MIS 492 – Management of Information Systems
Syllabus
Instructor: Robert Judge
Email:
rjudge@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone:
(760) 505-7075 mobile
Office Hours (SS-3114): Mon/Wed 4:00-5:00 & Tues 1:00-3:00 and by appt.
Classroom: EBA-247, Tuesdays 4:00 - 6:40
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
Prerequisites: Management Information Systems 306 and 380.
Role of information systems in organizations from management perspective: strategic
information system planning, systems administration, and management of end user computing.
Management issues related to systems development and implementation. Management of
computer operations and the computer center.
INTRODUCTION
The world’s technical knowledge is doubling every two years. Companies cannot afford to be
static – they must change to face a rapidly changing world. Their information services must
operate 24/7 and have global reach. They need to be able to understand the current processes and
information flows used to create value and then identify ways to improve them. Management
Information Systems (MIS) leadership must help this effort through close involvement in the
strategic processes of the organizations they support. This course provides students the
opportunity to learn how MIS aligns with corporate strategy, creates value, and stimulates
innovation. As a practical application of the course reading and lectures, you will complete
assignments using examples of current collaboration tools (Wikis, Blogs, RSS feeds, etc.). Why
is this important to you? What are the generally agreed skills needed for the 21st Century?
(http://www.metiri.com/21st%20Century%20Skills/PDFtwentyfirst%20century%20skills.pdf)
 Information and Technological literacy
 Inventive and creative thinking skills
 Collaboration and communication skills
 Use of Knowledge, Skills and Abilities to achieve high levels of productivity
MIS plays a role in all these!
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
BSBA Program Goals
BSBA students will graduate being:
 Effective Communicators
 Critical Thinkers
 Able to Analyze Ethical Problems
 Global in their perspective
 Knowledgeable about the essentials of business
MIS492 contributes to these goals through its student learning objectives. All students will be
able to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to the management of MIS. In order to
demonstrate acquisition of this knowledge and skill, students are required to read assigned
materials, participate in class discussions, and complete assignments related to the course
content. There will be in class time for working on team assignments. By the end of the course,
students will be able to:
1. Describe the major technological, organizational, behavioral, and sustainability issues
facing today’s information systems professional.
2. Describe IT strategy formulation and explain its alignment with organizational strategy.
3. Conduct research on and describe, several current and emerging technologies and explain
their impact on corporate performance.
4. Explain the difference between supporting a business with technology and driving a
business with technology.
5. Describe ways in which technology can provide an organization with competitive
advantages.
6. Describe how technology facilitates and enhances both operational and strategic decision
making in an organization.
7. Describe how IT brings value to an organization.
REQUIRED RESOURCES
Texts/Software:
McKeen, J. and Smith, H. 2011. IT Strategy. Second Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.
Microsoft Sharepoint (This will be accessed through provided links)
Free Mind Software – Available for free download http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
1. 5 Blogs on the course readings: Approximately 300 words each blog. Be creative, add
links, photos, etc. (be sure to reference). Don’t just repeat what you read – give me your
thoughts and research topic on the Internet. Build on what you read. The blogs need to
be in on time!!!
2. Produce a Cognitive Map on a provided IS&T topic area (one student per topic):
Expectations are that the map will have a minimum of:
o 50 child nodes (content)
o 10 hyperlinks
o 10 notes
o Some structure: Color, fonts, clouds, etc.
3. Produce a 2000+ word article of the subject of the cognitive map in a Wiki (see potential
research topics below): Student will use SharePoint Wiki to write a 2000 + word essay
based on their cognitive map of an IS&T subject. It will, at a minimum contain the
sections provided below. Be creative. Use links, videos, etc. Be sure to reference
appropriately. Make it informative and interesting to your classmates.

Introduction to topic
 Uses of the technology
o Good
o Bad
o Innovative example of use

Links & Synopsis of relevant Information
o Academic studies
o Professional articles
o Related Websites
o Favorite resource
o Subject video

Perhaps include a Jing video (self made) or one from YouTube of how to
do something related to the subject?
4. Working with other students, edit and expand on each other’s article, add additional links
(including articles by other students). Grade will be determined by the number and
quality of the contributions. Every few weeks I will grade the Wiki edits and add to
the participation score. The maximum score you can get for each edit is 5 points.
5. Student Presentations:
o 10 minutes maximum, with 5 minutes for questions.
o What is it, How is it used, Why is it important?
o Pros and cons
o Demonstration or video
SUGGESTED RESEARCH PAPER TOPICS:
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Cloud computing
Outsourcing IS&T
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RSS Feeds
Security
Social Networking (Blogs, Forums, Communities of Practice)
Simulation
Search engines
Robotics
Data Mining
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Knowledge management
Decision Support Systems (DSS)
Virtual communities
Nanotechnology
Sensor technology & networks
Open source software
Peer to Peer networks
Web 2.0
Communication technologies
Server Virtualization
Client Virtualization
Sustainability (environmental efforts related to IS&T)
Agile programming methodology vs. Waterfall methodology
Semantic web
Quantum computing
Encryption
Worms & Trojan Horses
IS&T workplace productivity improvements (Economics)
IS&T labor market analysis
Technology acceptance models (TAM, UTAUT, etc.)
HCI (Human Computer Interface)
CMMI, COBIT, ITIL
Battery/Power technologies
Memory technologies
Class Attendance and Participation:
This class has a considerable amount of assignments and opportunities to contribute to the class
discussion. It is always a good idea to read the assigned material in advance of the class. You
will get far more out of the discussion and lecture.
COURSE SCHEDULE
The following outline introduces the sessions in this course. The specific scope of each week
may be modified throughout the course – but any changes will be well communicated in class.
All assignments are due end of day Sunday on the week assigned (Sunday is the last day of
the week). Late assignments will lose 20% of the possible points for each day it is late. It is
HIGHLY advisable to complete the readings prior to class. We will have substantial time in class
to work on the team assignments: that time will be a waste if you are not prepared by having read
the material. Templates and examples of the team assignments will be posted in Blackboard.
Module/
Topic
Week 1
Class
Dates
8/29
Session Objectives, Demonstrations, and
Hands-on work
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IT Value
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Week 2
9/5
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IT Strategy
Week 3
Communicating
with Business
Managers
Week 4
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9/12
9/19
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Building a
strong
relationship
with the
Business
Week 5
9/26
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Understand the IT Value proposition
Understand the principles for Delivering
IS&T Value
Principles for delivering IT Value
Demonstrate the use of Cognitive Mapping
Overview of FreeMind (video)
Introduce SharePoint Blogging and form
teams (creating of best MIS dept site)
Chapter 1
 Val IT
 ISACA
Understand critical success factors for IS&T
strategic development
Understand initiatives for implementing a
strategic program in IS&T
Obstacles to effective communication
What is "good" communication
Communication competencies
Overview of WIKI
Chapter 2
Nature of the IT relationships
Foundations for strong IT relationships
o Building Blocks
Principles of professionalism
Developing culture of professionalism
IT
Professionalism
Week 6
Assign research subjects
– cognitive map due
9/22
Blog for Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Wiki Article due 9/29
Blog for Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Cognitive map due 9/22
Chapter 5
Wiki Article due 9/29
Blog for Chapter 5
10/3
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Framework for IM
Developing IM policy
Information Stewardship
Chapter 6
3 student presentations
10/10
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Describe the generic IS&T planning and
Chapter 7
3 student presentations
Information
Management
Week 7
Readings/Assignments
Module/
Topic
Class
Dates
Session Objectives, Demonstrations, and
Hands-on work
IT Budgeting
Readings/Assignments
budgeting process
Week 8
10/17
Technology
Road Maps
Week 9
10/24
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Benefits of a road map
Elements of the road map
Practical steps
Chapter 8
3 student presentations
MIDTERM (Chapters 1-8)
Week 10
10/31
Delivering IT
Functions and
IT Sourcing
Week 11
11/7
Strategic
experimentation
and enabling
Collaboration
Week 12
11/14
Theory vs. Practice
"Real" decision criteria
Decision Framework
Offshore/Onshore
Successful sourcing
Innovation and strategic experimentation
Strategies for successful experimentation
Characteristics of collaboration
Components of successful collaboration
Role of IT in collaboration
Chapter 9 & 10
3 student presentations
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Driving factors for intracompany social
networks
Where is it taking us
Social networking challenges
What, when, best media,
information strategies
Chapter 14 & 15
3 student presentations
Data Ecosystem
Master Data Mgmt Value
(MDM)proposition
Prerequisites for MDM success
Framework for developing IT capabilities
Chapter 16 & 17
3 student presentations
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Social
computing and
Information
Delivery
Week 13
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11/21
Master Data
Mgmt &
Developing IT
capabilities
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11/28
Week 14
Managing IT
Risk & Linking
IT to business
metrics
12/5
Blog for Chapter 9 & 10
 Chapter 12 & 13
3 student presentations
Blog for Chapter 14 &
15
Thanksgiving
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Risk Mgmt framework
Improving Risk Mgmt capabilities
Key business metrics for IT
Designing metrics for IT
Chapter 19 & 21
3 student presentations
Module/
Topic
Week 15
Class
Dates
12/12
4:00 –
6:00
Session Objectives, Demonstrations, and
Hands-on work
Final Exam - chps: 9,10,12,13,14,15,16,17,19, & 21
Readings/Assignments
GRADE COMPONENTS
Number of
Assignments
or
Submissions
Points per
Assignment
Total
Possible
Points
See attached Rubric for Written
Assignments
5
25
125
Hyperlinks, Notes, Color and structure,
Depth of Content
1
50
50
1
200
200
1
50
50
1
100
100
Assignments
Reading
Assignments Blogs
Cognitive map
Wiki Article
Presentation of
Wiki Article
Team MIS
dept. site
Scoring Methodology
See attached Rubric for Written
Assignments
See attached Rubric for Oral
Assignments
Usefulness (30%)
Ease of use (30%)
Content (20%)
Appearance (20%)
Midterm
Score
1
200
200
Final Exam
Score
1
200
200
Participation
Points awarded based on quality of
contribution, external links, and
originality.
Many
Wiki Edits
=0–5
points each
50
Total
975
You are responsible to monitor your grades. If something is not correct, you need to bring it to
my attention immediately, not days or weeks later. I will have sympathy early but not later.
There are plenty of opportunities to collect points to achieve a given class grade. At the end of
the semester your grade is final. Please do not expect me to alter your grade because you are
short a higher grade by just a few points. Your total score and the final grade will be based on
the following scale:
93.5 - 100%
90.5 - 93.4%
87.5 - 90.4%
83.5 – 87.4%
80.5 – 83.4%
77.5 – 80.4%
73.5 – 77.4%
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
70 – 73.4%
C-
COMMUNICATION
E-mail inquiries are welcome through rjudge@mail.sdsu.edu at any time for any questions
students might have. Please include a descriptive subject for your e-mail communications. BE
SURE TO indicate your name.
Questions not to phone or email me about:
1. Anything already in the syllabus
2. What’s on the exam.
3. When is something due (in the syllabus).
4. Is there extra credit (no)
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
SDSU’s policy on academic integrity is expressly integrated into this course. Any deviation
from the standards of this policy may result in a grade of “F” for the course. There are teamwork
related assignments.
HONESTY:
Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on an exam or
assignment, failure in the course, and/or expulsion from the college. For more information, refer
to the “Academic Honesty” policy in the student catalog
(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fits.sdsu.ed
u%2Fdocs%2FTURN_Plagiarism_AcadSen.pdf&ei=hKgcSoOzJJyytAPUyv2NCg&usg=AFQjC
NEFuwRNvgA6C-5okEjjimj4-0fReQ&sig2=NMoSM4mz0-B-QOAUPvLEhw). Cite references
in all works produced. Plagiarism means any copying of a work, statement, picture or idea
without referencing that work. This includes the cut and paste of a statement, picture, etc. from a
webpage without referencing that webpage. Statements taken directly from any source must be
enclosed in quotation marks. Use either MLA or APA reference style.