Russell Haines, Ph.D. - IT 610 Syllabus

IT 610
Introduction to Computer-Based Information Systems
Spring 2005

Instructor: Russell Haines
Office: 2023 Constant Hall
Phone: 757-683-5841
E-Mail: (Hopefully spam-proof)

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4:00 - 5:30 and by appointment
Topics for exam one.
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to provide a road map of the field of Information Systems (IS), showing how the various functional pieces of IS fit together. The course covers technical, behavioral, and organizational issues relating to IS. The focus is mainly on organizational and social issues related to IS implementation. This course assumes a level of understanding of computers and IS such as that provided in a computer literacy course and an awareness of how computers are used in organizations. We will also explore a number of key technologies which are being used to implement state of the art information systems.

Course Description
Classes will consist primarily of lectures and case discussions. The text, case studies, videos, and assigned readings form an integral part of the course. Readings should be completed prior to the class for which they are assigned.

Course Materials
Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm. 8th edition. Kenneth and Jane Lauden. (Prentice Hall).
Tom Thumb Case (Avaiable only via the World Wide Web).
An approved computer-related movie (Desk Set, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Sneakers, The Net).
Other Materials
Some of the course material will be posted on the internet (including this syllabus). You are expected to have access to the World Wide Web through campus or another service provider.

Course Evaluation
Your grade will be assigned according to the following breakdown:

Make-up exams will NOT be given, except in cases of extreme emergencies.

I will cover material in class which is in your textbook and in addition to your textbook. You are accountable on exams for all of this material. If, due to extraordinary circumstances you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what was covered by asking other students. (Ask more than one student to be sure that you understand everything covered in class.)

Exams
Exams will consist of essay questions about topics in IS which will require critical thinking about the topics discussed in class in order to answer. Grammar and spelling will not be graded against specifically, but will give a negative impression to your answers. Bring a blue book to each exam (the smaller size).

Case Essays
The purpose of the case essays is to ensure that all students are ready to participate in the case discussions. They will be graded on a pass/fail basis. They will also help you become familiar with IS issues as the course progresses. Completing the case essays and comparing your analysis with what is discussed in class can refine your critical skills which will be necessary for the exams and case study.

The format of the case essays for the first three cases should be somewhat as follows:

  1. Brief description of the principal company and industry
  2. Analysis of the current system (including what led the company to implement it)
  3. Issues for future resulting from the system
The format of the case essays for Tom Thumb and the Computer Movie should be somewhat as follows:
  1. Why the organization implemented the technology
  2. How the technology could harm others
  3. Analyze what individuals or the government could do to prevent harm (include unexpected/extreme effects of the technology and the preventative measures)
These essays should be exactly one page (not more). You may need to modify the spacing and font to get it to fit, but please don't use a font smaller than 12 point. Put the title of the case, your name, and course time at the top. Case essays are due at the beginning of class the day they are discussed. Your computer systems are expected to reliably function at all times, and computer difficulties will not be an acceptable excuse for late work.

IS Case Study
This case will integrate text and classroom material through the analysis of a real world information systems setting in an organization. The extent to which the organization uses computers is not important. This is a group project involving you and 3 other members of the class (making a total of 4 members in the group). Choose your group members carefully. Select an organization that you or a member of your group is affiliated with or that you can obtain enough information about to complete the case study. You should choose a few (1-3) systems in the company to analyze and critique. For systems that have been recently implemented, analyze the old system, why the organization needed the old system, why the organization changed to the new system, and problems that they had/have with the system currently. If the company has not recently implemented a system, you may analyze an existing system and recommend a new system for the company. In this case, analyze the old system, why the company uses it, limitations/problems with the current system, propose and analyze the system you are recommending (in detail, including work flow diagrams), and potential problems the organization may have implementing your system. Use the attached outline as a guide.

In addition to collecting documentary evidence, meet with at least three people in the organization to obtain different perspectives on the systems. You may need more than one meeting with each person to follow up on things you learn from others.

Groups will be graded on the basis of the report's substance and structure (70%), visual appearance (10%), and the quality of their presentation (20%). The grades will be assigned by comparing the reports and presentations to the best of each. All group members are expected to contribute equally to the project, and adjustments will only be made when overwhelming evidence of a lack of contribution on the part of any member is presented by other members.

Outline:
  1. Introduction
  2. Company profile (no more than 5 pages):
    1. Industry
    2. Brief Background (History)
    3. Annual Sales/Assets (Company/Division)
    4. Number of Employees (Company/Division)
    5. Location (Company/Division)
    6. Organization structure (Narrative and Chart)
  3. IS (or lack of IS) Profile (no more than 2 pages):
    1. IS Budget ($ and % of Company's Budget)
    2. Structure of IS Department (Narrative and Chart)
    3. Number and Types of IS Employees
    4. Hardware/Software (Briefly describe the hardware and software environment or I will get bored)
  4. Analysis of Old System
  5. Analysis of New System (Some suggestions about what to look for are presented below)
    • End-User computing
    • Client/Server Computing
    • Decision Support Systems/Data Warehousing
    • Groupware
    • Telecommuting
    • Downsizing
    • Artificial Intelligence/Expert Systems
    • Information Security and Control
    • Re-engineering
    • Integrated Systems
    • Executive Information Systems
    • Legacy Systems
    • E-commerce
    • Outsourcing

The emphasis should be on depth rather than breadth (choose only a few systems and analyze them thoroughly). Almost all of these topics will be focused on at least briefly in class discussions and in the text. However, to address the topics in depth, you will have to do further research. The report should be about 20 and not exceed 30 double spaced pages, including embedded diagrams.

Almost any organization is suitable for study, but ensure that you can tell an interesting story about each system.

A summary in the format of the case essays which identifies the company you will be studying and the topics you will address within that organization is due the day of the second exam. Completed cases are due on the scheduled final exam day.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
We would like to help students with disabilities achieve their highest potential in the College of Business and Public Administration. To this end, in order to receive accommodation on exams or assignments, students must make arrangements prior to the exam or assignments. Students should contact the Center for Students with Disabilities for assistance in making accomodations.