Lahore University of Management Sciences

DISC 112 – Computer and Problem Solving

Spring 2021

Instructor Ms. Maryam Shah

Room No. -
Office Hours By appointment only – you may email the instructor to arrange for a meeting a mutually agreed upon time
Email [email protected]
Telephone -
Secretary/TA Tauseef Zahra Alvi (Ext. 8041)
TA Office Hours -
Course URL (if any) Suraj.lums.edu.pk

Course Teaching Methodology (Please mention following details in plain text)

• Teaching Methodology: synchronous and asynchronous, a blend of both
• Lecture details: 20% recorded and 80% live interaction lectures (depending on circumstances may be adjusted)

Course Basics
Credit Hours 4
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 75 minutes
Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 1 Duration 3 hours
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration

Course Distribution
Core Yes
Elective -
Open for Student Category Freshmen
Close for Student Category -

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Problem solving is an essential skill that managers use in their decision-making processes. In view of the pervasive use of
computers, the contemporary manager must be aware of the tools and techniques that support problem-solving and decision-
making in the modern business environment. This course aims at developing a basic understanding of a) the theory of information
systems and the role of IS in managing information, b) fundamentals of problem-solving techniques using spreadsheets with
particular emphasis on effectively presenting relevant information (such as through the development of dashboards), and c)
elementary concepts of computer programming to better understand and support the development of decision-support models.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)

COURSE OBJECTIVES
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1. Develop a broad understanding of fundamental concepts of managing information technology and computing in the
modern business environment which include
a. Information systems to support the information and decision-making requirements of managers at all levels
within the organization
b. Types of information systems commonly used in organizations such as functional and cross-functional systems
c. Networked or “connected” systems and the challenges and opportunities they present across different types of
organizations
d. Data resource management systems and their importance particularly in the context of the large volumes of data
that organizations have to manage in today’s environment
2. Introduce students to the concept of modeling for improved decision-making with particular emphasis on developing
a. a systematic approach towards building, analyzing, and interpreting results of simple spreadsheet-based models
b. effective data representation skills
3. Introduce students to computer programming fundamentals

LEARNING OUTCOMES
• To introduce students to the concept of ‘modeling’ as the process of building, refining and analyzing the
representation of data for greater insights and improved decision-making
• To equip students with technical skills of working with the spreadsheet software, Excel
• To develop skills that enable effective data representation
• To introduce students to databases and explain how data can be extracted from these into decision
models
• To introduce students to how Information Systems can support the information needs of decision makers
at various levels within the modern organization
• To introduces students to the various challenges that a business manager might face in managing the
development, implementation, and operations of information technology in an organization
• To introduces students to the business value of implementing data resource management processes and
technologies in an organization

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES

General Learning Goals & Objectives

• Goal 1 –Effective Written and Oral Communication

Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral communication skills
• Goal 2 –Ethical Understanding and Reasoning
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and address ethical issues in an
organizational context.
• Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key problems and generate viable
solutions.
• Goal 4 – Application of Information Technology
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current technologies in business and
management context.
• Goal 5 – Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in diverse environments.
• Goal 6 – Understanding Organizational Ecosystems
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they understand Economic, Political, Regulatory, Legal,
Technological, and Social environment of organizations.

Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives

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• Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific Knowledge and Understanding
Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and how they interact
including application to real world situations (including subject knowledge).
• Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the “science” behind the decision-making process (for MGS Majors)
Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem, design and apply appropriate
decision-support tools, interpret results and make meaningful recommendations to support the decision-
maker

MAPPING OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES

PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS AND COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES COURSE ASSESSMENT ITEM
OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 - Effective Written and Oral Objective 1 (c) (partially) Labs and Quizzes
Communication

Goal 2 - Ethical Understanding and

Reasoning

Goal 3 - Analytical Thinking and Objectives 1(a) and 1(b) Labs, Quizzes and Final Exam
Problem-Solving Skills

Goal 4 - Application of Information Objectives 2(a), 2(b) and 3 Labs and Quizzes
Technology

Goal 5 - Teamwork in Diverse and

Multicultural Environments

Goal 6 - Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems

Goal 7 (a) - Discipline Specific Objectives 1(a), 1(b), 1(c) and 1(d) Labs, Quizzes and Final Exam
Knowledge and Understanding
(Subject Knowledge)

Goal 7 (b) - Understanding the

“science” behind the decision-
making process
 Lahore University of Management Sciences

GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY

Lab Assignment(s ): 25% (can be group or individual)
Group based Labs will be individual-submission assignments: students will be encouraged to work in groups but submit
individual labs. A randomly selected lab from each group will be graded for the whole group. All group members will receive the
same marks unless one or more group members fail to submit the lab in which case there may be a 20% (or more) deduction in
the grade for that lab. The purpose of this structure is to encourage students to “teach” each other in small groups. Students
will not be allowed to make-up a missed lab by sitting in another lab. [Week 1 lab will be an exception. It will be a significantly
shorter, individual lab to ensure familiarity with the basic Excel environment and LMS submission]

Attendance and CP: 10%

Quizzes : (30) %
(can be announced or unannounced)

Final Examination (Lab-based): 35%

This will be a lab-based comprehensive exam. The exam will have to be completed individually.

There will be no make-up labs or exams. A single grade will be awarded for the course (lecture + lab)

EXAMINATION DETAIL

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Theory
Quizzes Duration: TBD
Preferred Date: TBD
Exam Specifications: TBD

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Lab
Final Exam
Duration: min 2 hours
Exam Specifications: TBD
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COURSE OVERVIEW
Recommended Objectives/
Lecture # Topics
Readings Application
Module 1: Information Systems
Introduce format of the course
1 Course Introduction Operational aspects (LMS and Zambeel)
What is IT for business?
2 How do modern organizations compete with IT?
Information Systems in Global Laudon and Laudon Chapter
Understanding the fit between business and IT
3 Businesses 1, 3
strategy
What is an Information System?
Enterprise Business Systems Laudon and Laudon Chapter What are business processes? How are they
2, 9 related to information systems?
4
Understand information needs at various levels
within the organization and the different kinds of
decisions they facilitate?
5 Understand different types of information
6 systems (from functional to cross-functional and
enterprise information systems)
7 How do enterprise systems help businesses
achieve operational excellence?
IT Infrastructure and Emerging Laudon and Laudon Chapter What are the current trends in computer software
8 and hardware platforms?
Technologies 5

9 Familiarize students to the fundamental concepts

Laudon and Laudon Chapter involved in e-commerce, m-commerce and
e-Commerce and m-Commerce
10 10 related payment systems.
Laudon and Laudon Chapter Familiarize students with the fundamentals of the
13 software development lifecycle (SDLC)
11 Information Systems Development Introduce the concept of waterfall vs. agile
development

12
Laudon and Laudon Chapter Introduce students to the fundamentals of data
13 Data Resource Management
6 management in organizations
14
15 Mid-Term
Module 2: Introduction to Modeling
Problem Solving by Computer Fairhurst - Chapter 1 & 2 Introduce students to problem solving and model
16
Modeling building
17 Introduce students to influence diagrams
Introduction to Influence Diagrams Powell & Baker Chapter 2
18
19 Introduce students to the broad concept of What-
If analysis as part of building models and
What-If Analysis Curtis Frye: Chapter 8
20 interpreting outcomes to support decision-making
process
Module 3: Introduction to Computer Programming
Introduction to Programming using Introduce students to the importance of
21 VBA understanding basic concepts in computer
programming using Macros
Variables and Calculations Introduce the concept of storing information in
22
memory and performing calculations
23
Conditional statements Revisit conditional statements (If-Then-Else)
24
25 Introduce students to the concept and use of
Loops
26 repeating statements using loop commands
27 Procedures Introduce students to good programming
Functions practices through the use of procedures and
28 functions
FINAL EXAM
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COURSE OVERVIEW – LAB SCHEDULE

RECOMMENDED
LABS TOPICS SESSION OBJECTIVE(S)
READINGS
Course Introduction, File Management,
1 Assignment submission @ LUMS, Basic Introduce students to model building
framework of model building
Introduction to Spreadsheets: Cells, Ranges,
2 Worksheets & Workbooks, Formatting and Curtis Frye: Chapter 1 & 2; Familiarize students with the basic
Entering Data, Performing Calculations of Curtis Frye: Chapter 3 & 4 spreadsheet modeling environment
3 Data
Advance Excel Functions (logical, statistical Develop MS Excel skills
4
and lookup functions) such as limiting data, manipulating
Curtis Frye: Chapter 5, 6,
Filtering Specific Data, Sorting Data, worksheet data, sorting worksheet data,
5 10
Validating Data organizing data into levels and creating
6 Creating Charts and Tables charts
Develop students’ ability to pull data
7 Combining data from multiple sources Curtis Frye: Chapter 7 into their spreadsheet model from text
files, other databases and/or the web
8 MIDTERM No Lab Class
Practice development of influence
9 Influence Diagram
diagrams
What-if Analysis Understand the use of Excel’s What-if
10 Analysis options (Goal Seek, Data Table
and Scenario Manager)
11 VBA Programming, Defining Variables
Develop sufficient understanding of
12 Conditional Statements
programming with VBA that students
13 Loops
can develop a simple dashboard
14 Procedures and Functions

Textbook(s)/Supplementary Readings
Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (2017), 15th edition by Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon
Frye, Curtis D. (2010) Step-by-Step: Microsoft Excel 2010, Microsoft Press.
Powell, S. G. and Baker, K. R. (2009) Management Science: the Art of Modeling with Spreadsheets, 3/e, Wiley.
Fairhurst, D.S. (2012) Using Excel for business analysis a guide to financial modeling fundamentals. Wiley.