DISC 250 Introduction to Information Technology Fall Semester 2017 Instructor Zainab Riaz Room No. SDSB 4 38 Office Hours TBA Email zainab.riaz@lums.edu.pk Telephone 5130 Secretary/TA Sec: Muhammad Umer Manzoor, TA: TBA TA Office Hours TBA Course URL (if any) suraj.lums.edu.pk/~ro/ COURSE BASICS Credit Hours 3 Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 75 Minutes Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration COURSE DISTRIBUTION Core Elective Open for Student Category Close for Student Category COURSE DESCRIPTION This course aims at developing and fostering comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of information technologies as well as essentials of theory and practice of managing business enabling information systems in order to achieve competitive advantage through their appropriate selection and effective application in dynamically changing business environment. The business enabling information systems add value through business intelligence, enhanced managerial decision making, operational excellence, customer intimacy, securing business and customer information. This course further addresses importance of managing strategic business IT alignment to realize corporate strategic objectives through effective IT services management, preventing information systems project failures, averting information systems disruptions, managing information systems risks and better governance of information resources. COURSE PREREQUISITE(S) None
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Following are the major learning objectives set for this course: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Explain how the information systems can support the information needs of executives, managers, and business professionals. Identify various challenges that a business manager might face in managing the development, implementation and operations of information technology in an organization. Explain various strategic uses of Internet technologies and give examples of gaining competitive advantages. Discuss the business value of implementing data resource management processes and technologies in an organization. Apprise the cross functional enterprise systems (customer relationship management, enterprise resource management, and the supply chain management systems) Discuss various evaluation factors that should be considered in evaluating the acquisition of hardware, software, and IS services. Identify ethical issues and explore several types of security management strategies. Explain how failures in IT management can be reduced through the involvement of business managers in IT planning and management. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES On completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Identify as to how the information systems can support the information needs of executives, managers, and business professionals to make appropriate business strategies. Recognize various challenges that a business manager might face in managing the development, implementation and operations of information technology in an organization. Make strategic use of information technologies to achieve competitive advantage over the adversaries. Realize the business value through implementing data resource management processes and technologies in an organization. Figure out different cross functional enterprise systems (customer relationship management, enterprise resource management, and the supply chain management systems) that can potentially provide significant business value to an organization. Employ several evaluation factors in evaluating the acquisition of hardware, software, and IS services. Understand various ethical issues potentially faced by the organizations and identify several types of security management strategies to ensure that the information of business and customers remain fully secure and intact. Prevent failures in IT management through involvement of business managers in IT planning and management.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES General Learning Goals & Objectives Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Communication Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral communication skills Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and address ethical issues in an organizational context. Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key problems and generate viable solutions. Goal 4 Application of Information Technology Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current technologies in business and management context. Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in diverse environments. Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems Objective: Students will demonstrate that they have an understanding of Economic, Political, Regulatory, Legal, Technological, and Social environment of organizations. Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives Goal 7 (a) Discipline Specific Knowledge and Understanding Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and how they interact including application to real world situations (Including subject knowledge). Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision making process (for MGS Majors) Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem, design and apply appropriate decision support tools, interpret results and make meaningful recommendations to support the decision maker Indicate below how the course learning objectives specifically relate to any program learning goals and objectives. Program Learning Goals and Objectives Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Communication Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Goal 4 Application of Information Technology Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems Goal 7 (a) Discipline Specific Knowledge and Understanding Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision making process Course Learning Objectives Objective 7 addressed by the chapter 4 and 8 of the text book. Objectives 1 8 Objectives 1 8 Objectives 1 8 Course Assessment Item Written Case Analyses/Assignments Group Project (Presentation) Assignments Written Case Analysis/Assignments Midterm Exam Final Exam Group Project, Case Studies, Assignments, Quizzes, Exams Written Case Analyses /Assignments Group Project. Case Studies, Assignments, Quizzes, Group Project., Exams Quizzes Midterm Exam, Final Exam
GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY Class Participation and Attendance 10% (5 + 5) Home Work: Written Cases Analyses / Assignment(s) 10% Quiz(s): 10% Project: 15% Midterm Examination: 20% Final Examination: 35% Class Participation and Attendance Policy Class participation grading will be carried out as per the following rules: a) 0 for being absent from the class or not being able to contribute when required b) 1 for attending the class. c) 2 for little participation in the class discussion (granted for asking questions relevant to a discussion, describing case facts, giving an opinion or idea in relation to the discussion). d) 3 for good participation in the class discussion (granted for giving a valid contradictory viewpoint or comprehensive argument or rationale behind a concept). e) 4 for very good participation in the class discussion (granted for hitting multiple ds as mentioned above) f) 5 for excellent participation in the class discussion (granted for bringing to the class and supporting with solid argument some concepts which even instructor does not know) g) Absents beyond 4 will be lead to 1 mark deduction per leave from overall marks h) The only valid document for compensating for a leave is OSA approved application. No other applications will be entertained. Hard copy of OSA approved applications must be handed over to the instructor directly on the last course day. Electronic and email submissions will not be accepted. Compensation here means, student s average grade for that instrument would be applied in case of a valid OSA approved application submitted as a hard copy. Group Project Students will engage in a group project. The group size will be decided based on course enrollment. Students will explore Ecommerce /Tech startups/ Information Systems in our national context and apply course concepts thus analyze the challenges facing local businesses and recommend solutions.. A detailed description on group project will be provided once the course starts. EXAMINATION DETAIL Midterm Exam Yes/No: Combine Separate: Duration: 60 Minutes Preferred Date: Exam Specifications: Pre Mid Syllabus. Closed Book and Notes Final Exam Yes/No: Combine Separate: Duration: 90 Minutes Exam Specifications: Complete Syllabus. Closed Book and Notes
ATTENDANCE, QUIZZES AND CLASS POLICY Your class presence is required. A maximum of four (4) absences are tolerated. Petitions should be submitted along with proper documentation (e.g. a medical certificate certifying illnesses and OSA certifying participation in OSA activity) and shall be approved on case by case basis. You are required to arrive in class no later than the prescribed time. There will be no grace for late arrivals and you will be marked absent if you arrive more than 10 mins late. If you are not present at the beginning of a class or leave class during the session without instructor s prior permission, you will be considered absent for the day. You must review the assigned materials in advance of the class in order to make meaningful contribution to class discussions. Cell phone usage will NOT be tolerated. Therefore make sure they are switched off when you arrive in class. Further Instructions Reading: Students are expected to complete the assigned readings in advance for each class. Students are encouraged to participate in class discussions and show a cooperative attitude towards their classmates. Class material will include handouts (case studies and class assignments for discussion will be distributed and/or relevant sections will be referred to accordingly). Make sure you are going through the material on a regular basis. Material will not be revisited if you are unable to attend class. At times a case brief may be asked and students will be graded on the case brief as a sub component of the quizzes grade. Lecture Topics Recommended Readings SESSION OBJECTIVES 1 Course Introduction Syllabus Policies, requirements etc. 2 3 4 Information technology and the Age of Information Information Systems in Global Businesses Today Chapter 1 Understanding how IT is bringing about a revolution in the world that we live? How can you compete with IT? Understand the strategic benefits of huge capital investments in the IT infrastructure. 5 6 7 8 9 Business Processes and Types of Information Systems Chapter 2 & 3 Developing Business/IT Strategies Chapter 2 & 3 Develop an understanding of organization, organization structure business organization, levels of management, business value chain and business processes. Explore the concept of an IT strategy within a modern organization and its relationship with the Business strategy. Realize management issues related to gaining competitive advantage through the use of different types of Information systems and IT Infrastructure 10 11 12 IT Infrastructure, its history & Emerging Technologies Overview: Hardware/Software, Input/ Output, Network/Internet Chapters 5 Provide an overview of basic components that make up a computer whether they are found in an embedded device such as a car, or handheld device, or desktop etc. Students should develop an understanding of basic input/output, hardware/software and networking terms that are widely used in today s business environment
13 15 16 Lahore University of Management Sciences Business Intelligence, Databases & Information Management Chapter 6 & 12 Students should be able to develop a thorough understand of the role of data within the organization and the importance of how it is captured, recorded, organized and maintained all of which determine how well an organization can make use of its data resource. The first session should start from 0s and 1s and take students all the way up to relational databases, dimensional databases, data warehouse etc. 17 18 Enhancing Decision Making & Systems for Decision Support Provide students with broad understanding of decision making processes and introducing them to technologies such as Business Intelligence for intelligent decision making and predictive analytics. 19 20 21 22 23 Telecommunication & Networks Chapter 7 Enterprise Business Systems Chapter 9 Students should understand the fundamental networking concepts that allow organizations to develop the modern networked organization. What does it take in terms of infrastructure and skills to develop a networked organization? These sessions will build on top of Chapter 7 and talk about the importance/advantages of and challenges involved in developing enterprise information systems such as ERP, CRM, SCM etc. 24 25 26 e Commerce and m Commerce Chapter 10 Familiarize students to the fundamental concepts involved in e commerce, m commerce and related payment systems. 27 28 Ethical and Security Challenges Chapter 4 & 8 Expose students to the ethical issues and security challenges resulting due to growing use of IT within the modern business environment 29 Project Presentations Please note that the slot for the Lecture No 14 will be allocated to Mid term Exam.
TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS Text Book: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS: MANAGING THE DIGITAL FIRM (2013), 12th edition by Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon Reference Books: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 10th Edition, James A. O Brien and George M. Marakas STRATEGIC IT MANAGEMENT: A CONCISE STUDY (2010) by KELKAR BUSINESS DRIVEN TECHNOLOY by Paige Baltzan