University of Baltimore
Merrick School of Business

INSS 610 - MIS Techniques - Fall 2002

Tuesdays 5:30 - 8:00 PM - BC 223

The course is centered in providing a conceptual and applied foundation of management information systems (MIS). The various MIS concepts are discussed, and managerial, behavioral and technical conceptual foundations are reviewed and integrated into these various MIS concepts. This is followed by an introduction to the main MIS themes: networking, systems development, data bases, end-user computing, decision support and expert systems. Finally, an overview of the issues to manage MIS in a global and professional perspective is provided. The readings, assignments, cases and projects are instruments to enable each student to:

1. Have the ability to describe:
   1. fundamental characteristics of information and systems and their applications to MIS.
   2. models of organizational decision making and their implications for MIS.
   3. the major functional areas of MIS from a managerial, technical, and end-user perspective.
   4. the critical issues related to information resource management, including strategic impact, planning and control of information resources.
   5. the Internet, its main services and applications, as well as its present and future importance for business and society.

2. Have the ability to develop and implement:
   1. a simple World Wide Web site, using a HTML editor and other tools.
   2. a simple transaction processing system, using graphical tools and an end-user data base language.
   3. a simple decision support system, using graphical tools and an end-user decision support system generator.

3. Be aware of :
   1. the responsibilities of being a professional, including ethical standards and relevant professional organizations, and how to join them.
   2. the evolution and major dynamics of MIS related industries, and the impact of MIS and the information age on business and society.
   3. the social and International issues related to the information age and MIS.

Prerequisites: Computer Literacy. This translates into a working knowledge of computer concepts, spreadsheets, data base languages, e-mail and Windows. Also awareness of basic information systems concepts. This course will briefly review Access and Excel for Windows. It will also introduce a simple CASE tool for drawing graphical representations of the systems. A Web Board and e-mail will be our main way of communications outside class meetings and office hours.

Each class meeting will be divided in two parts:

1. lecture and discussions, related to in-depth study of main types of information systems and technologies: system concepts, decision making, business processes, systems development, data base, networking, information architecture, artificial intelligence, planning information systems, ethical and human issues and strategic use of information technology.

2. activities, related to applications of tools for development of information systems and use of information technology: skills and hands-on experience with basic Internet, business graphics presentation tools, creating information systems logical design, and participating in computer mediated meetings. Also, first-hand experience in developing and delivering business presentations using state-of-the art information technology multimedia resources.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Assignments

The assignments are to be done individually and will be graded done (A) or not done (F). You will need, in most cases, to use an Internet tool to have them done and/or sent to me. You will use Windows 9x or NT 4.0/2K for this purpose. Use as subject of your e-mail messages: 610ax, where x is the assignment number

1. E-mail your resume (610a1).
2. E-mail the results of a Web search on an assigned topic(610a2).
3. E-mail the DOS and Windows 2000 assignment(610a3).
4. E-mail the Linux assignment(610a4).

Projects

Your grade in the projects will depend upon the content and structure of the final system and written documentation. The projects are to be made in groups of two to three students, but one -- create your own home page in the World Wide Web (individual).

1. World Wide Web (10%): the objective is to create your own home page, in your UBMail account, like an one-page resume. You will use an HTML editor in order to do so. After the course is over you can keep this page and use it for recruiting purposes.
2. Mail Order System (20%): the objective is to do the analysis, design and implementation of a mail order system for VOICE. The final report should include: (a) management summary, (b) narrative, (c) system diagrams, (d) data base design, (e) data base structure and data printouts, and (f) examples of inputs and outputs. The implementation should be done in Access or equivalent.
3. Financial Planning (10%): the objective is to do the analysis, design and implementation of a Financial Planning system. The final report should include: (a) management summary, (b) system diagram (Influence Diagram), (c) spreadsheet formulas, and (d) printout of outputs.

Cases

The cases are to be prepared prior to class and discussed in class. Student will be asked questions about the case in class, and will send me an e-mail with their own answers to the questions I will post in the course Web Forum (one week after the case is discussed). Please feel free to save your answers as an HTML page, upload it to UBMAIL and just send me an URL, if you prefer to do so. The cases are:

1. U S West Global Village -- e-mail subject: 610C1.
2. SAP R/3 Implementation at Geneva Pharmaceuticals -- e-mail subject: 610C2.

Final Exam

The final exam is a in-class exam, covering both conceptual and applied materials. There will be questions asking you to explain a concept, to apply a concept to a small case, and to use an information technology tool studied in this course. At least two questions will come from the cases discussed in class.

TEXTBOOK

Lucas, Jr., Henry C. Information Technology for Management, 7^th edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2000.

REFERENCES

All overheads (class handouts) are linked to the course syllabus at the following address: