52:623:334.40  Management Information Systems

Spring 2008

Dr. Shankar Sundaresan

 

Contact Information

Office: 260 BSB        Phone: 856 225 6719    
e-mail: sundares@camden.rutgers.edu

Class Meetings

Tuesdays 6:00 pm to 8:40 pm          BSB 336

Office hours

Tuesdays  4:30 pm to 5:30 pm ;

Thursdays 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ;

other times by appointment

 

 

 

 

Course Overview:

 

 

In the modern economy, no business manager can perform well without a good understanding of information technology and its role in supporting business goals and transforming organizations.  This course is designed to enable students to not only learn information technology concepts but also apply them. 

 

 

Course Objectives:

 

Specifically the course aims to help you:

 

 

 

 

 


 

Required Course Materials

 

 

Required Text:

 

“Introduction to Information Systems: Supporting and Transforming Business,” by Rainer and Turban.

©2009, 2nd Edition, John-Wiley & Sons.
ISBN: 978-0-470-16900-1

 

Other web-based readings (articles, business clippings and web sites) will be assigned regularly.

 

 

Prerequisite:

 

 

You are expected to have completed the basic business computing course.  You will analyze some business problems by developing spreadsheets, databases and web sites using tools such as Excel, Access and SeaMonkey.  I expect you to become familiar with the basic skills in using these tools. You also should be comfortable in using word-processing and presentation software to prepare project reports and presentations.

 

 

Course Requirements

 

The requirements for the course follow.

 

Class Participation

6 %

Assignments

18 %

Technology Report (Team)

10 %

Exam 1

33 %

Exam 2

33 %

 

 

Class participation and Attendance: Each one of you is expected to attend classes and prepare for class discussions as indicated in the course schedule.  In evaluating class participation, I emphasize the quality of participation more than quantity.

 

To promote participation, you are required to choose a topic based on provided guidelines, and make a mini-presentation to the class. 

 

You are encouraged to identify and discuss a current network technology news item from business press reports during a short “technology update” module in every class.

 

Assignments:  There will be hands-on sessions conducted in class through out the term.  There will be 6-8 assignments to be completed by each student individuallyPlease note that you are expected to adhere to the Rutgers Honor code in completing assignments; for instance, the assignments are to be completed by students individually, without seeking help from other students in the present or previous classes.  Please approach me if you need help with the assignments.  For some assignments, members with in a team are allowed to work and learn cooperatively.  Even in such cases, the final assignment submitted must be your work.


Exam:
  Two exams are planned.

 

Technology Report:  Each team will choose an emerging information technology topic and write a short paper and also present it to the class.  More details will be provided in a separate handout.  This will provide an opportunity to cover a topic that may be of special interest to you. 

 

Evaluation: Students will be assigned a final grade based on the weighted scored computed using the components indicated above.  The final grade will be based very approximately on a standardized normal distribution. 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMENTS

 

 

·         Preparation:  Please come prepared for all classes.  Not only your participation grade, but the quality of your learning is substantially enhanced when you come prepared.  Participation may be assessed in different ways throughout the term.

·         Attendance:   You are expected to attend class regularly. Although a seating chart will not be used, attendance will be noted informally.  If you do miss class, please obtain class notes, assignments, handouts etc from your classmates, web site or me. 

·         Name Cards: Use name cards regularly in class throughout the term. 

 

·         Late Submissions:  All work must be turned in by the due date.  Late submissions are either not accepted or penalized.

·         Handouts:  Handouts will be regularly distributed in class.  I expect to post most of the material on the course web site.

·         Website:  Please visit the course web site regularly.  The course schedule will be revised dynamically.   I expect to update the current readings in the course web site regularly. 

·         Exams:  All students will take the exams during the designated times.  Please take this exam schedule into consideration when you make your travel arrangements.  All exams will be given in the regular classroom unless otherwise posted.   No makeup exam is offered.

·         Student Involvement:  You are encouraged and expected to ask questions and to interact with the instructor during class time.   Please do not disrupt the class in any way by doing other work or operating the computer (unless instructed otherwise).  If at any time during the course, you have questions regarding course-related matters, do not hesitate to contact me, either in person or via e-mail. 

·         Feedback:  I welcome your feedback on the content and style of the class.  You may choose to provide your feedback in person, via e-mail, or anonymously at any time.  Your suggestions will help me to make the class more useful for everybody.

 

·         Honor Code: It is expected that you will complete all assignments and analyses of cases without examining analyses done by out-of-group members in either the present or previous classes.  Likewise, individual assignments should reflect your own work.  I expect you to adhere to university guidelines regarding academic integrity.   Any violation of these guidelines will constitute a violation of the honor code and will invite the appropriate consequences.

 

·         Announcements:  Announcements will be periodically made in class about changes in schedules, assignments, exam, readings, project, policies and other class activities.  It is your responsibility to keep abreast of the announcements and changes.

 

·         ADA Statement: The School of Business welcomes persons with disabilities to all its classes, programs, and events.  If you need accommodations or have questions about access to buildings in which School of Business activities are held, please contact us in advance of your visit.

 

Other Policies: Please see course web site for more details.

 

Course Outline (Tentative)

 

Week 1  (Jan 22)

Readings

Topic :  Introduction & IT enabled transformation of businesses 

 

Course overview

Introduction

 

IT in the modern organization

Global web-based platform

Business pressures, organizational responses and IT

Chapter 1

 

 

Week 2  (Jan 29)

 

Topic :  IT concepts and management; strategic IT

 

IT and IS: Concepts and definitions

Classification of IS

 

IT architecture  

Competitive advantages and strategic IT

Overview of IT management

Chapter 2

 

 

Week 3   (Feb 5)

 

Topic :  Hardware & Software trends

 

Evolution of computer hardware

Hardware trends and managerial implications

 

Software types

Software trends

Technology guide 1- hardware

 

Technology guide 2 - software

Hands-on:  Spreadsheet techniques for managerial support 

 

 

 

Week 4   (Feb 12)

 

Topic :  Privacy and IT security

 

Ethical issues

Threats to information

Protecting information resources

Chapter 3

Technology Guide 3

 

 

Hands-on:  Spreadsheet techniques for managerial support 

Assignment 1 Due

 

 

Week 5  (Feb 19)

 

Topic :  Data management

 

Data organization

Database concepts

Database management

Chapter 4

 

Hands-on:  Database techniques for managerial support

 

 

 


Week 6  (Feb 26)

 

Topic :  Data management (continued)

 

Database management

Data mining and data warehouse

Data storage trends

Chapter 4

 

Hands-on:  Database techniques for managerial support

Assignment 2 Due

 

 

Week 7  (Mar 4) 

 

Topic :  Telecommunications and networks

 

Telecommunications basics

Network technologies and applications

Internet technologies

Exam 1  Review

Technology guide 4, 5 – Telecomm

Chapter 4

Hands-on:  Database techniques for managerial support

Assignment 3 Due

 

 

Week 8  (Mar 11)

 

 

 

                                            Exam 1

 

             Internet / Web Technologies

Technology guide 5

 

 

Week 9       Spring Break ---- Spring Break – Spring Break

 

 

 

Week 10  (Mar 25) 

 

Topic :  Internet and web technologies

 

Internet Technologies

Web Basics

Technology guide 5 – Web & Internet

Hands-on:  Web technologies for managerial support 

 

 

 

Week 11 (Apr 1)

 

Topic :  Electronic Commerce and mobile computing

 

EC Applications

EC Business Models

 

Mobile computing

Mobile commerce

Chapter 6

 

 

 

Chapter 7

Hands-on:  Web technologies for managerial support 

Assignment 4 Due

 

 

Week 12  (Apr 8) 

 

Topic :  Organizational IS & decision support systems

 

Organizational IS

CRM

ERP

 

Decision support system concepts

Examples and applications

Chapter 8

 

 

 

Chapter 9

Hands-on:  Spreadsheet techniques for managerial support

Assignment 5 Due

 

 

Week 13 (Apr 15)

 

Topic:  Building and acquiring IT: systems analysis and design

 

Building systems --- systems analysis and design

Rapid building approaches

Outsourcing

Vendor selection

Chapter 10

Hands-on:  Web technologies for managerial support 

Assignment 6 Due

 

 

Week 14 (Apr 22) 

 

Topic :  IT trends

 

Technology Reports Presentation

Exam 2 Review

 

 

 

Week 15 (Apr 29)

 

                                      Exam 2

 

            Technology Workshop   

 

Hands-on:  Web technologies for managerial support 

Technology Reports Due

 

 

Finals week

 

May 13                      Final Exam Day 6:00 pm

(Special Topics  – Emerging IT Trends )