CIS 315.001 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Spring, 2006  {10:00-10:50 } MWF OC2027 - Dr. Abbas Foroughi

Office: OC3018 Office Phone: 812-465-1667 Fax: 812- 465-1044
MWF(11:00-12:00),  MW(2:00-3:00), or by appointment
E-MAIL: aforough@usi.edu     Homepage: http://business.usi.edu/aforough

(Note: When you send me an email message, please always begin the “Subject” of your message with “CIS315.001”)

 

TENTATIVE SYLLABUS (Schedule is subject to change) - http://business.usi.edu/aforough/abbsyll.htm

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

An introduction to management information systems, with emphasis on managing today’s digital firm. Students are introduced to the organizational and managerial foundations of systems, their strategic role, and the organizational and management changes driving electronic business and the emerging digital firm. The course covers the technical foundation for understanding information systems and for making wise information technology choices, including major components of information technical infrastructure—hardware and software platforms and services, data storage and management technology, and telecommunications services and technologies (including the Internet), wireless technology, and security and control. Also included is the role of information systems in enhancing business processes and management decision making across the enterprise, including enterprise applications, knowledge management systems, decision support systems, and executive support systems. The course also covers the building and management of systems in organizations, including the way companies redesign organizational and business processes with information systems, how successful systems depend on understanding the business value of systems and managing system-related change, and the management of international information systems, including the special challenges and opportunities posed by offshore outsourcing. The strategic use of information technology in an organization to gain a competitive advantage is emphasized throughout the course.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Management Information Systems, Managing the Digital Firm, 9th Edition, Laudon and Laudon, 2006, Prentice-Hall, Inc., http://www.prenhall.com/laudon  student self-study guide

 http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_laudon_mis_9

 

Additional readings will be sent to students as attachments, and online web links will be assigned during the semester. Students will use a variety of information resources including, but not limited to, books, journals, newspapers and magazine articles, Internet Gopher, Net News and other Internet resources. Materials in the Campus Library are available for reference

 

Useful weblinks:

1.http://ecommerce.ncsu.edu/
2 http://www.cio.com/forums/ec/ec_case.html

3.http://www.nwfusion.com/ec/
4.http://www.nwfusion.com/research/ecom.html
5. http://www.fuld.com/

6. http://www.presenter.com/pwc

 

Blackboard will be used as a classroom management tool. Students can access Blackboard through the Campus Pipeline. Announcements, course assignments and materials, grades, and other course-related communications will be posted on the Blackboard. Note: Students are expected to check the site regularly for such communication. Students should forward email inside the Pipeline if eagles.org address is not the preferred address. Blackboard email will go to the eagles.org address unless forwarded elsewhere in the Pipeline.

PREREQUISITES:
CIS 151, ACCT 201 & 202*, ECON 208 & 209*, and junior standing. (Courses marked * may be taken concurrently with CIS 315.)

 

RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE:

A continuing stream of information technology innovations, from the Internet to wireless networks to digital phone and cable systems, is transforming the business world, enabling entrepreneurs and innovative traditional firms to create new business models and business processes and transform the day-to-day conduct of business. The growth of the Internet, the globalization of trade, and the rise of information economies have raised the importance of information technologies and systems in business and management. Information systems knowledge is essential for managers in creating successful, competitive firms, managing global corporations, adding business value, and providing useful products and services to customers. It is essential that all business students understand how information technologies are changing business firms and markets today and how they will likely change in the near-term future as digital technologies continue to evolve. In this course, students will learn how managers can optimize the returns on investments in information technologies and systems; how information systems contribute to better management decisions, more efficient business process, and higher firm profitability; and how leading-edge technologies offer new opportunities for improving business performance by transforming computing and communications. Students will also learn how computer technology impacts on their particular functional area and how they can apply it to enhance their work.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.   Define the basic characteristics of existing information systems within an organization.

2.   Identify and classify various types of systems applications.

3.   Describe the most important trends in hardware and software platforms used in IT infrastructure.

4.   Understand the need to integrate telecommunications and office systems with traditional data processing.

5.   Understand the advantages/disadvantages of using 4GLs.

6.   Appreciate the potential for using Decision Support Systems, Group Decision Support Systems, Artificial Intelligence, and Expert Systems with traditional data processing.

7.   Define a strategic plan for developing information systems resources.

8.   Identify the basic processes in systems development and the role a manager plays in ensuring that           organizational objectives are met.

9.   Understand how supply chain management, customer relationship management , enterprise systems, and new system platforms for delivering enterprise-wide services work, how they provide value for the business, and the challenges of building and using them successfully.

10. Describe how wireless technology has created a whole new platform for delivering products and communicating with customers and suppliers.

11. Identify the problems with traditional systems development, the advantages of prototyping and CASE technology in systems development, and the role of end users in developing their own systems.

12. Understand the impact of the convergence of computing and communications technologies and the emergence of Internet technology for integrating voice, video, and data communication in a single network.

13. Understand the importance of computer security, wireless security challenges, new legal obligations for safeguarding the accuracy, security, and privacy of information systems; the organizational, management, and technical framework for an up-to-date security policy; and computer forensics.

14. Know how companies are using enterprise-wide knowledge management systems, along with knowledge work systems and intelligent techniques to improve organizational performance and management decision making.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

Academic dishonesty such as plagiarism, cheating, etc. WILL NOT be tolerated. Any student found violating this rule of honesty risks a grade of "0" for the assignment/test (at the very least) and possible expulsion from the class (with a failing grade).

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Attendance is required and expected at all class meetings. Since text material is supplemented by lecture, class attendance is an important part of overall performance in this course. Every attempt should be made to be present. Attendance will be taken and noted by instructor. In case of absence, the student is responsible for all material/assignments, etc., supplied during their absence.

DISABILITY SUPPORT:

Students with disabilities can receive assistance through the University Counseling Center. More information is available from the Counseling Center in OC 1022, (812)464-1867 or TDD (812) 465-7072.  Students are encouraged to discuss any special needs with instructor at the beginning of the semester.

 

MAKE UP EXAM POLICY:

Make up exams will only be given to students who request and receive prior permission to be absent during the regular exam period. In the event of special circumstances which prevent the student from receiving prior permission, the student is expected to contact the instructor as soon as possible concerning the absence. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor in a timely manner so arrangements for the make up exam can be made. However, makeup exams are strongly discouraged, as it is often difficult to find a makeup time, given the schedules of the instructor and the student. Class time will not be used for makeup exams.  Make up exams will likely be different (both in form and content) from the regular exam. Students failing to follow these rules run the risk of receiving a grade of "0" for the missed exam.

Note: No student will be allowed to make up more than one exam during the semester. Missing two exams will result in a grade of "0" for one exam.

 

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY:

Students who do not turn in assignments on the due date can expect grade reductions. Credit will not be given for assignments turned in more than 2 class sessions after the assignments are due. Students may turn in work early, email, or fax assignments to instructor to avoid being late. Assignments can also be placed in instructor's mailbox, in the College of Business Office.

 

ASSIGNED READING:

Students must read the text in order to do well in this course. Exam questions will be taken from both the text and from lecture material. Reading assignments in the chapter (including assigned case studies) should be read PRIOR to the lecture. Students should come to class ready to participate in the lecture/discussion. Since lectures will expand on the ideas presented in the text and will not always summarize all of the material in the text, students should be prepared with any questions regarding the text material.

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:

 

I.  EXAMS:  

There will be 4 exams (including the final).  Exams 1,2,3 will each be worth 100 points. The final exam will be worth 100 points.   Exams may consist of a combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions. The class schedule lists exam dates; however, exam dates are relative to progress through the chapters and are subject to change, when needed, by 1 or 2 class period dates. Students are responsible for staying informed about classroom activity and exact exam dates.

 

II. ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS: Two types of assignments/projects will be included: A) INDIVIDUAL --to be completed by each student, individually; and B) GROUP -- to be completed by groups of 3-5 students, as explained below.

 

A. INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS:

Questions on the mechanics of the individual projects may be addressed to anyone, including other CIS315 students; questions on the substance of the assignments should be addressed to the instructor.

 

1.    Optional Article Presentation (30 Points)

Students may choose to locate and present to the class one current article which describes practical applications of the topics discussed in the text for presentation to the class. Articles should pertain to the material in the chapter being studied at the time. Students who wish to complete this optional assignment should inform the professor at the beginning of the semester, so that he can assign topics and dates for each student's presentation and students can plan ahead to find appropriate articles. Students should hand in a photocopy of the article and a short outline of the important points brought out in the article. In preparing presentations, students should go beyond merely summarizing the main points, concentrating on what makes this article relevant to the topic we are studying and the issues or problems it raises.

Article presentation grades will be determined using the following standards

C (75%) - Student read the article and presented it.

B (85%) - Good choice of article, but comments are primarily of a summary nature

A (95%) - Good choice of article, good thought-provoking, critical analysis

Note: While content will be a major consideration for grading the presentation, grammar and organization of thoughts will also be taken into consideration.

 

2.    ELECTRONIC MEDIA Assignments/Projects: (30 Points)

Electronic communication will be used as part of the class. E-mail, World-Wide Web, online databases, and other electronic resources will be explored and used by the class. Students will have 4 Internet assignments/projects, which will be explained in detail at a later date. These assignments will include topics such as:

1)   Creating your own Web Page (15 Points)

2)   Publishing your own Web Page (15 Points)

Personal web pages should include at minimum a background, hypertext, links, various fonts and colors, images, and interactive e-mail.

 

B.   GROUP PROJECTS (100 points):

-Group projects will help students learn to work with others in developing and evaluating software applications, which is required in most real-world MIS environments. Students are responsible for completing all steps called for in the project and for providing complete, thoughtful answers to all questions included in the projects

-Students will select their own team members. Group members should feel free to utilize each other's skills and talents on the assignments. For these assignments, each member of the group will be asked to provide an assessment of the proportion of work done by each group member. The number of points earned will be adjusted accordingly.

-Groups may be assigned to give organized class presentations of their projects, when class time allows.

·         Group Project 1: Can the music industry change its tune ?-  pp.143-145 (25 pts.)

·         Group Project 2: Creating a New Internet Business (pp. 375-376)  (25 pts.)

·         Group Project 3: Online group project (25 points)

·         Group Project 4: Redesigning Business Processes for Healthlite Yogurt Company (pp. 599-600) (25 pts.)

 

Projects and case analyzes should be typed, well-organized, well written, titled, and should show the names of all group members. A spreadsheet or other computer software may be used to help in the analysis. The standards used for evaluating projects and case studies will be as follows:

C(75%)-Students read the project/case and answered the required questions.

B (85%) - Students read the project/case, answered the required questions, and prepared a critique.

A (95%)- Students read the project/case, answered the required questions, prepared a critique, prepared and presented a thought-provoking, effective analysis, and presented the project/case to the class (if assigned).

 

C. OTHER INDIVIDUAL/GROUP ASSIGNMENTS/QUIZZES may be given, if time allows (total of 50 pts.)

 

III.     Class Participation (30 points):

Students are expected to participate in class, which means coming to class prepared to answer questions about the chapter materials, especially that contained in the review questions at the end of each chapter. Students may be required to take short quizzes and to participate in group activities in class. Students should be prepared to participate in case discussions and article presentations and discussions.

 

In short:

Student grades will be based on a maximum of a possible 600/630 points which can be earned during the semester, 400 points from exams and 200/230 points from projects and class participation.

 

Tentative Class Schedule

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Spring 2006 CIS 315.001 {10:00-10:50} MWF OC2027 Dr. Abbas Foroughi

(Note: When you send me an email message, please always begin the “Subject” of your message with “CIS315.001”)

 

 

Above schedule is subject to change. Students are expected to read all materials in advance of the lecture and be prepared to discuss and answer/ask questions. Students should plan on reading 1 chapter ahead.