MIS 204 Section 101

MIS 204.101
Management Information Systems
Fall 2008
John Smiley
Last Updated: December 14, 2008

"Be greedy when others are fearful, but be very fearful when others are greedy." Warren Buffett
"I never give anyone hell. I just tell the truth. They think it is hell." -Harry Truman-
"There is only one boss: the customer, and he (or she) can fire everyone in the company from the chairman and down, simply by spending their money somewhere else." -Sam Walton-

Final Examination is Thursday, December 18th at 6PM in our regular classroom

Grades so far

What I have

Misource
Wall Street Journals

The following students are late with their Case Submissions:

Sherika McLean---LATE
Shadi Saba---LATE, but you told me about it

The following students have given me NO Misource work

Eric Chou
Brittany Craig
Matt Deegler
Bill Fleming
Eric Kucowski
Karina Mezhiritsky
John Signorelli
Dave Spence
Daniel Venter

The following students still have some Misource work owed

Lisa Forman
John Hirshman
Matt Szajdecki

Midterm Key

Midterm Scores with Retest calculated

Click here

Office:	None
Phone:	(856)314-8615 (24 hours a day)
Email:	psu@johnsmiley.com
Website:	http://www.johnsmiley.com

Textbook:	Introduction to Information Systems: Essentials for the e-Business Enterprise, 14TH Edition
ISBN:	978-0-07-340292-3
Author:	James A. O’Brien
Book Website:	http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073402923/student_view0/index.html

Other Materials Required:

CD ROM	MISource 2007
Wall Street Journal:	http://wsjstudent.com/ When ordering, specify Semester Schools, Enter '190' for the Zip Code, find Penn State Abington, and please select my name from the Professor's drop down list box

Overview:

MIS 204 is an introduction to the role of computer-based information systems in business organizations. The focus of this course will be the preparation of the student for future interaction with computer-based management information systems. Topics will include basic technical concepts fundamental to information system design and usage, management and control of information systems, transaction processing systems, and decision support systems.

Syllabus

Click here

Class times:

Thursday Evenings, 6:00-8:30, Rydal Room 101 Classroom until 7:30, Lab from 7:30 to 8:30.

Assignments	Readings/Class Participation:

	Each chapter is divided into two sections and each section includes a real world case. All students are required to read one chapter each week. In addition, be prepared to discuss the first real world case in each chapter. It is strongly recommended that you answer, in writing, the case questions before class. End of chapter discussion questions, MiSource, and the on-line quizzes will help you prepare for the exams

	Wall Street Journal: (10% of your grade)

	As a business student and future business leader, you need to be continuously informed about events that may impact your work. Reading the Wall Street Journal daily is essential! In this course, you are required to read the WSJ and be prepared to report on an article each class. Record the title, author, date, and section and page number on a 3x5 index card and hand in at each class. You may choose an article of interest to your career or to the material in M IS 204. Students will be called on randomly to report on their chosen articles. You will have several opportunities to report throughout the semester. Introduce your article by title, date and author. Include an explanation about the article’s relevance to this course or to your intended major or career. The article must be timely---something from the week leading up to class. It is advisable to prepare a written summary or outline of each article that can be referenced during your oral report. However, you are not permitted to read your summary to the class. If you are not prepared to report on a current article when you are called on, you will forfeit your opportunity to satisfy the Wall Street Journal Grade.

	Case Study:

	Each student is assigned one Case Study from the Textbook to prepare and write up (See the schedule below). You need to summarize the Case Study and answer the 3 questions following the Case Study in the book. In the past, short summaries and short answers to the questions (less than 3 sentences) have resulted in poor grades.

	MISource 2007 (10% of your grade)

	The MISource 2007 CD comes with our Textbook, and you may install it on your computer (Click here for screenshots of the installation). Complete the MIS Concept, Computer Concept, Excel and Access modules according to the suggested schedule below. MISource allows you to print a report of your progress, which you should turn into me. You may turn in your report the night of the Final Exam---but it would be a good idea to submit your work periodically during the Semester.

Students with
Disabilities:

Penn State encourages academically qualified students with disabilities to take advantage of its educational programs. Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class should contact the disability liaison, Anne Prior, 315 Sutherland, Tel. 215-881-7537

Learning Center:

Free peer and professional tutoring and study skill coaching are available at the Learning Center (Room 315 Sutherland, 215-881-7538). Students striving for an “A” and students struggling for a “C” agree that they benefit from tutoring sessions. To find out how the Learning Center can help you, call or visit Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 to 5:30 PM and Fridays from 9:00 to 4:00 PM

Integrity:

According to the University Advising Handbook: "Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at the Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other student's dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.”

Bottom line: If you cheat, I will catch you, and you won't like the consequences.

Attendance:

Superior performance requires superior attendance. There is a direct correlation between poor performance on test and examinations and irregular attendance at class. Past results indicate that it's NEARLY impossible to get an A in this course without PERFECT attendance.

There is NO need to notify me prior to missing a class.

Grading:

Component	Material	Held/Due Date	Percentage

Midterm Examination	Chapters 1-6	October 16	30%
Final Examination	Chapters 7-12	December 18	30%
Attendance/Class Participation	Various	Various	10%
MISource Lessons	See below	Various	10%
Case Study	1 written Case Study	Various	10%
Wall Street Journal Assignment	Index Cards 1 Presentation	Various	10%

Letter Grade Final Numeric Grade

A 95.00-100

A- 90.00-94.99

B+ 87.70-89.99

B 83.30-87.69

B- 80.00-83.29

C+ 75.00-79.99

C 70.00-74.99

D 60.00-69.99

F 59.99 AND BELOW

Notes:

Read the assigned chapter in the textbook prior to coming to class and be prepared to contribute to class discussion.
Please do not attempt to do without the textbook for the semester---it won't work. You need the CD to do the MISource work.
Class participation is 10% of your grade. Be prepared to be called upon randomly several times during the semester.
Feel free to come late for class--it's better than missing class--but please cause no commotion upon entering the classroom. If you come in late, you are responsible for letting me know you were there---otherwise you will be marked absent.
Please turn cell phones to silent in class.
Please do not take my picture in class.
Feel free to 'facebook' me
Each student should be prepared to discuss the first Case Study in each chapter each week. This contributes to your Class Participation score.
Each student must prepare and submit one written Case Study from the book. See below for your assigned date. Summarize the Case Study, and answer the questions that follow it. Be prepared to present the Case Study in class. Depending upon our time constraints, I may or may not get to you.
Each student must submit each week, on an Index card, a Wall Street Journal article that they found interesting and would like to present. Record the title, author, date, and section and page number on a 3x5 index card and hand in at each class. You may choose an article of interest to your career or to the material in M IS 204. Students will be called on randomly to report on their chosen articles. You will have several opportunities to report throughout the semester. Introduce your article by title, date and author. Include an explanation about the article’s relevance to this course or to your intended major or career. How well, or poorly, he or she does will make up the Wall Street Journal portion of the grade.
I will deduct 10% off the Case Study grade if you are late. Students assigned a Case Study for the second week of class have a 1 week grace period.
For those of you who can't run MISource on your own computer, it is installed in Woodland Lab 347. You will need the CD to run the software, and you must enter your name when you run it and use the same name each time you use the lab.
Talking in class prevents other students from learning. Any student talking in class will be asked to leave. When asked to leave, please do so immediately. You will then be marked absent for the class.
Exams will consist of 50 questions, multiple choice questions, and are sure to include a question about something I've mentioned in class and a question about something covered in a presented case study and Wall Street Journal presentation. Because of this, attendance is very important. No electronic devices may be used during the exam unless you have my prior authorization.
Midterm Examination is Thursday, October 16th. No electronic devices may be used during the exam unless you have my prior authorization.
We have no class Thursday, November 27th---Thanksgiving Holiday
Final Examination is Thursday, December 18th. No electronic devices may be used during the exam unless you have my prior authorization.
The Final exam is NOT cumulative and will cover Chapters 7 through 12 of our textbook.
No extra credit will be awarded in this course.
You will need a great reason to miss the Midterm or Final Examination--be sure to contact me well in advance.
Do not plan to be on an airplane or out of the country during our Final Examination. Traveling home is not a valid reason to miss an examination.
If I need to cancel class (and that rarely happens), I will notify you as soon as possible----be sure to check your email during the week (I use it frequently to communicate with you) and prior to leaving for class.

I'll gladly meet with any student prior to class or after--email or call me for an appointment.
If you are having problems (school or personal) be sure to let either me or someone in the counseling center know. Check this link http://www.abington.psu.edu/psasite/cs/shared/campuslife/personalsupportteam.html or call Donna Monk at 215-881-7350

Class Schedule

Date

Topics

Aug 28
Week #1

Introductions
Complete your bio
Course Overview
Course Requirements
Syllabus discussion

Sep 4
Week #2
Foundations of Information Systems in Business

Read: Chapter 1
Read: Chapter 1 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Sew What (Alexandru Arcanu---Got it)
                       Autosystems (Bonny Chan---Got it)
                       Heidelberg, Honeywell, and Eaton (Brittany Craig---Got it)

Sep 11
Week #3

Competing with Information Technology

Read: Chapter 2
Read: Chapter 2 Margin Notes
Case Studies: FedEx Corporation (Matthew Deegler---Got it)
                     GE Energy and GE Healthcare (Shouyu Dong---Got it Late)
                     GE, Dell, Intel, GM and Others (Michelle Findley---Got it Late)

Sep 18
Week #4

Computer Hardware

Read: Chapter 3
Checkout this Case study on Wal-Mart
Checkout this Info on the Mars Rover
Read: Chapter 3 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Northrup, Gruman, Boeing and Others (Bill Fleming---Got it)
                     Apple Inc. (Lisa Forman---Got it)
                     E-Trade, Verizon Communications, AAA and others (Erin Gallagher---Got it)

Sep 25
Week #5

Computer Software

Read: Chapters 4
Read: Chapter 4 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Wolf Peak International (John Hirschman---Got it)
                   Google, Microsoft and Others (Shaila Jimenez---Got it)
                   Microsoft and Others (Meas Khlaing---Got it Late)

Oct 2
Week #6

Data Resource Management

Read: Chapter 5
Read: Chapter 5 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Amazon, eBay and Google ()
                      Emerson and Sanofi (Erica Kucowski---Got it Late)
                      Acxiom Corporation (Alyssa Leber---Got it Late)

Oct 9
Week #7

Telecommunications and Networks

Read: Chapter 6
Read: Chapter 6 Margin Notes
Midterm Review 7:30....
Case Studies: Best Buy, MedStar Health, and Unifi (Xunxi Lin---Got it)
                    Metric and Multistandard (Yan Lin---Got it)
                      SAIC, Hewlett-Packaged, GE and Others (Alibek Lomidze---Got it)

Oct 16
Week #8
Midterm Examination (Chapters 1 through 6)

Oct 23
Week #9
Electronic Business Systems

Read: Chapter 7
Read: Chapter 7 Margin Notes
Checkout: http://www.solectron.com/
Case Studies: Forex Capital Markets and Wyse Technology (Donna Martin---Got it)
                   Yahoo, Google and Chrysler (Michele Meckling---Got it)
                     Tesco (Maurice Parks---Got it)

Oct 30
Week #10

Electronic Commerce Systems

Read: Chapter 8
Read: Chapter 8 Margin Notes
Case Studies: eBay versus Google and Microsoft (Kevin Phang---Got it)
                   Entellium, Slashdot, Peerflix, Zappos, and Jigsaw (Keam Seng---Got it)
                     Yahoo, Flickr, and Others (John Signorelli---Got it LATE)

Nov 6
Week #11
No Class

Nov 13
Week #12

Decision Support Systems

Read: Chapter 9
Read: Chapter 9 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Oracle Corporation and Others (Emily Slobodian---Got it)
                     Harrah's Entertainment and Others (David Spence---Got it LATE)
                     IBM, Linden Labs, and Others (Matthew Szajdecki---Got it)

Nov 20
Week #13
Developing Business/IT Solutions

Read: Chapter 10
Read: Chapter 10 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Intuit Inc. ()
                     Infosys Technologies (Lisa Thiang---Got it LATE)
                     Indiana University (Phong Vo---Got it)

Nov 27
Week #14
Thanksgiving Holiday---No Class

Dec 4
Week #15

Security and Ethical Challenges

Read: Chapter 11
Read: Chapter 11 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Cyberscams (Eric Chou---Got it)
                     Lowe's, TCI, Bank of America , ChoicePoint and Others (Sherika McLean---LATE)
                     Western Corporate Credit Union and Others (Joseph McCarthy---Got it)

Dec 11
Week #16

Enterprise and Global Management of Information Technology

Read: Chapter 12
Read: Chapter 12 Margin Notes
Case Studies: Hewlet-Packard (Karina Mezhiritsky---Got it)
                  IBM Corporation (Daniel Venter---Got it)
                    Northwestern Mutual Life, GE, and Boeing (Shadi Saba---LATE, but you told me about it)

Dec 18
Week #17 Final Examination (Chapters 7-12)

Lab
Suggested
Date
Module Lesson Topics Lesson

1 Sep 4 MIS Concepts

Computer Concepts
Computer Concepts Introduction to MIS Concepts
The Systems Development Life Cycle

Application Software
Secondary Storage All (7)
All (6)

All (7)
All (3)

2 Sep 11 Computer Concepts The Internet and the World Wide Web All (11)

3 Sep 18 Computer Concepts Networks
Developing Systems All (5)
All (1)

4 Sep 25 Excel Introduction to Excel
Managing Workbooks All (6)
All (7)

5 Oct 2 Excel Working with Cells and Cell Data All (16)

6 Oct 9 Excel Formatting Worksheets All (10)

7 Oct 23 Excel
Excel
Resume due: Oct 18 Printing Worksheets
Working with Charts and Graphics All (6)
All (6)
Print and email file to:
psu@johnsmiley.com

8 Oct 30 Excel Analyzing Data All (13)

9 Nov 6 Excel
Access Workgroup Collaboration
Introduction to Access All (5)
All (12)

10 Nov 13 Access Creating and Modifying Tables All (10)

12 Nov 20 Access Creating and Modifying Queries All (13)

13 Dec 4 Access Creating and Modifying Forms
Viewing and Organizing Information All (7)
All (9)

14 Dec 11 Access Defining Relationships
Producing Reports All (2)
All (7)

15 Dec 18 Access Integrating with Other Apps
Managing Databases All (5)
All (4)

Letter Grade	Final Numeric Grade
A	95.00-100
A-	90.00-94.99
B+	87.70-89.99
B	83.30-87.69
B-	80.00-83.29
C+	75.00-79.99
C	70.00-74.99
D	60.00-69.99
F	59.99 AND BELOW

Date	Topics
Aug 28 Week #1	Introductions Complete your bio Course Overview Course Requirements Syllabus discussion
Sep 4 Week #2	Foundations of Information Systems in Business Read: Chapter 1 Read: Chapter 1 Margin Notes Case Studies: Sew What (Alexandru Arcanu---Got it) Autosystems (Bonny Chan---Got it) Heidelberg, Honeywell, and Eaton (Brittany Craig---Got it)
Sep 11 Week #3	Competing with Information Technology Read: Chapter 2 Read: Chapter 2 Margin Notes Case Studies: FedEx Corporation (Matthew Deegler---Got it) GE Energy and GE Healthcare (Shouyu Dong---Got it Late) GE, Dell, Intel, GM and Others (Michelle Findley---Got it Late)
Sep 18 Week #4	Computer Hardware Read: Chapter 3 Checkout this Case study on Wal-Mart Checkout this Info on the Mars Rover Read: Chapter 3 Margin Notes Case Studies: Northrup, Gruman, Boeing and Others (Bill Fleming---Got it) Apple Inc. (Lisa Forman---Got it) E-Trade, Verizon Communications, AAA and others (Erin Gallagher---Got it)
Sep 25 Week #5	Computer Software Read: Chapters 4 Read: Chapter 4 Margin Notes Case Studies: Wolf Peak International (John Hirschman---Got it) Google, Microsoft and Others (Shaila Jimenez---Got it) Microsoft and Others (Meas Khlaing---Got it Late)
Oct 2 Week #6	Data Resource Management Read: Chapter 5 Read: Chapter 5 Margin Notes Case Studies: Amazon, eBay and Google () Emerson and Sanofi (Erica Kucowski---Got it Late) Acxiom Corporation (Alyssa Leber---Got it Late)
Oct 9 Week #7	Telecommunications and Networks Read: Chapter 6 Read: Chapter 6 Margin Notes Midterm Review 7:30.... Case Studies: Best Buy, MedStar Health, and Unifi (Xunxi Lin---Got it) Metric and Multistandard (Yan Lin---Got it) SAIC, Hewlett-Packaged, GE and Others (Alibek Lomidze---Got it)
Oct 16 Week #8	Midterm Examination (Chapters 1 through 6)
Oct 23 Week #9	Electronic Business Systems Read: Chapter 7 Read: Chapter 7 Margin Notes Checkout: http://www.solectron.com/ Case Studies: Forex Capital Markets and Wyse Technology (Donna Martin---Got it) Yahoo, Google and Chrysler (Michele Meckling---Got it) Tesco (Maurice Parks---Got it)
Oct 30 Week #10	Electronic Commerce Systems Read: Chapter 8 Read: Chapter 8 Margin Notes Case Studies: eBay versus Google and Microsoft (Kevin Phang---Got it) Entellium, Slashdot, Peerflix, Zappos, and Jigsaw (Keam Seng---Got it) Yahoo, Flickr, and Others (John Signorelli---Got it LATE)
Nov 6 Week #11	No Class
Nov 13 Week #12	Decision Support Systems Read: Chapter 9 Read: Chapter 9 Margin Notes Case Studies: Oracle Corporation and Others (Emily Slobodian---Got it) Harrah's Entertainment and Others (David Spence---Got it LATE) IBM, Linden Labs, and Others (Matthew Szajdecki---Got it)
Nov 20 Week #13	Developing Business/IT Solutions Read: Chapter 10 Read: Chapter 10 Margin Notes Case Studies: Intuit Inc. () Infosys Technologies (Lisa Thiang---Got it LATE) Indiana University (Phong Vo---Got it)
Nov 27 Week #14	Thanksgiving Holiday---No Class
Dec 4 Week #15	Security and Ethical Challenges Read: Chapter 11 Read: Chapter 11 Margin Notes Case Studies: Cyberscams (Eric Chou---Got it) Lowe's, TCI, Bank of America , ChoicePoint and Others (Sherika McLean---LATE) Western Corporate Credit Union and Others (Joseph McCarthy---Got it)
Dec 11 Week #16	Enterprise and Global Management of Information Technology Read: Chapter 12 Read: Chapter 12 Margin Notes Case Studies: Hewlet-Packard (Karina Mezhiritsky---Got it) IBM Corporation (Daniel Venter---Got it) Northwestern Mutual Life, GE, and Boeing (Shadi Saba---LATE, but you told me about it)
Dec 18 Week #17	Final Examination (Chapters 7-12)

Lab	Suggested Date	Module	Lesson Topics	Lesson
1	Sep 4	MIS Concepts Computer Concepts Computer Concepts	Introduction to MIS Concepts The Systems Development Life Cycle Application Software Secondary Storage	All (7) All (6) All (7) All (3)
2	Sep 11	Computer Concepts	The Internet and the World Wide Web	All (11)
3	Sep 18	Computer Concepts	Networks Developing Systems	All (5) All (1)
4	Sep 25	Excel	Introduction to Excel Managing Workbooks	All (6) All (7)
5	Oct 2	Excel	Working with Cells and Cell Data	All (16)
6	Oct 9	Excel	Formatting Worksheets	All (10)
7	Oct 23	Excel Excel Resume due: Oct 18	Printing Worksheets Working with Charts and Graphics	All (6) All (6) Print and email file to: psu@johnsmiley.com
8	Oct 30	Excel	Analyzing Data	All (13)
9	Nov 6	Excel Access	Workgroup Collaboration Introduction to Access	All (5) All (12)
10	Nov 13	Access	Creating and Modifying Tables	All (10)
12	Nov 20	Access	Creating and Modifying Queries	All (13)
13	Dec 4	Access	Creating and Modifying Forms Viewing and Organizing Information	All (7) All (9)
14	Dec 11	Access	Defining Relationships Producing Reports	All (2) All (7)
15	Dec 18	Access	Integrating with Other Apps Managing Databases	All (5) All (4)