IS 351, Global Business Data Communications
(Prerequisite IS 243)
School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Pace University
Spring 2002
PROFESSOR: Namchul Shin, Ph.D.
OFFICE: 156 Williams Street, 12th floor
OFFICE HOURS: Monday 1:00-2:30pm; Tuesday 1:00-3:30pm;
Wednesday 5:30-6:00pm and 8:40-9:10pm.
PHONE: (212) 346-1492
EMAIL: nshin@pace.edu
CLASS HOURS: M 2:30-3:25pm W 2:30-4:30pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides a broad overview of the key managerial and technical issues surrounding the
design and use of telecommunications in organizations. This overview includes knowledge of specific
technologies that are used for computer-mediated communications. The telecommunications industry
is changing rapidly; therefore, the course concentrates on fundamental principles as well as on the
features of specific technologies.
Required Text: Applied Data Communications: A Business-Oriented Approach, 3rd edition.
James E. Goldman, John Wiley and Sons, 2001.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Specifically, the course objectives is to help you develop the following skills and abilities:

The ability to participate in designing telecommunications networks to support today's business
activities involving individuals, groups, corporations and inter-company communications. These
include intranets, internets, extranets, local area networks and wide area networks.

You will have a basic understanding of enterprise network architectures that support data, video,
voice, radio, multimedia and distributed client/server communications that form the infrastructures
for today's organizations.

You will be able to identify the managerial issues involved in telecommunications innovation.

The course doesn't focus on programming network management systems.

You will be fluent in analyzing web applications, although the focus of the course is neither the
Internet nor the Web.
COURSE ADMINSTRATION
The course couples in-class discussions, case analyses and lectures with several assignments, including
written case analyses and a group project in an organization of your choice, and exams.
Course grade consists of three exams (50%), homework assignments (20%), a final group project
(20%), and class participation, including attendance (10%). Students are expected to read the text
materials before class.
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You must participate in class discussion. Class participation is part of your grade. If you disrupt the
class for any reason, points will be taken from your participation grade.
Students must submit assigned homework exercises at the beginning of class on the date the homework
is due. Homework handed in anytime after class has begun is considered late. In fairness to all
students, late homework will be penalized one point for each calendar day it is late. Under no
circumstances will homework be accepted after three days from the due date. Keep all returned
assignments; if there is a dispute about an assignment you must have the assignment.
All work that submitted for a grade must be professional in appearance. Written materials must be
typed; diagrams must be drawn using a template or a straight edge. Sloppy, unreadable, or
unprofessional work will not be accepted.
Appointments are not necessary during office hours; however, if you make an appointment, I will
reserve that time for you. If you make an appointment and find that you cannot keep it, please call and
cancel the appointment.
CASE ANALYSES
You will prepare one case in writing (three pages) – one out of eight cases (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,
and 9)
Guideline for a good written case analysis:



In one or two paragraphs, briefly introduce the company, the activities the company has performed
or changed, the issues that you will discuss, and the relationships of the issues to the class issue
being studied.
In one or two pages, explore the impacts of the above activities and the expected and likely impacts
for the future in the company.
In the final paragraph, explore the lessons learned from the company’s experience, and what
different or additional activities the company should undertake.
GROUP PROJECT
The project will be 6-9 pages including diagrams. Try to keep within maximum of 12 pages. The
guideline will be distributed separately. Students work in-groups of 6-7 on the project.
COURSE SCHEDULE
The following is a tentative list of topics we will cover week by week this semester. This schedule may
be modified as we progress.
Note: We will not be covering the sections called “In sharper focus” or “Applied problem solving”
unless they are specifically assigned.
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Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Date
1/23
Topics
Course Overview
Chapter Readings
1/28
1/30
2/4
2/6
2/11
2/13
2/18
2/20
2/25
2/27
3/4
3/6
The Data Communications Industry
Chapter 1
Voice Communications Concepts and
Technology
Data Communications Concepts
Chapter 2
President's Day - No Class
Basic Data Communications Technology
Basic Data Communications Technology
Exam #1
LAN Architecture
Chapter 4
3/10 ~ 3/17
Spring Break
3/18
3/20
3/25
3/27
4/1
4/3
4/8
4/10
4/15
4/17
4/22
4/24
LAN Hardware
Chapter 6
LAN Communications Protocols and
Operating Systems
WAN Concepts, Architectures, and Services
Instructor at Conference – No Class
WAN Concepts, Architectures, and Services
Exam #2
WAN Concepts, Architectures, and Services
Internetworking
Internetworking
Network Security and the Internet
Case Analysis Report Due (Individual)
Network Security and the Internet
Project Report Due (Group)
Study Day
Exam #3
Chapter 7
4/29
5/1
Final Week
3
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapters 1,2,3,4
Chapter 5
Chapters 8
Chapter 8
Chapters 5,6,7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Chapters 8,9,13
Global Business Data Communications
School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Pace University
Student Information Sheet
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________ (home/work) Email ________________________
Major: CS IS or Other(______________) Year (1st, 2nd....) _____________________________
Please list any other courses in information systems that you have taken at Pace or elsewhere.
Please list any work experience you have in the area of information systems or networking.
What are your goals for this course?
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