IMSC 628 – Technology Systems in Business

Prerequisite: None

Administrative Information:
Class Duration: Jan 5th, 2011 to March 29th, 2011
Day/Time: Online - Each week starts on Monday at 1:00 a.m.
and ends on the following Sunday midnight at 11: 59
p.m.
Location: Online Moodle Platform
Manassas Campus Phone: (703) 392-0487
Annandale Campus Phone: (703) 941-0949

Instructor Contact Information:

Instructor: Ramesh Rajagopalan, Ph.D.
Office Hours:
Office Hour Location:
E-mail: RRajagopalan.faculty@unva.edu
I prefer all questions to be posted in the general
forum in Moodle. Other students may have similar
questions and can benefit from the answer. Calling
and resolving an issue is better than sending email.
Telephone: (703) 968-5786 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm weekdays.

Instructional Material:
Baltzan, P., & Phillips, A. (2010). Business Driven Technology (4th Edition).
McGraw-Hill Higher Education. ISBN 978-0-07-735935-5.

Course Description:
Increasingly, sophisticated technology systems dominate business. The aim of the
course is to build an understanding of the value and uses of the major information
systems for business operation, management decision-making, and strategic
advantage. Special attention will be placed on building IT problem-solving skills.
(3 credit hours)

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Course Learning Outcome:
At the completion of this course students are expected have knowledge and
understanding of:

* Basic concepts of technology evolution, technology innovation, information, and its

applicability in organizations;
* Basic concepts of Technology as it is used in organizations and society, including the
evolution of the role of Technologies in general and IT in particular in organizations and
society;
* The business and information management processes and functions for which IT is
used in organizations, and in which IT professionals are involved;

Designated weekly learning outcomes are listed in a separate file which is available upon
request.

Teaching Method:

This is completely an online course. The Teaching method is predominately “learning by

doing” and students are expected to diligently complete all assignments – reading and
written.

Participating in Discussion is the central instructional strategy. This is most favored by

adult learners because it is interactive and encourages active, participatory learning. The
discussion format encourages learners to analyze alternative ways of thinking and acting
and assists learners in exploring their own experiences so they can become better critical
thinkers. Hence participating in Discussion Questions (DQs) is at the heart of this online
course. Please read the welcome note in the general Forum on Moodle.

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 Course Schedule and Outline:

In addition to the written assignments below, students are expected to participate in

weekly discussions forums which will be graded.

Week Starting Lecture Topic Assignment Assignment Due Textbook

Date Given at end of week Reading
1 Jan 5th Introduction and overview Assg # Unit 4
2 Jan 10th Building Innovation Paper 1 Unit 4
3 Jan 17th Building Innovation Assg# Unit 5 Assg# Unit 4 Unit 4 & plugins
B5,B11,B21
4 Jan 24th E-Business Paper 1 Chap 14
st
5 Jan 31 Managing Software Paper 2 Assg# Unit 5 Unit 5 & plugins
Development B12 thru B16 and
B19 ,B20
6 Feb 7th Managing Software Mid term Mid term Unit 5
Development Final Term Paper
7 Feb 14th Mid-term & Recap Assg# Unit 1
8 Feb 21st Achieving Business Paper 3 Paper 2 Unit 1 & plugins
Success B1,B2, B7
9 Feb 28th Business Intelligence Assg# Unit 2 Assg# Unit 1 Unit 1 & plugins
B1,B2, B7
10 Mar 7th Business Operations Paper 3 Unit 2 & Plugins
B3, B4,B6, B18
11 Mar 14th Business Operations Assg# Unit 2 Unit 3 & Plugins
B8,B9,B10,B17
12 Mar 21st Final & Recap Final Exam Final Exam Unit 1 thru Unit 5
Final term Paper and all plugins

Assg# = assignment
Paper – paper review

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Course Requirement and Evaluation:
Evaluation will occur via quizzes, exams, homework assignments, presentation, in-class exercises,
case analyses, class participation, class attendance, etc.

Students should read the assigned chapter(s) prior to attending class. Most weeks there will be a
quiz on the assigned readings in the text. The mid-term and final will be modeled along the lines of
the in-class quiz. So be sure to keep up with the weekly reading assignments as well.

All students are advised to obtain and log into Moodle to download review papers and articles that
are required for weekly written assignments. Written paper assignments should be submitted in
hard copy at the beginning of each class. Electronic versions are not acceptable. Written papers
will be graded on content and presentation. Please read the following companion document in the
Moodle :
Additional reading materials – this is important and will be considered as part of syllabus.
Assignments – this describes in detail the assignments.

The deliverables will entail 1,000 possible points, broken down as follows:

200 points Assignments 4 x 50

300 points Paper review (3x 100)

100 points Mid term

100 points Final

100 points Discussion forums 6 x 15 = 90

200 Final term paper

1000 points Actual marks will be out of 100 and then scaled to 1000

The numerical score is then converted to a letter grade using the following scale:
Above and including 900 - A
Above and including 800 - B
Above and including 700 - C
Below and not including 700 - F

Academic Integrity:
Academic honesty is non-negotiable. All assignments submitted in fulfillment of course
requirements must be the student's own work. Plagiarism and/or any other form of
academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in a grade of zero on the
assignment. Students should consult the Student’s Handbook on the University web-site or
in the University catalog.

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Attendance, Absence, Lateness, Incomplete:
• International students in the US on F-1 visas, and Students receiving Veteran’s
benefits are reminded that regular attendance is required. The university is required by law
to report excessive absenteeism by students in these two categories.
• In accordance with the policies of the University of Northern Virginia, class
attendance is required. If a student has more than three absences in consecutive weeks,
he or she will be asked to meet with the International Student Advisor.
It is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor prior to an absence from class.
Messages can be left at the instructor’s e-mail or phone. Students are responsible for work
missed during an absence.
• Each class will start promptly at the scheduled time.
• A course grade of “incomplete” will be given only under very unusual
circumstances, and only if the student has completed at least 75% of the assigned work by
the last day of class and only when an incomplete contract is signed and approved.

Learning Resources/Library:
Utilization of library resources is an indispensible part of your education at the UNVA. Our
librarians are available to assist you from 9:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Please
take advantage of this opportunity for assistance to your success while you are here at
UNVA.

The UNVA library offers an extensive range of resources, particularly online, for student
use. Our library subscription journal databases include:
• ABI/INFORM Complete
o ABI Dateline
o ABI Global
o ABI T&I
• Academic OneFile
• Business & Company Resource Center
• Business ASAP
• Business Source Complete
• Computer Database
• Dissertations & Theses
• EconLit with Full Text
• Education Research Complete
• ERIC
• Expanded Academic ASAP
• General Business File ASAP
• General OneFile
• Health and Wellness Resource Center
• Health Reference Center Academic
• IBISWorld
• InfoTrac Custom Newspapers
• LegalTrac
• Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts

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 • Literature Resource Center
• Newsletters ASAP
• ProQuest Psychology Journals
• ProQuest Research Library
• Student Resource Center Gold Edition
• Teacher Reference Center
• ...and other article databases

The library also provides access to thousands of electronic books, including:

• ebrary
• EBL Books
• Safari Business & Tech Books
• ...and other e-book collections

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