University of Texas at Dallas

Course Syllabus

BA 4324: INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Fall 2005

Instructor: Michael J. Savoie

Office: 2.703 SOM Building
Hours: By Appointment
Phone: 972-883-4755
Fax: 972-883-4754
Email: msavoie@utdallas.edu

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery."

Mark van Doren

Required Textbooks: CIO Magazine

Access to the Internet

Course Description:

The rate of technological change has increased to the point that the world’s information is doubling
every 2 years. It is estimated that managers today can only access one-ten thousandths of the data
available to them in a given day.

This course examines current and new technologies that are being created to deal with this ever-
increasing stream of data. It introduces you to managing information resources, selection of appropriate
technologies, and analysis of corporate MIS functions. The course will be seminar style and provide an
overview of a multitude of technologies used in industry.

Objectives of the Course: Upon completion of this course the student will be:

• Knowledgeable about the current and future trends in technology, communications, systems
integration, organizational development, and management systems

• Aware of and able to locate, research and literature regarding the implementation and management
of technology

• Aware of the uses of technology to gain productivity increases, quality enhancements, and strategic
advantages

• Able to analyze a business need for information technology and to develop an appropriate strategy
to provide the required information service.
• Able to communicate effectively, in both written and oral forms, systems specifications, and to be
persuasive in these presentations.

• Aware of the impacts of advanced technologies on society and individuals, and the ethical issues
posed by these impacts.

Methodology:

The course will be taught in graduate seminar format (i.e. classes will revolve around topics assigned in
the syllabus and will be facilitated by the instructor). Students are expected to use the Internet to
expand on the assigned topic and should be prepared to discuss the topic and the related information
found during their research on the web.

Class attendance is extremely important. You are expected to prepare for class by studying the daily
assignments and completing any outside work. Excessive absences will result in a failing grade.

Academic Honesty:

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility with respect to academic honesty.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the
student for that degree, it is imperative that a student maintains a high standard of individual honor in his
or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or
omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's
own work of material that is not one's own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the
following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of
academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Specifically, copying another student's
computer files or buying assignments from a 3rd party could result in a grade of F and/or expulsion from
the University.

Grade Determination: Grading Scale:

Selected Case 100 points
Class Topics 60 points 180-200 A
Class Participation 40 points 160-179 B
---------- 140-159 C
Total 200 points 120-139 D

Explanation of Grading Policy:

Grades are based on total points, averages are not used.

Participation points will be awarded on a daily basis. Everyone begins with 0 points and points can be
added or subtracted at any time. Participation points are awarded to any student who contributes to the
understanding of the class as a whole. Each student is expected to take part in a presentation of one of
the topics listed on the syllabus. A maximum of 20 points will be awarded to each student based on
their ability to present the topic to the class is a clear, concise, and complete manner.
 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
BA 4324: INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
DATE WEEK # DESCRIPTION SUPPORTING TOPICS

8/23 1 Introduction Identifying Trends in Technology

8/30 2 Business Value of Technology Information Economics

Effects of IT on Strategy & Competition
The information paradox

9/6 3 IT Business/Development Models Capability Maturity Model, Balanced Score

Card, JAD/RAD, SDLC, Portfolio Approach

9/13 4 Connectivity LANs/WANs, Desktop PCs & Networking

LAN Security Issues
Client Server Computing & Trends

9/20 5 Wireless Wireless Access, BlueTooth, WiFi/WiMAX,

Wireless Clouds, WarChalking, 802 standards
PROJECT TOPICS DUE
9/27 6 Bandwidth Issues Telecommunications, Phone Systems,
Broadband, Voice over IP

10/04 7 Internet/WWW and Beyond Internet, Intranet, Virtual Private Networks,

Electronic Commerce, Security, NGI

10/11 8 Knowledge Management Data Base Applications & Trends

Data Warehousing / Data Marts

10/18 9 Supporting Technology Decision Support Systems / Executive

Information Systems
PROJECT STATUS REPORT DUE
10/25 10 Technology & Human Resources Project Management, Process
Reengineering/Change Management

11/01 11 Technology & Organizational Enterprise Resource Architecture Planning

(SAP/Oracle/PeopleSoft), Information Mapping
Structure

11/08 12 The Information Society Security / Disaster Recovery / Disaster

Management, Global Issues, Technology Gap,
Spamming / Viruses / Privacy / Software

11/15 13 Strategic Alignment Outsourcing, Effects of IT on Strategy &

Competition, Advanced Technologies

11/22 14 Presentations PROJECTS DUE

11/29 15 Presentations
 Selected Topics Questions, Grading, and Format

1. Assignments are due by 2:00 pm on the Thursday of the week assigned. Late assignments will not
be graded.
2. Assignments are submitted in MS Word 2000 or later format and emailed as an attachment to
msavoie@utdallas.edu. Please put your Course number and assignment number in the subject line of
the email and your name in the body of the email.
3. The student’s name and assignment number should be stated at the top of the assignment.
4. As per the syllabus, each assignment is worth up to 20 points.
5. PLEASE, ONLY ONE ASSIGNMENT PER CLASS FOR GRADING (You may do more
if you desire, but only one will be graded).

CASE GRADING FORMAT

Cases will be graded in the following manner.

1. Cases are expected to be complete professional and well written. This includes proper use of
grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Cases are expected to adhere to the format detailed below.
The following sections MUST be included in your report. The others are optional.
I. Cover page (see attached sheet)
II. Summary of Findings
III. Table of Contents
IV. Background information
V. Problem Statement
VI. Analysis of Alternatives
VII. Detailed Recommendations

2. Summary of Findings. A clear concise “Executive Summary” of the paper. NOT an abstract.

3. Table of Contents. A complete table of contents including headings and page numbers.
Appendices, if used, should be numbered in accordance with the paper and their titles included in
the Table of Contents.

4. Background Information. A concise summary of the pertinent details of the case. From this
section, the reader should have a good grasp of the current situation and the key variables involved.

5. Problem Statement. Grading is based on your ability to recognize the “vital few from the trivial
many.” In other words, the ability to cull the key issue or issues facing the client. Points are
awarded based on the correct identification of the critical issues and a basic discussion of why these
issues are critical to the client.

6. Analysis of Alternatives is graded based on your ability to identify, examine, and explain alternative
solutions to the issues identified earlier. No recommendations are made at this point. Rather, a
systematic view is taken in analyzing possible solutions. This discussion is not intended to lead the
 reader to the selection of the alternative recommended in the next section. Rather, it should present
the pros and cons of each possible alternative identified during the analysis of the key issues.

7. In the Detailed Recommendations portion of the report, you present your recommended solution(s)
to the problems facing the client. The solution(s) should be presented clearly, concisely, and in
enough detail that there is a clear path for the client to follow. The “next step” the client should take
must be clearly stated in easy-to-understand and follow instructions.

CASE GRADING FORMAT

GRADING SCALE (points)

COMPONENT CASE I
FORMAT:
Layout 10
Poor Grammar 2 pts each*
Misspelled Words 2 pts each*

CONTENT:
Summary of Findings 5
Background information 10
Problem Statement 25
Analysis of Alternatives 25
Detailed Recommendations 25
TOTAL POINTS 100

* These are in addition to the 100-point total.

 COVER PAGE FORMAT

CASE NAME

Submitted to:

Michael J. Savoie, Ph.D.

MGT 4324: Information Systems Management
Fall, 2005

Submitted by:

{Your Name Here}

Date