Syllabus

Overview: Introduce students to the field of information management. Topics include business 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 develop a requirements analysis document for a large scale business IT project. This will be an incremental project requiring you to complete deliverables, such as relational database models along the way until you turn in a completed paper at the end of the course.

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

Learn how information systems work, and contribute to their operation and development. In any small 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 learn how to prepare documentation that details a technology initiative. You will submit deliverables throughout the course that will build on one another, incorporate feedback from your instructor and make presentations on your findings.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the key enabling role that IT and Information Systems play in modern businesses.
• Recognize the operational and strategic opportunities that technologies like databases, software, and hardware make to improve 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 design a normalized database structure.
• Match information technologies with business needs and opportunities.
• Have a basic understanding of the technologies required to deloiver a technical solution to common business needs.
• 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

This Class As Business: You are business majors and this class is intended to prepare you for the world of business. Consequently, expect the class to reflect a business atmosphere. For example the class lecture is roughly equivalent to a company meeting, so be prepared and participate. Labs and in-class exercises are opportunities to interact with co-workers, so be courteous and collegial. Your assignments are submissions to clients, supervisors or co-workers, consequently your grades reflect potential for promotions, raises or layoffs.

Professionalism and Workmanship: All submissions must be hard copy from a computer printer; no loose leaf pages torn out of a spiral notebook. Looks count, so ensure you have a heading with your name, class & section, date and title of your submission.

Assistance from Others: You are to do your own work on all exams. However, outside consultation on assignments is acceptable, provided you cite any work that was not entirely your own. If a submission relies too heavily on outside help, you may not receive full credit. However, if you receive outside help and do not document the help you are liable to receive an F in this course. Here is an example of documenting outside help for an assignment:

"I received help from Vereepa Nabital to normalize my Orders database "

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. 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.

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. There are no make-ups for missed quizzes, and late assignments are not accepted.

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 web site 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 your the syllabus does not constituent a valid excuse for missing a milestone.

You are expected to read any reading assignment prior to class attendance. Quizzes will be given on reading assignments. Additionally, you should print out the class notes before class, or be prepared to take notes digitally.

The course text is "MIS and Database Concepts," a Custom Business Resources textbook. 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)
   
  The textbook alone will not be adequate to meet all the learning objectives of this course. Electronic supplemental readings are also required, and are posted on the syllabus. In many cases, copyright restrictions preclude posting the supplemental readings on the web and you will have to login to Blackboard to access them.

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 any deliverables due for that day. Class notes are also available and valuable for exam preparation.  Late assignments will be deducted 10% for each not be accepted.

Quizzes: You can expect quizzes throughout the term on any required reading assignment for that day. I will discard the lowest of your quiz scores, but there is no make up for a missed quiz.

Course Assignments :  Do not get behind on the course assignments. They will build on each other and if you leave it to the very end you are unlikely to be successful. Start early and ask questions in class if you are unsure of how to complete something.

Group Projects: You will be broken into groups for 1/2 of the course to complete a project. You will peer evaluate one another and grades on the project reflects the contribution and spirit of cooperation demonstrated.

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 or detracting 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: