University of Texas at Dallas

Course Syllabus

BA 4324: INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Spring 2006

Instructor: Shawn Alborz

Office: 2.703 SOM Building
Hours: By Appointment
Phone: 972-883-4755
Fax: 972-883-4754
Email: TBA

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery."

Mark van Doren

Required Textbooks: CIO Magazine

Access to the Internet

Course Description:

The rate of technological change has increased to the point that the world’s information is
doubling every 2 years. It is estimated that managers today can only access one-ten thousandths
of the data available to them in a given day.

This course examines current and new technologies that are being created to deal with this ever-
increasing stream of data. It introduces you managing information resources, selection of
appropriate technologies, and analysis of corporate MIS functions. The course will be seminar
style and provide an overview of a multitude of technologies used in industry.

Objectives of the Course: Upon completion of this course the student will be:

• Knowledgeable about the current and future trends in technology, communications, systems
integration, organizational development, and management systems

• Aware of, and able to locate, research and literature regarding the implementation and
management of technology

• Aware of the uses of technology to gain productivity increases, quality enhancements, and
strategic advantages

• Able to analyze a business need for information technology and to develop an appropriate
strategy to provide the required information service.
• Able to communicate effectively, in both written and oral forms, systems specifications, and
to be persuasive in these presentations.

• Aware of the impacts of advanced technologies on society and individuals, and the ethical
issues posed by these impacts.

Methodology:

The course will be taught in graduate seminar format (i.e. classes will revolve around topics
assigned in the syllabus and will be facilitated by the instructor). Students are expected to use the
Internet to expand on the assigned topic and should be prepared to discuss the topic and the
related information found during their research on the web.

Class attendance is extremely important. You are expected to prepare for class by studying the
daily assignments and completing any outside work. Excessive absences will result in a failing
grade.

Academic Honesty:

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility with respect to academic
honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the
work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student maintains a high standard
of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a
degree, and/or the submission as one's own work of material that is not one's own. As a general
rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion,
and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary proceedings. Specifically, copying another student's computer files or buying
assignments from a 3rd party could result in a grade of F and/or expulsion from the University.

Grade Determination: Grading Scale:

Selected Case 100 points
Class Topics 60 points 180-200 A
Class Participation 40 points 160-179 B
---------- 140-159 C
Total 200 points 120-139 D

Explanation of Grading Policy:

Grades are based on total points, averages are not used.

Participation points will be awarded on a daily basis. Everyone begins with 0 points and points
can be added or subtracted at any time. Participation points are awarded to any student who
contributes to the understanding of the class as a whole. Each student is expected to take part in
a presentation of one of the topics listed on the syllabus. A maximum of 20 points will be
awarded to each student based on their ability to present the topic to the class is a clear, concise,
and complete manner.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
BA 4324: INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
DATE WEEK # DESCRIPTION SUPPORTING TOPICS

8/23 1 Introduction Identifying Trends in Technology

8/30 2 Business Value of Technology Information Economics

Effects of IT on Strategy & Competition
The information paradox

9/6 3 IT Business/Development Capability Maturity Model, Balanced Score

Card, JAD/RAD, SDLC, Portfolio Approach
Models

9/13 4 Connectivity LANs/WANs, Desktop PCs & Networking

LAN Security Issues
Client Server Computing & Trends

9/20 5 Wireless Wireless Access, BlueTooth, WiFi/WiMAX,

Wireless Clouds, WarChalking, 802 standards
PROJECT TOPICS DUE
9/27 6 Bandwidth Issues Telecommunications, Phone Systems,
Broadband, Voice over IP

10/04 7 Internet/WWW and Beyond Internet, Intranet, Virtual Private Networks,

Electronic Commerce, Security, NGI

10/11 8 Knowledge Management Data Base Applications & Trends

Data Warehousing / Data Marts

10/18 9 Supporting Technology Decision Support Systems / Executive

Information Systems
PROJECT STATUS REPORT DUE
10/25 10 Technology & Human Project Management, Process
Reengineering/Change Management
Resources

11/01 11 Technology & Organizational Enterprise Resource Architecture Planning

(SAP/Oracle/PeopleSoft), Information Mapping
Structure

11/08 12 The Information Society Security / Disaster Recovery / Disaster

Management, Global Issues, Technology Gap,
Spamming / Viruses / Privacy / Software

11/15 13 Strategic Alignment Outsourcing, Effects of IT on Strategy &

Competition, Advanced Technologies

11/22 14 Presentations PROJECTS DUE

11/29 15 Presentations
 Selected Topics Questions, Grading, and Format

1. Assignments are due by 2:00 pm on the Thursday of the week assigned. Late assignments
will not be graded.
2. Assignments are submitted in MS Word 2000 or later format and emailed as an attachment to
Shawn Alborz. Please put your Course number and assignment number in the subject line of
the email and your name in the body of the email.
3. The student’s name and assignment number should be stated at the top of the assignment.
4. As per the syllabus, each assignment is worth up to 20 points.
5. PLEASE, ONLY ONE ASSIGNMENT PER CLASS FOR GRADING (You may do
more if you desire, but only one will be graded).

CASE GRADING FORMAT

Cases will be graded in the following manner.

1. Cases are expected to be complete professional and well written. This includes proper use of
grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Cases are expected to adhere to the format detailed
below. The following sections MUST be included in your report. The others are optional.
I. Cover page (see attached sheet)
II. Summary of Findings
III. Table of Contents
IV. Background information
V. Problem Statement
VI. Analysis of Alternatives
VII. Detailed Recommendations

2. Summary of Findings. A clear concise “Executive Summary” of the paper. NOT an abstract.

3. Table of Contents. A complete table of contents including headings and page numbers.
Appendices, if used, should be numbered in accordance with the paper and their titles
included in the Table of Contents.

4. Background Information. A concise summary of the pertinent details of the case. From this
section, the reader should have a good grasp of the current situation and the key variables
involved.

5. Problem Statement. Grading is based on your ability to recognize the “vital few from the
trivial many.” In other words, the ability to cull the key issue or issues facing the client.
Points are awarded based on the correct identification of the critical issues and a basic
discussion of why these issues are critical to the client.

6. Analysis of Alternatives is graded based on your ability to identify, examine, and explain
alternative solutions to the issues identified earlier. No recommendations are made at this
point. Rather, a systematic view is taken in analyzing possible solutions. This discussion is
 not intended to lead the reader to the selection of the alternative recommended in the next
section. Rather, it should present the pros and cons of each possible alternative identified
during the analysis of the key issues.

7. In the Detailed Recommendations portion of the report, you present your recommended
solution(s) to the problems facing the client. The solution(s) should be presented clearly,
concisely, and in enough detail that there is a clear path for the client to follow. The “next
step” the client should take must be clearly stated in easy-to-understand and follow
instructions.

CASE GRADING FORMAT

GRADING SCALE (points)

COMPONENT CASE I
FORMAT:
Layout 10
Poor Grammar 2 pts each*
Misspelled Words 2 pts each*

CONTENT:
Summary of Findings 5
Background information 10
Problem Statement 25
Analysis of Alternatives 25
Detailed Recommendations 25
TOTAL POINTS 100

* These are in addition to the 100-point total.

 COVER PAGE FORMAT

CASE NAME

Submitted to:

Shawn Alborz
MGT 4324: Information Systems Management
Spring, 2006

Submitted by:

{Your Name Here}

Date