IS'97.3 Information Systems Theory and
Practice
2340
CATALOG Students who have constructed personal information
systems will be exposed to the theory of the IS discipline.
Application of these theories to the success of organizations and
to the roles of management, users and IS professionals are
presented. (Prerequisite: IS'97.2)
2343
SCOPE This course provides an understanding of the decision
process and how information is used for decision support in
organizations. It covers decision theory, information theory, and
practice essential for providing viable information to the
organization.
2346
TOPICS Systems theory and concepts; how information systems
relate to organizational systems; decision theory and how it is
implemented by IT; level of systems: strategic, tactical and
operational; system components and relationships; information
system strategies; roles of information technology and roles of
people using, developing and managing systems; IS planning;
human-computer interface; implementation and evaluation of system
performance; societal and ethical issues related to information
systems design and use.
EXPLANATION AND EXPECTATIONS
2353
Students who have end-user skills who have implemented
personal productivity systems using knowledge work tools will be
prepared to use the information systems theory presented in this
course
2355
The course presents the basic concepts for use in subsequent
courses; the systems point of view, the organization and
development of a system, information flows, the nature of
information systems, and basic techniques for representing
systems structure.
2358
Learning, goal setting and achieving, decision making and
other characteristics of individuals, groups and teams are
explored. Organizational models and planning are presented.
Quality concepts are explained. IS planning and development
activities are explored in the organizational context of
management and users. Cross-functional management and user teams
are discussed.
Students completing this course will have mastered the
following learning units:
2363
| Learning Unit Number |
Learning Unit Goal |
Learning Unit Objectives |
Competency Level and Body of
Knowledge Elements in Learning Units |
| 16 | to introduce, discuss and describe fundamental concepts of IS theory and it's importance to practitioners | identify and explain underlying concepts of IS discipline (LO-0029) | 2 2.9.7 Historical and social context of
computing 2 3.1.6 Properties of information systems |
| 17 | to show how an information system is a strategic and integral component of an organization | describe the historic development of the
information systems discipline (LO-0007) explain the strategic role of information systems in organizations (LO-0011) explain strategic relationship of IS activities to
enhancing competitive position (LO-0033) explain the differences between strategic, tactical and operational level applications (LO-0038) |
2 2.1.1 Hierarchical and flow models of
organizations 2 2.1.2 Organizational work groups 2 2.1.4 Role of IS within the enterprise: strategic, tactical and operations 2 2.1.5 Effect of IS on organizational structure; IS and continuous improvement 2 2.2.10 Strategic use of IS: e.g., competitive advantage and IS, process re-engineer... 2 2.3.1 Measurement and modeling 2 2.9.7 Historical and social context of computing 2 3.1.6 Properties of information systems 2 3.12.8 Work-flow systems 2 2.2.3.6 Ensuring positive climate for creativity |
| 18 | to discuss how an information system is developed and managed within an organization | explain information systems development
and organizational process redesign; explain groups of
individuals and their responsibilities in this process
(LO-0016) explain the roles of professional IS personnel within an IS organization; explain functions of IS management, CIO, project manager, information analyst, and explain career paths (LO-0041) |
2 2.1.1 Hierarchical and flow models of
organizations 2 2.1.2 Organizational work groups 2 2.1.3 Organizational span: single user, work group, team, enterprise, global 2 2.1.6 Organizational structure: centralized, decentralized, matrix 2 2.2.1 IS planning 2 2.2.3 Staffing and human resource management 2 2.2.4 IS functional structures -- internal vs outsourcing 2 2.2.7 CIO and staff functions 2 2.2.15 Management of sub-functions 2 2.2.15.1 Telecommunications management 2 2.2.17 Computer operations management: e.g., tape/DASD management... 2 2.4.1 Job design theory 2 2.4.2 Cultural diversity 2 3.6.3 Contingency planning 2 3.7.3 Work breakdown structures and scheduling 2 3.12.1 Transaction processing systems 2 3.12.2 Management information systems 2 3.12.3 Group support systems 2 3.12.6 Office systems 2 3.12.9 Functional support systems: e.g., process control, marketing |
| 19 | to present and discuss the relevance of the cognitive process and human interactions in information system design and implementation | explain cognitive process and other human oriented considerations in information systems design and implementation (LO-0048) | 2 1.4.10 OS support for human
interaction: e.g., GUI, interactive video 2 2.10.10 Fostering creativity and opportunity finding 3 3.9.5 Information presentation alternatives; cognitive styles 2 3.9.6 Human-computer interaction (e.g., ergonomics, graphical-user interfaces... |
| 20 | to discuss how individuals make decisions and set and achieve goals | discuss and explain how individuals make decisions, set and achieve goals; explain what is meant by mission directed personal action (LO-0049) | 2 2.10.7 Personal goal setting, decision making, and time management |
| 21 | to discuss the Simon Model of organizational decision making and its support by IS | discuss and explain decision theory and
the decision process (LO-0035) explain IS support for decision making; explain the
use of expert systems in support of heuristic decision
making (LO-0036) explain and give an illustration of the Simon organizational decision model (LO-0037) |
2 2.3.2 Decisions under certainty,
uncertainty, risk 2 2.3.4 Decision models and IS: optimizing, satisficing 2 2.3.5 Group decision process 3 3.12.4 Decision support systems/expert systems 2 3.12.5 Executive support systems 3 3.12.7 Collaborative systems |
| 22 | to introduce systems theory, quality, and organizational modeling and demonstrate their relevance to information systems | explain the use of information and
information systems in documentation, decision making and
control of organizational activity (LO-0010) discuss
and explain systems goals, client expectation, and
quality concepts (LO-0030) discuss and explain systems components and
relationships (flows) (LO-0031) apply system concepts to define and explain the role of information systems (LO-0032) |
2 2.1.4 Role of IS within the
enterprise: strategic, tactical and operations 2 2.1.5 Effect of IS on organizational structure; IS and continuous improvement 2 2.2.10 Strategic use of IS: e.g., competitive advantage and IS, process re-engineer... 2 2.3.3 Cost/Value of information, competitive value of IS 2 3.1.1 General systems theory 2 3.1.2 Systems concepts: e.g., structure, boundaries, states, objectives 3 3.1.3 Properties of open systems 3 3.1.4 System components and relationships 3 3.1.5 Systems control: standards, control theory, feedback, loops, measurement... 2 3.1.6 Properties of information systems |
| 23 | to discuss a systems based role for management, users and designers | identify the generic responsibilities of users, designers and management in terms described in the Churchman "trinity"; discuss in systems terms detailed obligations of each in order to ensure quality; relate these observations to the quality improvement models for organizational development; identify the IS function in these terms (LO-0214) | 2 3.1.1 General systems theory |
| 24 | to explain physical systems and work flow and how information systems relate to organizational systems | explain the relation of database modeling to organizational physical activity (LO-0018) | 1 1.6.1 DBMS: features, functions,
architecture 1 1.6.5 Data definition languages 1 1.6.6.3 Application and user interfaces (DML, query, QBE, SQL) 1 1.6.7 Intelligent query processors and query organization 1 1.6.8 Distributed databases 1 2.2.10 Strategic use of IS: e.g., competitive advantage and IS, process re-engineer... 1 3.3.1 Organizational and software process modeling 1 3.3.3 Data oriented methodologies 1 3.3.4 Process oriented methodologies 1 3.9.1 Design: logical, physical |
| 25 | to present other organizational models and their relevance to IS | describe the role of information
technology (IT) and the roles of people using, designing
and managing IT in organizations (LO-0013) discuss how general systems theory is applicable to the analysis and development of an information system (LO-0034) |
2 2.1.5 Effect of IS on organizational
structure; IS and continuous improvement 2 2.1.7 Organizational issues pertaining to use of software systems in organizations 1 2.2.1 IS planning 2 2.2.10 Strategic use of IS: e.g., competitive advantage and IS, process re-engineer... 2 2.3.1 Measurement and modeling 2 2.4.4 Teamwork, leadership and empowerment 2 2.9.6 IS industry: manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators, software developers 2 2.10.8 Principle centered leadership 2 3.1.4 System components and relationships 2 3.1.5 Systems control: standards, control theory, feedback, loops, measurement... 2 3.8.1 Problem opportunity identification: e.g., service requests, from planning... |
| 26 | to discuss the relationship of IS planning to organizational planning | explain IS planning goals and processes (LO-0053)
explain the importance of corporate and strategic planning and of aligning the project to the information systems plan (LO-0126) |
2 2.1.4 Role of IS within the
enterprise: strategic, tactical and operations 2 2.2.1 IS planning 2 2.2.4 IS functional structures -- internal vs outsourcing 2 2.2.5 Determining goals and objectives of the IS organization 2 2.4.1 Job design theory 2 3.5.2 Planning the IS architecture 3 3.8.2 Relating the application to the enterprise model 3 3.10.7 Software project management: scoping, scheduling, configuration manage... |
| 27 | to demonstrate specific classes of application systems including TPS and DSS | describe the classifications of
information systems, e.g., TPS, DSS, ESS, WFS (LO-0012) explain relevant organizational IS: TPS, DSS, EIS, ES, Work Flow Systems (LO-0040) |
2 3.12.1 Transaction processing systems 2 3.12.2 Management information systems 2 3.12.3 Group support systems 1 3.12.6 Office systems 1 3.12.8 Work-flow systems |
| 28 | to discuss and examine the process, standards and policies for development of information systems: development methodologies, life cycle, workflow, OOA, prototyping, spiral, end-user and other approaches | discuss and explain the concept of an IS development methodology; explain life cycle, workflow, OOA, prototyping, risk-based models, spiral and other restricting models; show how this can be proactively furnished (LO-0192) | 2 3.5.5 Planning for IS security,
privacy and control 2 3.6.2 Risk management principles 2 3.9.2 Design methodologies: e.g., real time, object oriented, structured |
| 29 | to discuss outsourcing and alternate implementations of the IS function | explain the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing some or most of the IS function; state IS personnel requirements with and without outsourcing (LO-0180) | 2 2.2.2 Control of the IS function:
e.g., EDP auditing, outsourcing 2 2.2.8 IS as a service function: performance evaluation -- external/internal, market... |
| 30 | to discuss performance evaluation consistent with quality management and continuous improvement | describe, explain and apply the
responsibilities of the project leader; manage a small
systems development project (LO-0151) discuss, explain and implement a methodology for
tracking customer satisfaction within all phases of the
life cycle (LO-0152) explain methodologies to facilitate measurements to achievement of ISO 9000, Baldridge, National Performance Review and other quality standards (LO-0179) |
3 2.2.10 Strategic use of IS: e.g.,
competitive advantage and IS, process re-engineer... 3 2.3.4 Decision models and IS: optimizing, satisficing 3 2.3.5 Group decision process |
| 31 | to introduce the societal implications
of IS and related ethical issues to introduce and explore ethical concepts and issues
relating to personal and professional behavior to introduce, compare and contrast ethical models and
approaches to explore ethical and social analysis skills to consider the nature and existence of power |
discuss and explain ethics and
principled behavior and the concept of ethical practice
in IS (LO-0045) discuss ethical major ethical models and discuss the
reasons for being ethical explain the use of professional codes of ethics;
explain the burden of professionalism resulting from
trust associated with computing knowledge and skills discuss and explain the basis and nature of
questionable ethical approaches discuss and explain the ethical and social analysis of
IS development discuss and explain the issues of power and its social impact in the development life cycle |
2 2.8.6 Ethics: Personal and
professional responsibility 2 2.8.7 Risks, losses and liability in computing applications 2 2.10.6 Proactive attitude and approach |
| 119 | to discuss and explain ethical and legal
principles and issues; to discuss and explain ethical considerations of information systems development, planning, implementation, usage, sales, distribution, operation and maintenance |
list and explain ethical and legal
issues in development, ownership, sales, acquisition, use
and maintenance of computer systems and software
(LO-0215) explain the utilization of ethical models, e.g.
principle centered leadership to IS life cycle stages give examples of the effects of social context on technology development |
2 2.8.1 Software sales, licensing and
agency 2 2.8.3 Privacy law 2 2.8.5 Protection of intellectual property rights 2 2.8.6 Ethics: Personal and professional responsibility; ethical models 2 2.8.7 Risks, losses and liability in computing applications 2 2.8.8 Warranties |
| 123 | to investigate issues relative to managing the information systems function | explain security and privacy issues
(LO-0128) explain the basis for a legal contract to develop systems (LO-0129) |
2 2.8.1 Software sales, licensing and
agency 2 2.8.2 Contract fundamentals 2 2.8.3 Privacy law 2 2.8.5 Protection of intellectual property rights 2 3.5.5 Planning for IS security, privacy and control |
IS'97.4
Networking and Telecommunications
2385
CATALOG Students will gain in-depth experience of telecommunications fundamentals, including voice-video-data for LAN, MANN and WAN including the switched network systems. Data communication and telecommunication models and standards, concepts, and standard organizations will be studied. Installation, configuration, systems integration and management of the technologies will be practiced.
2389
SCOPE The course provides an in-depth knowledge of
telecommunications technologies, hardware and software. Emphasis
is upon the analysis and design of networking applications in
business. Management of telecommunications networks, cost-benefit
analysis and evaluation of connectivity options is also covered.
Students learn to evaluate, select and implement different
communication options within a business.
2393
TOPICS Telecommunication devices and standards, media,
systems; modems, multiplexers, bridges, routers, gateways and
other network hardware and software; network configuration;
network applications; coding of data; cost-benefit analysis;
distributed versus centralized systems; architectures, topologies
and protocols; network performance analysis; privacy, security,
reliability; installation of networks; monitoring of networks;
management of telecommunications.
EXPLANATION AND EXPECTATIONS
2399
Students who have used LANs, MANNs, and WANs to complete
assignments in previous courses and who are knowledgeable of the
significance of information technology in facilitating
information systems will be given an opportunity in this course
to gain considerable depth in telecommunications, both
theoretically and through practical experience.
2403
Students will learn some of the significant telecommunications
standards and about the organizations that have developed the
standards. The ISO seven layered model will be presented. The
CCITT and IEEE standards will be reviewed.
2406
The technology supporting telephone companies, satellite
communications, as well as local and metropolitan systems will be
explored. Devices including switches, media, modems,
multiplexers, computer interfaces, bridges, routers and gateways
will be studied.
2409
Acquisition, installation, configuration and other details of
management of the various technologies will be studied.
Students completing this course will have mastered the
following learning units:
2412
| Learning Unit Number |
Learning Unit Goal |
Learning Unit Objectives |
Competency Level and Body of
Knowledge Elements in Learning Units |
| 32 | to develop awareness and associated terminology of the different objects, media and devices necessary for telecommunications, including local (LAN) and wide area (WAN) networks | identify the characteristics of
telecommunication transmission media to LAN, MAN and WAN
environments (LO-0065) access a remote information system for file transfer
in both LAN and WAN environments (LO-0066) discuss and explain the telecommunications industry and the concepts of standards and regulationq |
2 1.5.2 Data transmission: media,
signaling techniques, transmission impairments... 3 1.5.4 Local area networks 3 1.5.6 Network architectures and protocols |
| 33 | to develop an awareness of how telecommunication systems are used to support organization communication infrastructure including information systems, teleconferencing, and telecomputer conferencing | explain the use of information systems to support "work flow"; discuss the concepts of teleconferencing and telecomputer conferencing in enabling communications and decision making; discuss and explain the infrastructure involving telecommunication systems (LO-0209) | 2 1.5.8 Network configuration,
performance analysis and monitoring 2 1.5.12 Application: e.g., client server, EDI, EFT, phone network, e-mail, multimedia... 2 2.1.2 Organizational work groups 2 2.1.3 Organizational span: single user, work group, team, enterprise, global 2 2.2.15.1 Telecommunications management 3 2.3.4 Decision models and IS: optimizing, satisficing 3 2.3.5 Group decision process |
| 34 | to explore the issues related to the economics, design and management of computer networks | explain the steps in analyzing and
configuring a telecommunication system, including
specific hardware and software components (LO-0070) explain the purpose of modems, bridges, gateways, hubs, and routers in interconnecting systems |
3 1.5.8 Network configuration,
performance analysis and monitoring 2 2.2.15.1 Telecommunications management |
| 35 | to familiarize the student with the telecommunication standards and with regulatory organizations and their standards | identify the role of standards and of
regulatory organizations and their standards as a
facilitator in achieving local through global
telecommunications (LO-0062) explain digital coding of data relevant to telecommunications (LO-0067) |
2 1.5.1 International telecommunication
standards, models, trends 2 1.5.5 Wide area networks: switching techniques, broadcast techniques, routing 2 1.5.8 Network configuration, performance analysis and monitoring 2 1.5.9 Network security: encryption, digital signatures, authentication |
| 36 | to discuss and explain underlying principles and issues of distributed versus centralized computer systems | explain, diagram and discuss structures and principles involved in distributing computing resources and data; identify hardware and software requirements and approximate costs of centralized and distributed systems; discuss and explain risks, security and privacy in alternate system configurations (LO-0211) | 3 1.1.4 Computer system components:
busses, controllers, storage systems, peripherals 2 1.4.2 Interaction of operating system and hardware architecture 1 1.4.9 Distributed operating systems 2 1.5.5 Wide area networks: switching techniques, broadcast techniques, routing 2 1.6.8 Distributed databases 2 2.1.6 Organizational structure: centralized, decentralized, matrix 2 3.8.3 Requirements determination and specification |
| 37 | to present architectures, topologies, and protocols of telecommunications | identify and explain the function of
each of the layers of the ISO model (LO-0063) explain the concept of "virtual"
communications between communicating machines at each
layer of the ISO model identify and explain common topologies and
implementation methods and issues for telecommunication
systems (LO-0064) identify and describe the organization and operation
of bit and byte protocols (LO-0068) discuss telecommunication services and analyze a specific implementation of the ISO model (LO-0069) |
2 1.4.11 OS interoperability and
compatibility: e.g., open systems 2 1.5.1 International telecommunication standards, models, trends 2 1.5.3 Line configuration: error control, flow control, multiplexing 2 1.5.6 Network architectures and protocols 2 1.5.8 Network configuration, performance analysis and monitoring 2 1.5.9 Network security: encryption, digital signatures, authentication 2 1.5.10 High-speed networks: e.g. broadband ISDN, SMDS, ATM, FDDI 2 1.5.11 Emerging networks: ATM, ISDN, satellite nets, etc.; optic nets; integrated... 2 1.5.12 Application: e.g., client server, EDI, EFT, phone network, e-mail, multimedia... |
| 38 | to present the hardware and software components of telecommunications systems and how they are organized to provide required services | describe, diagram, discuss and explain
hardware and software components of telecommunications
systems; describe integration of phone, fax, LAN and WAN
systems; diagram and discuss various organizations of
hardware, identifying and describing each type of
required device (LO-0210) explain the use of routers and hubs in designing
interconnected systems explain telecommunication requirements of voice,
audio, data, still images, motion video and multimedia explain fast packet technologies and applications explain issues of telecommunications network design give examples of business applications of telecommunications and explain the devi es and their utilization in the described system |
2 1.1.4 Computer system components:
busses, controllers, storage systems, peripheral... 2 1.3.7.26 Compilers and translators 2 1.5.4 Local area networks 2 1.5.5 Wide area networks: switching techniques, broadcast techniques, routing 2 1.5.6 Network architectures and protocols 2 1.5.8 Network configuration, performance analysis and monitoring 2 3.1.4 System components and relationships |
| 39 | to provide awareness of the responsibilities inherent in providing telecommunication services, including security, privacy, reliability and performance | explain telecommunications systems performance measures and ensure adequate performance and reliability (LO-0076) | 2 1.5.8 Network configuration,
performance analysis and monitoring 2 2.8.4 Agencies and regulatory bodies |
| 40 | to explain how to install equipment necessary to implement a telecommunication system, e.g. cable, modems, Ethernet connections, gateways, routers | explain, install and test modems,
multiplexers and Ethernet components (LO-0071) explain, install and test bridges and routers on
appropriate hardware install and operate terminal emulation software on a
PC (LO-0073) explain and construct organizational plans for the use of EDI (LO-0162) |
3 1.5.2 Data transmission: media,
signaling techniques, transmission impairments 3 1.5.3 Line configuration: error control, flow control, multiplexing 3 1.5.5 Wide area networks: switching techniques , broadcast techniques, routing 3 1.5.12 Application: e.g., client server, EDI, EFT, phone network, e-mail, multimedia... 3 2.2.15.1 Telecommunications management 2 2.8.3 Privacy law |
| 41 | to explain how to design, install, configure and manage a LAN | design, install and manage a LAN
(LO-0072) explain and implement security appropriate for an end-user environment involving access to an enterprise level IS |
3 1.5.4 Local area networks 3 1.5.8 Network configuration, performance analysis and monitoring 3 2.2.15.1 Telecommunications management |
| 124 | to discuss issues pertinent to the management and transfer of emerging technologies | explain and detail methods for
environment scanning and selecting effective hardware and
software (LO-0163) explain management of emerging technologies (LO-0168) |
3 2.2.1 IS planning 2 2.2.14 Management of emerging technologies |