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BA 479 – Business Telecommunications and Networking - Winter 2007

Course Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR Dr. V.T. Raja

OFFICE: Bexell 405

PHONE: 541-737-6058

E-MAIL: Raja@bus.oregonstate.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday: 12 noon – 1 p.m.

Wednesday: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Thursday: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (Jan 11 and Jan 25 – by appointment only)

and by appointment.

CLASS TIMING Section 1: TR 10 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Venue: Bexell 417

TEXTBOOK Jerry Fitzgerald & Alan Dennis, Business Data Communications and Networking, 9^th edition, John Wiley & Sons (Required Text)

PREREQUISITE BA 370

COURSE OVERVIEW: Information communications and telecommunication networks have become essential to the functioning of both large and small businesses in the present global economy. Networking technology is a major and growing cost to organizations. Management and staff not only need to understand this technology, but also need to understand the way in which this technology can be effectively applied to satisfy business requirements. The objective of this course is to provide a framework (5-layer Internet model similar to 7-layer OSI model) that enables students to gain a fundamental understanding of networks and information communications as they relate to the business environment.

The course provides an introduction to various fundamental topics in the networking field. Major functions of data link, transport and network layers are addressed in this component in addition to some basics about physical layer. This component also summarizes the different functions of the five layers of the network model to enable students understand the ‘big picture’ associated with the 5-layer network model. Wherever appropriate historic and available state of the art network options, and their respective strengths/weaknesses are discussed so that students can make informed choices based on specific business requirements.

The assignments in this course require students to demonstrate self-learning capabilities with some guidance from the instructor and/or teaching assistant(s). The assignments could include in-class presentations and a report on miscellaneous topics in the field of networking. The assignments could also involve lab exercises on topics such as server hardware and software configuration including DNS/DHCP configurations, creating and managing individual/group user accounts, and addition of clients to a network. Details about assignments will be provided later in class.

GRADING POLICY

Individual grades will be based on a ‘weighted’ average as follows:

Exam 1 25%

Exam 2 35%

Assignments 20%

Class Participation 5%

Quizzes 15%

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Total 100%

Individual grades will be assigned as follows:

A: score >= 93%

A-: 90% <= score < 93%

B+: 87% <= score < 90%

B: 83% <= score < 87%

B-: 80% <= score < 83%

C+: 77% <= score < 80%

C: 73% <= score < 77%

C-: 70% <= score < 73%

D+: 67% <= score < 70%

D: 63% <= score < 67%

F: score < 63%

Class participation will be evaluated based on several factors such as: attendance, (verbal) quality contributions to classroom lectures/discussions, punctuality, classroom conduct, and (written) quality contributions to the instructor (e.g., a relevant article, a relevant website and a summary of that website, an e-mail message following a class discussion, etc.).

Exams and Quizzes: There will be two exams. The exam dates will be announced in class. The exams will be held in Bexell 417 (unless otherwise mentioned in class). Exams are not comprehensive.

A student who is unable to take the exams during their scheduled times, must notify the instructor within 10 days of the exam date announcement, and make alternate arrangements for a make-up exam with the instructor. Every student is individually responsible for confirming the exam dates, times and venues with the instructor.

Announced and/or unannounced quizzes may be given throughout the quarter. Quizzes will be based on previous lecture materials and/or assigned readings and class presentations.

Typically no makeup exams or quizzes will be given if the instructor does not approve an excused absence for the student in advance. In case of illness, appropriate medical documentation has to be provided to the instructor within a week of the first missed class. Students who miss a quiz without prior permission of the instructor are typically not allowed to make up quizzes, except for illness with documentation, and emergency reasons supported by appropriate documentation. In all other cases, even if students are allowed to make up a quiz, such a make up will have to be taken before the next class session, and a penalty of up to 50% may be levied. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule a make up quiz or exam with the instructor at appropriate times.

Making up missed classes:

Illness with appropriate documentation: In case a student misses a class due to being ill, and wishes to make up exercises covered in the missed class, the instructor must be notified prior to the commencement of the class via e-mail or phone if possible. Also, in such cases, medical documentation must be provided to the instructor for making up quizzes and exams. Notifying the instructor about an absence from a class, just few minutes before the class session starts is typically not accepted as advance notification.

Interview with appropriate documentation: If a student misses a class due to an interview and wishes to make up the missed class, then the student must provide the instructor contact information about the organization and about the person who interviewed the student. Prior permission has to be obtained from the instructor in case the student is interested in making up any class participation exercise or quiz that the student may miss due to the interview.

Making up a class without appropriate documentation: In case a student wishes to make up a missed class, and is not able to provide appropriate documentation to the instructor, then a make-up quiz may be given at the instructor’s discretion, one single time during the quarter. In such situations, the instructor may levy a penalty (50% off) on the total score obtained by the student for that make-up quiz. Class participation exercises can be made up with instructor’s approval. Even these are subject to a penalty at the instructor’s discretion. However, no make-up exams are typically given if prior permission of instructor has not been obtained, or if appropriate documentation is not provided.

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.

Assignments will be given throughout the quarter. Assignments may include written assignments, presentations and lab exercises. If lab exercises are administered they would be subject to lab grading policy, details of which will be announced later in the term. To receive full credit for written assignments, all written assignments should be typed and must be of a professional quality (e.g., spell check, grammar, use of non-sexist language, stapled etc.). Late submission of any assignment will result up to a 20% penalty for each day the homework is late. A computer/printer crash or lack of an Internet connection is not an acceptable excuse for late submissions of written assignments. Additional details on assigned readings, exams, quizzes, lecture handouts, assignments, and presentations will be provided later in class.

Grade Appeals: If you are not satisfied with a grade you have received for an exam, quiz, or assignment, you are welcome to discuss it with the instructor after class hours. Written grade appeals with appropriate justification have to be made within one week from the time the grades are given out by the instructor. Incomplete grades will be given only under circumstances deemed unusual by the instructor, and will require appropriate documentation.

Typically class handouts are posted on the course website by the end of first week of classes. 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 typically no later than the first week of the term. Class materials will be made available in accessible format upon request.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Students are expected to uphold the OSU standard of conduct for students relating to academic honesty. As described in the "Student Life Policies and Regulations",

…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…..

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 Office of Student Affairs. 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.

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.

PERSPECTIVES OF ISSUES

A variety of perspectives recommended by the AACSB may be addressed in the BA 479 course wherever appropriate. These perspectives include: ethical issues (specific lecture), political/social issues (specific lecture), legal/regulatory issues (specific lecture), and technological issues (integrated throughout course).