CIS511 — Fall 2014
Texas A&M University Central Texas
CIS 511-125 Managing Information Systems
S 8 Am to Noon 9/13, 9/27, 10/11, 10/25, 11/8, and 11/22/2014
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
Dr. Timothy G. Woodcock
323G - Founders Hall
254-519-5783
WoodcockTG@tamuct.edu
TR – Noon - 3:00 PM and W – Noon – 5:00 PM and by appointment.
Student-instructor interaction:
I will be checking and responding to student emails during office hours. I prefer that you use email to contact
me. I will return phone calls during office hours.
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Overview and description:
Studies the management and use of information and technology as a resource to create competitive
businesses, manage global operations, provide useful products and quality services to customers, whether
public or private. Topics examine information systems management, intellectual property, privacy,
organizational and societal impact, legal issues, ethics, security issues, decision making, strategic information
systems, and organizational support systems.
Course Objectives:
Upon the completion of the course, students should be able to
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the key terms, concepts, and various technology architectures on which
information systems are built.
2. Analyze the strategic role played by information technology in organizations to help deliver business
value.
3. Describe management roles and responsibilities for managing information resources and security
successfully.
4. Identify several types of increased demands placed upon the IS dept and management because of
telecommunication systems and the Internet.
5. Discuss some of the effects of E-business and E-commerce upon the organization.
6. Identify and evaluate the causes of information systems success and failure.
7. Analyze the critical ethical, social and political issues in information systems.
CIS511 — Fall 2014
Required Reading and Textbook(s):
Required Texts: Management Information Systems – Managing the Digital Firm, 12th ed.; Laudon & Laudon;
Prentice Hall; 2007.
Note: A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a
university-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent
retailer, including an online retailer.
Course Requirements :
Exams
There will be two exams given this semester, a midterm and a final exam. Each will be worth 100 points.
These exams will be given online.
Online Activities
Because this class is a hybrid, half lecture class, and half online class, there will be online activities worth
200 points. There will be approximately six activities. These activities must be done during the week
they are assigned and will not be available once the time is up. Many of these activities will be discussion
board questions. Some will be research questions where you will be required to research a topic and
report your findings. All of the activities will require your active participation. There is no makeup for
missing an activity.
Team Project
There will be one Team Project, worth 300 points, where student teams will work as a team to research
and complete a MIS solution to a business problem. Students can self select their teams using the
Blackboard team tool. Students must choose their team before the end of the first week of class (August
29th). Otherwise, students will be assigned to teams. Each team must go find a business with a problem.
The team will then propose two MIS solutions to the business problem. Examples of appropriate MIS
solutions would be customer management systems, e-commerce systems, knowledge management
systems, and decision support systems. However, other kinds of systems exist and may be used with
prior approval of the professor. (Please note that solutions in the category of fix the network, or hire new
workers, etc., that might be acceptable solutions in a real environment, are not in the spirit of this class
and are thus unacceptable as solutions for the business. These solutions will be rejected with an
appropriate reduction in points.)
Each team must present a progress to the class at every live class. Written progress reports are due after
each presentation. Your grade for this activity will be solely based on your written report. The written
report is a complete status report. The report should start with an executive summary of the project’s
progress thus far (as the semester progresses, this section should become larger). The summary will be
followed by a detailed report of what was done during this last time period. This should be a detailed
report of what your team accomplished since the last report. I expect this section will be large and will
show that you have been making progress on the proposed MIS solutions. I expect a discussion of all
decisions made and why alternative options were rejected. The report will include a plan for what will be
done in the next time period. This should include a schedule and a list of tasks with task owners clearly
identified. Lastly, the report should have as an appendix, a copy of meeting minutes from every meeting
CIS511 — Fall 2014
of two or more group members, including phone conversations and texts.
Group Charter
Before you can start with your project, your team must submit a Group Charter. This charter is worth 100
points, and must be done before the first live class. The charter is a document communicating how the
group will work together. The project charter should include a description of each team member, what
strengths the member brings to the group, the role assigned to the group member and a list of
responsibilities for that team member. The charter should also include a statement of how the group will
complete the group objectives. The charter should clearly indicate who the group leader is. The charter
should also address how the group will communicate with each other, how changes to the project or to
the charter will be handled, and how disagreements or other problems (like non-communication, failure
to achieve deadlines, or poor quality work) will be handled. All team members must agree to the charter,
and will be graded on how well they abide by the charter. As a minimum, changes to the charter must be
presented to me by the group leader.
All group charters should include penalties for group members who do not pull their weight in the
project. We will call non-performing group members Free Riders. Some groups choose to fire Free
Riders, some groups choose to reduce the grade of Free Riders. Some groups choose to handle Free
Riders in other ways. If your group decides to fire Free Riders, and you get fired by your group, you must
get hired by another group to pass this class. If your group charter says that they will request a reduction
in a Free Rider’s grade, and I am presented with a request to lower your grade, I will do so.
Progress Reports
Progress report 1 = Describe business with a problem. Clearly identify the problem. Describe the
organizational structure of the business.
Progress report 2 = Summary of the two proposed MIS solutions to business problem. Discuss all ethical
and social issues your solutions need to address.
Progress report 3 = Every business uses a competitive advantage to differentiate themselves from their
competitors. Describe how each of your proposed solutions will help the company’s competitive
advantage. *** Note: The business has the competitive advantage. Your solution can only help or hurt this
competitive advantage, not change it. *** Describe how each solution fits into the business value chain.
Progress report 4 = Describe the technology that your MIS solutions will use. Describe any risks these
technologies pose to the company or to project success. Discuss the database or databases your
solutions will need.
Progress report 5 = Identify all the sensitive information contained in your MIS system and how you will
protect this information. Discuss the security vulnerabilities of your solutions. How you would address
these issues? Also present the cost of implementing this MIS solution, include both onetime costs like
buying hardware, and ongoing costs like having a dedicated DBA or other personnel.
Final Group Presentation = Show each solution with its strengths and weaknesses and show which
solution you would choose. Please feel free to invite a representative from your business to attend this
final class. Your written report should show in detail how each system solves the business problem and
why one of your solutions is better than the other solution.
CIS511 — Fall 2014
Group Project
Grading Rubric
Group Charter
Have a problem
free charter.
Met the criteria
Partially met the
criteria
Problems with the
charter. (Note:
Charter problems
must be fixed, but
will not result in a
grade change.)
20 – 80 points
Problem or business
not clearly
identified. Business
structure unclear.
Did not meet
criteria
Not submitted
100 points
Progress Report #1
Describe business
with a problem.
Clearly identify the
problem. Describe
the organizational
structure of the
business.
50 points
Progress Report #2
Summary of the
two proposed MIS
system solutions to
business problem.
100 points
Problem clearly
identified. Detailed
description of the
business. Business
structure described.
50 points
Detailed summary
and analysis of
proposed solutions
to business problem
10-45 points
Analysis not
complete or fewer
than two solutions
considered or
solutions not an
MIS solution.
0 points
No solutions
50 points
Progress Report #3
Describe how each
solution will give
the company a
competitive
advantage.
Describe how each
solution fits into
the business value
chain.
50 points
Competitive
advantage clearly
defined. Detailed
description of
business value
chain.
5 - 45 points
Unclear competitive
advantage or
business value
chain.
0 points
No competitive
advantage or
business value
chain.
50 points
50 points
5-45 points
0 points
No problems with
the charter.
0 points
Not clear. Missing.
CIS511 — Fall 2014
Group Project
Grading Rubric
Progress Report #4
Describe the
technology that
your MIS solutions
will use. Describe
any risks these
technologies pose
to the company or
to project success.
Discuss the
database or
databases your
solutions will need.
Met the criteria
Detailed description
of the technology,
risks, and databases.
Partially met the
criteria
Incomplete
description of the
technology or the
risks or the
databases.
Did not meet
criteria
No description of
the technology or
the risks or the
databases.
50 points
Progress Report #5
Identify all the
sensitive
information
contained in your
MIS system and
how you will
protect this
information.
Discuss the
security
vulnerabilities of
your solutions.
50 points
Demonstrated
understanding of the
sensitive data in
MIS systems
5 - 45 points
Unable to
demonstrate
understanding of
sensitive data
0 points
Unable to identify
sensitive data
Clear and well
organized plan to
protect this data
Or incomplete plan
to protect the data
Clear understanding
of vulnerabilities.
Or incomplete
understanding of
vulnerabilities
No plan to protect
sensitive data
No vulnerabilities
identified
No cost analysis
Good cost analysis
Incomplete cost
analysis
50 points
Good demonstration
of differences in the
systems
5 - 45 points
Not clear what the
MIS solution
differences are. No
reasons for a clear
winner.
0 points.
No differences
between MIS
solutions shown.
50 points
5 – 45 points
0 points
Present costs.
50 points
Final Group
Presentation
Compare and
contrast each system
and select the best.
50 points
Term Papers
There will be a Research Paper worth 200 points each. Each student is required to write a major paper
on a topic from the course that is of interest to you. The topic for this paper must be approved by the
professor by the end of the first live class. Topics that do not include some MIS system will not be
approved.
You will be expected to research the topic, show the current state of the art, make a hypothesis, and draw
a conclusion in your paper. I am not interested in literature search papers. I do not want to read papers
that are a mile wide and an inch deep. Your paper needs to do an in depth analysis of your chosen topic.
CIS511 — Fall 2014
This paper must be 10 to 15 pages in length (type written and double-spaced, 12-point font with 1 inch
margins) excluding bibliography, table of contents, graphics, tabular or illustrative material. References
should include current sources and must conform to IEEE single column format style. (For IEEE style
manual see: http://www.ieee.org/documents/stylemanual.pdf.) The paper is expected to meet
graduate-level standards and be suitable for publication in a professional journal. References must be
from peer reviewed journals only. Use of Wikipedia or the class text as a reference will cause a serious
loss of points. References must include the published journal name and information, NOT just a URL
where you found the paper. Papers without citations will receive zero points.
Term Paper Grading
Rubric
Paper topic
approved before
first class meeting.
15 points
Suitable for
publication in an
IEEE journal
Met the criteria
On time.
15 points
Partially met the
criteria
Late, but in before
second live class
7 points
In IEEE style
50 points
Incomplete or
incorrect
10 to 40 points
At least 15
references from peer
reviewed journals or
conferences
45 points
No issues
25 points
Only website
references or too
few references
10 to 35 points
Did not meet
criteria
Not approved
/submitted or after
second live class
0 points
Not in IEEE style
0 points
In IEEE style
50 points
Sufficient
references
45 points
Spelling and
grammar
25 points
Writing style and
page length.
65 points
Clear and well
organized.
65 points
Using passive voice
or minor grammar
issues
20 to 5 points
Ideas not well
expressed or paper
poorly organized.
50 to 10 points
No references or use
of Wikipedia or
class text. Only
URL’s in reference.
0 points
More than 10
grammar or spelling
issues.
0 points
Very unclear.
0 points.
Unless prior arrangements have been made, all late assignments will lose 30% of the available points before
being graded. This includes all papers, assignments, and group project artifacts.
Grading Computation
Item
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Team project
Research Paper
Online Activities
Group Charter
Points
100
100
300
200
200
100
GRADE
A:
B:
C:
D:
F:
TOTAL
WEIGHT
90-100%
80-89.9%
70-79.9%
60-69.9%
below 60%
CIS511 — Fall 2014
Complete Course Calendar
Date
Content
Assignment Due
8/25/2014
Read Chapters 1, 2,
and 3. Review the
PowerPoint slides
for these chapters.
Introduce yourselves in
discussion board.
9/13/2014
1st live class
9/22/2014
Read Chapters 4&5.
Review the
PowerPoint slides.
Midterm Exam
Progress report 1 - Describe
the business with a problem
Complete Activity 2
9/8/2014
9/26/2014
thru
10/5/2014
9/27/2014
10/6/2014
10/11/2014
2nd live class
Read Chapters 6&7.
Review the
PowerPoint slides.
3rd live class
10/19/2014
10/20/2014
10/25/2014
11/3/2014
11/8/2014
11/17/2014
11/22/2014
11/30/2014
thru
12/7/2014
Read Chapters 8&9.
Review the
PowerPoint slides.
4th Live class
Read Chapters
10&11.
Review the
PowerPoint slides.
5th Live class
Read Chapters
12&13.
Review the
PowerPoint slides.
6th Live class
Final Exam
Join a group.
Complete Activity 1
Progress report 2 - Two
proposals
Complete Activity 3
Progress report 3 Competitive advantage
Term Paper Due
Complete Activity 4
Progress report 4 Technology
Complete Activity 5
Progress report 5 - Sensitive
Info
Complete Activity 6
Final Group Presentation
CIS511 — Fall 2014
COURSE AND UNIVERSITY PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
Drop Policy
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the necessary
paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the student. The record’s office will
provide a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed and signed. Once you return the signed form to
the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If
you are still enrolled, FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure
is complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will
receive an F in the course.
Academic Integrity
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly
conduct. Students found responsible of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty
includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the
abuse of resource materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic
dishonesty and report the incident to the Associate Director of Student Conduct. More information can be found at
http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/studentconduct/facultyresources.php.
Disability Support Services
If you have or believe you have a disability and wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing documentation to
the Disability Support Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek information about accommodations to help
assure success in their courses. Please contact Vanessa Snyder at (254) 501-5836 or visit Founder's Hall 114.
Additional information can be found at http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/disabilitysupport/index.php.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored include Accounting,
Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at the Tutoring Center in Founder's Hall,
Room 204, and also in the Library in the North Building. Visit www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport and click
"Tutoring Support" for tutor schedules and contact info. If you have questions, need to schedule a tutoring session,
or if you're interested in becoming a tutor, contact Academic Support Programs at 254-501-5830 or by emailing
cecilia.morales@ct.tamus.edu.
Chat live with a tutor 24/7 for almost any subject on your computer! Tutor.com is an online tutoring platform that
enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive FREE online tutoring and writing support. This tool provides
tutoring in Mathematics, Writing, Career Writing, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and Statistics. To
access Tutor.com, click on www.tutor.com/tamuct.
Library Services
INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills, which prepare individuals to live and work in an
information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical reasoning, ethical use
of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques. Help may include, yet is not limited to:
exploration of information resources such as library collections and services, identification of subject databases and
scholarly journals, and execution of effective search strategies. Library Resources are outlined and accessed at.
CIS511 — Fall 2014
http://www.tarleton.edu/centraltexas/departments/library/
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Please enroll today at http://TAMUCT.org/UNILERT
INSTRUCTOR POLICIES
Students should come to class prepared, ready to ask questions and participate in discussions.
While in other classes, the direct quoting of other authors is considered acceptable; in this class, it is not acceptable.
You may not directly quote any other published paper, web site, or textbook in any writing assignment, including
papers, homework, discussion boards, PowerPoint presentations, or any other written assignments. The simple
reason for this is that copying (quoting) is a lower level skill. However, reading, understanding, and then
communicating the ideas in your own words is a high level skill. Paraphrasing is a skill that I want you to develop.
Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment or a “F” in the class.
Unless prior arrangements have been made, all late assignments will lose 30% of the available points before
being graded.
Dr. Woodcock reserves the right to modify this syllabus during the semester.
Instructor Information
Dr. Woodcock has a PhD in Computer Science from Florida Atlantic University. He has over 25 years of real world
experience working for IBM and Sony-Ericsson. Dr. Woodcock believes that you will learn best by being engaged
in class, asking questions, participating in discussion, and doing the hands on exercises.
This class will be a lot of work, but it will also be fun.