Management Information Systems

General Learning Goals:   
• Teambuilding and collaboration to achieve group objectives.  Instruction in basic team dynamics will be provided with a handout and class lecture.  A teambuilding in-class exercise is also conducted illustrating basic systems development practices.  Bonus points are awarded to team members presenting the most appropriate solution.  Further, students will work in teams as they research an assigned topic and prepare a formal presentation.  Peer and instructor evaluations, as well as assignment requirements, will be designed to insure that all team members actively participate in the presentation contributing to the overall team grade. 
• Competency in speaking and writing for common business scenarios.  All team members will speak during their team presentations and participate in some type of writing exercise.  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 papers will be expected to contain no grammatical and punctuation errors.  Additional guidelines will also be provided for the writing exercises. 
• Ethical reasoning skills within a business environment.  Ethical issues are addressed throughout the textbook with a separate section in each chapter.  These will be emphasized during class discussions. 
• Technology Utilization.  Class lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises involve expanded coverage of information technology, such as decision analysis with spreadsheet software and Web page construction.  Students will 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 grade for the presentation 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:

1. Describe the role of information technology as a key organizational resource for creating competitive advantage and in supporting operational excellence, major business initiatives, decision making, and organizational transformation, while recognizing the impacts information technology can and will have on their lives.
2. Elaborate on the strategic and competitive opportunities provided by supply chain management (SCM), customer relationship management (CRM), business intelligence (BI), and integrated collaboration environment (ICE) systems.
3. Discuss organizational database technology, differentiate between databases and data warehouses, and describe data-mining.
4. Express a familiarity with various decision supporting software application tools such as neural networks and decision support, geographic information, and artificial intelligence systems.
5. Define and describe the two major e-commerce business models (Business to Business, B2B, and Business to Consumer, B2C) and identify the differences and similarities among customers and their perceived value of products and services in each.
6. Describe the process of computer information systems development, the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the role of prototyping in it, and the outsourcing process (both domestic and offshore).
7. Explain the relationship between the organization’s roles and goals and its IT infrastructure.
8. Define and describe factors affecting ethical decision making, intellectual property, copyright, Fair Use Doctrine, and pirated and counterfeit software, and how privacy and organizational information can be protected.
9. Describe the emerging trends and technologies that are emerging as we move toward physiological interaction with technology, increased portability and mobility, and the rebirth of e-commerce.
10. Discuss basic computer hardware and software components, the workings of the Web and Internet, network configurations, Web page construction using HTML, and computer crime and forensics.

Student's performance will be assessed using the following elements.

 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, speakers, field trips, videos, and any other assigned readings.  Students are responsible for all assigned textbook material, even if it is not directly discussed in class.

 Team Project:  All students will participate in a group project.  Details of the assignment will be provided and team formation will be accomplished at a later date.  The team assignment will be equivalent to more than a test grade and its importance is therefore evident.

 Quizzes:  Up to 50 points may be assigned to quizzes.  Quizzes 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 activities on a daily basis.  Not being prepared daily and non-participation in classes (such as web surfing and texting) will limit your ability to achieve a final grade above a B for the course.  Each non-participation (such as web surfing and texting) will cost you five points. 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 based on the recorded points only. Personal reasons (e.g., need a specific grade to graduate, to keep financial aid, to keep straight A record, etc.) are not considered in the grade calculation.

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. 

Regular attendance is expected and roll will be taken.  Upon a student’s fifth unauthorized absence, that student can 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.