MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

INSY505

(4 credits)

March, 1997

Instructor: Ron Vyhmeister

E-mail: vyhmeisr@andrews.edu

WWW: http://www.cs.andrews.edu/~vyhmeisr

Class URL: http://www.andrews.edu/~vyhmeisr/classes/insy505.html

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 "skills", 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 "lecture" 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 "political" 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.

  1. I expect that you will either directly or indirectly (through a friend) have access to the Internet and the world wide web. There will be times during the course where I will refer you to new material on the web. You may wish to check the course page on-line on a regular basis for new materials.

3. 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.

  1. You are expected to do the following before the first day of class:
    1. Read the first chapters for Sunday.
    2. Write a single page (or paragraph) describing your experience with information systems. This should include both your experience as a user of information systems as well as your experience as a manager of information systems. If you have e-mail, please send this to me to vyhmeisr@andrews.edu. If not, you will need to hand this in the morning of March 16.

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

Reading

March 16 am

Introduction

The Role of IS in Organizations

Computing Technology

Chapters 1,2,6,7

Key Issues in MIS

March 16 pm

Networking

Chapters 9,10

March 17

Networking (Continued)

Chapters 9,10

March 18

Managing Information

Chapter 8

March 19

Designing Information Systems

Chapters 11-14

March 20

Designing Information Systems (cont)

Chapters 11-14

March 23 am

Midterm

Outsourcing

March 23 pm

Politics in IS organizations

IS as a factor in information processing

Chapters 3,4

March 24

Cost Justification of IT

Ethics of Information Systems

Hitt and Brynjolfsson,

Brynjolfsson,

Chapter 5

March 25

Electronic Commerce

Specialized Systems

Chapters 15-17

March 26

Specialized Systems (cont.)

Chapters 15-17

March 27

Control of Information Systems

International Issues in Information Systems

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

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