GET302-GET602 GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE A Global Enterprise Technology (GET) Course Spring 2017 Syllabus Some changes may occur to the syllabus during the semester depending upon time and situations arising. Instructor: Frank Marullo Phone: 315-409-6641 (Cell) Office Hrs: By Appointment E-mail: fmarullo@syr.edu Prerequisite / Co-requisite: None Audience: Undergraduate and Graduate students desiring an introduction to the global financial system and the financial information systems that support it. Description: Structures of real-world information systems in the money supply chain. Emphasis on large-scale banking organizations and their challenges in moving and processing millions of complex transactions worldwide for all types of customers. *Credits: 3 Professor of Record: Art Thomas is the Professor of Record for this course. Class Meetings: Hinds Hall, Room 021; Class Time: 5:15-8:05 pm Mondays Class Sections: GET302 = M001; GET602 = M001 Learning Objectives: After taking this course, the students will be able to: Describe the overall structure of the global financial system. Describe key segments or types of systems that provide the wide range of consumer and commercial financial products and services. Recall definitions of important terms relating to financial systems. Describe the components of large-scale, multinational computer as well as other information and operational processes that are used to perform transactions, create services, move information and develop records in each of the key types of financial systems, and describe the role that each component plays. Research current trends in the global evolution of these large-scale systems, and project how these systems may develop further in the future.
(Continued Page 2 of 17) Identify issues that face financial institutions that operate on a large scale with global infrastructures and multi-national segments. Define the components of typical financial statements for commercial firms and compare these to those of banks. Bibliography/ Texts / Supplies Required: There are no textbooks required for this course, and the market lacks affordable textbooks that deal with the subject area of financial systems technology. Print-image conversion software, such as Adobe Acrobat or compatible.pdf file type converter, will be used for producing most assignment submissions except for group presentations. For all other assignments, students will convert their original document into a PDF format file. Adobe Acrobat Pro is on the computers in the ischool labs in Hinds Hall. Further information will be provided when assignments are submitted. Bibliography/ Texts / Supplies Additional: If students are interested, the following are recommendations that can be helpful in learning the more general course material. These are not in the bookstore as it is each student s decision whether or not to purchase, but they are on limited reserve at the Library: Mishkin, Frederic and Eakins, Stanley, Financial Markets and Institutions, 7 th Ed., 2012: Prentice-Hall; ISBN-13: 9780132136839 (good summary of financial terms, institutions, instruments and processes) Weiss, David M., After the Trade is Made: Processing Securities Transactions, 3 rd Ed., 2006: Penguin Group; ISBN-10: 1-59184-127-5 (good overview of the securities trading process) Requirements: Attendance in class is required. Class Lectures and Discussions will explore important theoretical concepts using practical examples and real-world situations. Class attendance is required for all sessions on all days. Individual Financial Systems Assignment to document and describe personal financial transactions and how these are a part of the global financial and banking systems.
(Continued Page 3 of 17) Group Research Project Presentations by students to introduce the class to features, processes and current global trends on a selected topic in financial systems technology. Graduate students will have additional requirements for this research project, including design and leadership of the group s investigation of the subject, assembly of the research sources for the group, and final editing of the assignment document (see below). Group Research Project Written Assignments: A group-authored research paper on the same subject as the group presentation. Exams to test understanding of key concepts, terms and definitions. Grading: Class Attendance: 15% (15 Points) See section on absence penalty below This is a face-to-face, on-campus course. Therefore, class attendance is required at all classes for the entire time. Real-world managers are expected to attend and participate in all meetings and to conduct themselves professionally at those meetings. Students in this course are considered to be professionals. Absence from scheduled classes, or behavior in class that negatively affects the ability of other students to concentrate or participate, will carry a point deduction that is appropriate for the situation. Attendance will be a factor in whether or not students who are on a final grade range boundary are considered for upgrade to the next higher final letter grade. Exams (30%) Two exams will be given on concepts, terms and definitions covered in the specific listed classes. Slide copy handed out by the instructor and additional notes taken by students in class, will form the basis for all exams. Exams are multiple-choice and are not cumulative through the semester. They are focused on the topics covered in the specific classes to which they apply. In each exam a few bonus point questions will be included. Format and Grading of Exams: Exams will consist only of multiple-choice or matching items that each involve the need to recall definitions of terms and concepts presented in class that come from the readings, the experience of the instructor and the research of the student project groups. The exams are weighted as follows: Exams will count as 15% each toward the final grade (15 points each). These exams will focus on the content of instructor presentations as documented in the printed lecture notes provided for each class. Each exam will contain 34 items in total, and each item will count as.5 point. If students answer any 30
(Continued Page 4 of 17) of the items correctly, they will earn the full 15 points for the exam. For each correct answer above 30, students will earn an additional.5 point per correct answer, allowing students to earn up to 17 points for each exam. Students will receive a report for each exam that details their results and the total points earned. Exam items will be reviewed in class as specified in the schedule. Exam items are statistically analyzed by the instructor after each exam to determine if there are items that were confusing due to wording or improper choices. If such an item is found, it will be discarded, and students with that item on their exam will earn the value of the discarded item. Individual Written Financial Systems Assignment: (15%) The purpose of this assignment is to help the student relate their own financial transactions to the areas of financial statements that apply to these, to the technologies that are used to process these, and to the nature of the financial institutions that were involved. The content of this assignment would consist of the following descriptions of about 10-15 different TYPES of financial transactions that the student has made in the previous few weeks: Transaction summary description what kind of transaction was this? (Do not describe the amount) Identify generally what the objects or services were, and the vendor or other institution that was involved with the transaction. Nature of the financial instruments used in the transaction, and the technology type for each instrument; Use the terms and descriptions we have learned in class. Degree to which the financial transaction increased or decreased certain current or long-term assets or liabilities for the student and why according to the definition of the financial statement areas involved. What financial institutions and general financial systems might have been involved in the transaction and what was each institution s role in accepting, processing or reporting it to the student. Group Research Assignment and Lecture Topic Presentation (40%) Students will work together in groups to research features, processes and current global trends on an assigned topic in financial systems technology. The group will present a short lecture on the topic, and will produce a group-authored research paper on the same subject that will be turned in as a final assignment for
(Continued Page 5 of 17) the course. Graduate students will have additional requirements for this research project, including design and leadership of the group s investigation of the subject, assembly of the research sources for the group, and final editing of the assignment document. The two components of the grade are: Lecture Topic Group Presentation (20% of the total course grade): A 30-minute group PowerPoint lecture in class that covers the research topic assigned to that group. The rest of the class will turn in an evaluation of the lecture, which will form just one of several components in consideration of the group s presentation grade. Graduate students: o Design and oversight of the research project 5% o Development/Implementation of Group Presentation 15% Undergraduate students: o Development/Implementation of Group Presentation 20% Group Topic Written Research Assignment (20% of the total course grade): A research paper (about 5,000-7,000 words) documenting the group s research on the topic assigned, incorporating the information presented in the group s lecture, but also thoroughly documenting the topic from the perspective of global financial systems architecture features, trends, operations, and business strategies. Graduate students: o Design and oversight of the research project 5% o Development/Implementation of Group Assignment 15% Undergraduate students: o Development/Implementation of Group Assignment 20% Grading of Assignments: Students will receive detailed documentation which describes the reason for any point deductions. The following describes how the assignments will be evaluated. Format and Grading of Individual Financial Systems Written Assignment: The purpose of the Individual Financial Systems Assignment is to document and describe several personal financial transactions that the student has made in recent weeks and to show how these are a part of the global financial and banking systems by identifying certain characteristics of each of these transactions: Transaction summary description; Nature of the financial instruments used in the transaction, and the technology type for each instrument;
(Continued Page 6 of 17) Degree to which the financial transaction increased or decreased certain current or long-term assets or liabilities for the student and why; What financial institutions and general financial systems might have been involved in the transaction and what was each institution s role in accepting, processing or reporting it to the student. There should be about 10 different types of financial transactions described in the assignment, and this means that they must use different financial instruments, affect different accounts of the student, or involve different financial institutions or systems. Students can describe more actual transactions, but the variety of transactions described will be a primary success criterion. Points earned will be based on how thoroughly and correctly the transactions are described in light of the concepts learned in the course. Format and Grading of Group Project Presentations and Written Assignments: The purpose of the Group Research Projects is to provide an opportunity for students to explore key technology approaches and trends in certain aspects of global financial systems, using the perspectives gained in the rest of the course to understand these in depth. Student groups will work together to research the topics, present to the rest of the class, and write a formal research paper on the assigned topic. News, websites, blogs, interviews, trade journals, books and examples from personal experiences are all legitimate forms of research that groups can do to accomplish their mission. Grade for the group will reflect the depth to which the group has carried out this research, and the quality of their presentation and written assignment. Students will be provided an opportunity to rank their preferred topics from among those provided by the instructor, but will ultimately be assigned by the instructor to one of the assignment groups. This assignment may not necessarily reflect an individual s most preferred choice of topics. The quantity of members in each group will depend upon the quantity of students in the class, and it will be the objective of the instructor to ensure that groups are generally similar in size with appropriate grad/undergrad mix. A detailed description of the expected format and content for both the presentation and the written assignment are as follows: Describe the financial service or system in detail, and describe how it varies across global boundaries or makes use of global financial information systems How does technology enable the financial service or system to achieve its business or financial objectives? Give examples of transactions or processes associated with the financial service or system:
(Continued Page 7 of 17) o What are the basic transactions or processes? Where does revenue come from and how does this revenue help to sustain the institutions involved? o What systems are involved? How do these work together? Provide diagrams to illustrate how components are related and how information flows among these components. o What regulations are involved, and how has the technology been designed to account for these? o What security is required, and how is this accomplished? How does this financial process differ in different countries or world regions? How do firms that provide or use the system/service manage it across national boundaries, and what role does technology play in this global management effort? What are the critical success factors involved in this process and its technology? How does this system affect or interact with other financial systems that we have discussed in the course? Include a detailed discussion of at least 3 trends or changes that have taken place over the last few years obtained from articles, books, interviews, blogs, etc. in your assigned topic area: o one trend must have to do with regulation that has affected this service in some way. o one trend must have to do with how information technology used for this service is changing, why this is so, and what the future of this service might become. o one trend must have to do with how market or business changes have either affected, or are affected by, this service. o Describe how these trends might differ in major parts of the world, what components of the systems architecture are being most affected by each of these trends and how will this affect the nature of the system or service as time progresses? Cite specific references throughout the text and presentation (not just at the end). A citation should be provided for each point gathered from a source showing the name of the source and the date of the original materials from which points were obtained, for example: (Thomas, 2015). All diagrams, as well as quotes, statistics, and process descriptions that the group does not specifically author themselves should include a citation at the point of use. At the end of both the presentation and the written assignment, a formal references list should be provided in proper academic format for all citations in the work. Citations within the text or presentation should be able to be linked to the reference list so that anyone can explore a given reference further based on the information provided by the group.
(Continued Page 8 of 17) Grading of Class Lecture Topic Presentations: (25 minutes followed by facilitation of 5 minutes of class discussion) Presented by the group to the class as a formal lecture on the date indicated in the Syllabus Schedule. Criteria for grading are as follows: PowerPoint presentation slides thoroughly addressing the specific topic questions as explained earlier in this document; Professional slide formatting with clear graphics, diagrams and easy to read text. Presentation slide file delivered electronically to instructor 24 hours prior to lecture. Instructor will create handouts from the slide file, and will duplicate these for distribution in class. (Groups should not do the duplication on their own.) Clarity of explanations showing thorough understanding of the topic assigned Smoothness of the Presentation; Preparation of the Group; Class Interaction; Providing opportunity during lecture for questions and class discussion. Proper citations of references and supporting information used. Citations should be throughout the slides as appropriate, and a reference listing slide should be included at the end listing the overall references used. Grading for Research Topic Written Assignment (about 5,000-7,000 words) Criteria for grading are as follows: Submitted electronically by the date and time indicated in the Syllabus Schedule. Narrative written form of the group s topic lecture presentation in an academic research paper format Title page, table of contents, main body covering all required topic research points, list of references Individual student authors clearly identified with the sections they wrote Turnitin reports for each individual student s section materials that were contributed Proper citations of references and supporting information used Clear writing and diagrams, proper sentences, correct spelling Written group assignment submissions will be evaluated for academic integrity according to each student s section. I will use various means to determine if content is relevant to the topic, original content written by the student, and appropriate for the concepts learned in the course. Individual student final grades will be affected by negative findings on any of these criteria, and it may affect the group grade on the assignment as well.
(Continued Page 9 of 17) Assignment Feedback will also include my written comments to clarify the above point values given Structure of Group Work: Group work proceeds best when members each know their specific role and contribute their best individual effort in that role toward the objectives of the group. Groups will choose specific students to be assigned the final accountability for certain aspects of both the presentation and the assignment, and group leaders will report these accountabilities to the instructor. All group members will be given the chance to rate the performance of their peers. While members of the group will share the grade earned by the group as a whole, these ratings may also be taken into account in assigning the final individual attendance/group participation grade described above. Both exceptional, as well as negative, participation will be reflected in this grade as appropriate. Undergraduate vs. Graduate Student Members in Groups: Graduate students are considered to have significant expertise in designing and performing the necessary steps to complete academic research. Therefore, the graduate students in each group will be expected to take the lead in design of the research process, developing a list of appropriate resources to be used by all students in the group and designing the needed approaches for final development of deliverables. Graduate students will submit to the instructor an abstract with the design of the approach to be used and the structure of the deliverables prior to overall group engagement with the topic. Undergraduate students will serve as the analyst team members who will take the approved research design and contribute accordingly to the final presentation and written documents. Graduate students will be responsible for final editing of the deliverables. Graduate students in each group will share a component of the final grade on the design and oversight of the research project as a part of their final course grade. FINAL GRADING APPROACHES: Each student s final grade will be computed as the sum of all points earned in the course minus any points deducted according to the policies stated above. Grades are based on a total possible score of 100 points for the semester with bonus points available as stated. In the past, there have been students who have achieved a total of 100 points or more. I foresee no incompletes to be given due to the nature and timing of the assignments. If there is a problem, please make arrangements with me for discussion about it prior to assignment due dates and exam dates.
(Continued Page 10 of 17) Final Letter grades will be assigned into letter grade categories reflecting the performance of the class as a whole, and I reserve the right to adjust a specific student s final letter grade depending upon their individual situation. Generally, I use the following grading criteria to assign a final letter grade: 93-100 A 77-<80 C+ 90-<93 A- 73-<77 C 87-<90 B+ 70-<73 C- 83-<87 B 60-<70 D 80-<83 B- <60 F Getting an A-, B+ or B is not considered to be a serious performance problem in this course. I will help students if they are experiencing serious learning issues, but it is not appropriate to expect only to achieve an A. Those who attend class, work hard and seriously attempt to do well, will earn good grades appropriate for their effort. Extra Credit is built into the exam and assignment grading as specified earlier. Above-expectation performance on assignments will be recognized with additional points, and 10% bonus questions are provided on the exams to offset other items answered incorrectly. Students who have serious concerns about their ability to perform well should discuss this with me to determine options. Other than the approaches mentioned here, there will be no extra-credit assignments. Note to Graduate Students: The final grades of C or below represent inability to master numerous concepts or poor quality work. Graduate students may not earn a passing grade lower than C-, which represents a serious situation, so it is advised that we work together to do all that is possible to improve your performance. Course Specific Policies on attendance, late work, make up work, examinations if outside normal class time, etc.: Faith-based Observances: Students who plan not to attend class due to a faith-based observance are asked to make prior arrangements through the University faith-based observance notification process during the first two weeks of the semester. If done so according to this policy, there will be no penalty for absence during these events. Please see details on this policy under Religious Observances Notification and Policy later in this syllabus.
(Continued Page 11 of 17) Absence Penalty:
(Continued Page 12 of 17) The following do not qualify as valid reasons for missing class: Study and preparation for scheduled job interviews Employer information meetings held on campus for students during class time Student group meetings for organizations or other classes Special events on or off campus unless I have been notified by the sponsoring faculty member that you are required to attend the function. Personal travel of any kind that involves missing class, including to or from holidays or semester breaks. Preparation for assignments due in other courses. Forgetting to attend (Yes, this has really happened!) The following are the point deductions that will result from these absences: Missing the first or final class: 3 points each class First absence other than the above: 1 point Second absence other than the above: 2 points Third and additional absences other than the above: 3 points each absence If more than 15 points are deducted due to absences: Your final grade will be automatically lowered one additional full letter grade from the grade you earn in the course. Excused Absences: Point deductions will not be made for the following situations: Religious observances arranged according to official SU procedures as noted above. Serious illness reported to me by the Health Center or ischool Advising Death in the family (with appropriate notice to ischool Advising and me) Out-of-town travel for a professional interview appointment (with travel requirement letter from employer and advance notice before class when you know you are required to travel) Travel required for business (with advance notice before class) Travel or conflicting schedule for an approved ischool project in this case the instructor sponsoring the event must email me that you cannot attend class.
(Continued Page 13 of 17) Attendance sign-in sheets will be used often, but are not the only means of taking attendance for a given class. It is each student s responsibility to ensure that they have signed the sheet by their name personally when the sheet is passed around. Students who are absent and have others sign the sheet for them will be considered to have violated University academic integrity rules, and this will include the student who falsely signs for someone else. Significant consequences may result from this practice. Late Assignments and Grade Impact: Late assignments (except in the event of extenuating circumstances) will have credit subtracted. Students who cannot submit an assignment due to illness or death in the family must notify the instructor via email prior to the deadline for submission if possible, but no later than the day following the deadline, and may be asked to submit verification of the situation. The following do not qualify as extenuating circumstances to delay submission of assignments: Preparation for job interviews, job interviews, special events on or off campus, personal travel, problems with technology, or assignments or presentations due in other courses. If you cannot complete work on time due to some need for help, then I expect to hear from you along the way as you discover your difficulty, rather than just when it is due (!) Assignment turned in late: Deduction as per situation based on the following table: 0 No deduction - Assignment on time or late with written instructor permission. -1 Assignment up to 1 day late -2 Assignment 1-2 days late -3 Assignment submitted 2-3 days late -4 Assignment submitted 3-4 days late -5 Assignment submitted more than 4 days late. Additional Information: COURSE-SPECIFIC POLICIES: Student use of computers, tablets, other computing devices or cell/smartphones not permitted during class: Students may not use computers, cell/smartphones, tablets or other computing or communication devices during class sessions only during class breaks. Exceptions will be made for an individual student if such a device is a part of an
(Continued Page 14 of 17) official accommodation of individual needs related to the learning process. All slide images will be provided to assist note-taking in each class. Students can fill in specific ideas using minimal note taking without computers. All handouts will be made available in electronic form after the class to assist in electronic documentation of class sessions. The reasons for this policy are as follows: A live, face-to-face campus class is a premium opportunity to focus on the material as an interactive physical group, and the course has been designed specifically for this medium. Previous students have commented that they are distracted by other students use of computers in class, interfering with their own ability to concentrate on the material. It is nearly impossible to lead a class where students appear to be focused only on their computers and phones. Several studies measuring concentration by college students who attempt to do several things at once show conclusively that everything suffers as a result. So, please break free of the Internet for 90 minutes at a time, and do not use communication and computing devices of any kind except during class breaks. In return, I will do my best to make your concentration worthwhile. Ring tones, Calls and Texts: Other than during class breaks, please silence ring tones and refrain from engaging in calls, messaging or other use during class time. All devices must not be visible or used in any way during exams. Academic Integrity Policy Syracuse University s academic integrity policy reflects the high value that we, as a university community, place on honesty in academic work. The policy defines our expectations for academic honesty and holds students accountable for the integrity of all work they submit. Students should understand that it is their responsibility to learn about course-specific expectations, as well as about university-wide academic integrity expectations. The university policy governs appropriate citation and use of sources, the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments, and the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verification of participation in class activities. The policy also prohibits students from submitting the same written work in more than one class without receiving written authorization in advance from both instructors. The presumptive penalty for a first instance of academic dishonesty by an
(Continued Page 15 of 17) undergraduate student is course failure, accompanied by a transcript notation indicating that the failure resulted from a violation of academic integrity policy. The presumptive penalty for a first instance of academic dishonesty by a graduate student is suspension or expulsion. SU students are required to read an online summary of the university s academic integrity expectations and provide an electronic signature agreeing to abide by them twice a year during pre-term check-in on MySlice. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/. A Note on Academic Integrity in GET302-GET602: This course is designed to generate professional skills and knowledge on the part of individual students who complete the work and study on their own. Therefore, students enrolled in this course who have others sign in for them on attendance sheets, submit another author s or student s work as their own, who submit generic material available online without adjusting details to the assignment, or who collaborate on examinations or use other means to derive answers from materials or other students during examinations, will be penalized heavily when graded, and may also be reported as in violation of the University s academic integrity policy as stated below. Policy Regarding Students Using English as a Foreign Language: Assignments in this course are graded with reference to evidence of the acquisition of concepts, presentation format and accuracy of information. Having done business in countries that use languages other than English, I understand that the use of an unfamiliar language can result in unusual word choices or grammatical errors that are not critical to the overall understanding of the information. Therefore, I will take into account your need to function in a language that may be unfamiliar to you. I would ask you to do your best to originate the ideas yourself, to construct the text and explanations yourself in your own way and in your own words. This will carry a greater value than use of content written by someone else in order to avoid language mistakes. Disability-Related Accommodations If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), http://disabilityservices.syr.edu, located in Room 309 of 804 University Avenue, or call (315) 443-4498, TDD: (315) 443-1371 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. ODS is responsible for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will issue
(Continued Page 16 of 17) students with documented Disabilities Accommodation Authorization Letters, as appropriate. Since accommodations may require early planning and generally are not provided retroactively, please contact ODS as soon as possible. Syracuse University values diversity and inclusion; we are committed to a climate of mutual respect and full participation. My goal is to create learning environments that are useable, equitable, inclusive and welcoming. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or accurate assessment or achievement, I invite any student to meet with me to discuss additional strategies beyond accommodations that may be helpful to your success. Religious Observances Notification and Policy SU religious observances notification and policy, found at http://hendricks.syr.edu/spiritual-life/index.html, recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holidays according to their tradition. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes for regular session classes and by the submission deadline for flexibly formatted classes. For fall and spring semesters, an online notification process is available for students in My Slice / StudentServices / Enrollment / MyReligiousObservances / Add a Notification. Instructors may access a list of their students who have submitted a notification in My Slice Faculty Center. Student Academic Work Policy SU policy on student academic work may be found at: http://coursecatalog.syr.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=270#student_academic_work Student work prepared for University courses in any media may be used for educational purposes, if the course syllabus makes clear that such use may occur. You grant permission to have your work used in this manner by registering for, and by continuing to be enrolled in, courses where such use of student work is announced in the course syllabus. Educational use of student work: I may use academic work that you complete this semester in subsequent semesters for educational purposes. Before using your work
(Continued Page 17 of 17) for that purpose, I will either get your written permission or render the work anonymous by removing all your personal identification. Email Communication: All email communication with students for this class will be sent to their Universityprovided email address @syr.edu as per University computing and electronic communication policy. I will not provide assignment, exam or final grades via any other email account in accordance with policy.