MIS 204.101
Management Information Systems
Spring 2010
John Smiley
Last Updated: May 5, 2010

"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-

Grades

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Late Stuff:

What I have

Misource
Wall Street Journals

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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--if you can find 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. 
• 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 Monday, March 15th. No electronic devices may be used during the exam unless you have my prior authorization.
• We have no class Monday, January 18th---Martin Luther King Day
• We have no class Monday, February 8th---I'm out of town
• We have no class Monday, March 8th---Spring Break
• Final Examination is Monday, May 3rd. 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