Course Objectives: 

The overall course objective is to provide the student with the concepts and skills needed to analyze and design information systems.  The course concentrates on the front-end of the systems development process; that is, the course focuses more on the analysis and conceptual modeling of systems, the logical and physical design of database structures, and touches on the design and development of computer programs in the group projects.

Upon successful completion of the course, you are expected to be able to:

• Describe the major alternative methodologies used in developing information systems and the considerations involved in choosing which methodology to use.

• Produce the requisite systems documentation at each point in the analysis and design of an information system, and to do so with clarity and completeness.

• Analyze a business need for information and to develop an appropriate strategy to solve the problem and provide the required information service.

• Prepare and use various information gathering techniques for eliciting user information requirements and system expectations.

• Construct and interpret a variety of system description documents, including physical and logical data flow diagrams, entity–relationship diagrams, Structured English, structure charts, state–transition diagrams, as well as screen, form, and report layouts.

• Use CASE tools such as ORACLE Designer/2000, Developer/2000, and Personal Oracle 8, as part of your Team Projects. Other tools are also encouraged.

• Communicate effectively, in both written and oral forms, systems specifications, and to be persuasive in these presentations.

• Develop a personal plan for improving yourself to become a better systems professional or user/manager of a system, by understanding your own strengths and weaknesses and matching those with the critical success factors of a modern business manager.

Grading Criteria:

Your grade in INFS 622 will be composed of several components.  Please note that your are responsible for all aspects of the course, including class participation, project participation, homework, examinations, and the Presentation Day when your groups will present their projects.

Here is the table showing the relative weights for the various components.

Honor Code: George Mason’s policy concerning student conduct (e.g. plagiarism) will be used.

Homework: Homework is assigned as per the instructions on the INFS 622 homepage and will be collected as per the dates indicated on this syllabus. Note: The homework problems are to be done individually as per the GMU Honor Code.

Make-Up Policy: Make-up exams will not be given except for extreme circumstances, prior arrangements should be made at least 2 weeks in advance.

Late Work Policy: Late assignments will not be accepted.

Incomplete Grades: There are no incompletes in INFS 622!