MIS 462
Spring 2011
Decision Support Systems
Professor Pat Paulson
Class Overview
 Office: Somsen 325
 Physical classroom: Somsen 301
 Virtual classroom:
https://umconnect.umn.edu/mis
 Exams, grading, Tegrity recordings in D2L:
https://winona.ims.mnscu.edu/
 Course Web site:
http://course1.winona.edu/ppaulson/
 Office hours listed on web site
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My Background
 Attorney
 Mechanical Engineer
 Operations Manager
 Business Systems Consultant
 Professor
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Course1 Web Site
 Homework assignments
 Model answers
 Hints occasionally
 Important announcements
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Course Description-Catalog
 The major focus of this course is on the advanced and
complex concepts of Information Systems Technology. The
objective is to provide perspective for adapting to
Information Systems Technology. Key conceptual frameworks
of MIS, as well as cutting-edge business application
development technologies are presented.
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Course Description
 Students will explore the application of Excel for use in
decision support systems.
 Students will work on a project involving Excel VBA to
facilitate decision making.
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Areas of Concentration
 Familiarization with the software
 Excel 2010
 Explore Excel Functions
 Extending Excel using Visual Basic for Applications
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Learn the Tool-Excel
 Review the basics
 Use MELB-you are expected to know:
 Course 10296- Beginner Skills in Excel 2010
 Course 10393- Intermediate Skills in Excel 2010
 Course 10394- Advanced Skills in Excel 2010
 Each takes about 2 hours to complete
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Analyze Existing Applications
 Review program design
 Learn alternate solutions, approaches
 Verify program yields desired result
 Improve existing programs
 Discuss alternate methods with classmates
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Materials
 Books
 Required: Excel 2010 Data Analysis and Business Modeling
 Optional: Excel 2010 Power Programming With VBA
 Web Resources
 Atomic Learning / MELB
 PowerPivot, Microsoft Enterprise UALR, SQL Server
 VBA
 DataFiles/Companion content at:
\\store\classes\20115001943\ReadOnly
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Topics Covered
 Review Excel Basics
 Excel functions
 VBA Basics
 VBA Sample Applications
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Classroom Info
 Somsen 301
 Bring laptop, power supply, patch cable every day
 Attendance
 Homework, Exercises
 Work on material in groups
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Attendance and Participation
 This course covers material discussed in class, but not in the
textbooks
 Attendance is expected
 Attendance, or lack thereof, is a factor in deciding borderline
grades
 Submit attendance for each class!
 Your responsibility, no second chance!
 Tegrity records class materials for your convenience and
review.
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Project 1-Homework Web Site
 Create and maintain a web site for submitting your
homework
 Learn to work with HTML and the Internet
 Web site must be up and running by Saturday, January 22nd,
8:00am!
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Project 2-Application
 Create or enhance an Excel business application
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Homework
 Exercises and Projects
 To focus on and hone required skills
 Learn Excel by doing
 Gradually more complex problems
 Analyze and setup solutions
 Homework is graded, results emailed to student
 If questioning grading make sure to reply with history
 No emailed homework, no print outs
 Late homework is penalized
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Exam Notice
 Before midterm and final make sure that you have WSU
network access and that you can connect to:
\\store\classes\20115001943\
 Why? This is where you get exam files!
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Midterms
 Test knowledge of basic concepts
 Short answer, possibly essay
 Hands on problems
 Open book, open notes
 No make up exam!
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Final
 Same format as mid-term, 2 hours
 Cumulative, test knowledge of business application
programming
 Open book, open notes
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Policy on Collaboration
 You are permitted to work together on Homework, projects.
However…
 During exams you are on your own, including doing handson problems in Excel 2010. Therefore…
 It behooves you to actually do the work!
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Grade Weighting
 5% Project 1
 10% Project 2
 5% Meaningful class attendance and participation
 30% Homework
 20% Midterms (2, 10% each)
 30% Final
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Final Grade
 Based on 100 total points
 A 90% or greater
 B 80 to 89%
 C 70 to 79%
 D 60 to 69%
 F less than 59%
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Grading
 Late Assignments are penalized!
 A pattern of being late with homework and or Project submissions
will result in the loss of at least a letter grade.
 Poor spelling/grammar will be penalized!
 Up to 10% of item grade
 Make use of the Writing Center
 No extra credit, no make-up exams!
 Professor Paulson does not give out grades
 Students earn grades!
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After This Course?
 Enjoy learning new software applications and problem
solving? Consider MIS major or minor
 Feel free to join MISA, the MIS student organization
 Have questions about advising, scholarships, internships,
careers, graduate school…
 Contact me at your convenience
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