Instructor: Ron Vyhmeister Phone: 471-3458 (office), 473-3732 (home, before 10 p.m.) Office Hours: TTh 2:00-3:30, F 9:00-12:00, other times by appointment. E-mail: vyhmeisr@andrews.edu WWW: http://www.cs.andrews.edu/~vyhmeisr
Course Description
Examines the use and management of computer and information resources
within an organization. Topics covered will include current trends
and business applications of information technology. Does not
apply to an MS in Computer Science or Software Engineering. Prerequisite:
INSY 315, INSY 316 or 336, BSAD 355.
Textbook
Laudon, Kenneth C. And Laudon, Jane Price. Management Information
Systems: Organization and Technology, 4th ed. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996
Objectives
The general objectives of this class include:
1. to provide a historical context for the use of computers in modern business,
2. to discuss relevant computer hardware and software concepts,
3. to present specific dependence of business practices on computers,
4. to describe management information systems,
5. to depict a typical business computer system lifecycle,
6. to introduce the systems analysis process,
7. to consider management concerns in the selection, use, and
maintenance of an integrated computer based information resource.
Course Content
This course is intended to build upon the business knowledge and
computing skills which the student already has. This course focuses
on conceptual issues relating to information systems in organizations,
and is not intended to provide students with any specific Askills@,
such as spreadsheets or databases. We will spend some time learning
how to search the internet for relevant information.
In order for you to gain the most from this class, you will have
to integrate the knowledge you have from undergraduate business
classes in accounting, marketing, management, finance, operations,
economics, and law.
It is not intended that this be a purely Alecture@
course. Students are expected to be active participants in the
discussions. We will regularly have discussions on current topics,
as well as discussions relating to cases and problems which will
be handed out in class.
Topics which will be discussed include:
Information Systems Role in the Organization
Information Systems Planning
Client/Server Computing
Organizational Data Sharing (includes technical as well as Apolitical@ issues)
Communications (including the Internet and other networks)
Group Systems
System Development Alternatives
International Issues in Information Systems
Requirements
1. In addition to reading regularly from the textbook, you will
be given reading assignments relative to the topic of the day.
You will be responsible for knowing this material for in-class
discussion, as well as for the exams.
2. You will have two cases to write up and present. The first
one you will do individually, and the second one as part of a
group. You are expected to draw on your computing skills in order
to make these presentations and reports professional.
Grading and course policies
Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:
A 95% Midterm Exam 30% A- 90 Final Exam 35% B+ 87 Assignments, quizzes B 83 & Participation 35% B- 80 C+ 76 C 70
Late work receives a grade of 0. I will grade it for your edification,
if you would like. If you must be late to (or miss) some class
period or test, please make arrangements before-hand. I do not
make arrangements after the fact, and missing a test or quiz means
a 0. Quizzes will only be handed out to those who are there at
the beginning of the quiz. If you are late, you will not be given
the opportunity to take the quiz. Quizzes may or may not be announced.
You are responsible at any time for the material covered the last
class period, as well as the assigned reading for the current
period.
Except when specifically told otherwise by the instructor, everyone
should work on their own. If you do work with a friend, make sure
that your work is not a copy of theirs. If cheating does occur,
a grade of "F" will be assigned for the course.
Homework submission may be required in electronic format. You
should own at least two (2) 3.5" HD disks for your work and
backups.
Schedule
Following is a tentative schedule. This is subject to change.
You are responsible for checking with your classmates if you
are absent to verify any schedule changes and/or new assignments.
Date | Subject |
Readings |
March 26 | Introduction | |
April 2 | Information Systems in Organizations | Chapters 1-5 |
April 9 | Current Trends in Software/Hardware | Chapters 6, 7 |
April 16 | Managing Corporate Information | Chapter 8 |
April 23 | Networks and Telecommunications | Chapters 9, 10 |
April 30 | Designing systems that support organizational Goals | Chapters 11-14 |
May 7 | Designing systems (cont.) | Chapters 11-14 |
May 14 | Special purpose systems | Chapters 15-17 |
May 21 | Controlling Information Systems Information Systems in a Global Environment | Chapter 18 Chapter 19 |
May 28 | Final Exam |