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MIS 204 (09WP) Introduction to Business Information Systems (3): Introduction to the use of information systems in business organizations. (3 credits)
Overview
Welcome to M I S 204! You are embarking on the study of a fascinating topic. Information systems affect nearly every aspect of our lives. In today's world we must be aware of the impact of information systems. The effective use of information systems often makes the difference between outstanding business success stories and disappointing failures. The successes of companies such as Dell and Wal-Mart are due in large part to their successful management and use of information systems. Effective use of management information systems can give an organization a critical competitive edge. Use of technology in higher education can provide competitive opportunities for institutions through enrollment management and the creative delivery of courses and degree programs. Information and information systems are key competitive tools that require careful management.
The responsibility for the management of information systems and the stewardship of organization information resources is not the sole responsibility of the technology staff. All business leaders have responsibility for organization information and information system resources. Leaders of today and tomorrow must be prepared to compete effectively in a competitive, global environment. They (you) must know how to employ information systems to lead their organizations in this competitive and rapidly changing world. This change is one of the most exciting and challenging aspects of the information systems field. It is changing constantly. On any given day you can pick up a newspaper or magazine, listen to a podcast, view a Web site, or hear a news broadcast announcing a new development in the field of information systems and technology. One of the key components and requirements of this course is to monitor the pulse of this ever-changing field. You are encouraged to regularly read the popular business literature such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Week, and other publications to find out what's happening in the field. A particularly informative technology publication is CIO magazine.
Success in this course does not require prior knowledge of information systems or technology. However, what you will learn in this course should enhance your understanding of the diverse applications of information systems in business. You will learn how information systems are applied in a variety of business functions such as marketing, accounting, finance, management, and supply chain management. In addition, you will have the opportunity to improve your hands-on skills with spreadsheets, databases, and Web-based tools. This course will not prepare you to be a technician or the chief information officer of an organization, but it can provide you with the tools to interact knowledgeably with technology professionals. To interact with technology professionals you will need to understand the roles information systems can play in an organization, why, when, and how information systems are developed, and how information systems impact organizations and individuals. This is what you should take from this course.
Course Objectives
By the time you complete this course, you should have learned about the following:
- how to use technology tools productively and creatively;
- what an information system is;
- what the role of an information system is within an organization;
- why, when, and how information systems are developed;
- how information systems can be shaped to meet the needs of organizations;
- how organizations can be shaped by information systems;
- how to communicate business requirements with technology professionals.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Software
Microsoft Office XP or more recent is required.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Arranging a Proctor
- Contact a person who meets the qualifications and ask him or her to proctor your exam.
- Student Services must approve your proctor before any exams can be taken. Please see instructions for securing a suitable proctor. While many proctors will serve on a voluntary basis, you are responsible for paying any expenses incurred in retaining a proctor.
- You must submit your proctor for approval or schedule your exams at a testing center using our online proctored exam portal. You will need to enter your proctor's contact information and submit proctor verification documentation. If you have any questions about using the procted exam portal, please visit the how-to guide. Note: If your proctor has been previously approved by the World Campus during a prior course within two years, you do not need to obtain verification. World Campus retains proctor information on file for two years.
- If your proctor does not meet the required specifications, Student Services will notify you within 5 to 7 business days.
- Students registered with Student Disability Resources who are receiving exam accommodations are responsible for providing their letter of accommodation to both faculty/instructors and exam proctors prior to scheduling exams.
- If you are a graduating senior requesting a final exam, please see additional information about early deadlines for course completion and exam scheduling.
- Contact Student Services if you cannot take a scheduled exam.
- Unless you have received permission to take your exam at an alternative time, your proctor will only allow you to take the exam during dates specified in your course.
Course Schedule
- Course begins: May 19, 2008
- Course ends: August 13, 2008
- Course length: 13 weeks
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
Your grade will be the result of several things: hands-on tutorial assignments, final project, and exams and chapter quizzes. There will be 2 exams. Each exam will cover approximately half of the book content and will therefore not be cumulative. Exams will be administered by a proctor, but will be OPEN BOOK.
The weighting of these will be as follows:
- Exams - 50%
- Hands-on assignments - 30%
- Chapter quizzes - 10%
- Final paper - 10%
Please refer to the University Registrar's information about University grading policies. If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.There will be online quizzes in ANGEL for each textbook chapter covered in the course. The purpose is to allow you to measure your understanding and retention of the text material to better prepare for the exams.
You will be asked to write a final paper about a topic selected from a list I provide in Lesson 2. You must provide a one-page outline of the paper for Lesson 7. The outline must be approved by your instructor before you take the mid-course exam. The final paper and all other assignments must be completed and submitted before you may take the final exam.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity (for undergraduate students in undergraduate courses) and policy GCAC-805 Academic Integrity (for graduate students and undergraduate students in graduate courses), an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity or GCAC-805 Academic Integrity as appropriate). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal
integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help
create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the
fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is
requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedures allow a student to accept or contest/appeal the allegation. If a student chooses to contest/appeal the allegation, the case will then be managed by the respective school, college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. Review procedures may vary by college, campus, or school, but all follow the aforementioned policies.
All academic integrity violations are referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, which may assign an educational intervention and/or apply a Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.
Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page.
Accomodating Disabilities
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.