ALBANY STATE
UNIVERSITY
ALBANY, GEORGIA
MASTER OF PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: PADM 5500: Computer
Applications & Management Information Systems
Course Number: PADM 5500.01
Semester Offered: Fall Semester, 2009
Class Meetings: Wednesday evenings 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Simmons
204
Instructor: Dr. Bruce
Neubauer, Simmons, Room 307
229-430-4872,
bruce.neubauer@asurams.edu
Office Hours: Daily 9:30 to 11:30
a.m. and by appointment.
Course Home
Page: http://www.robertcat.net/fall2009/padm5500/index.html
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
Powering Up: How Public Managers Can Take Control of Information Technology (2001) by Barett and Greene. ISBN 1568025750
Fundamentals of Information Systems, by Stair and Reynolds.
Fourth edition.
Supplementary
Readings: Additional
materials and/or Web sites will be assigned.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students are introduced to the concepts and theories of management
information systems, the practices in government organizations, as well as
issues, problems and trends. The course will also introduce students to a
variety of software programs. This course is designed to prepare students
with computer application skills and management of information knowledge for
professional competency to perform successfully as managers in the government
and nonprofit sector.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
While this course has some technical content the purpose and intent is to help students become better generalist managers in government agencies, nonprofits, and other kinds of organizations. Areas of emphasis include information technology (IT) hardware and software, e-governance and e-democracy, knowledge management, workflow design and automation, object-oriented analysis, service-oriented architecture (SOA) and new and emerging technologies of potential relevance to organizations. Upon completion of this course, managers will be better prepared to participate in strategic planning, to work with IT project managers and other IT professionals, and venders of IT systems. Managers will have a better understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), including strategies for the identification and mitigation of risks that often contribute to cost overruns and less-than-successful IT projects. This course examines the means by which information technology can improve management functions and the quality of services provided to citizens and other clients.
MEANS OF COURSE DELIVERY
The presentation and discussion of course content will be accomplished
using a hybrid model of traditional classroom meetings and multiple uses of
online technologies. This means of
delivery of educational services reflects Goal Four of Albany State
University's strategic plan, which is to provide and maintain state of the art
information technology that will support the University's mission and goals,
including instructional excellence.
The means by which course objectives will be achieved include readings,
classroom presentations by instructor and students, classroom discussion, a
course term project, computer lab assignments, and assessment by examinations. Each course activity and deliverable is
intended to contribute to the technical insights relevant to the
responsibilities of non-technical public and nonprofit managers.
TEACHING METHODS
This course includes both theory and application. The class will meet regularly in a traditional
classroom or computer lab, depending upon availability. There will be substantial use of the Internet
to supplement traditional learning methods through a blended (hybrid) approach
to learning. This course will employ
techniques to integrate a variety of instructional techniques, encourage
independent learning, and use interactive learning methods.
CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY
Class attendance is mandatory at Albany State University. The ASU attendance policy states that: “All
students are expected to be in class on time for all class meetings. Attendance begins the first day of class and
all students are expected to remain in class for the entire class period unless
prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Absenteeism cannot exceed the credit hours
for the course. This means if a class
meets two times per week, a student cannot miss class more than two times
during the semester without suffering a substantial penalty. Excessive absences may result in the
instructor lowering the grade earned by one letter grade, e.g. “A” to “B” or
“D” to “F”. Students should contact the
instructor in advance regarding any foreseen instances of absence, tardiness,
or early departure. Students must
provide valid documentation by the next class meeting for excused absence.
CLASS AND COURSE CANCELLATION/MODIFICATION
POLICY
The instructor reserves the right to make
modifications to the course syllabus and requirements that are in the best
interest of the learning environment.
Students will be notified in a timely manner of any such modifications
in class and on the course Web site. In
the event a class meeting needs to be cancelled, the instructor will make effort
to notify students via email or telephone.
The topics missed during this class will be rescheduled or an
independent class assignment given.
UNIVERSITY WRITING REQUIREMENT
Albany State University has a writing reinforcement policy. Writing is integral to teaching and learning
in all disciplines. Writing activities
in this course will be evaluated and may include a variety of in-class and
out-of-class writing assignments and forms of essay writing required on
examinations. The APA Writing Style
(current edition) is used for this course.
Plagiarism (representing something you did not write as being something
you wrote) is a serious academic offense.
The instructor may use software to detect possible plagiarism. A "mashup"
of sentences or paragraphs from multiple sources is not your work and
constitutes plagiarism. Work that
appears to have been produced by plagiarism will not be accepted as your
work. When in doubt, ask. Students will not receive credit for work
they turn in to which they fail to attach their name and thereby neglect to claim
authorship.
QEP PARTICIPATION
The University's QEP initiative is intended to encourage and support the
use of writing assignments across the entire campus. Selected writing assignments in this course
(including in-class writing not evident in the syllabus) will be reviewed by
others who are administering the QEP program.
Given that the QEP program is new I have decided not to make these
additional in-class writing assignments a part of the course grading
systems. Questions regarding the QEP
program can be addressed to Dr. Joyce Cherry.
INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY
Technology is an integral part of this course. Assuming that our new computer lab becomes available during the semester (or other suitable resources become available), there will be assignments including the use of computers relevant to course content.
SEXUAL HARRASSMENT STATEMENT
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
Albany State University is an equal
opportunity agency of the State of Georgia and as such does not discriminate
against students on the basis of race, national origin, religion, disability,
gender, sexual orientation, or family status.
DISABILITY AND ACCESS STATEMENT
Albany State University offers the Disability Student Services Program to
ensure equal opportunity education to all students with disabilities. All eligible students with disabilities must
have equal access to student programs, facilities, activities, and
services. Students may contact the ASU
Disability Student Services Program at (229) 430-4667 for appropriate
disclosure and accommodation procedures.
CLASSROOM STANDARDS
Students are to adhere to all university policies on attendance,
punctuality, make up tests, plagiarism/cheating, withdrawal from class,
incomplete grades and final examinations. Failure to participate in the course
plus failure to formally withdraw as per University policies and schedules will
result in a grade of F. Please refer to
the student handbook, graduate catalog, and any departmental and program
guidelines. In class, respectful and
professional conduct is required towards all.
Use of cell phones and ringing of cell phones and pagers in the
classroom are not allowed. As per University policies, children, infants and
other persons not enrolled in the course are not allowed to attend classes. Audio and/or video recordings of class
sessions are not permitted. Students may
not sell notes of class presentations. A
grade of Incomplete will not be given except as intended by University
policies. An Incomplete will only be given
if the student is otherwise passing the course at the end of the semester and
has one assignment that cannot be completed during the semester for reasons
beyond the student's control. I do not
consider failure to complete the term project to be the basis of an Incomplete
grade because the assignment is known from the first day of class.
UNIVERSITY'S
COMMUNICATIONS POLICY STATEMENT
“ASU RAMmail account is the university’s official means of
electronic communication with students. Students are required to use the ASU website
(www.asurams.edu) and RAMmail for important university’s official information on
financial aid, current class schedule, registration holds, account balances,
etc. In order to communicate with students by other means as needed, each
student is required to provide the university with his/her current telephone
number(s) and mailing address via BannerWeb.“
STUDENT
EVALUATION AND FINAL GRADE
There is an opportunity
to earn 1000 points in the course.
Course grades will be based upon the following translation of numeric
scores to letter grades. Please also see
"Class Attendance Policy" section above. Your course grade may be reduced as a result
of the frequency and duration of your attendance. There will be some in-class writing
assignments associated with the QEP initiative that will not be included in the
calculation of the course grade.
A 900 to 1000 points
B 800 to 899 points
C 700 to 799 points
D 600 to 699 points
F < 600 points
|
|
Percentage |
Points of 1000 |
|
Midterm Examination |
15% |
150 |
|
"In the News" presentations |
10% |
100 |
|
Computer lab assignment 1 |
10% |
100 |
|
Computer lab assignment 2 |
10% |
100 |
|
Computer lab assignment 3 |
10% |
100 |
|
Online contributions to discussion board |
10% |
100 |
|
Process modeling assignment 1 |
10% |
100 |
|
Knowledge management assignment |
10% |
100 |
|
Final Examination |
15% |
150 |
A higher grade on the final examination will substitute for a lower grade on the midterm examination. The final is comprehensive. The final is not optional. The substitution of grades does not work the other way around.
Please clear you "In the News" presentation topics with me prior to your preparation of it. If a topic is not appropriate for the course I will interrupt your presentation and ask you to do another one. This is to insure that class time is used appropriately and that the points your earn for In the News presentations reflect work relevant to the course.
PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF TERM PROJECT
The term project in this course is an original paper in which you identify an organization's existing business process (not too hard and not trivial) and write a paper about it (using APA style) divided into the following sections, following a cover page with the usual information. This paper should become part of your MPA portfolio.
INTRODUCTION
EXISTING PROCESS
PROSPECTIVE AUTOMATED PROCESS
The introduction must identify an existing process in an organization; its purpose and importance. The next section must include a detailed explanation of the existing process, including anticipated contingencies and problems/limitations of the current process from both the perspective of the organization and "customers." The third section must include an explanation of an improved, automated version of the process, including identification of prospective SERVICES and a process model developed using Arena software.
This is an individual assignment. This is to be your own ideas and your own writing. Use APA style. Do not plagiarize resources. The work you turn in must be your own work and you must claim it to be your own work. Your topic must be different from other topics selected by other students. Installments of the term paper will be due during the semester. This is not a simple or trivial assignment. I expect you to keep in contact with me regarding this project from beginning to end. This project is not eligible to become the reason for a grade of Incomplete.
REVISIONS TO SYLLABUS AND/OR COURSE CALENDAR
As instructor I reserve the right to make reasonable changes in the syllabus and course calendar with appropriate notice. The current syllabus for this course will be available on the course website. Revisions to this syllabus and/or the course calendar will be announced in class, with appropriate notice, and will be reflected in the edition of the syllabus and the calendar available on the web.
· Note: I changed the case study to a third computer lab assignment on August 25, 2009.