MIS 533
Data Management for Decision Makers

I.          Instructor Information:

II.         Course Objectives: Database management is central to most business and organizations' information systems strategies because it supports not only operational functions, but also decision making activities. This course is designed to cover both theoretical and practical aspects of database systems technology and concepts. An important focus of the course will be on the application and management of relational databases. The course will cover topics on data modeling, the relational model, database query languages, and database design using normalization. In addition, a component of the course will cover topics related to decision support technologies such as data warehousing and geographic information systems. Hands-on experience in the design and implementation of database applications will be provided throughout the course.

III.        Course Textbooks:

            Required:

1. (M)     Hoffer, Jeffrey A., Mary B. Prescott, Fred R. McFadden. Modern Database Management (with Oracle), 6/e, Prentice Hall, 2002 (ISBN 0130656259)

            Recommended:

1. (P)     Philip J. Pratt, A Guide to SQL, Course Technology, 5^th Edition, 2001.

2. (WSJ)  Ormsby, Tim, Eileen Napolean, Robert Burke, Carolyn Groessl, & Laura Feaster. Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Basics of ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo, ESRI Press, 2002 (ISBN 1-879102-89-7)

IV.  Instructor's Philosophy: It is my opinion that you will learn best through active learning and engagement in practical cases and exercises.  As a result, many of the class periods will consist of a discussion of cases, completion of exercises, or other student-centered activities.  Because of the nature of the material being covered in this class, it will be necessarily to also have lectures and similar presentations.   However, because of the complex nature of the topics under consideration, it is imperative that you do your part by diligently preparing for class, by reading the book prior to class, and by otherwise doing what you need to in order to prepare for class.

I would also encourage you to feel free to approach me outside of class, either by visiting my office or by using electronic forms of communication (e.g., email and the course portal).  In a class like this, I believe that you will find it helpful to consult with me individually if you have difficulty understanding concepts.  Therefore, please do not hesitate to see me when you need to.  To facilitate this dialogue, I have implemented, via WebCT, discussion boards for you to communicate with me and with other students.    

 V.   Requirements and Evaluation: Each student is expected to master all of the material and may be individually tested when deemed necessary by the instructor. Assignments will be given in class or via the class web portal.  Students will be responsible for all announcements.

This class will emphasize active learning. Active class participation is expected and will be part of your final grade. Students are expected to contribute to discussions, exercises, problems and other activities during class and lab sections. For example, there will be frequent in class cases, assignments, and other activities that will require active class participation (and your presence). Some class periods will be devoted to learning a particular software application or skill. Repetitive absence or tardiness for class may negatively influence your grade (attendance will be at randomly selected times).

The evaluation of work in the course is based on performance in major areas covered over the session. One examination will be given at the end of the semester. The exam will deal with the concepts discussed in class and in the projects. The exam will likely be open book and portions of the exam may be take home. The final exam will be comprehensive. The material covered will be from lectures, the textbook, assignments, lab work, and a practical exercise related to GIS. If there is an in-class component to the exam and you are going to miss this event, you must contact the instructor prior to the exam for any special consideration.

Students will be expected to complete several computer assignments in 2-person teams (i.e., dyads). The computer assignments will provide students with an opportunity to learn features of DBMS. Assignments are due at 12PM on the due date (assignments turned in after 12:00 PM will be assigned a 50% deduction and will not be accepted after 48 hours subsequent to the class). Database assignments are to be completed in Oracle unless you are specifically instructed to use another application

A final team project will also be part of the evaluation of your work. Students can complete this project in groups of 4 students (two sets of dyads). Each student in the group will receive the same grade. However, students will also be asked to evaluate one another's participation. A low participation score will result in a reduction in the grade earned on the group project. A final report on the project will be submitted.

Prerequisites:  MIS 503 or an equivalent course 

The course schedule is tentative and subject to change, if necessary.  Changes will be announced in class.  If you miss class, you are still responsible for these changes.

VI.       Disability Issues:

I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please contact me about these issues after one of the first few class periods.