TR 2:00-3:20pm
General Learning Goals: • Teambuilding and collaboration to achieve group objectives. Instruction in basic team dynamics is not provided as this class follows MIS-3003, MIS, where the students were required to work in teams. Students will continue to work in teams throughout this course as well. Team assignments will be required to be turned in for grades. There will also be at least one graded team presentation. Peer and instructor evaluations, as well as assignment requirements, will be designed to insure that all team members actively participate in both the presentation and written team assignments contributing to overall team grades. • Problem Solving and Decision Making. The teams’ assignments are the primary means by which the students critically analyze, evaluate, and interpret business information. The students are required to use the techniques and information presented in class to analyze their team’s ongoing project. This requires identifying the assignment’s requested business situation, making any necessary assumptions, assessing given data/evidence, considering alternative solutions, arriving at a conclusion, and then documenting their decisions. Graded assignments are a significant portion of the overall course grade. • Competency in speaking and writing for common business scenarios. In addition, it is required that all team members speak during their team presentations and participate in the writing of the team assignments. An assessment form will be used during presentations to address the professionalism of individual and group efforts. This form will be provided to students and discussed well in advance of their scheduled presentations. Written assignments will be expected to contain no grammatical and punctuation errors. • Technology Utilization. Extensive use is made of business application technology throughout the course. All systems analysis diagrams are executed in Microsoft Visio. Microsoft Project is used for team project management tasks. Supplemental instructional materials are provided for these applications and covered in class as needed. Students will also demonstrate their ability to use common business computer applications by utilizing Microsoft Word for written assignments and Microsoft PowerPoint for their team presentations. A portion of the grades for the presentations is based on the quality of the slides. These general learning goals are among those established by the Dillard College of Business Administration. General learning goals represent the skills that graduates will carry with them into their careers. While assessing student performance in obtaining these general learning goals, the Dillard College is assessing its programs. The assessments will assist us as we improve our curriculum and curriculum delivery.
Course Specific Learning Goals: After completing this course, students should be able to: • Define the unique role of systems analysts in the development of information systems. • Identify technologies that provide system designers and builders with a perspective of information systems. • Describe the essential phases of systems development, and for each phase, describe its purpose, inputs, and outputs. • Describe the basic functions of project management and the basic competencies required of Information Technology project managers. • Understand a number of systems analysis approaches for solving business system problems. • Identify fact-finding techniques for system requirements discovery and know how they are used. • Define Actors and Use Cases and be able to identify them from context diagrams and other sources. • Recognize and understand the basic concepts and constructs of a data model. • Recognize and understand the basic concepts and constructs of a process model. • Recognize and understand the basic concepts and constructs of object modeling utilizing the UML. • Write suitable system proposal reports for different audiences.
Exams (3): Each exam will consist of multiple-choice and true/false questions, some short answer, and/or essay questions. Exams will cover assigned chapters, in-class lectures, and any other assigned readings. Students are responsible for all assigned textbook material, even if it is not directly discussed in class. Team Assignments: All students will participate in the team assignments. Details of presentation requirements will be provided later. Quizzes: Up to 100 points may be assigned to quizzes, take home assignments, and in-class exercises. Quizzes and in-class exercises will generally not be announced in advance. Any points not assigned during the semester will be removed from the total possible for the course when calculating grade percentages. Attendance and Participation: 50 of the 200 points will be based on the percentage of classes attended. Absences will be excused only for approved school trips and serious health issues. 150 of the 200 points will be based on being prepared for class and actively participating in class discussions on a daily basis. Not being prepared daily and non-participation in classes will limit your ability to achieve a final grade above a B for the course. Everyone starts with 0 out of 150 points possible for participation. Only your direct participation in class activities DURING class meeting times counts toward these points!
Points will be allocated using the following scheme. Grades will be assigned using the following scheme. Exam I 100 A 720-800 Exam II 100 B 640-719 Exam III 100 C 560-639 Team Assignments 200 D 480-559 Attendnce & Partiptn 200 F <= 479 Homework, Quizzes & In-class100 Total Points 800
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is expected and roll will be taken. Upon a student’s fifth unauthorized absence, that student will be dropped for nonattendance and receive a grade of WF for the course. Participation in class discussion is mandatory and a significant part of the overall class grade. Students must read the assigned material and complete assignments prior to coming to class and be prepared to discuss and ask questions relating to assigned material. See the MSU Student Handbook for the University Class Attendance Policy.
Missed Examination, Quiz, and In-class Exercises Policy: Only students with authorized absences (see University Class Attendance Policy) may make up missed examinations, quizzes (announced and unannounced), and in-class exercises. Arrangements must be made in advance if at all possible. In all cases, the instructor must be contacted no later than the day of the scheduled exam or no make up will be allowed. At the instructor’s discretion, a deduction may be assessed for a late exam.
Syllabus Change Policy: This syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change. It is only a guide. It is not a contract. Syllabus changes will be communicated in class and may or may not result in document changes. If absent, it is the student’s sole responsibility to find out from other students, or the instructor, if anything affecting the course requirements or schedule was announced in the classes missed. It is not the instructor’s responsibility to individually inform students of changes. Additional Information: Assignments: Assignments are due in class at the beginning of class on the specified due date. There is NO PROVISION for late work on any assignment. Plan and schedule to complete work early. Having your work completed on schedule is a key to early success in your business career. Classroom behavior: • Please come to class on time. Take care of personal business prior to class. I do not expect you to leave and return to class (unless there was an emergency and you explain it to me after class). Leaving to respond to calls or messages is not acceptable unless it’s an emergency. • Computers will remain off during class except as directed by the instructor. Class time is not for surfing the Web, monitoring Facebook, texting, or catching up on email. You will be asked to leave the class if you continually violate this policy. The same thing applies to cell phone usage for messaging during class. The class is held in a computer lab. There is no reason to bring a laptop. Laptops are not to be used during class except with the permission of the instructor. • Turn off your cell phones and any other electronic devices and put them away. Please, no texting. I think we can all go a little over an hour without contact with the outside world! Leaving class to return calls and coming back is not acceptable. If you have an emergency situation that requires your cell phone to be on, let me know and we’ll work something out. • I don’t care what you wear to class as long as you conduct yourself professionally and with respect toward your peers and the instructor. However, any presentation should be treated professionally in terms of dress and demeanor. Please don’t talk while the instructor or others are discussing course materials. Participating in the class is the best way to avoid disturbing the class.