Course Prerequisite: CGS1570, or an equivalent course on microcomputer applications. I assume that you have a basic familiarity with Windows and with Microsoft Excel and Access, as well as Word which will be used for the term paper assignment. I also expect you to know how to e-mail attachments to me and to be able to use an FTP program.
Required Course Text: Introduction to Information Systems: Essentials for the Internetworked E-Business Enterprise, 10th edition, by James O'Brien, ISBN 0-07-242324-2
Optional Course Texts: Macromedia DreamWeaver 4: Training From The Source, by Page and Schulze, and The Web Wizard's Guide to HTML, by Lehnert, are both available in the bookstore. You can find a world of information about both DreamWeaver and HTML on the Internet, so it isn't absolutely required that you buy these two texts. However, if you find that you need specific information, these two books are available. There are also two texts in the bookstore, one on Excel and the other on Access. Get these only if you are a complete klutz with these two programs. Finally, we will use Cold Fusion for the last assignment. Again, lots of information about Cold Fusion can be found on the Internet so you probably won't have to buy a book to support your assignment.
Course Software: We will also be using the Office 2000 version of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access to complete course assignments 1 through 4 and 8. These software assets are available in all UWF computer labs. You can probably use the Office 97 version of Word and Excel, but you will have to download the Access 97 version of databases if you have the older version of Access. Since CGS1570 is a prerequisite, you should have at least a working knowledge of these tools. I will also provide an Access tutorial to help you get started. Project 8 requires the use of Cold Fusion, which is available on the UWF student Internet server.
A text editor will be needed to develop your basic HTML web page assignments 5 and 6. Notepad works fine, as does Word if you save the files with the ".html" file type and specify "Text File" as the file type. You do NOT want to save a Word document with the HTML type option. This is both not acceptable for this class and generally leads to many future editing problems. There are many HTML editors available on the Internet. Go to any search engine, such as Google or Yahoo, and enter "HTML Editor" as the search argument. Follow this link to download the HTML Kit Editor. This is the editor I use and I really like it. For the price, it is excellent.
We will be using Macromedia Dreamweaver to complete assignment 7. Dreamweaver is available in the COB computer lab and classroom. A (rather complete) trial version, good for 30 days, can be downloaded from the Macromedia web site. You may want to wait until we get to the section of the course that requires the DreamWeaver assignments before downloading it. An evaluation copy comes with the Macromedia DreamWeaver 4 text. An evaluation copy is also available with the Dreamweaver 3 for Dummies text available in local bookstores. Buy the cheaper one if you must have a DreamWeaver reference.
Course Description: E-Business I: System Fundamentals is designed to be a challenging, interesting, and informative course on the fundamental technologies and systems used to support, enable, and conduct what we call E-Business. The course presents the theory and practice involved with organization-wide application of technology to enable improved business practices and management decisions. As Andy Grove, past CEO of Intel put it, "In the coming years, companies will either be e-business or no business." The course provides a common foundation composed of the fundamental concepts required for the use and application of telecommunications, systems, and technology in the E-business environment. However, simply being "e" is not enough. The course incorporates the contributions of the core business areas of management, marketing, accounting, finance, economics, international business, and ethics in the development of integrated business processes.
This is NOT a programming course. The course addresses important fundamentals of e-business systems found in an increasingly internetworked world, and how these fundamentals support improved e-business processes and decision making. The course does have a technical component. The entire course addresses the use of technology in today's dynamic, rapidly changing business environment. There is quite a bit of technology to master, including a vocabulary that may appear to be overwhelming at first. However, with consistent and diligent effort, students can and will master the technological aspects of the subject.
Course Objectives: This course emphasizes the concept that any business will be able to better serve its customers, its employees, and its stock holders if it effectively applies the principles of E-Business system planning, development, and implementation. The overall course objective is to provide a foundation of concepts and technologies that can be utilized to improve the management and operation of any business. Specific objectives include:
Course Requirements: The study of e-business is accomplished through a variety of teaching methods and modes. We will use the "traditional" text and lecture method to provide the basic framework for the course. The text is an excellent source of current e-business concepts and applications. A term paper (individual or group) will provide an opportunity to investigate specific topics in depth. "Hands on" projects provide opportunities to utilize some popular software tools to develop e-business solutions. Quizzes and class participation provide opportunities to keep current with class assignments.
There will be three exams that provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their mastery of the subject. The exams will be comprehensive in nature, building as we navigate the text. Emphasis will be given to the most recent chapters addressed. Exams will be taken in class, and will be of a closed book, closed notes format. The exams will consist of multiple guess questions, "fill in the blank" questions with a "word bank," and short essay questions requiring one to two paragraphs to demonstrate knowledge of the topic. Students may utilize ONE SIDE of a 3" by 5" card for notes during the exam. (You can also use the edges ;-)
A research term project on an approved topic, completed either individually or as a group project, will provide an opportunity to thoroughly investigate one or more aspects of E-Business. See the section below for more specific information about the term paper assignment. We used to call this assignment a "term paper," but since we will use Word to submit the projects, we can't call them "papers" any more.
Several "hands on" projects (see below) will provide specific familiarity with some of the most commonly used tools in today's E-Business environment.
There will, from time to time, be "study enhancement quizzes," lasting about ten minutes, to provide an incentive to always be fully prepared for class by reading the assigned chapter(s). These quizzes will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are keeping current with the text chapter readings. Quizzes that are missed due to absences (for any reason) will not be made up. A quiz score of zero will be assigned for each missed quiz.
Here are the specific weights for the various assignments:
| Three Exams | 20% each |
| Research Term Project | 15% |
| "Hands-on" Assignments | total of 20% |
| Quizzes, Class Participation | 5% |
Course Averages and Letter Grades: The following course average scores will be utilized to determine course letter grades. There is no "curve" or "scale" - this is it!
| A: 100 - 94 | A-: 93 - 90 | B+:89 - 86 |
| B: 85 - 82 | B-: 81 - 78 | C+: 77 - 74 |
| C: 73 - 70 | C-: 69 - 66 | D+: 65 - 62 |
| D: 61 - 58 | F: below 58 |
Research Term Project Requirements: Individually developed term projects must be at least 2500 words long, excluding title page and references. Group developed term projects must contain at least 2000 words per group member. Groups can have a maximum of four members. Groups should be formed and the member roster submitted no later than 20 May. I realize that forming groups may be a bit more difficult than usual due to the fact that we will not have formal classes until the end of June. Still, most of you have friends and former course colleagues with whom you may wish to work, so ask around. All group members will receive the same score on the term projects, so groups are expected to manage themselves. I will not deal with internal workings of groups. "Handle it!" A group member can be "fired" only by a unanimous decision of the other team members. Specific reasons for the firing must be provided to me in writing by each team member at the time of the firing. Topics are assigned on a "first come, first serve" basis, so you should try to decide what topic(s) interest you and let me know via e-mail as soon as possible. Individuals who or teams that have not selected a topic by 20 May will be assigned a topic by me.
Term projects will be prepared using Microsoft Word, using Times New Roman font, 12 point font size, double spaced, page numbered, 1" margins. Use parenthetical reference citations (i.e. (Beatty, 2001)) instead of footnotes. I expect you to use at least ten to twelve unique references (excluding the course texts). You can use references from the Internet, periodicals, texts, and academic journals. Most references must have been published within the last three years and must be at least three pages in length (if printed). Your bibliography will be arranged alphabetically by author's name(s), and use any recognized reference format. It goes without saying that all ideas and concepts, as well as quotations, derived from any reference source must be cited appropriately. Failure to do so will result in a minimum penalty of a zero score on the paper. Quotations of more than two lines should be done using the "block quotation" method, with both right and left margins indented and the text single spaced. Blank lines should proceed and follow the block quotation. Proof read and spell check your papers BEFORE submitting them. Use proper grammar. While this is not an English class, I expect the papers to be of high quality. Write as if your boss will be reading the project and your next promotion depends upon his/her overall evaluation of the project.
The objective of the project is to gain a more specific and complete knowledge about the selected topic. The "focus" should be upon identifying reasons why the topic is important to e-business, and how the concepts embodied in the topic can directly support and enable an e-business organization. Focus on sustainable competitive advantage and managerial decision support. Develop the project as if you have been assigned the research task by your boss and you are writing a "position" paper to inform your boss and the company's board of directors of the importance of the topic.
The projects will be e-mailed to me as an attachment. Completed projects are due in my e-mail queue no later than 25 July.
Research Term Project Topics
Note: Crossed out topics have been assigned and are therefore not available. Current topic availability is as of: 27 June.
| XML | Intranets and Extranets | ||
| OLAP | Customer Relationship Management | End User Computing and System Development | |
| Legacy System Management Strategies | Object Oriented Programming | Expert Systems | |
| Decision Support Systems | Executive Information Systems | Security and Encryption | |
| Customer Data Privacy | Neural Networks and Learning Systems | Fuzzy Logic and Management Decision Making | |
| OSI Model and TCP/IP | SQL | Systems Theory and Control | |
| Group DSS | SDLC and Prototyping | Disaster Recovery | |
| CGI and ASP | Relational Database Management Systems and Normalization | DHTML |
Any other topics must be approved by me no later than 21 May. Send me an e-mail if you want to develop a term paper on a topic not listed above. Describe your topic and a proposed project outline.
Hands On Projects: There will be a total of eight projects due throughout the semester. Projects are due NLT 1:00 PM on Thursdays of weeks in which the projects are due. See the course calendar below for specific due dates. Specific information about each project can be found in the ISM3011 page.
Project Topics:
Course Calendar: Below is the tentative course calendar. We will make every effort to stay on schedule throughout the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted here. Remember, the first seven weeks will be conducted via the Internet. The first "in class" meeting is 25 June.
| Week | Date | Chapter | Topics | Assignment Due at beginning of Wednesday class |
| 1 | 7, 9 May | 1, 2 | Introduction, Foundations of Information Systems in Business, Competing With Information Technology | Send your preferred e-mail address. I will use your ArgoNet student e-mail address unless I receive an alternative address. |
| 2 | 14, 16 May | 3, 4 | Computer Hardware, Computer Software | Group Rosters due NLT Thursday First Exam Practice (see below), First Project Due |
| 3 | 21, 23 May | 5, 6 | Data Resource Management, Telecommunications and Networks, First Exam Review Chat using Prometheus chat room at 1:30 PM Thursday | Research Project Assignments due NLT Monday, 20 May, Second Project Due |
| 4 | 28, 30 May | 1 - 6 | First Exam on Thursday via Internet utilizing SAIL Computer lab, building 79, beginning at 1:30 PM CDT | None |
| 5 | 4, 6 Jun | 7 | The Internetworked E-Business | Third Project Due |
| 6 | 11, 13 Jun | 8 | Electronic Business and E-Commerce | Fourth Project Due |
| 7 | 18, 20 Jun | 9 | The Internetworked E-Business Enterprise | none |
| Regular Classes Begin on 25 June | ||||
| 8 | 25, 27 Jun | 7 - 9 | Second Exam on Tuesday, 2 July, in SAIL | New Exam Date |
| 9 | 2 Jul | 10 | Developing E-Business Solutions | Thursday, 4 July, is a holiday - Happy Birthday America! |
| 10 | 9, 11 Jul | 11 | Security and Ethical Challenges of E-Business | Fifth Project Due |
| 11 | 16, 18 Jul | 12 | Enterprise and Global Management of E-Business Technology | Sixth Project Due |
| 12 | 23, 25 Jul | 10 - 12 | Research Term Project Development | Seventh Project Due, Eighth Project (Optional) Due, Research Term Project Due 25 July |
| 13 | 30 Jul, 1 Aug | 10 - 12 | Final Exam on Thursday, 1 August | None |
First Exam:
The first exam will be conducted via the Internet. All students will meet at the SAIL computer lab, building 79, at 1:30 PM on Thursday, 30 May. I will make the link to the exam "live" at 1:30 PM. Students will download the Word document answer sheet, use Word to enter the answers, save the Word document, then e-mail it to me. This link will take you to more specific information about the first exam.
Course Policies:
All assignments should be professional in nature. Prepare them as if you will submit them to your boss. I expect each student to complete his/her own assignments. Students may discuss course material and assignments with each other, but each assignment must be one's unique work. Joint efforts on the projects are expressly forbidden. Violation of this policy is academic dishonesty and will be dealt with accordingly. All assignments submitted late will receive a 10% per day penalty.