Introduction to Management Information Systems
MGS 351 – Fall 2006
Instructor: David Murray
Teaching Assistants: Jacobs 287
Email: djmurray@buffalo.edu
Brendan Gilbert: bg1@buffalo.edu
AOL Screen Name: MGS351
Kristine Hill: khill5@buffalo.edu
Office: Jacobs 284
Phone: 645-3249
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 - 1:50 (or by appointment)
Course Web Site: http://www.mgt.buffalo.edu/departments/mss/djmurray/mgs351/
Course Objectives:
This course provides students with an introduction to Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT) and their
use in an increasingly competitive business world. As future managers, you need to be equipped to make decisions
concerning the planning, development and implementation of information technology resources to increase organizational
effectiveness and create a strategic advantage. The course accomplishes this by:
 Introducing basic concepts of IS and IT
 Exploring how technology can be used to create business value.
 Providing an overview of the components of computers
 Examining the potential benefits and limitations of IT
 Increasing awareness of managerial issues raised by the use of IT
 Providing “hands on” exercises to practice course material
 Providing a foundation needed for subsequent IS coursework
Prerequisites:
MGQ 201 - Computer Applications in Management. Concurrent registration is not allowed.
Course Materials:
 Management Information Systems for the Information Age: 6th Edition (Custom) Haag, McGraw Hill Inc., 2007.
 Microsoft Access 2003 Comprehensive Revised Edition (Custom), Grauer and Barber, Prentice-Hall Inc., 2006.
 1 USB Thumb Drive (recommended)
 UB IT name and password to be used for course grades and lab login - www.cit.buffalo.edu/mail/
Digital Access:
The lecture is recorded on Tuesday at 3:30 PM in Jacobs 106, and will be posted on UBLearns by Wednesday at 4:00
PM. Space permitting, any student is welcome to attend the “live” section of the class. It is important that you keep up
with the lectures online just as you would a “traditional” class. Please do not ask me or your TA any questions about the
class/homework/project if you haven’t watched the lecture that week yet! It’s your responsibility to first watch the lectures.
Labs:
The lab time provides you with an opportunity to work on homework assignments, to practice material covered in lecture,
and to work on team projects. Lab attendance is mandatory and will be taken periodically by the Teaching Assistants.
Absences will result in a 1 point penalty for each lab missed. Please don’t ask me to change any of your lab grades. I will
never change a lab grade that a TA has submitted to me.
Homework Assignments:
There are 6 homework assignments designed to help reinforce the material that has been covered in the lecture and labs.
Completion of these assignments is crucial to your success in this course. Homework assignments should always be
turned in to your TA during lab. Late assignments are not accepted and will receive a score of 0. Any questions
pertaining to your homework grades must be addressed to your TA within 2 weeks of the assignment due date.
Final Team Project:
You will work in teams of no more than 5 to develop a database system using Microsoft Access. Your teams will be
assigned in labs so that you will have a dedicated time during which your team can meet. Projects will be evaluated
based on the system’s required functionality and enhancements, adequacy of system testing, attention to aesthetics and
group member peer evaluations. Further details will be given in lecture and lab.
Exams:
There will be three exams throughout the semester plus a non-cumulative final exam administered during finals week.
The date and time of the final exam will be announced in class once it has been scheduled. There are no make up exams
except under exceptional circumstances. Exams will be held on 9/29, 10/20 and 11/17 in Knox 20. The exams on 10/20
and 11/17 will be from 6:00-8:00 PM. The exam on 9/29 will be from 5:00-7:00 PM. In case of a conflict, an alternate
exam will be given early morning on the exam day.
Course Conduct:
You are required to observe the rules of academic integrity and classroom conduct established by the University at
Buffalo. Cheating will not be tolerated. Students found cheating will receive a grade of F for the course and be subject to
further disciplinary action by the School of Management and/or the University at Buffalo. The University at Buffalo
Academic Integrity policies are posted on the course website and should be reviewed carefully.
Grading:
Assignment
Exam I
Exam II
Exam III
Final Exam
Final Database Project
Homework 1: Grauer Chapter 1, Practice Exercises 2, 5
Homework 2: Grauer Chapter 2, Practice Exercise 1
Homework 3: Grauer Chapter 3, Practice Exercises 8, 9
Homework 4: Grauer Excel Chapter 7, Practice Exercises 4, 5
Homework 5: Grauer Chapter 5, Practice Exercises 7, 8
Homework 6: HTML Assignment
Lab Attendance and Participation
Points
50
50
50
50
35
5
10
10
10
15
10
5
A course grade of A is 285 points and above, A- is 270 points and above, B+ is 262.5 points and above, B is 255 points
and above, B- is 240 points and above, C+ is 232.5 points and above, C is 225 points and above, C- is 210 points and
above, D is 195 points and above and a grade of F is earned if you receive less than 195 points.
Depending on the overall class performance, I reserve the right to adjust the scale. My decision to adjust the scale will
only be made at the end of the semester once all of the course grades are in.
According to University Regulations, a grade of Incomplete can only be given if the student is currently passing the course
and circumstances prevent them from completing the semester. Incomplete grades will not be given once the student has
taken the final exam. **November 10th is the last day to resign the course.
Tentative Course Schedule:
Date
Text
Ch
Topics
Assignments (Dates Due)
8/29
Course Introduction
Download & Read Syllabus
Haag
1
The Information Age in Which You Live
Grauer
1
Introduction to Microsoft Access
9/5
Haag
XLM A Computer Hardware and Software
Grauer
2
Tables and Forms
9/12 Haag
XLM B The World Wide Web and the Internet
HW 1 due in lab this week
Grauer
3
Information from the Database
No Class
9/19
Exam I (Haag Ch. 1, XLM A, XLM B and Grauer Ch. 1-2) – Exam held in Knox 20 from 5:00-7:00 PM
9/29
10/3 Haag
XLM C Final Project Overview – Relational Database Design HW 2 due in lab this week
Haag
3
Databases and Data Warehouses
10/10 Grauer
4
Proficiency
HW 3 due in lab this week
Haag
4
Decision Support and Artificial Intelligence
Project Design Due in Lab week of 10/16-10/20
Exam II (Haag Ch. 3, 4, XLM C and Grauer Ch. 3) – Exam held in Knox 20 from 6:00-8:00 PM
10/20
10/24 Grauer
5
One-to-Many Relationships
HW 4 due in lab this week
Haag
5
Electronic Commerce
10/31 Grauer
6/7
Many-to-Many Relationships
Haag
6
Systems Development
11/7 Haag
XLM E Network Basics
HW 5 due in lab this week
Haag
XLM F Building a Web Page with HTML
Exam III (Haag Ch. 5, 6 and XLM E) – Exam held in Knox 20 from 6:00-8:00 PM
11/17
11/21 Haag
8
Protecting People and Information
HW 6 due in lab this week
Haag
XLM H Computer Crime and Forensics
11/28
Team Project Assistance
12/5
Final Exam Review
Project due in lab this week
Final Exam (Haag Ch. 8, XLM F and XLM H)
TBA