Course
Number
Instructor
Office Phone
Cell Phone
E-Mail:
Office Hours
Adverse
Weather
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bryan School of Business and Economics
Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management
ISM 673 - Telecommunications and Distributed Networks
Course Syllabus for Spring Semester 2014
ISM 673 Course Name Telecommunications and
Distributed Networks
Dr. John Eatman Office 436 Bryan
(336) 334-4988 Home Phone (336) 855-3002
(336) 509-3421 Please call my cell in an emergency jleatman@uncg.edu
By appointment
NOTE: I do not have set office hours and I am in my office on an irregular basis. It is STRONGLY recommended that you contact me by email to arrange a specific appointment to meet with me.
For information on adverse weather visit the UNCG homepage
( www.uncg.edu
) or call the following numbers Adverse Weather Hotline (336-334-4400),
Campus Switchboard (336-334-5000), or University Police (336-334-5963).
Contacting the Instructor
The best way to contact me is by email which I check on a regular basis throughout the day.
Since I am infrequently in my office, office voice mail is typically not answered promptly. In an emergency situation, please call my cell phone. My cell phone is generally on from 9am-9pm unless I am in a meeting. I will usually be checking email between 8am-10pm. Emergency situations would include having a problem while taking an on-line test. I would appreciate being informed, in advance if possible, of situations such as a family emergency or business travel that will create schedule problems for you. I am also available for web chat sessions when they are arranged in advance.
Required Textbook and Readings
Essential Guide to Telecommunications, 5 rd Edition
Annabel Dodd
Prentice-Hall (ISBN-13: 978-0-13-705891-4)
Students will also be asked to read material made available via Blackboard and selected web sites. All readings should be during the class week for which they are assigned. This course reading material is located in Blackboard within the Course Documents area by week and in the menu item Learning Area . The Learning Area is organized by Units which should be read as specified in the syllabus.

Catalog Description
Technology related to internal and external network/telecommunication services. Managerial and business issues related to the identification, acquisition, and management of network/telecommunications services in the contemporary enterprise.
Overall Course Objectives :
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1.
Describe the role of telecommunications and network services in business processes.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Define the impact of purchased services on the technology infrastructure of the firm
Analyze existing technology and technology trends for potential impact on communications services.
Relates the methods used by technology management to the assurance of adequate communications services.
Analyze adequacy of telecommunications and communications infrastructure in meeting
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the needs of the enterprise.
Design organizationally appropriate communications service metrics.
Critique the issues facing Chief Information Officers in assuring the development and ongoing adequacy of the firm’s telecommunications and network infrastructure
Background Knowledge
Students entering this course are NOT assumed to have specific prior background knowledge about telecommunications or networking other than that of a typical personal computer user.
Typically, there is a VERY WIDE diversity in the telecommunications knowledge of students who take ISM 673. Some students will initially have a much greater knowledge about telecommunications than others but this is a unavoidable situation. I f you are already very conversant with networking technology, you will possibly find the first part of the course easy. If you have little knowledge of networking technology, you should still be able to cope with the requirements of the course. Since the class is typically quite large, I will not be able to customize parts of the class to account of the differing beginning knowledge levels of students.
The Blackboard Class Management System
This class will utilize the Blackboard system for the distribution of materials, assignments, communications, submitting assignments, and taking tests. Students should become familiar with the Blackboard system before the first week of class. Blackboard can be reached at: http://blackboard.uncg.edu
Course announcements and updates will be added regularly to Blackboard so students are expected to check both Blackboard and their UNCG email on a very regular basis.
Required Computing Capability
This course requires the student to do specific computing assignments which will require that the student load software onto his/her personal computer and be able to access the Internet with his/her personal computer.. A description of the specific requirements can found be under course documents in Blackboard during the week before classes begin. Since some assignments will
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require that you be able to run Windows based programs, students using either a MacIntosh or
Linux computer will have to set up their systems to do this. The instructor will provide information on how to do this if you need assistance. The software that is required for the course will be available free of cost to the student.
On-Line Discussion Forums
Students may be asked to participate in on-line discussion forums. Participation in required online discussion forums will be treated as class participation.
Instructional Methodology
This is an on-line class that will utilize readings, assignments, projects, and tests. Students may be asked to engage in group work, participate in discussion forums, and engage in online conferencing.
Performance Evaluation and Grading
The course grades will be based upon assignments, projects, tests, and any required student discussion forums. Specific weights for graded work will be given in Blackboard..
The grade scale shown below will be used.
93-100%=A 90-93%=A87-89%=B+ 83-86%=B
80-82%=B-
Below 70=F
77-79%=C+ 73-76%=C 70-72%=C-
Oral and Written Communication Content
Written reports may be required and will be expected to be of very high quality in terms of content, format, and organization. Students will be expected to follow all specific stated guidelines in creating reports.
Ethical. Demographic Diversity, Global, Political, Social, Legal, Regulatory, and
Environmental Perspectives
Issues relating to these areas in business and technology will be discussed as they arise in the context of the readings and assignments.
Academic Integrity Policies
Students in the Bryan School must conform to all existing principles found in UNCG’s
Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Further details may be found at the following site: http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/
Expectations of Faculty and Students in the Bryan School
Students should read the Guidelines for Faculty and Students presented on the web pages found at: http://www.uncg.edu/bae/faculty_student_guidelines.pdf
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Course Evaluation
Each student will be asked by the University to complete an on-line course evaluation near the end of the course. This evaluation is important to the University in its efforts to continually improve the delivery of courses. More information about the evaluation will be provided later in the course.
Electronic Mail and Electronic Communications
Each student will be expected to check his /her electronic mail and the class Blackboard site at least once every 48 hours. The student will be responsible for any information or assignments distributed via electronic mail or made available via Blackboard. I may post announcements, send emails, and post readings several times each week.
Assignments
Students will be required to do assignments and projects. Assignments are typically involve a set of specific tasks. Projects will require research and critical thinking and are more complex than assignments. All assignments and projects are expected to be completed on time. Any assignment or project is to be turned by the date and time that it is due. Any assignment or project turned in after the due date may not be accepted. Any late assignment or project that is accepted will be subject to a grading penalty . Assignments should be submitted in Blackboard in the manner described in for that assignment.
Special Student Needs
Students taking this on-line class should contact the professor as quickly as possible if they have any special needs that interfere can cause problems with completing tests or quizzes. Any students with special needs should contact the UNCG Office of Disability Services
(ads.uncg.edu) for assistance. Only students certified by disability services can be given extra time to complete tests and quizzes.
Course Schedule
1. Specific readings for each week of class and assignments will be found in a detailed
2.
Course Schedule posted under Course Documents in Blackboard. Students will be expected to have read the assigned material no later than the week in which it is assigned.
Changes in the course schedule may occur as the course proceeds and updates to the
3. syllabus and schedule will be posted in blackboard..
The class weeks shown below are based on a Monday-Sunday week with the date shown being that of the Monday. Typically, assignment, projects, and tests will be due on the last day of the week (Sunday) unless otherwise specified.
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CLASS WEEK
1: January 13 (Introduction to the course and preparation for doing course assignments)
2: January 20

3: January 27
4: February 3
5: February 10
6: February 17
7: February 24
8: March 3
March 10 - Spring Break - No Assigned Work
9: March 17
10: March 24
11: March 31
12: April 7
13: April 14
14: April 21
15: April 28 (A final project or assignment will be due during this week)
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