The Johns Hopkins University
G.W.C. Whiting School of Engineering: Center for Leadership Education
WP Carey Program in Entrepreneurship and Management
660.241 Information Technology Management
Spring 2009 Syllabus – Thursday 1:30pm – 4:15pm: Hodson 316
INSTRUCTOR:
Joshua J. Reiter, Ed.D.
Phone: 410.243.1016
Email: jjreiter@yahoo.com (do NOT send assignments here)
Office Hours: Thursday, 12:30pm or by appointment Whitehead 104
CA:
Mr. Robbie Carper
Email: rcarper@jhu.edu
Office Hours: TBA
Whitehead Hall 104
TEXT:
Pearlson, K.E., Saunders, C.S,; Managing and Using Information Systems: A
Strategic Approach (3rd edition, Wiley, 2006)
University Ethics Statement
Cheating is wrong. Cheating hurts our community by undermining academic integrity, creating mistrust,
and fostering unfair competition. The university will punish cheaters with failure on an assignment, failure
in a course, permanent transcript notation, suspension, and/or expulsion. Offenses may be reported to
medical, law or other professional or graduate schools when a cheater applies.
Violations can include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments without permission, improper
use of the Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments,
forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition. Ignorance of
these rules is not an excuse.
You may collaborate with other students in this course, but your final work must be your own. If you have
questions about this policy, please ask the instructor.
On every exam, you will sign the following pledge: "I agree to complete this exam without unauthorized
assistance from any person, materials or device. [Signed and dated]"
Report any violations you witness to the instructor. You may consult the associate dean of students and/or
the chairman of the Ethics Board beforehand. See the guide on "Academic Ethics for Undergraduates" and
the Ethics Board web site (http://ethics.jhu.edu) for more information.
University Information on Student Accommodation
For students requiring an accommodation due to a disability, they should receive a letter from Academic
Advising and provide it to the professor at the beginning of the semester. For more information visit:
http://www.jhuaa.org/DSS/index.html
1
The Course
1.1
Description
660.241 Information Technology Management surveys the fundamentals of information technology and
telecommunications from a management point of view. It provides the foundation for follow-on courses in
legal and ethical issues and business process and quality improvement. Major topic areas include systems
concepts and value, data management, systems analysis and design, telecommunications, distributed
processing, and social and legal issues. The student will gain a strong information technology
understanding and an appreciation for information technology as a process enabler and strategic facilitator
in the Internet age. Cases on legal and business aspects of technology are used throughout to focus on realworld issues.
1.2
Objectives

Introduce current trends in information technology, including electronic commerce.


Provide you with insights and knowledge to become an active participant in IT decisions.
Survey both managerial issues and the underlying technologies, balancing the theoretical and the
practical.
Emphasize that information systems are for decision and control, as well as for operational
business purposes to gain competitive advantage.
Treat social, legal, and ethical problems that managers face in dealing with information
technology.
Treat the impact of information technology upon individuals.
Illustrate the importance of group work in today’s technology through group work on projects.




1.3
Prerequisites
Since this is a foundation class, there are no “technology skill” prerequisites. However, while this is NOT a
“bits and bytes” course, an understanding of technology (hardware, software, and systems) is beneficial,
but not required.
2
Methodology and Assignments
The course is built around a series of themes, one for each scheduled class meeting, as shown in the
schedule. A key feature of the class, which distinguishes it from other types of courses in this area, is the
inclusion of legal, social, and ethical case studies dealing with today’s information technology. The
preparation will involve reading text material on the scheduled theme and, as explained in the schedule,
preparing an assignment.
Topics will be treated through lecture and discussion. Assignments are designed to make sure each student
is prepared to discuss relevant issues for each topic. Participation in discussion and class presentation is a
component of the course grade, as shown in Table 3.
There are 2 important rules to understand relating to assignments and due dates:
Rule #1: LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Rule#2: If you are considering handing in an assignment after the due date and have not received
permission PRIOR to the due date, RE-READ RULE #1.
Assignments are due IN CLASS at the beginning of class.
3.
Schedule
The table below is a list of scheduled sessions and assignments. In addition to the written assignments,
students are expected to be familiar with the week’s chapters.
Session Date Chapter Topic
Enrichment
1
Jan 29 Intro & Participating in IT decisions. Overview of Information Systems Preparing briefings, write-ups,
1
strategies.
and discussions
In Class: Book Case
2
Feb 5
2
Strategic use of information resources.
In Class: Book Case
3
Feb 12
3
Information systems and its impact on the organization. IT and Due: Business Case #1
organizational design.
Final Project Proposal Due
4
Feb 19
IT and the design of work. Job design framework. Using
In Class: Final Project Group
information ethically. Control of information.
Work
5
Feb 26
5
IT and changing business processes. “Silo” vs. business process Due: REWRITE Case #1
Due: Final Project Part 1
Guest Lecture: Ethics
6
Mar 5
6
IT architecture and infrastructure
Due: Business Case #2
7
Mar 12 Exam 1 Exam 1: All lectures, assignments, and chapters 1 – 6, and 8 Exam 1
Mar 19
Spring Break
No Class
8
Mar 26 7, 9 Doing business on the internet. Electronic commerce framework. Due: Business Case #3
The IS organization.
9
Apr 2 10, 11 Funding IT and Project Management
Due: Business Case # 4
10
Apr 9
12 Guest Lecture: Copyright and Intellectual Property
In Class: Book Case
Eric Schwartz, Attorney -/ Knowledge management.
Guest Lecture
11 Apr 16
Exam 2: All lectures, assignments, and chapters 7, 9 - 12
Exam 2
12 Apr 23
Hands-On Business Simulation (Recreation Center)
13 April 30
Project Presentations
EXAM May 11
Final Project Part 2 (Written)
Final Project Part 2 Papers
WEEK
Due May 11, 2009 2pm
3.1
4, 8
Assignments
Late assignments will not be accepted.
Business Cases
The Business Case (BC) is a five page summary analysis of YOUR THOUGHTS on what is important in
the case. Be sure to begin with an executive overview of the case (a paragraph or two), then identify the
critical issue, and use analysis tools to evaluate the issue. The body of the analysis should include your
thoughts/perspectives on the case based upon what you have learned in class, experienced in the “real”
world, and what you have read/researched. Be sure to include your thoughts for a
resolution/recommendation. Your resolution/recommendation should be well supported and fix the critical
issue. You may do a web search for information which you may find helpful.
DO NOT REHASH THE CASE.
Remember: Diagnosis, Evaluation, Design, and Implementation. Feel free to visit key web sites. List the
most appropriate sites you used to outline the issues, topics, insights, or other information gained from the
key sites. The case will be graded based upon the continuity, clarity, professionalism, of your analysis and
the specific, creative and innovative recommendation you provide.
Case 1 (BC1):
Case 2 (BC2):
Case 3 (BC3):
Case 4 (BC4):
Harrah’s
Carnival Cruise Lines
Cathay Pacific
Volkswagen of America
9502011
9806015
9307009
9606003
Hint: Students do best when they make a specific recommendation stating whether they agree or disagree
with the information in the case and then justify their position. Those who “sit on the fence” (do not make
a specific decision as to whether or not they agree or disagree) typically have more difficulty formulating
an appropriate and well formulated answer.
Outline for Case writeups: in separate paragraphs give...
a)Executive Summary (concise description of cases)
b)Critical issue (There may be many, but just pick ONE. It should be the one you think is most important)
c)Analyze the critical issue (give YOUR OPINION)
d)Give concrete recommendations on how to effectively resolve the critical issue.
e) Use Diagnosis, Evaluation, Design, and Implementation
Exams
Two in-class exams are scheduled during the semester. Details about format and coverage will be
explained during the course however they typically will be short answer, multiple choice, and true/false.
You will be responsible for all information in the book, lectures, guest lectures, technical briefings, and
cases. Typically the focus of the exam will be based upon (but not limited to) the information provided in
lecture. Another bonus to attending my lectures!
Final Project and Presentation
Groups will be responsible for a final project and presentation on current or state-of-the-art technology
which you have researched. The purpose of this presentation is to expand the knowledge of the class on
current technologies which enable businesses to be more productive and innovative.
Each group will meet and choose a technology of interest to research and present. This should be a general
technology rather than a specific product. For example, a group may choose to research "portable music
players or MP3s"; however, a group may not choose to research APPLE or IPODS. The group will
research the technology and write a paper and prepare an oral presentation of 15 minutes (plus questions).
The project and presentation will address the following questions about the technology:
1. What is it?
2. How does it work?
3. Who are the major players/vendors in the research, development, and marketing of this technology?
4. Why do you (or the industry) have an interest in this technology? How does it change the limitations of
a current technology?
5. How can it have a profound effect on the way people work?
6. How does it enhance or alter society? Give an example.
7. What has been the track record of this technology - similar technologies - this company - this industry?
8. What mistakes have been made with this technology in the past? How does this technology improve
upon recent mistakes? (if no mistakes, what has been done well?)
9. What would you suggest to assure this technology is a success?
All group members will participate in the presentation. Presented projects will be graded/reviewed to give
the groups an opportunity to improve their final presentation write up which will be due during exam week.
Topics for the final projects can be found in the technical issues of Business Week and Fortune. You may
also use any other trade journals, library materials, or legitimate internet resources to select a technology
topic. To avoid duplication, each group will submit a first, second, and third choice technology topic to the
instructor by February 12, 2009
Your group will be notified as to which technology you will be responsible for presenting by February 19,
2009. The order for presentations on April 30, 2009 will be selected randomly.
REMEMBER: Each group must hand in the written final project on February 26, 2009 (part 1
sections 1 - 4) and during EXAM WEEK, May 11, 2009 (part 2, sections 5 - 9).
After you receive your feedback on the presentation, you will use the comments to assist you in your
preparation for the final project write up. Powerpoint, overheads, or other presentation materials may be
used during the presentation. The presentation should incorporate all members of the group and should last
no more than 15 minutes, plus 5 minutes for questions from the class.
4.
Grading
NOTE: Late assignments will not be accepted
Grades will be computed based on Table 2.
Table 2: Grade Components
Item
Points
Business Cases (4)
20
Class participation
10
Exam 1
20
Exam 2
20
Final Project Part 1
15
Final Project Part 2
15
Total
100
*Note: Students sometimes are confused about class participation grading. Class participation
starts with “showing up,” but it also requires the student to be prepared for the class and actively
and appropriately participate on a regular basis. Everyone starts at about a 50% for class
participation and you move up (or down) from there based upon your commitment to the course. I
don’t start anyone at 100%.
The professor also retains the right to modify and/or alter the course/assignment schedule (but not
the grading schedule).
The final point scores will translate to letter grades as in Table 3.
Table 3: Point Scores and Letter Grades
97+
A+
94 - 96
A
90 - 93
A87 - 89
B+
84 - 86
B
80 - 83
B77 - 79
C+
74 - 76
C
70 - 73
CAnd so on