west texas a&m university college of business · instructor: dr. amjad abdullat office:...

IDM 6310 Course Syllabus Summer 2010

Online Format: Course begins June 1, 2010

Instructor: Dr. Amjad Abdullat Office: Classroom Center building; Room 210 Phone: 806-651-2443 E-mail: aabdullat@ wtamu.edu Office Hours: M/W 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. (CDT) and by appointment All assignments are to be submitted by the due dates listed in the schedule at the end of the syllabus. No work will be accepted for grading after July 27, 2010.

Information and materials needed to complete this course are available only within WTClass.

Last Updated: April 14, 2010. This Syllabus is a dynamic document. Elements of the course structure (e.g., dates and topics covered, but not policies) may be changed at the discretion of the professor. Students will learn of any changes through changes to the calendar at the end of this syllabus and/or through Instructor course email messages. Either/OR. Check both regularly.

IMPORTANT NOTICE This syllabus is an integral component of the course. It is very important that you read it in its entirety. A great deal of the material that you will need for this class, including power point presentations, exams and other related case material are only accessible via WTClass. As such, you need to go to the “Start Here” folder in the Lessons Tab section of the course and follow the instructions provided there. Failure to do so will adversely impact your ability to perform in this class.

You will be held accountable for understanding and following everything in this syllabus, as well as any instructions provided during the semester.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation in this matter.

Communication I am available through a variety of means. The best and most reliable way to reach me is through the course mail option in WTClass or my other email address listed above. You can usually contact me by phone at the following number: My WT Office 806-651-2444

While I will make every attempt to respond to you as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours, there may be times when my response may take longer. When I communicate with the class as a whole, a

West Texas A&M University

College of Business Information & Decision Management Department

IDM 6310 Information Technology Management


group or an individual student, I will make use of Course Email. As such, you are advised to check either Course Email in WTClass and/or your WTAMU BUFF account email regularly.

Course Overview: Today, information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) are embedded in all functional areas of the firm (from accounting to marketing to operations to human resources). The convergence of processes and technologies for accessing, gathering, analyzing and presenting information is often referred to as information and communications technologies. Many organizations also use IT to add value to products or services. In some cases, firms have even used IT to gain massive advantages over competitors, who are then typically forced to follow with similar technology just to survive.

Information technology has had a dramatic impact on all business and public enterprises. Some argue that it is reaching maturity. Most see continued revolutionary change as we move into an era of electronic business and digital enterprise. Technology has changed the way we compete, the nature of production, the process and practice of management, and what we consider to be a product. Now it promises, or threatens depending on your point of view, to fundamentally reshape the interactions between producer and consumer.

This course is intended for the MBA generalist who will assume a position of responsibility in the midst of this revolutionary change. Regardless of your field of specialization, the type of organization you expect to work in, or what kind of job you might hold, developing and maintaining a sufficient understanding of the relationship between IT and organizational performance will have important implications for your career.

We will explore the nature of corporate information systems and their use in support of corporate business strategy. We will consider carefully the relationship between information, Information Technology (IT), business strategy, and organizational design. We will view information technology as a magnifier and facilitator of business strategy, as a vehicle for building new strategies and or new businesses, and as a control tool to track performance and environmental uncertainty. We will talk through the process by which new business systems are conceived, planned, justified, developed, and installed. We will focus particular attention to the role of information technology in efforts to re-engineer an organization's fundamental processes as well as the redefinition of industry boundaries being caused by advances in IT.

This course introduces aspects of IT from a business perspective. Our objective is to answer the question: What do I need to know about IS to make good management decisions? To answer this question, we will break down the study of IT management into the following five modules:

1. Information Systems and Organizational Strategy 2. IT Infrastructure 3. Data Management 4. Project Management 5. Technology Controls

A large number of concepts will be highlighted during the course. This coverage is intended to provide an appreciation of the major challenges that businesses face today in designing, developing, applying and managing IT effectively. This course is primarily intended for students with little background in IT.


For those who have some previous experience in this area, the course can serve as an update or systematic review of IT concepts that are relevant and important in business today. This course introduces aspects of IS and IT from a business perspective. There are three broad objectives to be achieved:

Explore and understand the organizational foundations of IS and its emerging strategic role in business, focusing on its relationship to organizational, managerial, ethical, and social issues;

Understand the technical foundations of IT in terms of hardware, software, functionality, capabilities, and limitations; and

Understand the design, development, use, and management of IS.

COB Mission Statement The mission of the College of Business is to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate business education with a global perspective and ethical awareness. We accomplish this through emphasis on excellence in teaching, which is strengthened by faculty scholarship and supported by professional service.

Learning Goals for the MBA Program Goal 1: Professional Communication: Graduates of the MBA program will communicate effectively as

managers. Goal 2: Leadership: Graduates of the MBA program will be leaders. Goal 3: Business Environment: Graduates of the MBA program will be knowledgeable of ethical, global

and social trends affecting business decisions. Goal 4: Business Integration: Graduates of the MBA program will be able to integrate quantitative and

qualitative techniques from business functional areas.

Required Text Managing and Using Information Systems by Keri Pearlson and Carol Saunders, 2010, 4th Edition, John Wiley, ISBN 978-0-471-34381-4

Course Description Examination of the managerial and strategic issues associated with using IT in networked enterprise, and the role of information technology to manage organizational efficiency and transformation efforts in global competitive environment. Topics include IT and business strategy alignment, IT-enabled business models, IT security and legal issues.

Course Goal Information systems (IS) represent the nervous system of today’s organizations. They support operations and enable intelligence necessary for strategic survival and success. The main goal of the course is to explore the relationship between IS and various organizational aspects that have a practical relevance. This course will attempt to present an organizational view of how to use information technology to create competitive firms, manage global organizations, and provide useful products and services to customers. The course will provide the necessary background to facilitate the planning,


assessment, and evaluation of information technologies in a continuous process of finding information, filtering, structuring, analyzing it and presenting conclusions. The study topics include different IS and IS issues in conjunction with organizational processes, structure, culture, politics, and performance.

Learning Outcomes T he overall aim of this course is to provide general understanding of management information systems fundamentals. At the completion of this course, student will be able to:

Understand how business enterprises can effectively exploit Information technologies capabilities to achieve and maintain completive advantage. (Goal 2)

Understand how organizations develop and deploy information technology in business processes. (Goal 4)

Understand the role of MIS professionals and the IS department in modern business

organizations. (Goal 2)

Understand and articulate the importance of Information Technology in the organization, including the strategic and international role of information resources, (Goal 1)

Be able to use the knowledge from class to interact knowledgeably and effectively with

information systems professionals and end users. (Goal 1)

Understand the security challenges that the use of information technology presents. (Goal 3)

Describe management concerns and trends in managing the information systems function. (Goal 3)

Able to develop awareness of the ethical and legal implications of the use of Information

Technology. (Goal 3)

Course Format The course sessions will be devoted to covering materials from the textbook and additional materials as deemed necessary to enhance the quality of learning. The professor will emphasize the main topics, issues, concepts, structures and processes through instructor comments, and will reinforce the concepts through learning activities. The course is structured to instill critical thinking, analytical, and decision-making skills.

The instructor’s comments will make presentations on topics related to technology management and information systems. The instructor will analyze and review several realistic examples to discuss the relevant problems that a typical manager may encounter as it relates to information technology. Lessons will include a mixture of: instructor comments, case studies, discussion board forums, individual research paper, and group exams.


Course Assistance: At various times, access to the course may be unavailable due to server problems. WTClass will make students aware of such "downtime" whenever possible. If you have difficulties accessing the course and/or navigating the course, please contact the Help Desk (IT Service Center) staff, phone 806-651-4357. This group will help you with technical issues related to the course.

For questions concerning assignments (accessing, using, submitting, grading, etc.), please contact your instructor or the assigned GA using course email. Deadlines are published in advance. Remember that waiting until the last minute and encountering technical problems will not cause the deadline to be waived for your work.

Course Policies and Procedures for Online Learning: Successful online learning requires that the student take charge of their own learning; they do not rely on being taught. They are motivated to bring something new to each and every "class." Online learning in this course will be asynchronous; neither students nor the instructor need to be at one place at one time to participate. In other words, online learning is truly continuous—it is not confined to a weekly three hour class period. One can learn or engage with the course content at any time. This means that scheduling is very flexible; however, there are certain deadlines that all students must meet. Consequently, the successful online student is self-directed and knows how to effectively manage their time.

Activities and assignments are designed to help students actively process, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the course content. Details about activities and assignments are available in each lesson and are highlighted in the Schedule of Activities. It is strongly recommended that you print the schedule of activities and keep them available for easy access. Also, I would encourage you to check the class web site regularly for any updates or changes in assignments and/or due dates.

While reviewing your assignment expectations, recall that some of the activities will actually occur in the discussion forums, while others will be "outside work." Since you can always work ahead to some extent, your instructor strongly encourages you to carefully plan the time you will need to complete the chapter activities and related assignments so that you do not fall behind. Successful online students tend to work at, or slightly ahead of, the rate of the assignments and carefully allocate time for individual assignments and even more time for group assignments. Some assignments and activities will require that you coordinate efforts with others and/or require you to respond to others’ comments in discussion forums. Posting comments within the discussion forums will require that you carefully "pace" your course progress with that of the other students taking this course. One option may be to schedule time each week to read and complete the chapter activities and assignments, and using any extra time to work on future assignments.

Group participation is a requirement of this course. A number of your assignments may involve you interacting with your peers in group assignments or discussion forums. For the purpose of these activities, you will be expected to manage your time so as to allow you to make timely and quality contributions to the group so that the group work will be completed as assigned. The discussion forum (use of bulletin boards to facilitate asynchronous communication) is a key feature of this online web course. Online students typically come from a variety of professional backgrounds and geographic areas, thus adding to the diversity and scope of opinions and experience. Although the instructor can be


a valuable source of information, class participants will certainly have perspectives that will add to the course depth. Your participation and involvement are critical to your success in the course.

Grades are earned and assigned over the course of the semester—NOT in a "last minute" flurry of activity at the end of the semester. It is important to your success in this course that your overall commitments will allow you to participate in this course on a regular basis as described above, and as outlined in the schedule of activities. Only you can make that call. Keep in mind that everyone has a busy schedule, and that excuse will not be acceptable for late work or for lack of active participation in the group activities. You need to consider these issues at the beginning of the semester and make arrangements from the beginning to be able to meet the course requirements as scheduled.

Dropping the Course Please check with University’s Registrar for the last day to withdraw or drop from the class. Students are responsible for dropping their courses. Faculty members cannot process drops for students. Drops must be completed through Buff Advisor, the STARR Center or the Office of the Registrar. A word of caution...dropping courses can negatively impact students due to the following state and federal legislations:

Repeated courses charges (3 peat)

Excessive Undergraduate Hours (30/45 hour rule)

6 Drop Limit

150% rule on Federal Financial Aid

If you decide it is necessary to drop the course (withdraw or drop with an automatic X) then you will need to follow the rules described above. If you simply stop participating in this class, you will not be dropped automatically, and will receive a failing grade at the end of the semester. The grade of "I" is given only for University approved reasons.

Forming Groups You need to form your own groups (3 – 5 members) within the 1st two weeks of the semester. You will remain in the same group for the duration of the course. Group members are responsible for working with each other and every member of the group is responsible for its collective performance. Thus, while your grades are uniquely determined, they are dependent upon your teammates’ work as well as your own.

Course Requirements There are four major requirements for this class. The requirements include:

1. Group Exams There are two (2) group exams given during the semester. These exams will be provided online, and as a result are open-resource. You will have a minimum of 36 hours in which to complete each exam. The exams will consist of essay questions. Answers that do nothing more than “parrot” back what is readily available within the text may not be considered outstanding. I do expect each group to utilize relevant material from the text and to document that source specifically with author and title plus specific page numbers. I expect you and your group to demonstrate your understanding and mastery of the material by synthesizing the material. I


also expect your responses to be coherent and grammatically correct. Please note: These exams will be done in your Groups and each group will submit only one exam paper. You will need to communicate between your group’s members, work independently, and then bring it all together electronically to submit one exam paper for the group. Each exam is worth 20% of your total course grade making the exams category worth 40% of your total course grade.

Please check the Exams folder in the Lessons tab for more information. Exams submitted late will not be accepted unless prior arrangement has been made with the instructor.

2. Individual Research Project This research project will be completed individually and will represent 15% of the final course grade. Specific information about the project and location of resource materials will be available Monday, June 1, in the Individual Project Folder in the Lessons tab.

3. Homework Assignments The text makes extensive use of up-to-date "real world” case studies and problems. These problems and cases are almost exclusively based on real companies, which are named in the problem or case. Each chapter includes several real world cases studies that apply specifically to that chapter's content. There are eleven cases selected as homework assignments that each student must complete. The case analysis assignments involve responding to questions indicated at the end of each case. Each response should directly answer the question. These homework assignments are worth 33% of your final course grade.

Please check the Homework folder in the Lessons tab for more information. Please note that your homework assignments are due NOT LATER than 11:55pm on the due date listed. No exceptions! These homework assignments are individual assignments, not group assignments. Please see the “schedule of activities” for assignments and due dates.

4. Online Discussion Forum One of the significant portions of this class, worth 12% of the final grade is the discussion boards. There will be 8 open discussions throughout the semester (D-1 through D-8).

A grade of 100 percent for postings to a discussion board reflects work that not only meets but exceeds the stated requirements considerably. The material presented is not only thorough in its coverage of the requested information, professionally presented, and well written, it is truly outstanding (does much more than requested). Related literature from the textbook is cited and relevant applications are included along with material from additional related resources. Information is documented using APA format and includes specific page numbers as appropriate. "Walks on water and leaps buildings in a single bound."

A grade of 90 - 90+ percent for postings to a discussion board reflects work that meets and goes somewhat beyond the stated requirements. The material presented is thorough in its coverage of the requested information, is professionally presented, and well written. It provides everything requested and more, including the use of specific textbook references, additional relevant information and applications that fit the topic well. Information is documented using APA format and includes specific page numbers as appropriate.


A grade of 80 - 80+ percent for postings to a discussion board reflects work that meets, but does not go beyond, the stated requirements. The material presented covers the requested information. The presentation is adequate, thorough and professional. Textbook information relevant to the concepts discussed is used thoroughly and information is documented using APA format and includes specific page numbers as appropriate. Applications relevant to the topics discussed are included. Relevant and specific resources in addition to the use of relevant and specific textbook material are not included.

A grade of 70 - 70+ percent for postings to a discussion board reflects work that is pretty "skimpy" where some concepts are not covered at all or not covered as thoroughly as they could have been. The material presented covers some of the requested information while omitting other related material/concepts that could have been included. The presentation is weak. Documentation is neither thorough nor specific. The use of APA format with specific page numbers as appropriate is particularly weak.

In almost goes without saying that postings to a discussion board include relevant responses to work posted by selected other students. These postings do more than simply state, “I agree,” “Good job,” or “Keep up the good work.”

A response to another student’s posting can support that student’s opinion or disagree politely with the opinion and show in what ways you disagree and why. When providing a response that supports a student’s opinion in a posting, state that you support this opinion, why and then add additional information.

A supporting discussion posting (in response to an original posting about Martin Luther King’s leadership style):

“I agree with you Theresa. Dr. King’s speech is very moving even today. When I read it, I could see how he motivated and inspired people just with the power of his words and how he used

them. He definitely outlined the hurdles of the struggle for freedom but also pointed out what the results of overcoming those hurdles would be.”

A response where you disagree with the opinion posted by a fellow student would state that you disagree with (specific opinions you disagree with) and then provide your opinion and supporting documentation (concepts and sources that support your opinion).

It is rare that a student disagrees with everything posted by a fellow student. I would encourage you to see what you could find to agree with and then show how another perspective could be viewed by stating your opinion and providing supporting documentation (concepts and sources that support your opinion).

The purpose of responding to 2 to 3 comments posted by 2 - 3 other students is to have an online dialogue rather than just having a series of individual, one-way electronic posts.

The goal of these discussions is to create learning communities that is willing to discuss topics, respond to requests and queries, offer and receive constructive criticisms, and essentially learn together from people with various backgrounds and experience. My goal is to fully engage each student in this course. If you are willing to be an active participant in this component of the course, I am sure you will find the entire class to be a rewarding experience.


All assignments must be turned-in by the mid-night (11:55 CDT) of the due date. Due dates can be found in the schedule of activities section of the course syllabus. All course assignments must be submitted using the WTclass submission features. Examinations taken late or assignments turned in late will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.

Understanding the homework assignments will be essential for successful completion of the course. Copying someone else's works or answers will not be allowed, nor will having someone else do your assignments for you. I suggest that you work with others to explore different techniques for addressing the “case” questions, and then carry through the solution (answers) process yourself. Students must turn in their own answers for each case and homework. Late work will not be accepted except under truly adverse circumstances.

Grades A student's final grade will be based on:

examination grades; team participation and leadership

individual research projects;

homework assignment; content, quality, clarity, neatness, accuracy and timeliness; and

online discussion forums.

The academic performance of each student will be assessed on these criteria and will be weighted as follows:

Element Quantity Points Group Exams 2 @ 200 points each 400

Individual Research Project 150 points 150

Homework Assignments 11 @ 30 points each 330

Online Discussion Forum 8 @ 15 points each 120

Total 1000

The instructor reserves the right to adjust any person's scores by up to 5% points. This subjective evaluation will be based on exceptional growth, or other factors not measured by the items above.

A letter grade of A is considered outstanding student achievement and reserved for such. A letter grade of B is considered competent graduate work. A letter grade of C is below graduate level expectation and indicates a need for improvement. Grades will be based on the following percentage:

90-100 A

80-89 B

70-79 C

65-69 D

< 64 F


Technology Requirements All technological requirements for the successful completion of this course are the responsibility of the student, including access to a working computer with broadband internet connection and state-of-the-art security. The student is responsible for all technological problems not related to WTAMU, including but not limited to equipment failures, power outages, and internet breakdowns. Furthermore, students are responsible for all necessary technical and operational skills for completing this course, and for being familiar with WTClass (the Angel Learning System) both in a general sense and in a specific sense as pertaining to this course and any materials stored within. The professor is not responsible for any technical matters related to WTClass. Students must contact WTClass in the event that they may have problems accessing and/or using Angel.

Viewpoints Disclaimer The views expressed in this document, web-based course materials, and/or classroom presentations are those of the professor and do not necessarily represent the views of West Texas A&M University, its faculty and staff, or its students. Views expressed by students are likewise those of the person making such statements.

External Websites Disclaimer Neither the professor, the College of Business, nor WTAMU; are responsible for the content of external websites discussed in the classroom and/or linked to via online course materials, emails, message boards, or other means. Referred websites are for illustrative purposes only, and are neither warranted nor endorsed by the professor, College of Business, or WTAMU. Web pages change frequently, as does domain name ownership. While every effort is made to ensure proper referencing, it is possible that students may on occasion find materials to be objectionable for reasons beyond our control.

Copyright All original content in this document, all web-based course materials (be the text, audio, and/or video), and/or classroom presentations are © by Dr. Abdullat. No distribution without the express written consent of the author. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking) notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor.

Disabilities West Texas A&M University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required affording equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations.

Scholastic Dishonesty It is the responsibility of students and instructors to help maintain scholastic integrity at the University by refusing to participate in or tolerate scholastic dishonesty. Commission of any of the following acts shall constitute scholastic dishonesty. This listing is not exclusive of any other acts that may reasonably


be said to constitute scholastic dishonesty: acquiring or providing information for any assigned work or examination from any unauthorized source; informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the examination is given in subsequent sections of the course or as a makeup; plagiarism; submission of a paper or project that is substantially the same for two courses unless expressly authorized by the instructor to do so; submission of a paper or project prepared by another student as your own. You are responsible for being familiar with the university's Academic Integrity Code.

Physical or Educational Access West Texas A&M University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required affording equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations.

Evacuation Statement If you receive notice to evacuate the building, please evacuate promptly but in an orderly manner. Evacuation routes are posted in various locations indicating all exits, outside assemble area, location of fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations and emergency telephone numbers (651.5000 or 911). In the event an evacuation is necessary: evacuate immediately do not use elevators; take all personal belongings with you; report to outside assembly area and wait for further information; students needing assistance in the evacuation process should bring this to the attention of the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Chemical and Equipment Safety Statement Safety is everyone's responsibility. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are provided for all chemicals used in this class. MSDSs provide information about physical properties, health risks, fire explosion data, and other important information associated with these chemicals. Before handling or using a chemical, you should refer to the MSDS for that chemical. It is your responsibility to inform the instructor in writing of any health conditions that may prevent you from safely using a chemical (pregnancy, autoimmune deficiency, etc.). It is also the responsibility of the student to report any spill or problems found while storing or using a chemical. If you are unsure about a chemical, always ask. If you see any unsafe condition, notify your instructor immediately. If you are unsure about the proper and safe operation of any piece of equipment, ask your instructor for proper instruction. All injuries, spill of materials and unsafe conditions must be reported to the instructor immediately.


Schedule of Activities

The tentative course schedule is a guideline created to facilitate learning within the course.

It shows the order of topics, reading assignments, assignments, and exams due dates. Its

main purpose is to list the sequence in which topics will be covered. The topics and dates

as outlined in the course schedule are subject to change. All necessary changes will be announced.

Week Date Chapters Topics Assignments and Due dates

1 Tues.

6/1

Introduction Foundation: Information

Systems in Business

Discussion Forum (Student

Introductions); Always Open

2 Mon.

6/7

1 & 2 Information Strategies

Information Resources

Case Study 1-1: Terry Cannon,

MBA, Page 19 (FYI: due date is

Monday 6/7/2010 @ 11:55 pm)

Groups Formation

Discussion Forum (D-1) closes

3 Mon.

6/14

3 & 4 Organizational Impacts

of Information Systems

Informational

Technology Framework

Case Study 1-2: Google, Page

43

Case Study 2-2: Zipcar, Page 74

Project Proposal


4 Mon.

6/21

5 & 6 IT in the Business

Process

Managing Information

System Infrastructure

Case Study 3-1: US Air and

America West Merger; Page 94

Case Study 4-2: Virtually There?;

Page 132


5 Mon.

6/28

7, 8 & 12 Information System

Sourcing

Governance of IS

Business Knowledge

Group Exam 1 (Chpt 1,2,3,4,5,&

6); opens Thursday 6/24/2010

Initial Project outlines

Case Study 5-1: Santa Cruz

Bicycles; Page 159


6 Mon.

7/5

9 Business Ethics

Control of Information

Case Study 7-1: Sodexho Asia

Pacific; Page 213

Case Study 12-2: The Brain

Behind the Big, Bad Burger;

Page 373


7 Mon.

7/12

10 & 11 Funding Information

Technology

Project Management

Case Study 9-1: Ethical Decision

Making; Page 274


8 Mon.

7/19

Individual

Project

and

Final Exam

Week

Finalize Individual

Project

Prepare for Final Exam

Case Study 10-2: Valuing IT;

Page 307

Case Study 11-1: Sabre

Holdings; Page 343


9 Mon.

7/26

Last Day of

Class

Group Exam 2(Chpt 7, 8, 9, 10,

11, & 12); opens Thursday

7/22/2010

Individual Project

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