Syllabus  - Term 5, 2008

Management Information and Control Systems

Conant Home

MBA 623 Home

Syllabus

Schedule

Notes

INSTRUCTOR:  Donald D. Conant, Ph.D.

Class Time and Location: M – W, 5:00 – 7:40, Old Main

Phone: work: (360) 754-4877, home: (360) 556-7359

E-mail:   Provided in class

Web site: http://homepages.stmartin.edu/fac_staff/dconant

OFFICE HOURS:  By appointment

REQUIRED TEXTS:  Used copies of the text without the Student CD Package are available at MIS no CD. Used copies of the text with the Student CD Package are available at MIS with CD. Students are not required to have the CD for the course, though some may find it beneficial.

PRE-ASSIGNMENT: (to be completed prior to arriving to
class on the first night)

Insure that you have a student email account. To get a student email account if you do not already have one, you must go to http://www.stmartin.edu/its/Account_Creation.htm. Enter your student ID number and the campus you are attending. Read and accept the Acceptable Use Policy then click “Submit” when you are finished. Account creation is usually completed within one business day.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

As stated in the Saint Martin's University catalog, this course is an “evaluation of organizational information needs and the ability of computer technology to meet those needs in an economical way."

In this course I will introduce the student to the digital firm. Information systems knowledge is essential for creating competitive firms, managing global corporations, and providing useful products and services to customers. The student will be provided with the organizational foundations of systems, their strategic role, and the organizational and management changes driving the digital firm. Additionally, the technical foundation for understanding information systems, describing the hardware, software, data storage, and telecommunications technologies that comprise the organization’s information technology infrastructure will be covered. This leads to the process of redesigning organizations using information systems, including reengineering of critical business processes and development of Web applications. Finally, the student will examine the role of information systems in capturing and distributing organizational knowledge and in enhancing management decision making across the enterprise. This will include a study of information security and control and the ethical and social implications of such control.

OBJECTIVES:  

At course completion, students should have:

Developed an understanding of how organizations, management and technology are brought together to form the networked enterprise.

Developed an understanding of the information technology infrastructure to include hardware and software assets, data resources and networks.

Learned the key elements necessary in building information systems in the digital firm and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the implementation of those elements.

Developed an understanding of the management and organizational issues associated with managing information systems.

Gained an understanding of the terms and concepts related to information systems that will allow the student to pursue further study and to apply their knowledge in practical settings.

 TEACHING STRATEGY: 

The class sessions will be a combination of lectures, interactive exercises and case discussion. Course content will come primarily from the assigned textbook. Additional content will be incorporated where appropriate.

Students are responsible for reviewing the class schedule and completing assigned readings, homework problems and other assignments.

A focus of the class will be the completion of the assigned case studies and participation in classroom case study analysis. I will choose case studies that emphasize key areas of information system management. Additional attention will be given to hands-on exercises with various software and internet applications, and an in-depth classroom discussion of the topics presented in the text.

BRIEF COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1:
An overview of MICS and informations systems (IS) in the global setting

Week 2:
IS and E-business in the global setting

Week 3:
IS in organizations and strategic, ethical, and social issues

Week 4:
Information technology (IT) infrastructure, databases, and information management

Week 5:
Telecommunications, the internet, wireless technology and IS security

Week 6:
Enterprise applications, digital markets, and digital goods

Weeks 7:
The role of MIS in managing knowledge and enhancing decision making

Week 8:
Building and managing information systems domestically and globally

GRADING:

Grade category and points:

Grade Scale:

REQUIREMENTS:

Chapter Presentation: (30 points) During class sessions we will discuss the material in the text, examine case studies, and work through practical IS situations. Each student will be expected to present a chapter from the text of their choosing to the class. The presentation consists of a 10 to 15 minute overview of the information presented in the chapter. Following the overview the student will summarize the key topics and themes presented in the chapter. The student will then pose three to five questions or issues to the class and lead the class in a discussion of those questions or issues. For students presenting the chapter the presentation has a potential value of 30 points.

Chapter Presentation Participation: (15 points) Student participation in discussions accompanying the presentations constitutes a maximum of 15 points over all of the presentations.

Case Study Participation: (25 points) Students will need to come to class prepared to participate in several case study discussions throughout the term. The specifics of that involvement will be discussed in class. Participation in case study discussions constitutes a maximum of 25 points over all of the case studies.

Literature Review: (30 Points) Two research articles will be provided on the MIS topic of change management and its effect on resistance to information technology implementation. From these articles students will write an 7 to 14 page review. The review consists of a one to two page background of the topic. A two to four page overview of the findings of each of the articles. A two to four page summary of the common themes between the articles. And a two to four page discussion of the significance and implications of these themes. All citations will use the APA style. The paper will be written using the APA paper template on the Notes website for this course.

Here are the references for the two MIS articles:

Lapointe, L. & Rivard, S. (2005). A multilevel model of resistance to information technology implementation. MIS Quarterly, 29(3), 461-491.

Paré, G. & Jutras, J. F. (2004). How good is the IT professional's aptitude in the conceptual understanding of change management? Communications of AIS, 14, 653-677.

Go to the Saint Martin's library website at:
http://www.stmartin.edu/library/

Select 'Locate a journal title' from the available links.
Enter the title of the first article (MIS Quarterly) and continue.
Select 'Business Source Premier'
Login to the database and continue.
Click on the year (2005).
Click on the issue (3).
Find and download the PTF for the article.

Repeat the steps above for the second article.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE: The Learning Center offers individual learning consultations, study group assistance, handouts and books on study skills, and free peer tutoring in the following subject areas:  math, chemistry, physics, economics, accounting, Spanish, French, and Japanese.  The tutoring schedules are posted outside the door in Old Main, room 212. To learn more about resources available through the Learning Center you are encouraged to drop by room 208 or visit their website:  www.stmartin.edu/academic/learning_center/index.htm.

SPecial needs:  If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

Contact Information:

Phone:
work: 360.754.4877
home: 360.556.7359