INSS 540 INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS & DESIGN 
COURSE OUTLINE

Class Times: 9:00 - 16:00 27/01 - 10/03                          Class Location: Geilenkrichen, DE
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: Either INSS 510, INSS 520, INSS 530 or permission of the lecturer

TEXTBOOK: Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World by Satzinger, Jackson, and Burd, 1st Edition, Course Technology, 2000.

HANDOUTS: Will be distributed from time-to-time; you will be responsible for this material

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ASSIGNMENTS

Individual cases/assignments--Each student will develop various models and complete small case studies, often in class, sometimes out of class..  These cases are useful in applying the methodologies discussed in class.  Quizzes may be given without notice.  Additionally, each student will be assigned one on-line IS news source to monitor and report on each weekend.  The sources are internet news, ZD Net,   IS News, InfoWorld, Breaking News.

Project--Students will be divided into small teams and will analyze a typical business problem. This problem will be carried through the different phases of the SDLC: initial study and investigation, project management, DFDs, ERDs, cause-and-effect diagrams,  state transition diagrams, and implementation.  Projects will be graded 80% content, 20% presentation.  Presentation must be at a business level and should include some form of graphic display, preferably Power Point.  A System Manual will be due to the Lecturer, in which all of the documentation of the study, the models, etc., will be included along with the presentation materials.

Subject Research and Class Participation---Each student will select one topic from a list of current Systems Analysis and Design topics (tentative list at bottom of syllabus).   The student  will make a 10- to 15-minute class presentation,  turn in a 2- to 3-page summary along with a page of resources used,  (use the APA format for this bibliography, as provided on the UofM Library website), and   provide each class member a 1-page handout.  Students will be graded on the quality of their presentations and summations along with their classroom discussion.  By the end of the class every student should have an elementary understanding of these topics; this material will be eligible for testing on exams.  Students also are expected to be able to discuss the concepts in the book and demonstrate their applications through discussion of real-world problems.  This part of the course will familiarize students with the concepts in SA&D and the respected researchers in the field.

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.

*   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. If there is a quiz or other assignment due on that class period, previous arrangements should be made with the instructor whenever possible. 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 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. Quizzes cannot be made-up unless the student had an excused absence. Major tests to be missed must be taken before the date the test is to be given in class.  On the date of research presentations or project presentations, each person must be in attendance for the first presentation.  Otherwise, the presentation will be deemed late and a 10% reduction will be made for all presentations given that the student missed.

Develop models using  Project Management tools 

Identify classes of Information Systems utilized within business structures 

Identify, describe and model problems and their underlying causes 

Develop data collection methods and initial project studies 

Develop feasibility studies with cost/benefit analysis, including Executive Summaries 

Develop logical and physical system designs using various modeling methodologies

Producing DFDs, ERDs, state transition diagrams, and HIPOs

Explain evaluation criteria used in designing distributed systems 

Explain alternative approaches in acquiring systems, identifying advantages/disadvantages

Develop Program Specification Requirements 

Describe the process for developing applications, including development of Program Specification Requirements

Identify CASE modules and adaptation to systems design and development

Identify major theories and concepts in the field

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

2. Writing Skills: Students should improve writing skills through development of the Feasibility Study and formal report on the major project and on the mid-term and final.

3. Oral Presentation Skills: Students should improve their presentation skills through their oral reports on the major project, class discussions, and group presentations.

4.  Computer Skills: Students are expected to improve their computer skills by using word processing and project management software.  The use of  Internet and e-mail are also encouraged.

Class 4

 Jan 28

 1:00-4:00