REGIS UNIVERSITY SYLLABUS
BA 479/CS480/MCMT480 – MANAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR
BUSINESS STRATEGIES
SPRING 2005, Colorado Springs Campus, 5W23 –MON 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
INSTRUCTOR: George Griffin
PHONE: (719)-339 8712 (work/cell)
(719)-487 0336 (home)
WEB SITE: http://academic.regis.edu/ggriffin
EMAIL: ggriffin@regis.edu
REQUIRED TEXT: O’Brien, James A. (2004) Management Information Systems:
Managing Information Technology in the E-Business Enterprise (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill:
ISBN: 0-07-282311-9
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides an executive perspective on using
management information systems, and information technology to achieve competitive
advantage in business and other organizations. Topics include an overview of information
technology in business, management information systems, internetworking, competitive
advantage, systems management, systems development and database management. The
course helps students develop an understanding of strategic issues underlying information
systems, issues in developing and maintaining systems, and strategic issues related to
critical business success factors. The course includes a discussion also addresses a wide
range of ethical issues related to information technology.
PREREQUISITE: NOTE: This course is not for CIS majors.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course you should:








Understand the fundamentals of information systems.
Be able to explain information technology from a managerial perspective.
Understand the value and uses of information systems in business.
Understand basic concepts associated with the management of information,
information technology, and information systems.
Understand the uses of computer hardware and software in business
Understand the various telecommunication and database techniques used today
Know how business applications are used in organizations
Be able to demonstrate an appreciation for the challenges of managing
information technology assets
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM: Regis University has implemented a
“Writing Across the Curriculum” program. The objective of this program is to present
students with situations that help develop better thinking. There is a correlation between
the writing process and the thinking process. The CS480 final project will be used to
meet the objectives of this program.
OUTCOMES: See the Learning Guide for outcomes for each session.
1
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
If you have a documented disability requiring academic adjustments for this class, please
contact Dr. KoKo Oyler, Director of Disability Services (303-458-4941,
koyler@regis.edu). She will review your documentation with you and help determine
appropriate, reasonable accommodations. Following the meeting with Dr. Oyler, please
make an appointment with me, as your instructor, to discuss your accommodation request
in light of the course requirements.
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
First Night Paper
Mid Term Exam
Final Exam
Final Project
Final Project Presentation
Participation
5%
25%
25%
25%
5%
15%
100%
50 points
250 points
250 points
250 points
50 points
150 points
1,000 points
GENERAL GRADING CRITERIA:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
Below 60
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
Outstanding Scholarship
Superior Work
Satisfactory
Work of lowest passing quality
Failure
COURSE POLICIES:
1. Attendance – If you cannot attend a class, please call me or send me an email, preferably before the class but even after if circumstances dictate.
2. Late Work –Late assignments will incur an automatic 10% deduction per day
late.
3. Incomplete Grades – “I’s” are given only in emergency and unavoidable
circumstances. They must be requested in writing prior to completion of the
fourth class period of the term, and must be approved by the instructor and
University administration.
4. Return of Course Materials – Students must provide a self-addressed, stamped
envelope if they wish to have end-of-course material returned to them. If
students do not provide an envelope, the instructor will maintain the student
work for approximately one month and then discard it.
Class Participation – Sharing your experiences and interacting in class is an essential part
of the structure of this course. Please read the assigned material prior to coming to class
2
and be prepared to participate. Participation is defined as contributing in a meaningful
way to the discussion in each class session. Relating relevant work experiences is
particularly valuable to fellow students and to the instructor and is especially encouraged.
The following participation grading guidelines apply:
"C" Level: Students who are judged to have just adequate participation will be
present for the entire class, be on time when returning to class, have all necessary
materials and provide intelligent and informed responses to inquiries.
"B" Level: In addition to the above, students who are judged to have good
participation will also: speak in class, give eye contact and attention to whomever
is speaking, listen thoughtfully and attentively.
"A" Level: In addition to the above, students who are judged to have excellent
participation will also: ask questions and make comments which clarify and
synthesize discussion, relate their ideas and/or experience to classroom topics,
contribute examples or counter-examples which are relevant to classroom topics,
challenge what is being taught with logic, examples and consideration,
acknowledge and extend the ideas and contributions of others, relate content from
class materials, readings and experiences to the discussions.
COURSE OVERVIEW:
Week
Date
Topic
1
Feb14
 Course Expectations
Monday  Foundations of IS
 Competing with IT
 Computer Hardware
2
Feb 21
 Computer Software
Monday
 Data Resources Mgmt
 Telecom Networks
3
Feb 28
Monday
4
Mar 7
Monday
5
Mar 14
Monday











Mid-term Exam
Introduction to EBusiness Systems
E-Business Systems
E-Commerce Systems
Decision Support
Developing Strategies
Developing Solutions
Security & Ethics
Enterprise & Global
Mgmt
Final Exam
Final Presentations
Course Closure
Readings
Chap 1
Chap 2
Chap 13
Assignments
1st Night
Paper Due
Chap 14
Chap 3*
Chap 4*
Exam Review
* * Project
Proposal
Due (if
required)
Exams
Chap
1,2,
3,4,13,
14,
Chap 5
Chap 6
Chap 7
Chap 8*
Chap 9*
Chap 10
Chap 11
Chap 12*
Review
Final
Project
Due
Chap 512

* We will cover only selected portions of these chapters. Skim chapter, read end-of-chapter summary
* * If you chose one of the listed options for you paper, no proposal is required
3

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. All Class Meetings: Read the appropriate chapters and come to class prepared to
discuss the material in the context of your own work or personal experiences.
2. First Meeting Writing Assignment: Prior to the first class meeting, prepare a brief
(2-3 pages) paper describing the use of technology in your business and/or
personal environment (see online course overview and module).
3. Alternative Paper / Project Proposal: If you select an alternative topic for your
final paper, submit a project proposal as described in paragraph 5c below. If you
have not already completed this a proposal, please e-mail it to me within 48 hours
of the first class session, so I can review and approve it.
4. Examinations: There will be two in-class, closed-book exams: a midterm exam
and a final exam. We will conduct a detailed review the last hour of class the
week before the exam.
5. Final Paper / Project: There are three alternatives for satisfying the assignment
(see paragraph A, b and c below). These alternatives are slightly different than
the options listed in the Regis Module Overview. You may also choose one of the
topics listed in the Module Overview, but please let me know that you plan to do
so. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO BEGIN
YOUR FINAL PAPER / PROJECT—This is only a five- week course. The
paper is due at the beginning of the final class meeting. You will lose 10
percentage points for each day the paper is late. Please use an outline as a tool for
organizing your paper. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it is a very
useful tool and results in a better paper. The alternatives are:
a. Alternative 1: Write a paper on any information system. The paper should
demonstrate how a company successfully adopted information technology for
the benefit of the business. Information used to write the paper can come from
business publications or E-Business trade journals. Many such publications
contain articles that describe specific information systems employed by
companies. You may want to search Business Week, Forbes, Information
Week, or Fortune. See attachment 1 for information about format and
content of the paper.
b. Alternative 2: Write a paper describing an information system used within
the organization where you work. Sources of information should include your
personal knowledge, documentation and reports associated with the
information system and interviews with people involved with the information
system (such as your company’s IT staff). See attachment 1 for format and
content guidelines.
c. Alternative 3: Suggest a paper of your own. If you choose a paper topic
other than one of those described above, A ONE-PAGE PROJECT
PROPOSAL is due as per the class Course Outline. The proposal should
describe the subject and some background as to the challenge or improvement
4
to the business situation that may be realized. The instructor will approve
your proposal and provide feedback. If you select this option, use the
format/content guidelines in attachment 1 as closely as possible.
6. In-Class Presentation: A five-minute presentation of your final project is required
on the final night of class, following the Final Exam. Introduce your topic,
explain your findings, and present your conclusions. Tell us what was your most
interesting discovery was, and why. You should NOT go beyond five minutes.
You need not use charts, overheads or electronic slides. If you choose to do so,
your limit is two slides. You will be graded on covering the areas outlined in this
section. You will be downgraded if you merely read your paper. Talk to your
audience, tell the story, and connect.
Attachment 1: Format Guidelines for Final Course Paper:
1. Your report should be 7 to 10 word-processed, double-spaced pages (including
diagrams), plus a cover sheet, table of contents, bibliography and any appendices.
2. The cover sheet should include your name, report title, course title/number and the
date. The bibliography must cite all of your information sources used in
preparing your report. See the Harbrace College Handbook for information on
properly citing information sources.
3. Please use Arial or Times New Roman font, font size 12, double-spaced and one-inch
margins all around (top, bottom, left, right). Print using a laser quality printer.
4. You may put your paper in a binder if you wish, but please DO NOT put plastic
document protectors on individual pages.
5. Individual reports should be formatted as follows:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Cover Sheet
Executive Summary (one paragraph summary of the report)
Table of Contents
Report
i. Introduction / Overview of the Report
ii. Body of the Report
1. High-level description/purpose of the information
system
2. Business strategies and objectives being satisfied
through the information system
3. Users of the information system
4. Detailed description of the information system
5
5. Business application/implications of the information
system
6. Information processed by the information system to
include inputs and outputs
7. Costs of the information system
8. Problems/limitations of the information system and or
its implementation
9. Benefits of the information system
iii. Conclusion of the Report
e. Bibliography
f. Appendices as needed
6