An introduction to fundamental management issues and information system principles involved in the analysis, design, and implementation of management information systems. Topics include business information system planning, technology architecture, database design, systems development, decision support systems, internal control, and computer security and disaster planning. In order to provide an opportunity for students to develop a facility for applying the knowledge gained in the course, case studies will be used extensively.
The primary goal of this course is to help students be successful in their careers by providing a framework for understanding and utilizing information systems to benefit organizations and their customers.
In this course we will think critically about the following questions (and many others):
These objectives conform to the mission and learning goals of the College, the School of Science, and the Computer Science Department.
Letter grades will be assigned based on your numeric final average:
| A | >= 93.0 |
| A- | >= 90.0 |
| B+ | >= 87.0 |
| B | >= 83.0 |
| B- | >= 80.0 |
| C+ | >= 77.0 |
| C | >= 73.0 |
| C- | >= 70.0 |
| D+ | >= 67.0 |
| D | >= 63.0 |
| D- | >= 60.0 |
| F | < 60.0 |
Final grades will be based on the following weights:
| 15% | Individual Assignments |
| 15% | Group Projects |
| 25% | Labs |
| 20% | Midterm Exam |
| 25% | Final Exam: Cummulative, During Finals Week |
A student is expected to attend every lecture in-person or remotely (typically via Zoom), arrive on time and stay for the full period. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of this policy.
Students can lose up to 40% on their final average leading to automatic failure for lack of participation, lateness, absence or disruption during lecture.
Students will be given a warning if they are late to lecture. After the warning, any subsequent lateness will be considered an absence and the penalties below will be incurred.
Students can have two unexcused lecture absences without any penalty. But after two absences, students will be penalized as follows:
| 3 unexcused lecture absences | 2% penalty on final average |
| 4 unexcused lecture absences | 5% penalty on final average |
| 5 unexcused lecture absences | 10% penalty on final average |
| 6 unexcused lecture absences | 15% penalty on final average |
| 7 unexcused lecture absences | 20% penalty on final average |
| 8 unexcused lecture absences | 30% penalty on final average |
| 9 unexcused lecture absences | 40% penalty, which is an automatic failure |
A student is expected to attend every lab in-person or remotely (typically via Zoom), arrive on time and stay for the full period. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of this policy.
Students can lose up to 40% on their final average leading to automatic failure for lack of participation, lateness, absence or disruption during lab.
Students will be given a warning if they are late to lab. After the warning, any subsequent lateness will be considered an absence and the penalties below will be incurred.
Students can have one unexcused lab absence without any penalty. But after one absence, students will be penalized as follows:
| 2 unexcused lecture absences | 3% penalty on final average |
| 3 unexcused lecture absences | 7% penalty on final average |
| 4 unexcused lecture absences | 15% penalty on final average |
| 5 unexcused lecture absences | 40% penalty, which is an automatic failure |
During the semester there will be 5-6 individual assignments that will range from discussion board posting to reading assignments with online quizzes. Descriptions and dues dates will be shared via Canvas.
During the semester there will be a large multi-part group project to research and present an MIS topic. Descriptions and dues dates will be shared via Canvas.
During the semester there will be 11 formal lab sessions on Wednesday. With the exception of thefirst lab, each lab has a pre-lab assignement that is worth 30% and must be completed before the lab session. The in-lab activity is worth 70% and may require work outside of the lab session. The in-lab activity will be due by midnight on the following Monday of each Wednesday lab session.
During the semester there will be a Midterm Exam given during either lecture or lab (to be determined) and Cummulative Final Exam given during finals week. Dates and details will be shared via Canvas.
The instructor makes the final decision to excuse or not to excuse an absence. If you are concerned that an absence will not be excused, you should contact the instructor as soon as possible. The following guidelines will be used to make decisions.
Students can be excused (and not penalized) from lecture for illnesses, job interviews, and serious commitments such as athletic or academic trips/competitions. However, students must inform the instructor as soon as possible, provide proof/documentation, and take responsibility to acquire notes and information from other students.
Students caught cheating on an exam, will receive a zero on the exam, will be penalized a full letter-grade in the course, and a letter describing the student's actions will be sent to Siena's Vice President of Academic Affairs. During an exam period, students cannot share information, look at each other's tests, or use unauthorized materials.
Unless explicit permission is given, assume that exams are closed-book/closed-notes and that cheat sheets and electronic devices are prohibited.
Pre-lab: Pre-lab work is to be done individually. You should not collaborate or share work with anyone when completing pre-lab work.
In-lab: You are permitted to work with a partner on the in-lab portion of each lab assignment. It is expected that you collaborate with your lab partner, but only your lab partner. All submitted work should be done by you and your partner collaboratively.
Plagiarism: It is very easy to copy lab work from past semester or from other sources and claim it as your own. This is academically dishonest and considered plagiarism. Students who present other authors' work as their own will receive a grade of zero on the entire lab. Students who commit plagiarism a second time will again receive a zero, will also be penalized a full letter-grade in the course, and a letter describing the student's violation will be sent to Siena's Office of Academic Affairs.