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IS 100: Introduction to Information Systems
Fall 2009

Office: DSB 1117
Email: v vinekar [AT] mail [DOT] fairfield [DOT] edu (preferred method of communication)
Phone: (203) 254-4000 extension 2831
Hours: Tue: 3:30 – 4:30 pm, Thursday 3:45 - 4:45 pm, Friday 10:00am-11:00am

Course Description
This course examines the necessity of Information Systems in contemporary businesses and their role in business strategy. Topics include, but are not limited to, Knowledge Management, Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship management,  Supply Chain Management, and Enterprise Resource Planning,. Emphasis is on the use of Information Systems to solve strategic business problems. There is no pre-requisite for this course.

Learning Objectives:
• To understand and discuss the role of information systems in contemporary business.
• To gain a working understanding of redesigning organizations using information systems.
• To apply newly-acquired knowledge and analytical skills to a business project

Required Text Books
 
Title: Using MIS, Second Edition
Authors: David M. Kroenke
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Status: Required. Main textbook of the course

Title: Microsoft Access 2007: Plain & Simple
Authors: Curtis D. Frye
Publisher: Microsoft Publishing
Status: Required. It will be used to learn Microsoft Access
 

Grading Criteria:
• Quizzes (20%): There will be two quizzes during the semester. Each quiz will assess your understanding of the topics covered in class. The date for each quiz is stated in the course calendar that follows.
• Participation (20%): Class attendance and participation are important parts of this course, and they affect your overall grade. You are expected to attend all the classes and read all the assigned readings before the date they are covered in class. When in class, ask questions about things that are not clear to you and answer questions when asked by the professor.
• Midterm (15%): One midterm examination will be given at around the mid-point of the semester. The midterm will cover all topics from the first eight weeks of the course.
• Project (20%): A project will be assigned during the semester. You will be required to choose a large organization, research the organization to find the problems it faces, apply several types of information systems and assess to what extent each solves the organizational problems. You will be assessed on your ability to come up with creative solutions as well as critical thinking and logical analysis. You will not be awarded points for defending incorrect arguments.
• Final Exam (25%): The final exam is comprehensive and you will take it at the end of the semester. The date and time for all undergraduate final exams is published in the schedule of courses you received last semester.

Course Policies:
• Grades become final one week after the instructor has returned assignments/quizzes.
• A grade of zero will be awarded if you miss an examination or quiz. If you are scheduled miss a quiz or exam due to participation in athletics, you must get a note from the Athletics Department at the beginning of the semester and take the quiz or exam before the scheduled quiz/exam date. If you miss due to an illness, you must provide a doctor’s note and take the quiz/exam before the class immediately following the scheduled quiz/exam date. Oral excuses are not acceptable. In order to be fair to students taking their exams on time, the make-up exams will be more difficult than regular exams.
• Cheating on quizzes or the final exam will result in an automatic F grade for the course. You have been warned.
• Unauthorized recording or sale of lectures and other instructional materials is prohibited.
• You are expected to attend all classes. If you miss a class, it becomes entirely your responsibility to figure out what you missed.

Course Schedule

Date Topic
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 Introduction
Friday, Jan 16, 2009 Ch1: MIS and You
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 Ch2: Information Systems for Collaboration
Friday, Jan 23, 2009 Ch3: Information systems for competitive advantage
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 Ch3: Information systems for competitive advantage
Friday, Jan 30, 2009 Ch3: Information systems for competitive advantage
Tuesday, Feb 3, 2009 Ch3: Information systems for competitive advantage
Friday, Feb 6, 2009 Quiz 1; Ch5: Database Processing, Access Project 1
Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009 Ch5: Database Processing, Access Project 1
Friday, Feb 13, 2009 Ch7: Information Systems Within Organizations
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 No class (Monday classes)
Friday, Feb 20, 2009 Ch7: Information Systems Within Organizations
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 Ch7: Information Systems Within Organizations
Friday, Feb 27, 2009 Ch7: Information Systems Within Organizations
Tuesday, Mar 3 2009 Spring Recess
Friday, Mar 6, 2009 Spring Recess
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 Ch5: Database Processing, Access Project 2
Friday, Mar 13, 2009 Ch5: Database Processing, Access Project 2
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 Midterm; Ch8: E-Commerce and Supply Chain Systems
Friday, Mar 20, 2009 Ch8: E-Commerce and Supply Chain Systems
Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009 Ch8: E-Commerce and Supply Chain Systems
Friday, Mar 27, 2009 Ch8: E-Commerce and Supply Chain Systems
Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 Ch9: Business Intelligence Systems
Friday, Apr 3, 2009 Ch9: Business Intelligence Systems
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2009 Ch9: Business Intelligence Systems
Friday, Apr 10, 2009 Easter Recess
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2009 Ch9: Business Intelligence Systems
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 Quiz 2; Project
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 Project Presentations
Friday, Apr 24, 2009 Project Presentations
Tuesday, Apr 28, 2009 Project Presentations
Friday, May 1, 2009 Reading Day - No Class

Final Exam: See the Fall 2009 Schedule of Courses (Page 11) in your Registration Booklet or in Stagweb.
The instructor reserves the right to change the course schedule. All changes will be announced in class. It is your responsibility to keep track of any changes.