IOM 401: Business Information Systems
Fall 2013
Class Number 16215: M 2:00 - 3:50 pm
Class Number 16216: M 4:00 - 5:50 pm
Contact Information
Instructor:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Website:
Francis Pereira, Ph.D. (BRI 401J)
(213) 821-1615
pereira@marshall.usc.edu
Thursday 4:00 am-5:00 p.m. and by appointment
http://blackboard.usc.edu
Course Description
This course is designed to provide you with an applied understanding of how "spreadsheet applications"
are used to analyze business information. This course brings in the technology layer providing you with
an opportunity to create real world software applications that are used in (Accounting, Finance, Marketing
and Operations). This course will also enhance the your understanding of the core disciplines by
providing you with the skills and experience to develop, test and implement work group systems that
support many of the information analysis needs of today's organizations.
 Master the use and design of spreadsheets ”Microsoft Excel" for business information analysis in the
areas of Finance, Information Systems, Marketing and Operations.
 Understand how to use application software to analyze business cases and improve the effectiveness
and efficiency of decision making processes.
Course Learning Objectives and relationship with Marshall’s
Undergraduate Business Administration Program Objectives
The main learning objectives of this course are in line with the following five Marshall’s Undergraduate
Business Administration Program Objectives:





Students will gain factual, conceptual, procedural, and metacognitive knowledge in information
management, and entrepreneurship.
Students will understand and utilize current technology in all disciplines.
Students will integrate disciplinary knowledge to develop a general management perspective and
know how to tailor it to different types of modern enterprise.
Students will apply analytic tools and frameworks of business disciplines to create and defend well--‐
reasoned conclusions and solutions based on relevant criteria and standards.
Students will write effectively in professional contexts and in all common business formats.
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Required Materials
Cases distributed in-class will provide the basic syntax to utilize the various Excel functions.
th
MIS Cases - Decision Making with Application Software 4 Edition by M. Lisa Miller
ISBN: 0-13-145440-4 ((Recommended but Not Required)
Course Notes:
There is a Blackboard site for the course under the IOM 4010 heading. I will use this site for
correspondence and information area for the course. The site will provide class slides and handouts.
Please check the Blackboard site and your email daily for class preparation materials or instructions.
I will also be using pre-written slides, which will be posted on the Blackboard site. If you would like hard
copies of them, it will be your responsibility to print them out.
The following email protocol is required for effective administration of the class.

The subject part of the email should start with IOM401, example, IOM401 – question on today’s
class.

Don’t email from non-USC accounts, most of the time my spam filter will filter out your message.
Try to use USC email as much as possible

Don’t send many emails one after the other, example five emails in a row on the same question.
Please collect your thoughts and compose a single email.
Grading Policy
Individual Business Cases: 56% - 7 cases (8% each)
You will use your knowledge of Microsoft Excel gained during the lab sessions and in prior business
cases analysis exercises to develop spreadsheet applications to evaluate the assigned case. During the
class sessions a brief lecture will be given to provide you with background information on assigned cases
and any new technical skills required to complete the case. Each case will be graded on a 100 point scale
Each case before submitting should be adjusted for printing, and each Excel sheet in the e-file should fit
on one or two pages. Each case should have a summary explaining the case an, the summary sheet
should include your name (a paragraph). Important cells should be highlighted in light color. If required
each sheet should have a short description of what is done and how it is
Final Case: 25% You will use of the knowledge obtained during the lab sessions and from
prior case assignments to develop your final case. Development of the final case will allow
you to apply your technical knowledge and business analysis skills developed in this course.
Final Exam: 14% There will be a final exam similar to the final case, you will use Excel in lab
classroom to do the exam.
Class Participation & Attendance 5% In-class quizzes/group exercise will be included in class
participation points.
I strongly suggest that you attend all classes. In cases of borderline grades, regular attendance and class
participation would serve to push students to the next higher grade with a bonus score of up to 2%.
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I encourage, as well as expect, questions during the lectures. I am always accessible by e-mail, and will
be more than happy to speak with you before or after class or during office hours. Note: if your question
requires a conversation rather than a short answer, email is not the best way to go – please talk to me
after class or during office hours, and I will be happy to answer your question.
Assignment Submission Policy:
Assignments must be turned in on the due date/time electronically via Blackboard and hardcopy of the
reports in class. Any assignment turned in late, even if by only a few minutes, will receive a grade
deduction (for example, if your work is a B+ grade, you will be given a C+ grade). If your internet breaks
down on the due date, you must deliver a hard copy at the beginning of class on that day. If you are
unable to attend class on that day, make arrangements for it to be delivered to the classroom or to my
box by the start of class. Late or not, however, you must complete all required assignments to pass this
course.
Unclaimed Graded Paperwork
Returned paperwork, unclaimed by a student, will be discarded 4 weeks after the end of term, and hence
will not be available should a grade appeal be pursued by a student following receipt of his/her course
grade.
Add/Drop Process:
The last day to register and add classes is Friday, September 13. The last day to drop a class without a
mark of “W” is also September 13. For more information, visit
www.usc.edu/academics/classes/term_20133/calendar.html.
Statement for Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with
Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to your TA)
as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776. For more information visit
www.usc.edu/disability .
Academic Integrity
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include
the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be
submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own
academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students
are expected to understand and abide by these principles. SCampus, the Student Guidebook,
(www.usc.edu/scampus or http://scampus.usc.edu) contains the University Student Conduct Code (see
University Governance, Section 11.00), while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A.
Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further
review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at:
http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/ . Failure to adhere to the academic conduct standards set
forth by these guidelines and our programs will not be tolerated by the USC Marshall community and can
lead to dismissal.
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Class Notes Policy
Notes or recordings made by students based on a university class or lecture may only be made for
purposes of individual or group study, or for other non-commercial purposes that reasonably arise from
the student’s membership in the class or attendance at the university. This restriction also applies to any
information distributed, disseminated or in any way displayed for use in relationship to the class, whether
obtained in class, via email or otherwise on the Internet, or via any other medium. Actions in violation of
this policy constitute a violation of the Student Conduct Code, and may subject an individual or entity to
university discipline and/or legal proceedings.
Emergency Preparedness/Course Continuity
In case of a declared emergency if travel to campus is not feasible, USC executive leadership will
announce an electronic way for instructors to teach students in their residence halls or homes using a
combination of Blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technologies.
Please activate your course in Blackboard with access to the course syllabus. Whether or not you use
Blackboard regularly, these preparations will be crucial in an emergency. USC's Blackboard learning
management system and support information is available at blackboard.usc.edu.
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE AND DELIVERABLES
Date
Aug 26
Sep 2
Sep 9
Assignment
Case #1
Piedmont Trailer
Manufacturing
Company
Deliverables
Modules
Course Overview
None
Basics of Excel
An introduction to MS Excel. Topics include
navigation, highlighting, selection, entering
& editing cells, basic formulas, simple functions,
coping, using absolute addresses, and printing.
LABOR DAY
Case #1
Piedmont Trailer
Manufacturing
Company –
Continued
Business Context
Customer Order Tracking System
Feasibility Analysis
Excel Tips
Linking Formulas
Absolute Addressing
Present Value (PV)
Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
Cell Protection
None
Application Area (Strategy / Finance /
Information Systems)
This case focuses on developing am economic
feasibility analysis for developing a customer
tracking system.
(Cell Formatting, Cell Reference, Consolidating
Worksheets, Formulas, IRR Functions, Protecting
Cells, Range Names, SUM Function and Worksheet
formatting.)
Sep 16
Business Context
Inventory/
Inventory Analysis
Excel Tips
Conditional Formatting
Case #1 Piedmont Trailer Single Value Array (Match)
Offset
Answer the questions in
the case handout, Some
of the questions may be
Case # 2
Milligan's Storage modified to emphasis
Application Area (General Business /
certain command in
Accounting / Operations)
Excel.
This case focuses on inventory analysis evaluating
information on annual sales, cost of goods sold,
gross profit.
(Average Function, Cell Formatting, Chart, Count
Function, Max Function, Min Function, Now
Function, Sum Function, Worksheet Formatting)
5
Sep 23
Case # 2
(continued)
None
Milligan's Storage
Case #2 Milligan's
Storage
Sep 30
Case #3
Mark’s
Collectibles
Answer the questions in
the case handout, Some
of the questions may be
modified to emphasis
certain command in
Excel.
Workshop
Business Context
Market Research/
Web-Site Traffic Statistical Analysis
Excel Tips
Importing Data
IF
Working w / Dates
Array Formulas
Application Area (Strategy, Marketing)
This case focuses on analyzing web –site traffic
statistics to better understand click stream
behavior and the technologies used.
(Average Function, Cell Formatting, Chart, CountA
Function, CountIF function, Import External Data,
Insert Columns, MAX Function, Mean Function,
MEDIAN Function, MIN Function, MODE Function,
Sort, SUM function, Worksheet Formatting)
Oct 7
Case #3
(continued)
Mark’s
Collectibles
Workshop
Case #3 Mark's
Collectibles
Oct 14
Case #4
Klein Technology
Seminars
Answer the questions in
the case handout, Some
of the questions may be
modified to emphasis
certain command in
Excel.
Business Context
Market Research - Quality Control/
Customer Satisfaction Survey Statistical Analysis
Excel Tips
Pivot Tables / Charts
Count IF
Application Area (Strategy / Marketing)
This case focuses on evaluating Customer
Satisfaction Surveys. This case requires the use
of formulas, statistical functions, pivot tables and
pivot chart reports.
(Cell Formatting, Charts, CountIF function, Mean
Function, Median Function, Mode Function, Multiple
Worksheets, PivotChart, PivotTable, Worksheet
Formatting)
Oct 21
Case #4
Klein Technology
Seminars
None
Workshop
6
Business Context / Excel Tips
Operations Management /
Sales Staff Productivity Analysis
Klein
Technology
Case #4
Oct 28
Nov 4
Nov 11
Case #5 and #6
Madison’s Dept
Store
(This assignment
will be split into
two parts)
Case #5
(Continued)
Madison’s Dept
Store
Case 7
Macros
Answer the questions in
the case handout, Some
of the questions may be
modified to emphasis
certain command in
Excel.
None
Application Area (Accounting / Operations)
This case focuses on monitoring the performance
of Sales Staff. The objective of this lab is to
prepare seven daily productivity worksheets and a
weekly productivity summary sheet, analyze the
sales data using the PivotTable and AutoFilter
tools, and generate several charts.
(AutoFilter, Average Function, Cell Formatting, Cell
References, Chart, Consolidating Worksheets,
Count Function, Daverage Function, DMax Function,
DMin Function, Excel List, Grouping Worksheets, IF
Function, Max Function, Min Function, Nesting
Functions, PivotTable, Range Name, Sum Function,
VLookup Function and worksheet Formatting)
Advanced Filter and Workshop
Macros
Application Area (All)
Macros allow the user to automate their
keystrokes, mouse clicks, and menu command
choices. Conceptually, macros work similar to
player pianos in that they can be programmed to
Case #5 Madison's
play back almost any commands the user desires.
Department
Macros are useful when you find yourself repeating
Answer the questions in the same series of commands or steps over and
the case handout, Some over. To create and use Macros, the user merely
of the questions may be turns on the macro recorders, performs the action
that is to be recorded, turns off the macro recorder,
modified to emphasis
and then runs the macro which replays what was
certain command in
recorded.
Excel.
(Macros, Assign a macro to a toolbar, Modifying
built-in menus, Macro commands, Viewing macro
code, Custom functions, Procedures, Using macros
in other files, Recording to the personal macro
workbook, Copying modules, Referencing a macro
file
and Saving a macro file as an ADD-IN)
Nov 18
Case #6 Madison's
Department Store
advanced (Advanced
Filter Questions - see
handout)
Excel Solver
Solver can be used to set a “target” cell to its
minimum value, maximum value, or to a specific
Solver and
value, by changing “adjustable” cell(s) which
Scenario Analysis
determine its value. Further, constraints can be set
Answer the questions in up which force the “Adjustable” cell(s) or “target”
the case handout, Some cell to stay with a range of values.
of the questions may be
modified to emphasis
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certain command in
Excel.
Case #7 Macro (1)
Complete the Macro
case.
Nov 25
Scenarios are part of a suite of commands
sometimes called what-if analysis (what-if analysis:
A process of changing the values in cells to see
how those changes affect the outcome of formulas
on the worksheet. For example, varying the
interest rate that is used in an amortization table to
determine the amount of the payments.) tools.
Business Context
Financial Analysis Decision Support Tool/
Investment Portfolio Worksheet
Application Area (Finance)
This case focuses on a full-service brokerage firm
that wishes to develop a portfolio worksheet to
assist in keeping better track of their client's
investments. The portfolio worksheet must be
designed to retrieve up-to-date stock information
off of the web and analyze the data using the auto
filter, advanced filter, pivot table and pivot chart
report tools.
Work Shop
Custom Functions
Final Case
BJR Investments, Inc
Answer the questions in
the case handout, Some
of the questions may be
modified to emphasis
certain command in
Excel.
Dec 2
Dec 6*
Final Case (2) Six or
more Additional
questions not in the text
will be posted on
Blackboard.
Dec 9
FINAL CASE Parts 1&2
Due
Dec 11Dec 18
Final Exam
In-Class and Applied
16215 Dec 13, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
16216 Dec 16, 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
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