepare an Internet-based reading assignment for their peers and will present what they learned to the class. A follow-up discussion will evaluate the quality of sources of information used by the group.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the key enabling role that IT and Information Systems play in modern WW businesses.
• Recognize the operational and strategic opportunities of new web based technologies like XML-based data communications, web services and the changes they are causing in business processes.
• Understand the values and challenges of IT governance for business organizations and can formulate the basic components of the COBIT and ITIL models.
• Design the relational structure of common complexity of business data and information and can distinguish good from bad data models.
• Use a relational database system to build tables, forms, queries, and reports.
• Match information technologies with business needs and opportunities.
• Have a basic understanding of open source technologies and their impacts on existing and future businesses.
• Recognize security and privacy issues associated with controlling information within and sharing data between organizations, both nationally and internationally.
• Successfully collaborate with others, and use the practices of project management, to work on group tasks.
• Communicate – verbally and in writing – in acceptable business English about information technology practices and principles

Course Policies

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.

Attendance: If you are unable to attend a class session, it is your responsibility to acquire the class notes, assignments, announcements and so on from a classmate.

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 this BA370 website 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. I also expect to make extensive use of email to notify students of changes to lectures, readings and assignments. You should check email at least once a week for course updates.  Not reading your email does not constituent a valid excuse for missing a course milestone.

Academic Dishonesty

Any case of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of F for the course.  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.    

You are to do your own work on all activities and exams. 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.

Textbook:

MIS and Database Concepts," a Custom Business Resources textbook printed by Prentice Hall for this course.  
The cover of this custom textbook is shown to the left. It is available for purchase at the OSU Bookstore for roughly $70. This custom textbook contains selected chapters from two Prentice Hall textbooks:

• Experiencing MIS, by David Kroenke (suggested retail price: $133)
• Database Concepts (third edition), by David Kroenke and David Auer (suggested retail price: $71.60)
   
  By trimming away many of the more specialized chapters, this custom textbook retains the essential core topics for an Information Systems class, includes good coverage of database theory, and is a bunch cheaper than requiring both original textbooks ($70 versus $133 plus $71.60).

Course Evaluation -- Grading  

Announcements, Assignments, Group Project and Examinations: 

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

Assignments:  The class schedule will indicate the required reading and MS Access assignments and the date the assignment is due.  All assignments should be put into the Digial Drop box for this class--remember to send the file after you have uploaded it.  Late assignments will not be accepted.

Class Project:  I will update the class schedule after project teams are formed to show due dates for all parts of the group project.  

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.

Participation: There is no formal grade for class attendance or participation, but I reserve the right to increase a student’s final grade in borderline situations for adding to the value of the class.  I also reserve the right to deduct up to 5% from a student’s grade point total for disruptive or other behavior that detracts from the learning experience for the other students in class

Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

This page is maintained by Bob Miller, 541-737-3089. [College of Business Home Page] [OSU Home Page] [OSU Disclaimer]