DIS320-002: Information Systems in the Modern Enterprise
Spring 2009
Gatton B&E 201

Tuesday & Thursday 3:30pm - 4:45pm

Instructor:      Professor De Liu

Email:             de.liu@uky.edu

Office:                        B&E 455Y  

Phone:            257-1142

Office Hours: T&TH 11:15-12:15pm, 2:15-3:15pm, or by appointment.

NO Required Text

 

References You May Consider:

¡¤         Microsoft Office Excel 2007: Comprehensive Concepts and Techniques, by Shelly, Cashman, Quasney. ISBN: 141884344X or 978-1418843441. Intermediate Excel Skills (not much VBA).

¡¤         Excel 2007 Power Programming with VBA, by John Walkenbach. ISBN: 978-0-470-04401-8. This can be used as a handbook if you are serious about Excel VBA.

¡¤         Excel¡¯s online help and Internet resources on our course homepage

 

Required Software: Excel 2007. Available in B&E computer labs.

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this course is to provide the students with the training and skills required for developing decision support tools for problem solving. The course integrates three major knowledge areas: computing, system analysis and design, and quantitative techniques. The first step in solving a complex problem is to analyze the problem. Once identified, it is necessary to select the most appropriate technique for solving the problem. Finally, it is necessary to implement the solution procedure on the computer so that it can be used. In this course, we will combine all three knowledge areas to develop decision support tools for solving complex organizational problems. The computing tools that will be used in this class are Excel and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the semester, you will

¡¤                     Become a power user of Excel.

¡¤                     Master common tasks through VBA.

¡¤                     Be able to design a user-friendly information system for your business problems.

¡¤                     Understand the effort involved in developing a good information system.

 

ACCESSMENT & GRADING

Midterm Exam                         20%

Final Exam                               28%

Team Project (2)                      20%, 10% each

Individual Homework (11)      30%, 3% each, the lowest will be dropped

Attendence                               2%, two non-medical absences are allowed.

                                                  Each additional non-medical absence (i.e., without

                                                  a doctor¡¯s writen proof) will cost you 0.5%.

 

The final letter grade is given according to the following table (no curve).

 

total credits       letter grade

----------------------------------

90 -100%          A 

80 -  89%          B

65 -  79%          C

50 -  64%          D

0   -  50%          F

Individual Homework

 

Each homework assignment is due before the class meeting time on the due date. Due dates are listed in our course schedule in advance. If you turn in your homework late, you will receive a zero grade for this homework. I expect you to drop in your homework in the assignment folder on Blackboard. Name your file(s) in the following fashion:

Lastname_Firstname_XX.xls

For example, ¡°Doe_John_hw5.xls¡± and ¡°Doe_John_hw5_Ch3_4.xls.¡± DO NOT use special characters other than blank and underscore in file names. Submit your homework in designed assignments folder on Blackboard. Once you submit successfully, you should see an ¡°!¡± in your grade book (meaning waiting to be graded).

You can submit multiple files for an assignment. But you must submit them all at once. Blackboard prevents you from submitting additional files once you have submitted. In case you want to update one or more of your files, send them to me in email.

Homework is expected to be accomplished individually. You may discuss homework problems with fellow students. However, copying others¡¯ homework is strictly forbidden and will be punished (receiving a zero for that homework at the minimum). If you have any problem, you are welcome to drop by my office. You may also email me or schedule an appointment.

 

I post your homework grades on Blackboard, usually within one week of the due date. Homework is graded on a scale of 0-10. If you get 10, you will receive full 3 credits. If you get 9, you will receive 9/10 of 3 credits, i.e., 2.7 credits, and so on. I may give extra credits to exceptional work. 

Exams

Missing Exams: There are NO makeup exams. However, if you are sick or have other legitimate reasons (according to University policy), you must contact me BEFORE the exam to obtain special accommodation. If you contact me after the exam, you are considered as missing an exam.

 

Scholastic Honesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University.  Because dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. 

 

Regrade: In general I will not regrade an exam except there are obvious mistakes in grading. If you do require a regrade, you must submit your request within one week after receiving the exam grade.

Team projects

 

Team projects are one of the beloved learning experiences in this course. The purpose of team projects is to encourage collaboration, coordination, and communication among team members. Team projects uses after-chapter case problems and give you an opportunity to apply what we learn in class. Team projects also give you a chance to learn from your peers.

 

Team projects are evaluated by your peers in the class (50%) and by the instructor (50%). Each team project assignment consists of a team presentation and a written report. Your peers will evaluate your team performance based on your team presentation along the lines of functionalities, ease-of-use, presentation style, and creativity. Prepare your presentation and written report with two purposes in mind: 1) to demonstrate the value of your work (as if the audience is a client who pays you), and 2) to inform the audience how you have analyzed and solved the problem (as if the audience is your peer experts).

 

The instructor will grade your team project assignment based on the presentation, written report, and spreadsheet solution. The written report should be done in word. The required length is no less than 5 pages double-space.

 

Each team consists of 3-4 members. While in general every team member receives the same credit, those who lack contribution (as reflected in within-group peer evaluation) may receive partial credit. More detailed instructions on team projects will be given in class.

ClassRoom Code

Please turn off any device such as Cell Phones, Beepers, CD/MP3 players that will cause class disruptions. Browsing, checking emails, and messaging during the class are discouraged in the classroom. Please turn off your messenger and email software.

 

I expect you to participate in the classroom discussion by answering questions, asking questions, and making observations.  No comment is considered ¡°bad¡± as long as it makes a constructive class contribution. I believe that a good learning environment is a safe environment ¡ª one in which everyone feels free to question and discuss. A sense of humor is always welcome!

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Keep your email address with Blackboard current and check your email inbox. Important messages may be delivered to you through this email (e.g. change of a homework problem, exam location and dates).  If you need my help on a problem, please attach the EXCEL worksheet that you are working on. 

 

schedule

Provided in separate document. The course schedule is subject to change.

 

Last update: 1/13/2009