BA 370: BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS OVERVIEW

Course Syllabus – Fall 2009

Prepared by Dr. V.T. Raja

Oregon State University

Instructor Contact Info:

Name: Dr. V.T. Raja

Phone: 737-6058

E-mail: Raja@bus.oregonstate.edu

Office: Bexell 429

Office Hours: Wednesday: 3 PM – 4 PM (except Nov 25)

Thursday: 12 noon – 1 PM

Friday: 1 PM – 2 PM

and by appointment.

Class Time/Place: Section 1: CRN#: 17413: TR: 10:00 – 11:50 AM, BEXL 323

Section 2: CRN#: 17414: TR: 2:00 – 3:50 PM, WNGR 149

Section 3: CRN#: 17415: TR: 4:00 – 5:50 PM, WNGR 153

Textbook: Authors: Paige Baltzan, Amy Phillips, Stephen Haag

Title: Business Driven Technology

Edition: Custom Edition (selected chapters from Third Edition)

ISBN-13#: 978-0-39-017674-5 or

ISBN-10: 0-39-017674-5

· The hard copy of custom edition is expected to be available for purchase at OSU Bookstore.

· The e-book edition is available at: http://ebooks.primisonline.com. EBooks may be available only for a certain period of time (e.g., 180 day subscription). You may be unable to re-sell eBooks at the end of the term.

· Please note that the publisher recommends that students access the Primis ebookstore through Internet Explorer and not through Blackboard.

· The instructions on how to access the e-book from the ebookstore are provided at the end of this handout (see after schedule of lectures).

· If you have any difficulty questions regarding purchasing the e-book, please contact Primis at 1-800-962-9342 or at primismhhe@mcgraw-hill.com.

Course Description

Information technology (IT) has been transforming business operations for decades. To be successful in the "information age," organizations will need people who are knowledgeable about both the opportunities and the pitfalls associated with IT. The BA370 course has been designed with the objective of helping Oregon State University business students better understand IT, its potential benefits and risks in organizational contexts. The BA370 course helps students from different options understand that IT plays a major role in supporting all organizational personnel, (regardless of their functional areas), so that they can perform their jobs effectively and efficiently. The course helps students understand that IT provides the tools that enable all organizational personnel to solve complex problems and to capitalize on opportunities that contribute to the success of an organization.

The lectures, readings, class exercises, and assignments will introduce BA370 students to a number of key concepts and timely issues related to IT applications in organizations. Some major topics expected to be addressed include: effect of IS/IT on competition, strategic role of IT, computer hardware, software, telecommunication networks, database, acquisition/development of information systems, IT controls and governance, IT security, web technologies, and the application of technologies to support decision making and collaboration.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, you should be able to:

· Align information technology with operational and strategic goals of an organization.

· Demonstrate understanding of information systems’ core technologies: i.e., hardware, software, database, networks and some web technologies.

· Design a relational database system of common complexity and distinguish between good and bad designs.

· Collaborate virtually and communicate in a professional manner about information technology practices, principles and capabilities necessary to meet common business needs.

· Describe the values and challenges of IT governance methodologies (such as CobiT) in an organizational context.

· Recognize security, ethical and privacy issues associated with controlling information and sharing data.

PREREQUISITES

Required: BA302 and junior standing.

Highly desirable: Interest in learning how technology may be used to support people and organizations.

PEDAGOGY

The course will use a variety of means to address the course objectives. The lectures, readings, class/lab exercises, and assignments will introduce you to a number of key concepts and timely issues related to IT applications in organizations. Lecture handouts will be available on Blackboard.

COURSE READINGS

Reading chapter contents from textbook is expected, unless otherwise mentioned in class. There may be additional online readings. For each topic, reading assignments will be announced in class.

GRADING

Tentatively, individual grades will be based on a weighted average as follows. Instructor will announce in class, any changes to the weighted averages given below.

Assignments 25%

Exam 1 30%

Exam 2 30%

Miscellaneous 15%

===

Total 100%

Expect individual grades to be assigned as follows:

A: student's overall score >= 93% C+: 77% <= score < 80%

A-: 90% <= score < 93% C: 73% <= score < 77%

B+: 87% <= score < 90% C-: 70% <= score < 73%

B: 83% <= score < 87% D+: 67% <= score < 70%

B-: 80% <= score < 83% D: 63% <= score < 67%

F: Below 63%

GRADING: Notes and comments

MISCELLANEOUS category may include attendance, punctuality, professional behavior, student conduct (as per OSU and College of Business regulations), quizzes, in-class/computer lab exercises, etc. Most miscellaneous exercises will be administered as pop-quizzes or unannounced exercises based on material covered in the lectures and assigned readings. It is important that you attend classes regularly, completely and are punctual so as to not miss any activities in the miscellaneous category.

· If you miss class: If you miss class for a well documented good reason, and have the instructor’s approval for doing so, then you could make up one or two exercises in the miscellaneous category. However, such make up exercises have to be completed before the beginning of the lecture following your absence. If a student is unable to attend a class session, it is the student's responsibility to acquire the class notes, assignments, announcements, etc. from a classmate. The instructor will be unable to give private lectures for those that miss class. If a student misses more than five lectures or exercises in the miscellaneous category, then they could receive a severe penalty in their overall grade and may end up receiving an “F” grade in the miscellaneous category.

Switching among sections without instructor’s prior approval would be considered as missing class. Please expect the instructor to make exceptions to this rule only if you have genuine reasons such as medical emergency, which should be supported with appropriate documentation. Please note that usually all sections of BA370 run at full capacity. So, requesting for a change in section usually may result in an overcrowded class.

EXAMS: There will be one mid-term exam and one final exam. All students are expected to be present for the exams at the announced date, time and venue. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the instructor in a timely manner regarding the date, time and venue of the exams. A student who expects that he/she would be unable to take the mid-term on scheduled date, must notify the instructor by the end of the third week of the term via e-mail and in person. Typically, no makeup exams will be given without the instructor’s prior approval. Make-up exams for genuine reasons (such as medical emergency when supported with appropriate documentation), will typically be given only after the regularly scheduled exams. It is expected that students make their travel plans after the final exam mentioned in the schedule of lectures later in this handout.

ASSIGNMENTS will be posted on Blackboard and announced in class. To receive full credit, assignments must be of a professional quality (e.g., typed, spell check, grammar, use of non-sexist language wherever appropriate). Late submission of assignments will result in a severe penalty (up to 50%) for each day the homework is late. A computer/printer crash is not an acceptable excuse for late submissions. Assignments will not be accepted any later than the first class session following the due date. If you have a legitimate personal emergency (e.g., health problem) that may impair your ability to turn in an assignment on time, you will have to take the initiative to contact the instructor at least 72 hours before the due date/time (or as soon after your emergency as possible) to communicate the situation. An emergency may be taken into account when dealing with situations of this type. Be prepared to document your emergency. If the instructor approves any late assignments, even then you may suffer a penalty of 20% of the assignment grade, for each day the assignment is late.

GRADE APPEALS: If you are not satisfied with a grade you have received for an exam, assignment, exercise, or quiz, the instructor will be willing to review the situation. If you wish to appeal a grade, you may do so with a verbal request initially. The instructor may ask you to submit a brief written summary of the situation to the instructor (e.g., an E-mail message), along with a justification of why you believe a better score is warranted. After reviewing the situation, the instructor will provide you a feedback. Two key ground rules apply: 1) you must appeal for a grade correction within one week of the time the score (for your exam, homework, quiz, or participation) is made available to you, and 2) class time will not be used to discuss grade appeals.

INCOMPLETE GRADES: Incomplete grades are very rarely given. Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course unless there is a documented reason (e.g., medical reason) approved by the instructor and the conditions of the case warrant an incomplete grade. Substandard performance does not warrant an incomplete grade. OSU guidelines will be followed even when an incomplete grade is approved by the instructor.

PERSPECTIVES OF ISSUES: Ethical, political, social, global, legal, regulatory and technological issues are integrated into BA370.

DISABILITY ACCESS SERVICES: OSU is committed to providing equal opportunity to higher education for academically qualified students without regard to a disability. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact Disability Access Services (http://ssd.oregonstate.edu/) to learn more about their rights and responsibilities. Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should be aware of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, and no later than the first week of the term.

OSU 'No Show Drop' rule: If the class enrollment is at full capacity and waitlisted, the OSU 'No Show Drop' rule could be strictly enforced for this course. 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."

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Students are expected to uphold the OSU standard of conduct for students relating to academic honesty. Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or effort of another person or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic work. Assisting in dishonesty is also considered to be 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, class participation exercise or the course as deemed appropriate by the instructor. Any student guilty of academic dishonesty could be subject to receive a failing grade for the course and can expect to be reported to the appropriate officials in COB and appropriate University Officials. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute academic dishonesty, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation, prior to engaging in such situations.

Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work, examinations, reports, and projects must be that student's own work for individual assignments, and the group's own work for group assignments/projects. Students are guilty of academic dishonesty if they:

· Use or obtain unauthorized materials or assistance in any academic work; i.e., cheating.

· Falsify or invent any information regarded as cheating by the instructor; i.e., fabrication.

· Give unauthorized assistance to other students; i.e., assisting in dishonesty.

· Represent the work of others as their own; i.e., plagiarism.

· Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper, record or report for the purpose of obtaining additional credit; i.e., tampering.

Students are expected to uphold the OSU standard of student conduct. Please refer to: http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/regs.htm http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/oars.htm#acdis

for details on student conduct and academic dishonesty. Ensure that you talk to the instructor if you have any questions about the above two important issues.

BA370 – Fall 2009 – Tentative Schedule of Lectures

September 28 – December 9, 2009

Date

Lecture Topics

Week # 1 – Introduction

Sep 29 (Lecture # 1)

Tuesday

Syllabus and Course Overview

Student Questionnaire

Oct 1 (Lecture # 2)

Thursday

Why IS/IT? - Chapter 1

Some terminology

Week # 2

Oct 6 (Lecture # 3)

Tuesday

IS/IT and Competitive Advantage – Chapters 2 and 3

Oct 8 (Lecture # 4)

Thursday

Aligning IT with strategic goals – Chapters 4 and 5

Week # 3

Oct 13 (Lecture # 5)

Tuesday

Computer Hardware – Fundamentals - Business Plug-in B3

Oct 15 (Lecture # 6)

Thursday

Computer Hardware – Fundamentals (Continued) and Data Centers

Week # 4

Oct 20 (Lecture # 7)

Tuesday

Some past and recent trends (e.g.,Virtualization, Cloud Computing)

Oct 22 (Lecture # 8)

Thursday

Software – Fundamentals – Business Plug-in B3

Week # 5

Oct 27 (Lecture # 9)

Tuesday

Systems Software and Programming Languages

Oct 29 (Lecture # 10)

Thursday

Exam 1

Week # 6

Nov 3 (Lecture # 11)

Tuesday

Collaboration Software – Introduction to Microsoft SharePoint

Nov 5 (Lecture # 12)

Thursday

Telecommunication and Computer Networks – Some excerpts from Business Plug-In B5

Week # 7

Nov 10 (Lecture # 13)

Tuesday

Tour of Data Center on Campus for less than 1 hour– Please check announcement on Blackboard to check your group’s time slot for data center tour. Not everyone can go on this tour at the same time.

(When you are not doing the data center tour I will be available during class time to answer questions about SharePoint as it relates to assignments).

Nov 12 (Lecture # 14)

Thursday

Telecommunication and Computer Networks – Some excerpts from Chapter 16; (If time permits we will discuss some aspects of Information Security - some excerpts from Business Plug-In B6)

Week # 8

Nov 17 (Lecture # 15)

Tuesday

Guest Lecture – for BA370 Sections 1 and 3:

Some web technologies/services – Some excerpts from Chapter 13

Guest lecture – for BA370 Section 2 – IT Governance

Nov 19 (Lecture # 16)

Thursday

Database –Chapter 7 (and some excerpts from Chapter 6)

Week # 9

Nov 24 (Lecture # 17)

Tuesday

Guest Lecture – for BA370 Sections 1 and 3 – IT Governance

Guest lecture - for BA370 - Section 2:

Some web technologies/services – Some excerpts from Chapter 13

Nov 26 (Lecture # 18)

Thursday

Thanksgiving – University Holiday

Week # 10

Dec 1 (Lecture # 19)

Tuesday

Data Warehouse – Chapter 8

Dec 3 (Lecture # 20)

Thursday

Some types of BIS (Some high-level excerpts from chapters 9-12, 15, 17); Course Wrap-up; Brief review for exam 2

Finals Week

BA370 final exam is currently scheduled for Thursday (Dec 10) of finals week at 7:30 AM! As this is an OSU scheduled group exam, there is not much flexibility on the exam date/time. Please plan your holiday travel after Dec 10. The venue for final exam will be announced once it is made available to the instructor.

HOW TO LOCATE YOUR EBOOK IN THE

PRIMIS EBOOKSTORE

Go to: www.ebooks.primisonline.com