Approved by Faculty Senate.

Department of Program: Business Administration

Course Number: DIS 482

Course Title: Management of Information Technology in Practice

Course Description: An advance, integrative course for senior Management Information System majors. Uses cases and computer projects to demonstrate the issues of managing information systems in organizations, the importance of their integration, and strategy development and policy formation. Prerequisite: DIS 362, English 111. Grade only.

This is an existing course previously approved by A2C2: Yes

Department Contact Person: Marzie Astani Email: marzie.astani@winona.edu

As required in point 1 of the approval process, the following material addresses the five outcomes listed for Written Communication Flag courses and documents course content and learning activities to these course outcomes.

1. Practice the processes and procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields

Roughly 90% of the student’s course grade is made up of points earned through computer project reports, case analysis, formulation of critical questions, and the written exams. Preparation of cases requires extensive reading, research, and analysis of case material from the text and outside sources. Students become in effect, the consultants for a given case, and discuss its problems at length. Presentation of the written analysis usually lasts 15 minutes. This is followed by a 15-minute question and answer period.

2. Understand the main features and uses of writing in their fields

Students learn to get to the point, writing in a clear and concise manner. This is an important skill in many business situations where quickly getting the point across is essential to solving the problem and achieving the business objectives in the field of information systems. This is an important skill in many business situations where uncertainty is a frequent element.

3. Adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their field

Students are constantly confronted with the problem that the audience knows very little about their case. All students have read the paper on the class website in advance, but they have not engaged in the extensive research that the presenters have. Thus, the presenters must constantly grapple with the problem of how to make "outsiders" understand the substantive issues. Every case covers a different topic and requires different approach in the writing. Students are encouraged to take chances and develop persuasive written techniques that will be interesting and informative.

4. Make use of the technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields

Students use the Internet for research and also as a medium to publish their written solution to the case and make it available for other students to read. The students incorporate technologies such as PowerPoint slides, Word, and FrontPage for publishing and organizing their work products.

5. Learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage and documentation in their field

Preceding every presentation the students submit documentation of their research and solution to the specific issue. Time is spent in class explaining what the appropriate types of documentation are and how they should be presented. Examples of documentation include notes from various readings, annual reports, summaries of news articles, notes from business interviews, journals of group meetings, reports of their work in organization, etc.

Sample Syllabus

DIS 482 Management of Information Technology in Practice

Instructor Phone

Office Hours E-mail

 

Typical Text: Management of Information Systems in Practice

Typical casebook: Reengineering the Organization

 

 

University Studies: Writing Communication Flag

 

This course satisfies the three-semester hours requirement of the Writing Communication Flag component of the University studies Program. As such, it seeks to provide students taking this course the opportunity to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Practice the processes and procedures for creating successful writing in their fields;
2. Understand the main features and uses of writing in their field;
3. Adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields;
4. Make use of the technologies commonly used for research and writing in the fields; and
5. Learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields.

Grading

 

The writing in this course is extensive. A total of 90% of the students’ grades are attributed to their writing. The written case analysis weighs 25% of the course grade. Students are graded individually based on their work in analyzing the case. Another 25% of course grade comes from the written weekly progress report and the presentation in class by individual student. Students are also required to create and hand in two critical questions for each chapter when they come to the class. Upon instructor’s call students present their questions in class and open the discussion. Ten percent of the grade is assigned for the critical questions. The rest of students’ grades (30%) come from the midterm and final exams that are composed of essay questions.

 

Class Activities and Corresponding US Objectives

The first few weeks of the course consist of lectures only. During this period fundamental concepts of information systems management and information technology implementation in organizations are discussed. The process of case analysis, critical questions development, and the progress report of practical work is also explained. Some time is spent to familiarize the groups with their work and supervisors. The rest of the semester is spent on lectures, critical questions, progress report, and case analysis. These activities touch on all five objectives of the US program.

 

Lectures

The Mission of Information Systems (b, c, d, e)

Leadership issues (c, d, e)

Today’s Strategic Imperative: E-Business (b, c, d, e)

Information Systems Planning (b, c, d, e)

Distributed Systems: The Overall Architecture (b, c, d, e)

Managing Telecommunications (b, c, d, e)

Managing Information Resources (b, c, d, e)

Managing Operations (b, c, d, e)

Managing traditional system development (b, c, d, e)

The Expanding Universe of Computing (c, d, e)

Decision Support Systems And Executive Information Systems (c, d, e)

Group Support Systems (c, d, e)

Leveraging the World of Information (c, d, e)

Practicum & Progress reports - work in information systems department of a local organization

(a, b, c, d, e)

Cases

CIGNA Corp: Managing and Institutionalizing Business Reengineering

(a, b, c, d, e)

Pacific Bell: Centrex Reengineering (a, b, c, d, e)

Nokia Telecommunications: Redesign of International Logistics (a, b, c, d, e)

Digital Equipment Corporation: Complex Order Management (a, b, c, d, e)

The Internal Revenue Service: Automated Collection System (a, b, c, d, e)

Proctor & Gamble: Improving Consumer Value Through Process Redesign

(a, b, c, d, e)

Air Products and Chemicals: IT Organization and Architecture Challenges

(a, b, c, d, e)

Lotus Development Corporation (a, b, c, d, e)

Xerox: Outsourcing Global Information Technology Resources (a, b, c, d, e)

JC Penney: Fashioning a Retailing Nervous System for the Future (a, b, c, d, e)

Capital Holding Corporation: Reengineering the Direct Response Group

(a, b, c, d, e)

KPMG Peat Marwick: The Shadow Partner (a, b, c, d, e)

Siemens Rolm Communications: Integrated Logistics Core Process Redesign

(a, b, c, d, e)

University Studies Course Proposal

Department Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved _____Date: _____

Chairperson Signature___________________________ Date: ________

 

Dean’s Recommendation: Approved _____ Disapproved ____* Date: ________

 

Dean’s Signature_______________________________ Date_________

*In the case of a Dean’s recommendation to disapprove a proposal a written rationale for the recommendation to disapprove shall be provided to USS

USS Recommendation: Approved______ Disapproved _____ Date: ________

University Studies Director’s Signature ______________________ Date _______

A2C2 Recommendation: Approved _____ Disapproved _____ Date: ________

A2C2 Chairperson Signature___________________________ Date ________

Faculty Senate Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved _____ Date: _______

FA President’s Signature ______________________________ Date ________

Academic Vice President’s Recommendation: Approved ___ Disapproved ___ Date: ___

VP’s Signature _____________________________ Date _______

President’s Decision: Approved _____ Disapproved _____ Date: _______

President’s Signature __________________________ Date ________