BUSI 2400*
Foundations of Information Systems
Summer 2012
Section A
Instructors:
Name:
Email:
Office:
Office Hours:
Al Pilcher
al_pilcher@carleton.ca
TBA
By appointment
Sections:
Section
Day
A
Monday & Thursday
Time
8:35 – 11:25
CRN
20641
Professor
Pilcher
Tutorials: 1 hour/week REQUIRED. Selection will start Friday May 11th, 8am; details in first
class.
COURSE WEBSITE
This site is for lecture notes, assignment details, readings, My Page and support
information. We do not use WebCT.
http://busi2400.ssb.carleton.ca
PREREQUISITES
Enrolment is restricted to students in the Bachelor of Commerce Program.
The School of Business enforces all prerequisites. It is the student’s responsibility
to ensure that the prerequisite requirements are met. Failure to meet the
prerequisites may result in your deregistration from this course any time into the
term.
This course is a prerequisite to
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
BUSI 3400 (with a grade of C or higher)
BUSI 3402 (with a grade of C or higher)
BUSI 3405 (with a grade of C- or higher)
BUSI 3407 (with a grade of C- or higher)
BUSI 4009 (with a grade of C- or higher)
BUSI 4400 (with a grade of C- or higher)
BUSI 4404 (with a grade of C- or higher)
BUSI 4609 (with a grade of D- or higher)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an introduction to the study of information systems in organisations.
No manager can be effective in administering complex modern organisations without some
understanding of information systems and their impact. Information Systems is
multidisciplinary, with contributions coming from computer science, organisational theory,
organisational behaviour, management science, operations research, strategic
management, sociology, psychology, and political science. As information systems are social
as well as technical systems, their impact is best understood from a sociotechnical
perspective. Topics covered will include: fundamental concepts of information systems; the
technical foundations of information systems, and; approaches to building, deploying and
controlling information systems. Presentation and collaboration skills will also be developed
in this class.
TEXT
Haag, S., Cummings, M., Riordan, R., and Pilcher, A. (2009), Management Information
Systems for the Information Age, Fourth Canadian Edition, McGraw-Hill Ryerson,
 Textbooks are available at Haven Books. Only a five minute walk from campus across
Bronson on Sunnyside Avenue. You must use this textbook.
EVALUATION
ELEMENT
WEIGHT %
Test 1
10
Multiple Assignments
50
Final Exam*
40
TOTAL
100
* In addition to satisfactory in-term performance (see below), you must score a grade of
50% or better on the final examination in order to gain credit for BUSI 2400 in this
term.
TESTS
There will be one in-class test. The test will be held on the date provided in the course
schedule below. Makeup tests are not available in this course. You must be present to write
this test or you must present a medical or other note to explain your absence. If you must
miss the test due to verifiable illness or, in rare and highly exceptional cases, due to
some other circumstance beyond your control, you may apply to have the weight of
the missing test applied to the final exam by submitting a medical certificate or other
appropriate documentation (if not a medical issue) to your instructor no later than 18:00 on
the fifth (5th) calendar day following the test date. So if the test is, for example, on the 1st
day of the month, your documentation must be in your instructor’s hands by 6:00 PM on the
6th day of the month.
For medical issues, you must use the medical certificate form found at:
http://www2.carleton.ca/registrar/ccms/wp-content/ccms-files/med_cert.pdf. You must show the
ORIGINAL medical certificate to your instructor, and provide a photocopy for our records.
For other rare circumstances, your instructor will decide ad hoc what constitutes reasonable
and appropriate documentation.
ASSIGNMENTS
There are many small to medium-sized assignments in this class. Each is described in full on
the website and adequate warning and discussion will be provided in class, in labs and
potentially via various electronic means. There are several resources to use in order to
accomplish the tasks required in this class, including a dedicated Help Desk providing
guaranteed 12-hour turnaround of emails, 7 days a week.
CREDIT for BUSI 2400
In order to receive credit for BUSI 2400, you must meet the requirements for satisfactory
in-term performance (as specified below) AND you must achieve a grade of 50% or higher
on the final exam, whether written during the scheduled examination period or as a
deferral.
The requirement for satisfactory in-term performance consists of two criteria:
1. The missed in-class test must be documented per the procedure specified in this
outline.
2. Your overall term work grade going into the final (i.e. the weighted sum of all
individual and group assignments (after peer evaluation weights are applied) as well
as test and any bonus marks earned, when considered together as your final preexam grade) must be 50% or higher.
Failure with No Deferral (FND)
Unsatisfactory in-term performance in this course will lead to a grade of FND in this term.
COMMUNICATION
2400 Email Procedure:
It is important to use the structure outlined in the template below:
 The subject of the email must begin with 2400.
 The first line in the body of the email must contain your name, student number,
section of the course and your FA# (more on FA# later).
SPECIAL NOTE:
 Your instructor will not reply to emails which ask for information that was either
supplied verbally in class, is in class notes, was provided in tutorials/labs or was posted
as a News item on the course website and/or Blog. So make sure the information isn’t in
the public domain before you ask…
 Do not expect an email reply if you do not use the proper email procedure.
 Do not expect a reply from your instructor on weekends or holidays. The Help Desk,
however, will always reply within 12 hours.
Sample email message:
DETAILED COURSE SCHEDULE*
Class # Date
Topic
Test #
th
The Information Age (Ch 1)
May 7
1
Protecting People & Information (Ch 8)
May 10th
2
th
Databases & Data Warehouses (Ch 3)
May 14
3
th
Going-e
May
17
4
1
th
Major Business Initiatives (Ch 2)
May 24
5
E-commerce (Ch 5)
May 28th
6
Enterprise infrastructures (Ch 7)
May 31st
7
th
SAP
June 4
8
th
Emerging Trends & Technologies (Ch 9)
June 7
9
th
Decision Support & AI (Ch 4)
June 11
10
th
Systems Development (Ch 6)
June 14
11
Final Presentation & Cap
June 18th
12
*Note: While every attempt will be made to keep to the schedule listed above,
unforeseen circumstances may necessitate modifications throughout the semester.
Please check the University’s important dates & deadlines
(http://www.carleton.ca/cuuc/university/academicyear.html) for information on this term’s
start & end dates, holidays and drop deadlines.
May 4, 2012
• Deadline for fee payment or assignment of funding to ensure payment is processed to your account without
incurring a late charge.
May 7, 2012
• Early summer and full summer classes begin.
May 14, 2012
• Last day for registration and course changes for early summer courses.
May 18, 2012
• Last day for registration and course changes for full summer courses.
May 21, 2012
• Statutory holiday. University closed.
May 31, 2012
• Last day to withdraw from early summer courses with full fee adjustment.
June 8, 2012
• Last day to withdraw from full summer courses with a full fee adjustment.
• Last day to submit to the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities, formal Examination Accommodation
Forms for June examinations.
June 12, 2012
• Last day for tests or examinations in courses below the 4000-level before the final examination period (see
Examination Regulations in the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar.)
June 19, 2011
• Last day of early summer classes for non-Engineering students (NOTE: Full summer classes
resume after Canada Day).
• Last day for handing in term work and the last day that can be specified by a course instructor as a due date for
term work for courses that end on this day.
• Last day for academic withdrawal from early summer courses.
June 13-23 (may include evenings and Saturdays), 2011
• Fall/winter and winter term deferred final examinations will be held.
June 22-27, 2012
• Early summer examinations will be held. Examinations are normally held in the day and evening during the
Monday to Saturday period. In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to schedule an examination on a
Sunday.
June 30, 2012
• Final deadline for summer term fee payment.
July 2, 2012
• Statutory holiday. University closed.
July 3, 2012
• Late summer classes begin. Full summer classes resume.
July 10, 2012
• Last day for registration and course changes for late summer courses.
July 20, 2012
• Last day for withdrawal from late summer courses with full fee adjustment.
July 27, 2012
• Last day to submit to the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities, Formal Examination Accommodation
Forms for August examinations.
August 6, 2012
• Statutory Holiday. University closed.
August 8, 2012
• Last day for tests or examinations in courses below the 4000-level before the final examination period (see
Examination Regulations in the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar.)
August 15, 2012
• Last day of late summer and full summer classes.
• Last day for handing in term work and the last day that can be specified by a course instructor as a due date for
term work for courses that end on this day.
• Last day for academic withdrawal from late summer and full summer courses and any other
courses that end this term.
August 18-23, 2012
• Summer examinations will be held. Examinations are normally held in the day and evening during the Monday to
Saturday period. In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to schedule an examination on a Sunday.
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION
You may need special arrangements to meet your academic obligations during the term because of disability,
pregnancy or religious obligations. Please review the course outline promptly and write to me with any requests
for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for
accommodation is known to exist.
Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations in this course must register with the Paul Menton
Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) for a formal evaluation of disability-related needs. Documented
disabilities could include but not limited to mobility/physical impairments, specific Learning Disabilities (LD),
psychiatric/psychological disabilities, sensory disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and
chronic medical conditions. Registered PMC students are required to contact the PMC, 613-520-6608, every term
to ensure that your Instructor receives your Letter of Accommodation, no later than two weeks before the first
assignment is due or the first in-class test/midterm requiring accommodations. If you only require
accommodations for your formally scheduled exam(s) in this course, please submit your request for
accommodations to PMC by the last official day to withdraw from classes in each term.
You can visit the Equity Services website to view the policies and to obtain more detailed information on academic
accommodation at http://carleton.ca/equity/accommodation
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
Students requesting academic accommodation on the basis of religious observance should make a formal, written
request to their instructors for alternate dates and/or means of satisfying academic requirements. Such requests
should be made during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is
known to exist, but no later than two weeks before the compulsory academic event. Accommodation is to be
worked out directly and on an individual basis between the student and the instructor(s) involved. Instructors will
make accommodations in a way that avoids academic disadvantage to the student.
Students or instructors who have questions or want to confirm accommodation eligibility of a religious event or
practice may refer to the Equity Services website for a list of holy days and Carleton’s Academic Accommodation
policies, or may contact an Equity Services Advisor in the Equity Services Department for assistance.
PREGNANCY
Pregnant students requiring academic accommodations are encouraged to contact an Equity Advisor in Equity
Services to complete a letter of accommodation. The student must then make an appointment to discuss her
needs with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the first academic event in which it is anticipated the
accommodation will be required.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY – YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
Using, summarizing or copying directly from another person’s work, without identifying the name of the original
thinker, is considered a form of cheating called “plagiarism”. Plagiarism has serious consequences and can result in
course / assignment failure and /or academic suspension.
When using, and/or summarizing the ideas and words of another, be it from a web site, a written text, lecture or
discussion group, you must identify the source. Should you choose to use the exact words of another, you must
acknowledge these words as such by enclosing them within quotation marks. However, be aware that it is not
acceptable to copy large chunks from a source, even if you reference it correctly.
Examples of plagiarism and other instructional offences are identified in the Undergraduate Calendar (section 14,
p. 59), parts of which read:
Examples of plagiarism include




Submitting a take-home examination, essay, laboratory report, or another assignment, written, in whole
or in part, by someone else.
Using ideas or direct verbatim quotations, paraphrased material, algorithms, formulae, scientific or
mathematical concepts, or ideas without appropriate acknowledgements in academic assignments
Using another’s data or research findings
Failing to acknowledge sources through the use of proper citations when using another’s works and/or
failing to use quotation marks.
Unauthorized Cooperation or Collaboration


…… students shall not cooperate or collaborate in the completion of an academic assignment in whole or
in part, when the instructor has indicated that the assignment is to be completed on an individual basis.
Failure to follow the instructor’s direction regarding which assignments, or parts of assignments, should
be completed by the individual alone will be considered violation of the standards of academic integrity.
Answering with another students’ clicker is also a violation that can lead to severe sanctions.