Class meets : MTWTF 11:20 - 12:35 in Jacobs 110.
Prerequisite : MGQ201, Concurrent Registration is not allowed.
Instructor : Raghu Santanam
Office : 332, Jacobs Management Center
Telephone : 645-3330.
E-mail : raghu@acsu.buffalo.edu
Office Hours : M W Th : 1pm - 2pm and by Appointment
Note : From June, 12 till End of Classes, M & W Office Hours will be in the Baldy Computing Lab.
Required Texts : 1. O'Brien, Introduction to Information Systems, Seventh Edition, Irwin, 1994.
2. Kendall & Kendall, Systems Analysis and Design, Chapter 17, Prentice Hall, 1994.
3.McLaren, Understanding and Using Microsoft Access 2.0, West Publishing Co., 1995. (Intermediate Version).
Optional : Using Access 2 for Windows, Que Corporation, 1994.
Objectives : The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the theoretical, practical and technological aspects of information systems, and to develop computing and team skills. The objective is to understand, appreciate and study the possibilities information systems offer to the organization. The course introduces you to two software packages, namely, Access (database management system) and lotus (spreadsheet).
Grading : Breakup of the weights assigned to the course requirements :
Assignments : 40 Points
Mid-Term : 15 Points
Final Examination : 15 Points
Course Project : 30 Points
Total : 100 Points
Grades : Incomplete grades will only be considered for extenuating circumstances. You must be passing the course, as evidenced by your work, to receive, via written (typed) request, an I grade.
Course Requirements
Assignments
Since the duration of the course is short, you are expected to keep pace with what is going on in the course, otherwise, very soon you will feel lost. To assist you in doing so, assignments will be handed out at the beginning of every week (beginning from the second week, i.e., 06/05/95). The assignments will be on the topics to be covered in that week. You are expected to work on the assignment over the week as and when the topics are covered and hand over the completed assignments to me at the beginning of the next week. The assignments have to be completed individually.
Note : Late Assignments will be penalized at the rate of 25% per day after the due date.
Examinations
I will conduct one midterm and a final examination. For the examinations, you will be responsible for the topics covered in the lectures and the assignments.
Course Project
In addition, you have to complete a computing project. This will be a team project. Students will be assigned to teams, the number of students in a team as well as the teams will be decided after the first week of class meeting. Each team will develop a prototype information system using Access 2.0. The teams will demonstrate the prototype for the class at the end of the semester. Because of the short time duration, I do not expect you to hand in a final term paper based on the project. However, you are expected to turn in short progress reports (not exceeding 3 pages) on the project on the dates mentioned under the course schedule, and hand in the prototype on a floppy disk at the end of the course.
Computing Labs
Students registered in this course may use the computers in the Jacobs Computing Laboratory located in Jacobs, 210. Students are encouraged to meet the consultants in the laboratory as soon as possible to get their accounts in order to use the computing facilities.
I have arranged some of my office hours in the Baldy Computing lab (beginning June 12), in order to provide hands-on help for the assignments and the projects. Students are encouraged to make use of these office hours for any assistance on their assignments and projects.
Standards of Academic Integrity
All the students are required to support and maintain a high standard of academic integrity. Please refer to the School of Management's BS Programs Handbook for details.
Course Outline
1. Introduction
Reading : O'Brien, Chapter 1
2. Information Systems Technology - Hardware
Reading : O'Brien, Chapter 2
3. Information Systems Technology - Software
Reading : O'Brien, Chapter 3
4. Information Systems Development
Reading : O'Brien, Chapter 10
5. Database Management Systems
Reading : O'Brien, Chapter 5 and Kendall & Kendall
6. Access 2.0
Reading : McLaren (Entire Book).
7. Lotus 1-2-3, Spreadsheets
8. Information Systems Technology - Networks and Telecommunications
Reading : O'Brien, Chapter 4
9. Applications
Reading : O'Brien, Chapter 6,7,8 and 9.
10. Computing Project Presentations.
Important Notice : The course outline is subject to change, depending on the class pace and needs. Every effort will be made to give notice of changes in advance.
Important Dates
May, 30 - Session begins, Course syllabus handed out.
June, 05 - Assignment #1 handed out, announce teams for projects.
June, 12 - Assignment #1 due, Assignment #2 handed out.
June, 14 - Project deliverable #1 : Project Proposal due.
June, 19 - Assignment #2 due, Assignment #3 handed out.
June, 19 - Mid term Examination. (Topics include materials covered till June, 16)
June, 21 - Project Deliverable #2 : Functional description and Database Design due.
June, 26 - Assignment #3 due, Assignment #4 handed out.
July, 03 - Assignment #4 due.
July, 05 - Project Deliverable #3 : Project Disk due.
July, 07 - Final Examination.