SYLLABUS - Fall 1997

 Number and Title of Course: MIS 382:Use of Online Systems as Business Tools

 Instructor: Dr. Wayne Summers Office: SCA207B (phone: 454-3230 or 454-3295)

Office Hours: MWF: 9-9:50 a.m. TR: 4-4:50 or by appointment

e-mail: summers_wayne@ColumbusState.edu

homepage: http://csc.ColumbusState.edu/summers

Catalog Description of Course: An introduction to online systems used both internally and externally in the business environment. The course will include an introduction to the Internet and intranets. The student will learn to use the Internet for research as well as the potential use for business information resource gathering. The student will learn how to set up an intranet. Business systems discussed will include American Airlines SABRE System, Holiday Inn’s Holidex System, etc. Value-added networks like America On-Line, Prodigy and CompuServ will also be discussed. (3 credits).

 Course Prerequisite: none.

 Required Textbook:

1. Intranet Business Strategies by Mellanie Hills, John Wiley & Sons, 1997, ISBN: 0-471-16374-0
2. Traveler’s Guide to the Internet by Wayne Summers
3. other readings from the Internet
4. business and computer trade journals and periodicals

1. To become aware of the many internally developed information systems in use in the business community.
2. To become aware of the more popular external information system services currently available in the marketplace.
3. To develop an understanding of Wide Area Networks.
4. To understand the management issues involved in using and maintaining Wide Area Network systems.
5. To become aware of the security issues involved with WANs.
6. To understand the components and the uses of groupware software.

1. Understand the principles underlying computer communications.
2. Be able to use the Internet as a research tool.
3. Be able to use value-added networks.
4. Be able to access Wide Area Networks and retrieve data from the network.
5. Be able to install and maintain an intranet and groupware servers.

1. e-mail and listservs
2. newsgroups
3. World-Wide Web
4. telnet, ftp, gopher
5. other parts of the Internet

PART II: What is an Intranet and How Will It Affect Your Organization?

1. What is an Intranet?
2. Why Have Organizations Created Intranets and What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages?
3. How Will Intranets Change You and Your Organization?

   PART III: How Do You Use an Intranet and Who Is Using Them?

4. How Do You Use an Intranet?
5. Who Is Using Intranets and How Are They Using Them? PART IV: How Do You Create Your Intranet?

6. Two Different Was to Sell the Intranet to Your Organization
7. Build Your Intranet
8. Create Your Audience
9. Promote Your Intranet
10. Create Widespread Enthusiasm and Capability: The Role of Your Intranet Team
11. Make Your Intranet Pervasive
12. What Lessons Have We Learned and Where Do We Go from Here?

Instructional Methods and Techniques

1. The class will meet for three fifty minute lecture/discussion periods. These classes will be held in a computer lab.
2. The course may also include lectures by invited speakers and visits to local industries and research labs.
3. The labs should stress hands-on applications by the students.
4. The course will also include reports from the students on various wide-area network systems in business.

Assignments for Course

1) Readings from the textbooks.

2) Outside reading from popular business, computing and network periodicals like Wall Street Journal, Business Week, PC World, Forbes, Fortune, PC Week, Byte, ComputerWorld, Data Communications, Datamation etc.

3) Readings from documents found on the Internet and/or other networks.

 4) Lab assignments may include -

a. Accessing value-added network services like AOL.

b. Accessing the Internet and other wide area networks

c. Installing an intranet server

5) Possible Research Projects Topics: American Airlines Sabre, Holiday Inn Holidex, Federal Express online system, Lotus Notes and Domino, Novell Groupware, Other Intranet and Value-added systems like AOL, CompuServ, etc.

 Evaluation

1. Midterm and Final Exams over the lectures and readings consisting of both non-essay and essay questions.
2. Homework including lab assignments and weekly quizzes on material discussed in class and lab. Many of the quizzes will be done online. Students would be expected to summarize their readings in a weekly journal. These journals should be submitted electronically using the campus e-mail system. Students will also be expected to take part in discussions on the class's Listserver.
3. Research project that will include a report (both oral and web page) to the class on an online business system.
4. Participation in the class project (Intranet for the School of Business or similar project). Each student will be expected to develop web pages for a faculty member in the School of Business.

 Attendance: Class attendance is the responsibility of the student, and it is the student's responsibility to independently cover any material s/he may miss. Class attendance and participation may also be used in determining grades. You should attend all sessions!! Attendance will be taken. You will be expected to visit the instructor during each half of the semester.

 Course Evaluation:

Lab assignments & weekly homework assignments = 275 - 350 pts.

Weekly quizzes (10 pts each) = 100 - 150 pts.

attendance and class participation = 50 pts.

Research project and presentation = 100 pts.

Participation in the class project = 100 pts.

MidTerm = 100 pts.

1 FINAL EXAM = 200 pts.

 Grades may be determined according to this scale (approximate) :

A 90% - 100% B 80% - 89%

C 70% - 79% D 60% - 69%

 Late Assignments and Makeup Exams: Late assignments will not be accepted. Homework must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. Friday each week. Quizzes will be each Friday and can not be made up. Makeup exams will be given only if the instructor is notified IN ADVANCE of the exam with a legitimate reason for missing the exam. Quizzes cannot be made up.