Hagan School of Business Iona College
715 North Avenue
New Rochelle, New York 10801
(914) 633-2000
MBA580: Information Systems
Description:
This course presents the essential considerations for the effective use of information systems in organizations. Topics include the use of information systems to support the strategy of the firm, using information technology for competitive advantage, technical foundations of information technology, development of information systems in a global environment, issues of ethics and privacy in implementation of information technology and future trends.
Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students should be able to:
discuss the strategic importance of recent advances in computer technology, and the Internet. Students will be able to discuss how the World Wide Web, the Internet, e-commerce, and associated technologies are dramatically changing organizations;
discuss various issues, risks, and resource decisions facing organizations as they attempt to harness the ever-expanding power of Information Systems; and,
use computers to design and build their own applications (e.g., Web site, database, complex spreadsheets) in a way that extends their computer literacy while illustrating the principles of MIS.
Prerequisite:
None
Format:
This is a blended learning, hybrid class featuring both on-line and in-class sessions. A variety of teaching techniques will be used, including traditional lectures, class discussions, hands-on exercises, and online activities.
Text:
Management Information Systems (10th Edition or above) by Laudon & Laudon
Time/Location:
We will meet from 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M., Tuesdays, November 22 - February 21, in the Rockland Center computer lab (or room #103).
Grading:
Grades will be calculated using this weighting:
Participation
15%
Group project
15%
Term paper
25%
Individual assignments
15%
Quizzes
15%
Exam
15%
Total
100%
90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D <60 = F
Policies
Special needs:
Do you have special needs? A disability or medical condition? Language or cultural issues? The extent to which these factors require accommodation may not be obvious. If you have special needs, discuss the matter with me at your earliest convenience, and I will be happy to work with you to avoid and/or address any problems.
Integrity:
Ethical choices are essential to one’s professional and personal life. I expect that you will conform to the highest standards of academic honesty and ethical behavior in accordance with the mission of this program. Cheating — attempting to deceive me or this program on matters of authorship or academic performance — on the smallest matter, is a grave issue and will result in severe sanctions. In particular, plagiarism — failure to attribute the intellectual contribution of others in accordance with an established style guide — is not acceptable. I understand that you may face enormous pressures and temptations, but I reiterate: cheating of any kind, for any reason, will not be tolerated. There is no exception. There is no wink-and-a-nod of tacit approval. You are personally and solely responsible for your actions.
Late policy:
Assignments must be submitted on time in order to receive full credit. I may be unable to give late papers much — if any — feedback.
Late contributions to a Discussion Board receive no points. Such contributions are analogous to walking into an empty room after you missed a meeting, saying something, and then expecting to be rewarded.
Once the Group Project is due, subsequent individual work is irrelevant and will receive no consideration.
If you miss a quiz, you will receive a zero.
If you miss an exam, you have one week to take a make-up exam, at a time and place that I will specify.
I reserve the right to grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis, if you let me know the circumstances at the earliest opportunity and if, in my opinion, an exception is warranted.
Conduct:
Students must conduct themselves in a manner conducive to the learning environment. Behavior that, in my judgment, is rude, disruptive, or otherwise inappropriate will not be tolerated.
Participation:
The book presents only a portion of the course material. The importance of attendance and active participation cannot be overstated. If you can’t attend, let me know, via e-mail. According to the Associate Dean and MBA Program Director (11/6/09): “Please remember that three or more absences in the MBA Program is undesirable and merits the grade of ‛FA,’ Failure for Absences....”
How to Contact Me
Postal Mail:
Telephone:
E-Mail:
Announcements
Tara pointed out that I had scheduled a session for December 20, during Iona’s break. This session has been cancelled, and the syllabus has been adjusted accordingly. The current syllabus has been posted, with a 11/23 revision date.
Syllabus & Class Resources
The syllabus and course schedule are subject to change at my discretion throughout the term. Any changes or additional assignments will be announced in class and posted at this Web site. Neither the syllabus nor the course schedule shall be construed as a contract, implied or expressed, between the student and the professor and/or this school.
Each session has a support module, which will be listed below on the day of the corresponding session. You are to complete one module after each session. Each module contains class-by-class lessons, review materials, assignments, deliverables, and objectives. Although each module is covers much of the same material that I present, you should not rely upon it as a substitute for class. I have included optional material for you to explore, as you wish.
In order to participate in the on-line portions of this course, your system must be capable of displaying .PDF files and playing sound and video in both QuickTime® and Adobe® Flash formats. Here are links for these free plug-ins, which are easily installed:
Even if you have all of these on your system (and you probably do) I suggest that you re-install each of these, to make sure you have the very latest versions of each. Then, to test your system’s sound and video capabilities, play the following YouTube video.
If you cannot access Web pages on this site, it’s because either:
your browser hasn’t been updated lately, or,
you don’t have the latest versions of Adobe® Acrobat Reader, Flash, or QuickTime® installed, or,
you have unusual security settings, or,
some combination of the above.
Before trying all the other stuff (which you probably should address), first, try identifying my site as a “safe site” in your browser. It may also help if you tell your browser to allow pop-ups on my page (I don’t use pop-ups, but if it works….).
Deliverables
Submit:
Submit all homework via e-mail to:
Re-submission:
Do not re-submit homework unless I ask you to do so. Once submitted, it is graded “as is.”
Deadlines:
Unless otherwise specified, the deliverables are due prior to our next session.
If, for some reason, you cannot submit your assignment via e-mail, use the following form to upload your work:
MBA580: Information Systems