ISYS 205 - Strategic Uses of Information Systems
Syllabus
Fall 2001
(Group Independent Study format)
Professor: Glenn Booker
E-mail:
gbooker@drexel.edu (note that gbooker@acm.org and gbooker@snip.net are exactly
the same address)
Phone:
856-216-0960 (home) – but E-mail is more reliable for most questions
Web Site: http://users.snip.net/~gbooker/ This web site contains the course assignments,
lecture notes, syllabus, reading list, “General Course Information,” and (many
miscellaneous references which probably won’t be needed for this course).
Text:
There is no “textbook” per se. Various readings are specified for each week,
and are listed in a separate file.
Course Structure
This course is being held in a group independent study format. The class members may choose
groups to work in, with 2-4 people in each group. (It’s better if only 2 or 3 people are in a group,
since it’s otherwise easy for someone to hide in the group.) Each week there are case studies and
lecture notes to read, and an assignment to do. Each group will discuss the materials, and work
on the assignment together. A single result will be turned in for each group’s homework
assignment via E-mail by the dates given below. It’s up to each group to decide whether to meet
in person, via E-mail, teleconference, or whatever.
If you E-mail questions to me, please include the rest of your group in the message’s address so I
can reply to all of you at once. The General Course Information link on the web site describes
my wishes for assignments in terms of format, font size, etc.
Course Objective
This course is based on the assumption that students have obtained general knowledge of
information systems components in ISYS101 and of the application of information systems in
organizations in ISYS102 (or through equivalent experience). This course builds on that
knowledge and focuses on the organizational environments in which information systems are
used and the business problems they can help solve.
The objectives of this course are:
 to give an understanding of how information systems can be used to benefit
organizations,
 to introduce the pitfalls of developing and implementing information systems in
organizations,
 to introduce basic business problems and operations, and
 to help improve critical thinking skills.
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The course makes extensive use of case studies in which real business problems involving
information systems are described. Additional material relevant to the case studies will be
presented in lectures and handouts.
What Are Strategic Uses Of Information Systems?
The principles of Information Resource Management (IRM) serve as the foundation for this
course. IRM is both a philosophy and a set of practical tools and techniques for managing
information in organizations. The basic problem of information systems in organizations is to
get the right information to the right person, at the right time and in the right form, for them to be
able to do their work effectively. A computer-based application is useless unless it provides
information effectively.
Strategic, as opposed to tactical, use refers to thinking in a high level, long term view. For an
information system's use to be strategic, we must determine what is the "right" information and
time, why is the information needed, who is the right person to get the information, and what is
strategic, for this organization, under these circumstances. We must also understand common
problems and issues involved in implementing Information Systems in business organizations.
This course is designed to introduce the concepts of how organizational information systems (IS)
are used to support a business organization and to enable you to appreciate many of the problems
and issues encountered when organizational IS are introduced. We will examine how people
work and make decisions in business firms, how typically they have been (or could be) involved
in specifying the information systems that they use and how computer-based information
systems can be used to support organizational decision-making. We will discuss what constitutes
an organizational information system, examine formal and informal information systems and
investigate in what circumstances the introduction and use of computer-based information
systems supports organizational and personal work objectives.
Assigned Readings
Weekly assigned cases and readings are listed in the Reading Materials file. Most of these cases
can be downloaded from the course web site in a large zipped file (or individually, if you have
trouble with zipped files); the rest will be distributed in hardcopy form.
Academic Honesty
The Drexel University Academic Honesty Rules and Procedures (as stated in the Student
Handbook, www.drexel.edu/studentlife/studenthandbook) will be adhered to strictly. It’s okay to
use other people’s material in order to support your work – just make sure to give proper credit
for it!
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In order to avoid plagiarizing material, observe the following guidelines:
 If you use printed or electronic resources in your papers, be sure to attribute the sources you
have used. This can be done by quoting the material or by paraphrasing the material and, in
either case, listing the source in a footnote or an endnote.
In a footnote or an endnote for a printed source, provide the following:
Author lastname, Author first initial. (date). Title of article. Name of periodical, volume,
page numbers.
In a footnote or an endnote for an electronic source, provide the following:
Author lastname, Author first initial. (date). Title of article. Name of periodical [On-line],
volume. Available: Specify path
 If you have any doubts as to whether you are representing and attributing the ideas in your
paper correctly, consult an English or writing handbook or see the instructor for guidance
before the assignment due date.
Assignments
Students are given four assignments to answer in writing. These assignments are described in
detail on the course web page. Assignments are due on the dates listed below. No assignments
will be accepted late because of the tight time schedule for this course.
There is one replacement credit assignment available. Students may complete this assignment to
replace one assignment for which they would like to improve their grade. This assignment
provides replacement credit, not additional credit.
Students are encouraged to have a basic English handbook and a college-level dictionary readily
available. You may also consult a publication stylebook (such as: Kate Turabian’s A Manual for
Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th Edition, 1996, University of Chicago
Press), for help in composing case analysis reports and individual assignment essay papers. The
document How to Prepare a Case Analysis is provided on the web page as well.
Good writing skills are essential for success in this course. If you have any deficiencies in
writing skills, visit the Drexel Writing Center (5060 MacAlister, 215-895-6633) for
assistance.
Grading
Grading is based on four homework assignments. Homework assignments will be done in
groups of 2-4 people (preferably 2 or 3 people) and turned in once for each group.
Activity
Weight
Homework #1
25%
Homework #2
25%
Homework #3
25%
Homework #4
25%
Participation
0%
TOTAL
100%
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ISYS 205 Course Outline
Week
Topics
1
Information Resource Management
Information Systems in Organizations

2
The Impact of Information Systems on the Organization
Information Resource Management Across The Organization

3
Homework #1, #2, #3, and #4 assigned
Homework #1 due October 12, 2001
Information Systems Implementation (E-business and E-commerce)

Homework #2 due October 19, 2001
4
Ethical Issues in Information Systems
Process Improvement and Reengineering
5
Information Systems Development
Information Systems Evaluation


Homework #3 due October 26, 2001
Homework #4 due November 2, 2001
There are no tests, quizzes, midterms, or final exam.
This outline is tentative and topics may change or be reorganized due to the direction and flow of the class.
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