Team Teachers:
Dr. Hope Koch CPA, MBA, PhD (pronounced Cook) and
Mr. Brandon Satrom, Microsoft Developer Evangelist
Phone No.:
Email:
Office Hours:
Office Location:
254-710-4071
Hope_Koch@baylor.edu
brsatrom@microsoft.com
Tues: 9:45-12:15, Thurs: 10:00-12:15
No. 169, Information Systems Suite South
Course Objectives
The purpose of the IS leadership class is to provide an active, service-based learning experience to highperforming students in technology-related majors such as management information systems and computer
science. The service-based learning experience for the spring of 2011 involves competing in Microsoft’s Imagine
Cup software design competition and leading projects to improve career placement for students in technologyrelated majors at Baylor.
The Imagine Cup competition involves student competing in teams of four to develop a business plan and design
software and to address the United Nations’ Millennium goals: poverty, hunger, universal education, maternal
health, combating AIDS/HIV, gender equality, child health, environmental sustainability and global
partnerships.
Student teams will develop 5-minute video demonstrations explaining their idea and
demonstrating the software. In addition to providing material, a team teacher and mentors for the leadership
class, Microsoft will also provide travel expenses and prizes to teams that advance to nationals in Seattle, WA in
April 2011 and to the world championships held in and New York, NY in July 2011.
The second objective of the leadership class is to address a major problem facing college graduates: finding
employment. An average of 9.1% of college graduates were unemployed in 2009 and statistics suggest that many
of the people who graduate from college are not graduating with skills needed in the job market 1. While the
current job market is challenging, the US Bureau and Labor Statistics predicts a positive job outlook for graduates
in computer-related fields. In fact, Occupational Employment projects list computer-related occupations as one of
the fastest growing professional occupations between now and 20182.
To improve the job prospects for Baylor students, the leadership class will lead initiatives to improve the quality
and visibility of Baylor’s technology-related programs. In so doing, the leadership team will build and nurture
employer relationships, hold information sessions to help undergraduates with their employability and work on
projects that build the reputation of Baylor’s technical program.
In executing these projects, members of the leadership team will improve their technical and professional
competency skills. Students will become adept with the following technologies: C#, C++, .net, Visual Basic,
Expression Encoder, Microsoft Web Design Suite, Video Editing Software and Camtasia. Students will develop
the following professional competency skills:
project management; interpersonal, oral, and written
communication; teamwork and creativity.
1
2
See http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/16/bleak-job-outlook-nations-graduates-unemployment-rises/
Lacey, Alan T. and Wright, Benjamin. (2009), “Occupational Employment Projections to 2018.” November.
1
Course Materials


Manning, G. and Curtis, K. (2007), The Art of Leadership, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New York, NY.
Tutorial, textbooks and software on C#, C++, .net, Visual Basic, Expression Encoder and Microsoft Web
Design Suite
Guidelines/Policies
Academic Integrity. Students must follow the University Honor Code (http://www.baylor.edu/honorcode/).
Baylor established this code to protect the integrity of those pursuing an education in an open and honest
manner. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties. This
may include course failure and University dismissal.
Attendance. Attendance is an important part of learning. I expect you to be in class, prepared, everyday all
semester. Avoid coming in late or leaving early as this distracts the other students. I will take attendance daily.
Being tardy twice constitutes an absence. Leaving early twice constitutes an absence.
The University attendance policy requires a minimum of 75% attendance for successful course completion.
Students missing more than 25% of scheduled classes (4 classes) will not receive a passing grade regardless of
class performance.
Grade Issues. Direct grading questions to Dr. Koch during office hours.
Evaluation
Grading Scale
Percentage
INDIVIDUAL GRADE
Imagine Cup Idea Presentation
Weekly Imagine Cup deliverables
(5% each week for 4 weeks)
Mid-semester peer evaluation of
participation in career
development activities including
leadership readings
Imagine Cup Business Plan and
software design entry: group
grade allocated based on team
assessment of your contribution
Journal Reflections
End of semester peer evaluation of
participation in career
development activities including
leadership readings
Final Exam
10%
20%
A
B+
90 or higher
87-89
5%
B
80- 86
30%
C+
77-79
5%
10%
C
D
70-76
60-69
20%
F
Below 60
2
Journal. Since the class is organized as a small discussion group, the purpose of the journal is for you to record
your reflections on the readings, the progress you are making on your project and your reflections on the courses.
You can use this to stimulate your thoughts for the discussion. Periodically, I will post questions for you to
answer in your journal. In addition, three-five days before a student lead discussion the discussion leader will
post 3 discussion questions for you to prepare before class. Answer these question in your journal.
Maintain your journal in one Word document entitled “LastName Leadership Journal” and post it on SharePoint.
I expect you to write between 1 and 2 single-spaced typed pages each week. Date each entry. On the first page of
your journal indicate which pages I should print for each journal check.
Evaluations. Because this class project focused, most of the student’s grade will come from the professor’s and
the classmates’ assessments of his or her contribution to the projects. The grading criteria for the assessment are
below. Forty percent of the grade will be based on the professors’ assessments; 60% will be based on classmates’
assessment. We will have mid-semester and end-of-semester evaluations.
Not
acceptable
CRITERIA
Peer group points
Instructor points
Attendance: The team member attends all class
meetings and extra meetings, on time and for the entire
time.
Initiative: The team member takes initiative on projects
rather than waiting for tasks to be assigned.
Meets deadlines: The team member follows through
on the deadlines that they commit to. The team
member starts projects early enough so that even if
they have trouble with external vendors they are still
able to complete the project on time.
Engagement: The team member is engaged in the class
and is willing to go the extra mile to help the group
accomplish its mission. During the workweek, The
team member responds to emails sent during the
school week (Monday 8:00 am-Friday at 3:00 pm)
within 24 hours. The team member is available outside
of class time.
Quality: The team member’s work and presentations
are of high quality; only minor tweaks are needed.
3
Needs Improvement
Adequate
Good
Exceptional
0
4
6
8
10
0
10
20
30
40
SCHEDULE3,4
DATE
11/30/10
Tues, 1/11
MATERIAL COVERED AND REQUIRED READINGS
DELIVERABLES
Part 1. Becoming a Team and Understanding Our Mission
Leadership team meeting. Discuss Imagine Cup Competition and provide tutorial materials for students to hone
their skills in C#, C++, .net, Visual Basic, Expression Encoder, Microsoft Web Design Suite, Video Editing Software
and Camtasia
Leadership Class Introduction: Overview, purpose and expectations, the Imagine Cup, each classmate discusses the
technical skills they can bring to the class
By class time: read the syllabus, post your information sheet on the Blackboard AITP group, read the Imagine Cup
software design website at http://www.imaginecup.us/competitions/Index.aspx. Watch winning Imagine Cup
videos at http://www.youtube.com/imaginecupmicrosoft#g/a
Guest speakers to share idea of social problems technology may address:
 Dr. Gina Green Associate Professor, Baylor MIS
 Dr. Yancy Gaynor, Baylor School of Social Work (Pending)
Tues,
1/18
Present ideas on technology to address the United Nations Millennium goals
Presentations: Each leadership team member will develop a PPT presentation and do a 10 minute presentation on
their idea for the Imagine cup
 Guest speaker to share ideas of social problems technology can address: Ann Thompson, United Way of Central
Texas Executive Director (Pending)
Assign responsibilities for the IS career development dinner
3
4
Because of the dynamic nature of the class, we will have to rearrange some parts of the syllabus.
Dates in italics denote different class meeting times.
1
Consolidate and
upload
information sheets
DATE
Tues,
1/25
MATERIAL COVERED AND REQUIRED READINGS
DELIVERABLES
Part 2. Recruiting, Mentoring and Career Development
IS Career Development Dinner rehearsal (3:40-4:40)
Choose 2 ideas for the Imagine Cup, form two teams, choose roles, choose project managers
Teams need to register with Imagine Cup at http://www.imaginecup.us/
Tues,
2/1
Sat., 2/5
Tues,
2/8
Career Development Dinner, 6:00 pm, The Alumni Center
Guest Speaker: Jeff Blackwell, Director Information Technology Services Deloitte, Baylor MIS Graduate, Listed on
Computer World’s 2010 Top IT Leaders to Watch. See:
http://www.cio.com/article/592533/2010_Ones_to_Watch_Winners?source=rss_careers
Draft of businesses plans due to pass along to Brandon Satrom at Microsoft along with Kelly and Deanna from the
Microsoft Marketing team.
Winter Premiere Presentation
Part 3. Developing a Business Plan and Technology
Discuss the IS career development dinner
 Journal questions: what did you enjoy the most about the IS career development dinner? How do you think the
career development dinner benefited students? What do we need to do different at the next career development
dinner?
Discussion Leader:
Read and discuss these materials:
 Manning, Ch. 16, The Team Concept
 Manning, Ch. 22, The Role of Personality
The Imagine Cup, Mr. Brandon Satrom teaches class
 Have two written business plans for the Imagine Cup
 Present each business plan
 Get direction from Brandon on improving the business plan and developing the technology
 Register with Microsoft for the Imagine Cup
2
Journals due
DATE
MATERIAL COVERED AND REQUIRED READINGS
DELIVERABLES
Tues,
2/15
Work on Imagine Cup Software Design Entry, Instructor Brandon Satrom
Submit business plan to Imagine Cup and begin designing technology
Tues,
2/22
Work on Imagine Cup Software Design Entry, Instructor Brandon Satrom
Milestones for each team due
Tues,
3/1
Work on Imagine Cup Software Design Entry, Instructor Brandon Satrom
SPRING BREAK
Tues, 3/15
Imagine Cup Software Design Entry Due (Monday, 3/14)
Needs to be a 5 minute video with about 1.5 minutes dedicated to the statement of the problem, and 3.5 with a focus
on the demo. The Imagine Cup channel on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/imaginecupmicrosoft#g/a) has
some demo videos. Videos need to tell a good story and don’t have to be super-polished.
Grading criteria aligns with factors that will advance your team to nationals: 1) strong business plan 2) solid video
and 3) a cool looking application/demo. The application doesn't need to be 100% complete by March 14 either, only
demo-able enough to really sell the idea.
Part 4. Becoming a Technology Leader
3
Mid-semester
evaluations due
DATE
MATERIAL COVERED AND REQUIRED READINGS
DELIVERABLES
Tues,
3/22
Warren Buffet Trip Planning Session
Meet: 5th floor in the conference room and seminar rooms
3:30-3:50: IIS Leadership Team project update
4:00-5:30: Buffet Trip Planning
Grade Allocations
for Imagine Cup
Project Due
We will meet with the MBA students. The session will involve an overview of the travel arrangements, an overview
of Warren Buffet and a facilitated discussion.
An overview of Warren Buffet (20 minutes): Kevin J. Koch, CFO McLane Company, Inc.
The highlights of Omaha, NE including PPT with slides: Event coordinator
I suggest that each student read atleast 30 pages from the books below or watch atleast 1 hour from the DVD below
in preparation for the Warren Buffet Question and Answer session. You can probably find the books at the library
or request them through interlibrary loan. I would prefer that you read the books, because most other people will
watch the DVD’s and access the information on the Internet. You want to make an impression and have unique
insight.
BOOKS
 Graham, Benjamin. “The Intelligent Investor” (This is the person Buffet learned investing from)
 “Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger” (This is Warren Buffet’s Partner)
 “The Essays of Warren Buffet: Lessons from Corporate America, 2 nd edition. (This is a compilation of
Warren Buffet’s Shareholder letters)
 Schroeder, Alice. “The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life”
 Lowestein, Roger. “Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist”
 The last 3 Berkshire Hathaway 10K reports and the 3 rd Quarter Berkshire Hathaway 10Q report.
 Buffet, Warren. Fortune article on the foreign trade deficit.
 http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/11/10/352872/index.htm
DVD
 Buffet and Gates on Success (There was one in 1995 and one in 2009. You can access the 2009 program at
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232/?video=1329393420&play=1
 Charlie Rose with Warren Buffet and Melinda Gates (This is the DVD from 6/26/09 when Buffet gave his
money away)
4
DATE
MATERIAL COVERED AND REQUIRED READINGS
Thurs,
3/31 and
Friday 4/1
Trip to Omaha, NE to meet with Warren Buffett
Tues, 4/5
No class due to Warren Buffett Trip
Sat., 4/9
Spring Premiere Presentation
Tues, 4/12
Discuss technology leadership
DELIVERABLES
Overview of the technology job market:
Negative perspective: Student leader
Positive perspective: Student Leader
Student Leader:
Read and discuss these materials:
 Manning, Ch. 5, The Importance of Vision
 Manning, Ch. 6, The Motive to Lead
Plan end of semester party for Baylor technology students
Journal entry: How did the Warren Buffett trip shape you as a leader?
Thurs.,
4/14
Tues, 4/19
Business Majors Expo (Tentative)
Reflect on Imagine Cup Entry and Experience
5:00 p.m.: Dr. Kayworth, Department Head of MI to visit class
6:00 pm: Dinner Celebration with Mr. Brandon Satrom of Microsoft
5
DATE
MATERIAL COVERED AND REQUIRED READINGS
DELIVERABLES
Tues, 4/26
Leadership Class Wrap-Up
Read Manning, Ch. 25, Burnout Prevention
Student Leader:
Journals due
End of semester
peer evaluations
due
Friday,
5/6
Final exam, Due by 6:30 p.m.
6
7