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UMUC European Division-Term III/00-01
INSS 530 INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN ORGANIZATIONS COURSE OUTLINE
Class Times: 9:00 - 16:00 20/01 - 03/03 Class Location: SHAPE, Belgium Lecturer: Joyce M. Rowe, Ph.D. Office Hours: 1/2 hr. after class; Phone: TBA by appointment e-mail: jrowe@faculty.ed.umuc.edu Course Credit: 3 semester hours Pre-requisite: All pre-requisite classes as listed in catalog or permission of the lecturer TEXTBOOK: The Portable MBA 3rd edition by Robert Bruner et al, John Wiley, 1998 Management Information Systems: Managing Information in the Internetworked Enterprise by James O'Brien: Irwin McGraw-Hill, 1999 COURSE DESCRIPTION This class presents general concepts of management information systems and introduces various functional areas of organizations and their uses of information technology. The scale of information systems ranges from hand held and individual desktops to work groups, enterprise systems and global networks. The types of information systems discussed will include financial and operational systems, decision support systems and strategic planning models. Other topics will include costing, justification and configuration of an organization's information systems, and ways that networks are changing traditional channels of commerce, Supplemental readings will provide a more complete picture of the business practices and managerial concerns which information systems work to support.
GRADING CRITERIA:
Individual cases; assignments; quizzes				15 points
Web-Based Business Project				25 points
Team Company Case				15 points
Midterm				20 points
Final				25 points
GRADING SCALE:
90-100 points = A	80-89 points = B	70-79 points = C	Below 69 = FA

ASSIGNMENTS:

Web-Based Business--This course will require students to establish a web-based business. Students will be grouped in teams of 3 to 4; each teach will be responsible for creating and designing a facet of the business. The final project will include a business plan; a Request for Proposal for computers; a network topology for communications equipment; a database design and the accompanying database in Access; web pages for the business; a 5-year strategic plan; and other necessary documentation. Special emphasis will be placed on establishing a global business on the web. Each Sun. morning the teams will have a 1-hr. management meeting to discuss issues with a memo written to all team members with an accompanying agenda for the meeting. Every Friday the Project Leader will be responsible for e-mailing me a status report for the team's work. At the end of the class, each team will make a presentation of their business and its accompanying business components. Additionally, a Business Plan with all information will be turned submitted for a grade.

Case Studies--Students will be divided into small teams and will analyze a typical business problem. Some cases will be discussed in class; others will require written analysis and will be submitted. .

Midterm/Final--The midterm and final will consist of short answer essay questions related to the goals listed at the beginning of each chapter and the outside readings and a comprehensive exam question. This portion of the tests (worth 100 points) will be graded exactly like the comprehensives; that is: 75% for content, 25% for English and organization.

COURSE POLICIES/EXPECTATIONS:

The following policies apply to this class. These policies are generally reflected in the graduate catalog. * ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular class attendance is expected, both mornings and afternoons of weekend classes. If you should miss a meeting, it is your responsibility to obtain information concerning the material covered and upcoming assignments. Please note that those students receiving tuition assistance from the Federal Government must not miss three consecutive class meetings without prior approval, or the education Services Officer (ESO) must be notified by the instructor.

* ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students are expected to do their own work. Cheating on tests, plagiarism on written assignments, or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in a "0" for the assignment. Note that a D or an F usually results in at least 60 or 50 points, where violation of academic honesty results in none. See the European Division Catalog for the UMUC policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

* ASSIGNMENT/TEST SCHEDULES: Students are expected to hand in all assignments and complete all tests/cases on the days they are due. If a student fails to complete any assignment or test, the resulting grade will be a "0," rather than an "F." Any other assignments will be marked down half a letter grade for each half week the assignment is late. Major tests to be missed must be taken before the date the test is to be given in class. On the date ofcase or project presentations, each person must be in attendance for the first presentation. Otherwise, the presentation will be deemed late and a 10% reduction made for all presentations missed.

* CLASS PREPARATION: Students are expected to come to class prepared. This means reading materials assigned for that session and preparing any pertinent assignments. Quizzes may be given.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Questions on the midterm and final will be directly related to reading and discussion materials. Students completing class should: Identify and understand the roles that information play in organizations. Recognize the basic concepts that are the foundation for subsequent MIS courses, including user requirements, information flows and the nature of information systems.

Demonstrate knowledge of the basic techniques and fundamental skills needed to describe and specify the structures and applications of information systems.

Analyze different organizational situations where information technology is involved, and make recommendations for improvements in operations and in management information.

Analyze the impact of advances in information technology on organizations.

Demonstrate familiarity with the literature in information systems.

The activities and assignments for this course are designed to help the student understand the importance of understanding the basic concepts of information systems and their importance in today's business world. In addition to the academic objectives, students are expected to improve their skills in the following areas:

Critical Thinking: Students should improve their ability to analyze computer user situations and make appropriate suggestions for resolving business problems through computer systems. Cases and Projects encourage students to think critically about real-world situations.

Writing Skills: Students should improve writing skills through development of the Business Plan and Cases. Oral Presentation Skills: Students should improve presentation skills through case discussions and business presentations.

Computer Skills: Students should improve computer skills by using word processing, database, web programming and project management software. The use of Internet and e-mail are also encouraged.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

		Topics Discussed						Activities
Class 1 Jan. 20 9:00-noon	Introductions; Discussion of Building a Business Plan; OB Chapter 1 Introduction to Information Systems in Business; MBA Chapter 1 What is Business About?								Read OB Chapters 1-5, Appendix A, and MBA Chapters 1-2 before 1st class; Lecture/discussion of Business plans

Class 2 Jan 20 1:00-4:00			OB Chapter 2 Fundamentals of IS; MBA Chapter 2 The Future				Lecture/discussions on OB 2 and MBA 2; discuss Cases in OB 1-2; Assignment: Search www.sba.org and university small business centers for establishing new businesses

Class 3 Jan 21 9:00-noon			OB Chapter 3 Solving Business Problems and Chapter 4 Managerial Overview: Computer Hardware				Management meeting for teams; Team Company assignments; Discussion on Business Plans; Lecture/discussions on OB Chapters 3-4

Class 4 Jan 21 1:00-4:00				OB: Chapter 5: Managerial Overview: Computer Software; Individual case assignment for next meeting	Lecture/discussion on OB 5; Assignment: OB 6-9; MBA 5, 9, 11-12; Individual case (written)

Class 5 Feb 03 9:00-noon				OB Chapter 6 Managerial Overview: Telecommunications; and Chapter 7 Managerial Overview: Database	Lecture/discussion on OB 6; Individual cases due; In-class Case; in-class modeling exercises

Class 6 Feb. 03 1:00-4:00				OB Chapter 8 Internet and Electronic Commerce; MBA Chapter 5 Making Decisions Rigorously and 12 Human Resource Management	Lecture and discussion on OB 8 and MBA 5, 11- 12; Cases; Discussion on establishing a financial plan for business; purchasing hardware, software, network components; hiring people

Class 7 9:00-noon				Midterm Exam
				Management meeting; Midterm Exam

Class 8 Feb. 04 1:00-4:00				OB Chapter 9: Intranets, Extranets and Enterprise Collaboration; MBA Chapter 9: Innovation and Technology Management		Lecture/discussion on OB 9; MBA 5, 9, 11-12; In-class Cases discussed; Assignment: : OB 10-13; MBA 7-11, 13

Class 9 Feb. 17 9am-noon				Presentation of cases; OB Chapter 10 IS for Business Operations and 11: IS for Managerial Support		Lecture/discussion on OB 10 and 11; Individual cases due and discussed; In-class Case

Class 10 Feb.17 1:00-4:00				MBA Chapter 7 Marketing Management and 13 Strategy: Defining and Developing Competitive Advantage		Lecture/discussions on MBA 7 and 13

Class 11 Feb. 18 9am-noon				OB Chapter 12 Information Systems for Strategic Advantage		Management Meeting; Lecture/ discussion on OB 12

Class 12 Feb. 18 1:00-4:00				Presentation of Team Company Cases; and 13 Managing IT: Enterprise and Global Management; MBA Chapter 16 International Business		Lecture/discussion on OB 13; In-class cases; Assignment: OB Chapters 14-15; MBA Chapters 4; 14-16; Individual case assignment

Class 13 Mar 03 9:00-noon				Presentation of cases; OB Chapter 14 Managing IT: Planning and Implementing Change and MBA Chapter 15 Strategic Alliances		Lecture/discussion on OB 14 and MBA 15; Individual cases discussed; In-class Case; Management meeting

Class 14 Mar 03 1:00-4:00				OB Chapter 15 Managing IT: Security and Ethical Challenges and MBA Chapter 4 Business Ethics and 14 Leading from the Middle		Lecture/discussion on OB 15 and MBA 4 and 14; In-class Case; Management meeting

Class 15 Mar 04 9:00-noon				Presentation of Business Projects		Presentation of Projects; Business Plans due; Discussion of creating an e-business

Class16 Mar 04 1-4				Final Exam
This course sets emphasis on Information Systems and their use in businesses. To better understand the hardware, software, networking, and database concepts, students will create a Business Plan for an on-line business and will design and develop several of the business' components, including selecting and ordering hardware; evaluating hardware; selecting software; designing an application system and programming a database application; developing several web pages used for advertising and customer ordering, etc. Special considerations will be given to the business being an e-business and operating in an international arena. Students should expect to work in teams and solve some of the problems faced by entrepreneurs when establishing a business.
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