MIS 2100

Principles of Management Information Systems

Course Website: http://canvas.usu.edu

Introduction:

Welcome to MIS 2100! Information Systems is an exciting and rewarding field, and we hope you are looking
forward to our class this semester. The purpose of MIS 2100 is to provide an overview of the role of
information technology (IT) and management information systems (MIS) in an organization. You will learn
how to select and use the right IT tools to carry out business tasks. In addition, you will become proficient at
solving business problems using spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel).

MIS 2100 is required for all Jon M. Huntsman School of Business majors at Utah State University. Knowledge
of IT and MIS is essential in an increasingly competitive and technological business climate. Being able to
identify the right technology tools and use them effectively will enhance your career opportunities regardless of
your chosen career.

Course Objectives:

MIS 2100 satisfies the IS 2010 Model Curriculum for undergraduate degree programs in information systems.1
Specifically, MIS 2100 fulfills the objectives of IS 2010.1, Fundamentals of Information Systems. These
objectives include:

1. Understand how and why information systems are used today.

2. Explain the technology, people, and organizational components of information systems.
3. Understand globalization and the role information systems has played in this evolution.
4. Understand how businesses are using information systems for competitive advantage vs. competitive
necessity.
5. Understand the value of information systems investments as well as learn to formulate a business case
for a new information system, including estimation of both costs and benefits.
6. Know the major components of an information systems infrastructure.
7. Mitigate risks as well as plan for and recover from disasters.
8. Understand how information systems are enabling new forms of commerce between individuals,
organizations, and governments.
9. Be aware of emerging technologies that enable new forms of communication, collaboration, and
partnering.
10. Understand how various types of information systems provide the information needed to gain business
intelligence to support the decision making for the different levels and functions of the organization.
11. Understand how enterprise systems foster stronger relationships with customers and suppliers and how
these systems are widely used to enforce organizational structures and processes.
12. Understand how organizations develop and acquire information systems and technologies.
13. Understand how to secure information systems resources, focusing on both human and technological
safeguards.
14. Evaluate the ethical concerns that information systems raise in society and the impact of information
systems on crime, terrorism, and war.

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Topi, H., Valacich, J.S., Wright, R.T., Kaiser, K.M., Nunamaker, Jr., J.F., Sipior, J.F., de Vreede, G.J. (2010), “IS 2010:
Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Information Systems”,
http://www.acm.org/education/curricula/IS%202010%20ACM%20final.pdf

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 15. Develop skills to effectively use standard spreadsheet software packages to support data analysis and
decision making.

Required Texts:

Two textbooks are required for this course:

Exploring Microsoft Office

Business Driven Information Excel 2013 Comprehensive by
Systems 4e by Paige Baltzan. Anne Poatsy, Keith Mulberry,
and Jason Davidson.

Textbooks may be shared among students with approval of the local facilitator.

Course Materials/Access:

All course material, including PowerPoint slides, assignments, grades, etc., will be posted to an online learning
management system called Canvas (http://canvas.usu.edu). You should have automatic access to the course
materials on Canvas as soon as you register for the course. It is very important that you access Canvas early
and regularly in the semester, since you will be responsible any course material, change, or notification that
is posted there.

Required Software:

Coursework will require that you have access to Microsoft Excel, the Microsoft Office spreadsheet application.
You are strongly encouraged to use the 2013 version of Excel, but the 2010 or 2007 versions may also be
used if the 2013 version is not available. You can use this software on your own computer or in a local
computer lab. You must use Excel for Windows as Excel for Mac may lack some advanced features you will be
required to use.

Course Approach:

MIS 2100 takes a combination approach that includes textbook readings, faculty presentations, computer-based
instruction, and homework assignments. The textbook readings, faculty presentations, and computer-based
instruction will help to convey the main body of knowledge for this class and include a variety of terms,
concepts, and issues related to IT and MIS. The homework assignments are designed to reinforce your
understanding of particular concepts taught in class.

Grading:

Grading in this class is based on the percentages listed below:

Professional Conduct/Participation 10%

Assignments 45%
Exam 1 15%
Exam 2 15%
Exam 3 15%

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 A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F
>93% >90% >87% >83% >80% >77% >73% >70% >67% >60% <60%

Professional Conduct/Participation (10%):

Professionalism implies positive participation in class discussions and an appropriate attitude for learning. You
are expected to always demonstrate professionalism in this course, in your work as well as in your conduct.
You are expected to demonstrate professionalism in your work by:
1. Submitting your work on time.
2. Displaying integrity by doing your own work and not cheating (see below); never plagiarize the work
of others, including the textbook.
3. Submitting college-level work. Your writing should consist of complete sentences, and should be free
from spelling and grammatical errors. It should demonstrate that you understand the material and that
you can thoughtfully justify your answers.
You are expected to demonstrate professionalism in your conduct by:
1. Coming to class regularly and on time.
2. Participating in class discussions and exercises.
3. Not engaging in activities that show disrespect to the instructor or to your fellow students, including
talking on cell phones or browsing the Internet during class.

Assignments (45%):

There will be an assignment due for nearly every textbook chapter covered. MIS-related assignments will
consist of online, open-book quizzes completed on Canvas. Excel-related assignments will provide
opportunities to use spreadsheet software to analyze business-related problems. In almost all instances,
additional time outside of class to complete assignments will be necessary. Assignments must be:
1. Submitted ON TIME. No late work is accepted.
2. Completed individually by you and you alone (with the exception of the business analysis cases, which
are team-based). You are welcome to ask other students for assistance, but your work must be your
own.
3. Completed professionally (see Professionalism section above).

Submission

All assignments will be submitted to Canvas (http://canvas.usu.edu). Due dates for each assignment will appear
on Canvas. Assignments must be submitted on or before the due date to receive credit. Late assignments will
not be accepted.

Occasionally, there may be technical problems with Canvas that prevent you from submitting your assignment.
In such cases, you may email your assignment to the facilitator. However, the email must be sent on or before
the assignment due date or no credit will be given.

Exams (45%):

There will be three exams that will consist of multiple-choice and/or true/false questions that cover the material
presented in your textbooks. It is crucial that you read your textbooks to perform well on the exams, as
some material may not be covered during class.

Alternative Format Available for Course Materials:

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Students with disabilities are encouraged to discuss their needs with the instructor, preferably during the first
week of the semester. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for all persons with disabilities to ensure
equal participation in class.

Comfortable Learning Environment:

USU, the MIS Department, and your instructor are all committed to maintaining an inoffensive, non-threatening
learning environment for every student. Class members (including the instructor) are thus to treat each other
politely both in word and deed. Offensive humor and aggressive personal advances are specifically forbidden.
If you feel uncomfortable with a personal interaction in class, see your instructor for help in solving the
problem. The MIS Department Head, the Dean of the Huntsman School of Business, and USU's Affirmative
Action Office are also willing to help as needed.

Incompletes:

An “I” (Incomplete) grade is not to be used for avoiding a bad grade – this is University policy. Only
extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances that prohibit a student from completing the course are adequate
reason for giving an Incomplete grade.

Academic Integrity Policy:

There is no room whatsoever for cheating in this class. Anyone caught cheating in any way will at best receive a
failing grade for the course and at worst will be kicked out of the university. We have no tolerance for cheating.
What is cheating? Cheating may include (but is not limited to): plagiarizing the work of other students or
material from the textbook, Web, or other sources; utilizing more resources than allowed while completing
exams (including other students, books, the Web, or other materials); and, finally, turning in the work of another
student (present or past) as your own work.

Tentative Course Schedule:

The following is a tentative course schedule (subject to change)*. Below, BDIS refers to the Business Driven
Information Systems textbook and Excel refers to the Exploring Excel 2013 Comprehensive textbook.

Week 1 – MIS: Business-Driven MIS & Decisions and Processes (BDIS Chapters 1,2)
Week 2 – Excel: Basics & Formulas and Functions (Excel Chapters 1,2)
Week 3 – MIS: E-Business & Ethics and Information Security (BDIS Chapters 3,4)
Week 4 – Excel: Charts & DataSets and Tables (Excel Chapters 3,4)
Week 5 – Review / Exam 1 (BDIS & Excel Chapters 1-4)

Week 6 – MIS: Infrastructures (BDIS Chapter 5 & Appendix A)

Week 7 – Excel: Subtotals, PivotTables, PivotCharts & What-If Analysis (Excel Chapters 5,6)
Week 8 – MIS: Databases & Business Intelligence (BDIS Chapter 6 & Appendix C)
Week 9 – Excel: Specialized & Statistical Functions (Excel Chapters 7,8)
Week 10 – Review/ Exam 2 (BDIS Chapters 5-6/Appendix A&C & Excel Chapters 5-8)

Week 11 – MIS: Networks & Mobile Business (BDIS Chapter 7 & Appendix B)
Week 12 – Excel: Multiple Workbook Mgmt & External Data (Excel Chapters 9,10)
Week 13 – MIS: Enterprise Applications & Systems Development (BDIS Chapters 8,9)
Week 14 – Excel: Templates, Styles, and Macros (Excel Chapter 12)
Week 15 – Review / Exam 3 (BDIS Chapters 7-9/Appendix B & Excel Chapters 9, 10, 12)

*This schedule is approximate and may be adjusted to accommodate variations in local campus
schedules.
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