Instructor : Dr. Nancy Shaw
 

Course Description:

This course looks at the dynamic nature of the modern business environment and the impact of rapidly emerging technology. After describing the gradual evolution in hardware, software, networks and communications, the emphasis shifts to interplay between organizational strategy and information technology capabilities. An overview of traditional scheme for classifying Information Systems (IS) as Transaction Processing Systems, Management Information Systems, Decision Support Systems and Expert Systems etc. will be presented. Modern business related applications like Enterprise Resource Planning, Supply Chain Management, and Customer Relationship Management will be introduced. The continually expanding world of Internet applications and how these innovations offer both opportunities and risks are discussed. We will try to understand how information technology is enabling organizations to broaden their perspectives to encompass global, rather than regional or national goals. The importance of security and privacy in this context are revealed and forces us to appreciate some of the ethical dilemmas raised through the use of information technology. Finally, Information Systems are analyzed in terms of organizational competition, organizational responsiveness and organizational decisional making. The course tries to facilitate the learning of concepts, frameworks and approaches that are fundamentally technology independent and will last long after a specific technology is obsolete. Interesting and important cases from the world of technology and business will be used freely during this course.

Businesses are increasingly demanding that their employees have proficiency with spreadsheets and databases.  More specifically, utilization of spreadsheets for decision making and ability to query databases to generate routine business reports.  The hands-on skills portion of the course will deal with MS Excel and MS Access.  You will learn to use different decision making tools available in Excel.  You will learn how to query MS Access database and how to create custom reports using data retrieved from databases.  In addition, you will be building and uploading a personal web page that you will create using NVU.

This course requires a minimum grade of C to satisfy SOM degree requirements, and students will not be permitted to make more than three attempts to achieve a C or higher in this course. Effective Fall 2010, registration in this course will be prohibited beyond three attempts that resulted in a grade lower than C. If you have questions about this policy, please see an academic advisor in ENT 008.

Textbooks:

• Business Driven Technology, 3rd Edition, Haag, Baltzan, and Phillips, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2008
• Additional materials will be presented in class and on-line.

• 60% Quizzes
  • Quiz 1 - 15 points
  • Quiz 2 - 15 points
  • Quiz 3 - 15 points
  • Quiz 4 - 15 points
• 40% Homework Assignments  (4 Assignments @ 10 points each)
• Your Grades are available from Pageout

1. Our students will be competent in their discipline.
2. Our students will be aware of the uses of technology in business.
3. Our students will be effective communicators.
4. Our students will have an interdisciplinary perspective.
5. Our students will be knowledgeable about global business and trade
6. .Our students will recognize the importance of ethical decisions.
7. Our students will be knowledgeable about the legal environment of business.
8. Our students will be knowledgeable about team dynamics and the characteristics of effective teams.
9. Our students will understand the value of diversity and the importance of managing diversity in the context of business.
10. Our students will be critical thinkers.

• GMU's honor code is in effect.  No "assistance" of any kind is permissable during quizzes or homework assignments.
• Notice will be given before each exam.  Quizzes must be taken at their designated times. Barring extenuating circumstances no exceptions will be made for absence of exams. Adequate proof needs provided to prove such circumstances.  The decision regarding make up will be made at the sole discretion of the instructor.  Missed exams will be assigned a score of zero.    
• Homework assignments are due on the date specified on the schedule.  Homework will be collected at the beginning of the class period.  There will be a 10% penalty for turning your homework in after class on the day it is due, and a 10% additional penalty for each week day you miss after the day it is due. 
• You are also required to keep all the graded material that is returned to you till after the semester is over and you have checked your final grade.  If there is a discrepancy between my records and your scores for any of the graded material at any time, my records will be altered only if you can produce the graded material that I have returned to you as evidence – failing which no changes will be made.
• THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR EXTRA CREDIT.
• All quizzes are closed book, closed notes.
• All quizzes are based only on information contained in the text or discussed in class.
• You may always ask for a regrading of your quizzes.  Any such request must be made by the end of the NEXT class after the quiz is handed back.  Reevaluation may result in an increase or a decrease of your score.  After this period, the grade for the quiz is final and may not be changed.
• If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 993-2474.  All academic accommodations must be arranged through the DRC.
  

GMU Honor Code

"As participating members of this community, all students have the duty to report to a member of the Honor Committee, within the presecribed time outlined under Procedures for Reporting a Violation, any violation of the Honor Code".  (See George Mason University Catalog for more information on the Honor System and Code).  

Community Standards of Behavior

The mission of the School of Management at George Mason University is to create and deliver high quality educational programs and research. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni that participate in these educational programs contribute to the well-being of society. High quality educational programs require an environment of trust and mutual respect, free expression and inquiry, and a commitment to truth, excellence, and lifelong learning. Students, program participants, faculty, staff, and alumni accept these principles when they join the SOM community. In doing so, they agree to abide by the following Community Standards of Behavior: 

• Respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others 
• Honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community 
• Accountability for personal behavior 

Integrity is an essential ingredient of a successful learning community. Ethical standards of behavior help promote a safe and productive community environment, and ensure every member the opportunity to pursue excellence. SOM can and should be a living model of these behavioral standards. To this end, community members have a personal responsibility to integrate these standards into every aspect of their experience at the SOM.  Through our personal commitment to these Community Standards of Behavior, we can create an environment in which all can achieve their full potential.