Course Description:

Information Systems are permeating advanced economies – like the United States – at a rapid pace. Current levels of economic growth and business performance would be unthinkable without IT. Like never before, Information Systems encompass and integrate a variety of technologies: hardware, software, networking, and telecommunications. A clear example of this trend is b2b and b2c e-commerce. New developments like wireless computing, Application Service Providers, global supply chain management promise even faster leaps of performance over the next decades.

In this environment, it is indispensable to acquire up-to-date knowledge and insight into Information Systems and their role in organizations and industries. MAN 6830 is dedicated to be your gateway. The course is committed to offering the best possible introduction to the management of Information Systems.

Course Setup:

Starting point for the course is Keri E. Pearlson, Carol S. Saunders’s book “Managing and Using Information Systems: A Strategic Approach , 3rd Edition”.
The book features a website with online resources like case studies and Internet links.

The course has a very natural build-up to make participants familiar with the area. It is organized around 5 themes that proceed logically – see also Work Space:

1. Technology – we start with technology to establish a solid base, including hardware, software, databases,
networking and telecommunications.
2. Managing IT – we focus on key challenges for IT managers, like System development, IS organization, and IS security

3. Using IT – from this basis, we start to explore how IT is used in organization. We take a look at different types of systems, and using IT for knowledge management
4. Role of IT – next, we expand on the role of IT in organization and society, and we assess its current impact including ethical and legal issues.
5. IT & business – finally, the course focuses on some of the most exciting and promising applications of IT, i.e., enterprise computing, supply chain management, e-commerce and globalization.

Throughout the course, articles and cases are presented and discussed to enhance participants’ awareness of and insight in management of Information Systems. A mixture of lectures, case discussions and presentations
ensure a complete and interesting learning experience.

Course Objectives:

Course objectives cover three key learning areas: Knowing concepts, acquiring insight (thinking), and competence.
Specifically, the course aims to:

§ Increase your knowledge and understanding of key Information Technology concepts, covering the
technology itself, managing IT, using IT, the impact and role of IT, and how IT supports business.

§ Develop your insight into key challenges of managing and deploying IT.

§ Enhance your competencies in areas like team work, using (presentation) software, presenting, and
discussing.

Please check below for more information on the process dimension of this course.

Website:

The course relies on this website for providing access to a range of resources on top of syllabus type of information. This enables you to retrieve course information and digital resources wherever you have Internet access. As the course proceeds, new resources like lecture slides and results from the research projects are added. Check frequently for updates and messages.

 

 

Book name: Managing and Using Information Systems A Strategic Approach
> Authors: Keri Pearlson & Carol Saunders
> Edition #: 3rd
> Publisher: Wiley
> ISBN #: 0-471-71538-7

Course grading:

1. Exam 1 (25%)

2. Exam 2 ( 25%)

3. Project I (25%) Technology paper

4. Assignments in class/homework (25%)

5. Professional quality in the organization, completeness, neatness, and timeliness of material handed in will be expected (including exams).

6. During the semester there will be two exams

7. Make up exams - There will be no makeup exams - if you miss one of the two exams you will receive an F.

8. Extra work for better grade - There will be no extra work assigned for an extra grade. Everyone will be treated on an equal basis.

9. Project I is a solo paper on the latest available technology and to be completed by the due date. No project = F grade. Late project = D grade

10. There will be NO exceptions on an INDIVIDUAL basis. If an exception is requested for one student and it is granted, then it will be announced in class and that exception will also be valid for all other students.

Professional quality in the organization, completeness, neatness, and timeliness of material handed in
will be expected (including exams).

Grading Scale:

 

Following FIU policy, the Academic Calendar for 2005-2006 includes only official University holidays. References to specific religious holidays have been excluded. In keeping with University policy, faculty are encouraged to make accommodations for students who wish to observe their religious holidays.

Students should make these requests known at the beginning of the semester.

The FIU policy statement with reference to religious holy days is printed on page 54 of the 2005-06 Undergraduate Catalog and page 38 of the Graduate Catalog. The statement is copied herein for your convenience:

Because there are some classes and other functions where attendance may be considered essential, the following policy is in effect:

1. Each student shall, upon notifying his/her instructor, be excused from class to observe a religious holy day of his/her faith.

2. While the student will be held responsible for the material covered in his/her absence, each student shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up any work missed.

3. No major test, major class event, or major University activity will be scheduled on a major religious holy day.

4. Professors and University administrators shall not arbitrarily penalize students who are absent from academic or social activities because of religious observances.

For a listing of religious holidays you may visit
http://www.interfaithcalendar.org.

Communicating with me:

The best way to communicate with me is by email.

Emails

1. Subject line: When you send an email, make sure that the subject line of your email starts as per Exa

mple 1 that follows:

2. Carbon copies: If you would like to make sure that you have sent important email correctly, send a "cc" to yourself. Then if you do not get a copy back - you know there is something wrong.

3. Requesting a receipt: If you want a receipt for assignments, projects and important emails, activate your receipt request in your email program. This is a simple procedure and will cut down a lot of emails asking me -did you receive my email Professor? If you are using Outlook Express for example, Click on Tools, Options, Receipts and choose request receipt.

4. The time and date of your emails must be accurate especially when there are deadlines. Your email starts off with your computer's time and date. If this is incorrect by an hour, then your email will arrive by an hour off. Therefore make sure that the computer your are using, the lab computer, the office computer, your friend's computer and your laptop and desktop have an accurate time and date. Assignments that arrive late receive only a fraction of the grade and assignments that do not arrive at all, receive an incomplete until they arrive.

5. If the time or date is incorrect then this is what you do: Move your mouse to the bottom right hand corner of your monitor. Slide it over the time. This will give you the time and date. If it is not accurate, right click on it. Adjust date and time. Make sure Date, Time and Time Zone are correct.

6. Anti Virus: A good antiviral program is necessary. Protect your computer. If your email or attachment contains a virus, it will not be opened and will be deleted immediately.

7. All attachments being sent must be formats that are supported. An example: MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS PowerPoint, Notepad, WordPad, .jpeg, .mpeg, .wav, .tiff, Corel Draw, .swf, .htm, FrontPage.

8. I do not support WordPerfect at this present moment.

9. Spell check: Please activate and use it. Typos and incorrect spelling does not make a good impression and sometimes can confuse the reader.

10. Large files and attachments: Some email programs have a limit on how large a file you can send through them. For example, HOTMAIL has a limit of 1MB. If your attachment or file is larger than 1 MB, your file will not be sent. You can either compress your files with a zip or use another email service e.g. Yahoo.com

11. Subject line: [ v e r y i m p o r t a n t ]

If your class, for example is MAN6830 this is what should go as a heading in your email subject line

MAN6830/Pat Smith/Assignment 1

 

If you are not attending a class right now your subject line should start off with:

YOUR NAME/Subject

Example:

Telephone calls
Please email me at gk@fiu.edu. Do not call my department to leave a message. The staff in the CBA are there to support the faculty in their duties.

Faxes
Do not send faxes.

Dropping in: It is my pleasure to see you. However, "dropping in" does not necessarily mean that there will be enough time to see you or deal with a particular problem. So, if your business is important make sure that you have emailed me or spoken to me first.