Number and Title of Course: MIS 483/583:Use of Online Systems as Business Tools
Instructor: Dr. Wayne Summers Office: SCA207B (phone: 454-3230 or 454-3295)

Office Hours: MWF: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. (in office and online 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 intranets.
4. To understand the management issues involved in using and maintaining intranet systems.
5. To become aware of the security issues involved with intranets.
6. To understand the components and the uses of groupware software.

Specific Objectives

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 intranets 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 daily for two-hour and forty-five minute lecture/discussion periods.
2. The course may also include lectures by invited speakers and visits to local industries and research labs.
3. The assignments 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 [NOTE: graduate students will be expected to complete one additional project and do graduate level work all assignments and exams]

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, ComputerWorld, Data Communications, Datamation etc.
3. Readings from documents found on the Internet and/or other networks.
4. Homework assignments may include -
   1. Accessing value-added network services like AOL.
   2. Accessing the Internet and other intranets
   3. Installing an intranet server
   4. Installing groupware servers including e-mail, calendar, etc.
   5. Using groupware software to solve problems
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.
6. Web site for a local business

   Evaluation

   1. Final Exam over the lectures and readings consisting of both non-essay and essay questions.
   2. Homework including assignments on material discussed in class and lab. Students would be expected to summarize their readings in a weekly journal. These journals should be submitted electronically using an e-mail system to the class discussion group. Students will also be expected to take part in realtime discussions.
   3. Research project that will include a web-based report to the class on an online business system used by a business.
   4. Each student will be expected to develop web pages for a local 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:
   Homework assignments= 150 pts.
   attendance and class participation (both asynchronous and synchronous) = 50 pts.
   Research project = 100 pts.
   Business web site = 100 pts.
        NOTE: Graduate students will be expected to do one additional project = 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. MDT on the due date. Makeup exams will be given only if the instructor is notified IN ADVANCE of the exam with a legitimate reason for missing the exam.

   Honor Policy: Cheating will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating will be given a zero on the assignment or exam. Repeat offenders will be given an F for the course and may suffer expulsion from the university. All work must be your own. You may discuss the material in the course and help one another, however, I expect any work you hand in for a grade to be your own. Plagiarism will result in, at least, an "F" for the assignment. A simple way to avoid inadvertent plagiarism is to talk about the assignments, but don't read each other's work or write solutions together. Keep scratch paper and old versions of assignments until after the assignment has been graded and returned to you. If you have any questions about this, please see me immediately. KEEP BACKUPS of all work!!!

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   WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR MIS 483/583: Online Systems (tentative)

   	Lecture topic	Chapters			Lab Topic
   Day 1:	Introduction to the Internet / e-mail WWW What is an Intranet?		TG1&TG2 TG 7 IBS 1	e-mail WWW using Netscape listserv & UseNet
   Day 2:	e-mail as a business tool Listservs and NewsGroups Advantages and Disadvantages		TG 3&TG4 IBS 2 Publishing on the Internet	Search engines Designing web pages
   Day 3:	How Will Intranets Change You?		IBS 3	Designing web pages Creating simple web pages Front Page & Word Processors
   Day 4:	How Do You Use an Intranet?		IBS 4	Creating simple web pages Front Page & Word Processors HTML editors
   Day 5:	Who is Using Intranets?		IBS 5	HTML editors
   Day 6:	Two Different Ways to Sell the Intranet Advanced HTML (graphics, tables & forms)		IBS 6 TG 9
   Day 7:	Build Your Intranet Designing a Homepage		IBS 7 TG 8
   Day 8:	Create Your Audience Customizing a Homepage		IBS 8 TG 8
   Day 9:	Promote Your Intranet		IBS 9
   Day 10:	The Role of Your Intranet Team		IBS 10
   Day 11:	Make Your Internet Pervasive Setting up a WebSite		IBS 11 TG 10	Website software
   Day 12:	What Lessons Have We Learned? Social Issues; Netiquette		IBS 12; Presentations
   Day 13:	Groupware		Presentations
   Day 14:	Groupware		Presentations
   Day 15:	Security Issues with Intranets New technologies and Intranets		Presentations; REVIEW
   Day 16:	FINAL EXAM - Thurs, July 1 7:30 a.m.		GOOD LUCK