MIS 213-006 Introduction to Management Information Systems

Syllabus - Spring 2025

Required Text

Information Systems for Business, 5th edition

(Optional)
MIS 213 Projects Guidebook by UNCW

 

Course Description

Prerequisite: None.
This course is designed to introduce students to the impacts of information systems on the firm, industry, society, and the economy. The management of the information resource and issues related to accessing, processing, and distributing information within a business context are emphasized. Students will analyze the role of information systems in reaching organizational objectives including communication, collaboration, performance improvement and strategy implementation. Skill-based learning will reinforce strategic information systems concepts.

Schedule (*all times are ET)

Tuesday Topic Thursday Topic
14 January Introduction
Discussion: Introduce Yourself [due 15Jan@2359]
TQ: Admin Quiz [due 15Jan@2359]
TQ: CH 1 Vocab [due 16Jan@1530]
16 January RBC: CH 1, The Value of Information
TQ: CH 2 Vocab [due 21Jan@1530]
TQ: APP A Vocab [due 21Jan@1530]
21 January RBC: CH 2, Introduction to Information Systems
RBC: APP A, Computer Hardware
TQ: CH 3 Vocab [due 28Jan@1530]
TQ: APP B Vocab [due 28Jan@1530]
23 January MS Access 1 - Employee 1
HO: MS Access 1 [due 29Jam@2359]
lab attendance optional
28 January RBC: CH 3, Storing and Organizing Information
RBC: APP B, Computer Software
TQ: CH 4 Vocab [due 4Feb@1530]
30 January MS Access 2 - Employee 2
HO: MS Access 2 [due 5Feb@2359]
lab attendance optional
4 February RBC: CH 4, Analyzing Information for Business Decision-Making
TQ: CH 5 Vocab [due 11Feb@1530]
TQ: APP E Vocab [due 11Feb@1530]
6 February Test 1 (online)
[available 6Feb@0001 - due 8Feb@2359]
11 February RBC: CH 5, Information and Knowledge for Business Decision-Making
RBC: APP E, Advanced Database Concepts
TQ: CH 6 Vocab [due 20Feb@1530]
TQ: APP H Vocab [due 20Feb@1530]

13 February MS Access 3 - Employee 3
HO: MS Access 3 [due 19Feb@2359]
lab attendance optional
18 February Attend WITX - no class 20 February RBC: CH 6, Transmitting Information
RBC: APP H, Networking Basics
TQ: CH 7 Vocab [due 25Feb@1530]
TQ: APP I Vocab [due 25Feb@1530]
25 February RBC: CH 7, Securing Information
RBC: APP I, Security and Privacy
TQ: CH 8 Vocab [due 11Mar@1530]
27 February MS Access 4 - Registration 1
HO: MS Access 4 [due 12Mar@2359]
lab attendance optional
4 March Spring break - no class 6 March Spring break - no class
11 March RBC: CH 8, Protecting the Confidentiality and Privacy of Information
TQ: CH 9 Vocab [due 25Mar@1530]
TQ: APP J Vocab [due 25Mar@1530]
13 March Test 2 (online)
[available 13Mar@0001 - due 15Mar@2359]
18 March Attend Business Week - no class 20 March MS Access 5 - Registration 2
HO: MS Access 5 [due 26Mar@2359]
lab attendance optional
25 March RBC: CH 9, Developing Information Systems
RBC: APP J, Funding Information Technology
TQ: CH 10 Vocab [due 1Apr@1530]
TQ: APP K Vocab [due 1Apr@1530]
27 March MS Excel 1 - Vinyl
HO: MS Excel 1 [due 2Apr@2359]
lab attendance optional
1 April RBC: CH 10, Information-Based Business Processes
RBC: APP K, Managing IS Projects
TQ: CH 11 Vocab [due 8Apr@1530]
3 April MS Excel 2 - Phones
HO: MS Excel 2 [due 9Apr@2359]
lab attendance optional
8 April RBC: CH 11, Enterprise Information Systems
TQ: CH 12 Vocab [due 15Apr@1530]
10 April MS Excel 3 - Cars
HO: MS Excel 3 [due 16Apr@2359]
lab attendance optional
15 April RBC: CH 12, Information for Electronic Business
TQ: CH 13 Vocab [due 22Apr@1530]
17 April Easter - no class
22 April RBC: CH 13, Gaining Strategic Value from Information 24 April MS Excel 4 - ILM
HO: MS Excel 4 [due 30Apr@2359]
lab attendance optional
29 April AOL Quiz (in-class)
Test 3 (online)
[available 28Apr@0001 - due 30Apr@2359]

Wrap-up/Make-up Day
1 May Reading Day - no class
6 May Final Exam (online)
[available 4May@0001 - due 6May@2359]

8 May No class

RBC = Read Before Class; TQ = Take Quiz; HO = Hands-on

Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

  1. Describe the role of information systems in increasing personal and business productivity.
  2. Identify how information systems can assist a firm with increasing its competitive advantage.
  3. Identify how information systems can help solve business problems in functional business areas.
  4. Describe the role of information systems in capturing and distributing organization knowledge and intelligence and in enhancing management decision making.
  5. Describe the key components of information systems, including hardware, software, data storage, and networking.
  6. Identify ethical, moral and legal issues related to the storage and dissemination of information and the use of information systems.
  7. Implement database solutions via Access software.
  8. Apply advanced Excel skills to help solve business problems.

Common Student Learning Outcomes for Information Literacy

  1. Develop questions for research that necessitate information seeking, gathering, and analysis and employ effective and iterative search strategies to address them. [Information Literacy, Inquiry]
  2. Critically evaluate and classify sources based on the context in which they were produced and disseminated, their place in the relevant scholarly conversation(s), and their indicators of authority. [Critical Thinking, Information Literacy]
  3. Synthesize and effectively use information to create new content (e.g., papers, presentations, data analyses, videos) that addresses the research questions, demonstrates ethical use of information (including the acknowledgement of other's intellectual work), and adheres to any established disciplinary or professional parameters. [Information Literacy, Thoughtful Expression]

Policy Information

Academic Honor Code

As a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW, continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.

Please read and be familiar with the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code. I have highlighted some parts that are particularly relevant to courses I teach here.

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class.

Time Commitment

It is a matter of UNC system policy that you should expect to be committed for an average of 8.5 hours per week (hpw) to this class (or any 3-credit hour class you take at UNCW).

A credit hour is defined as one 50-minute meeting of face-to-face instruction per week for 15 weeks, plus a minimum of 2 hours per week for 15 weeks of out-of-class student work.

You should be mentally prepared to spend ~8.5 hpw on this class.

Grading

Grading Scale (+/- at instructor discretion)

A: (avg >= 90)
B: (90 > avg) and (avg >= 80)
C: (80 > avg) and (avg >= 70)
D: (70 > avg) and (avg >= 60)

Coursework Weighting

5% Attendance
15% Chapter/Appendix Quizzes
40% Access/Excel Hands-on
20% Unit Tests
20% Comprehensive Final

Late Policy

Quizzes will close on the due date and will not generally be re-opened. Exception: Unexpected life event that derails a reasonable plan to accomplish a quiz by the due time/date; e.g. car accident, illness, family death, etc. Email me if/when this occurs and I will be reasonable.

Access/Excel hands-on assignments submitted by the due date will be scored up to a maximum of 100%. After the due date, hands-on assignments may still be submitted, but will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 90% only. To submit a hands-on assignment late (or to resubmit for a better grade), please email me the following statement:
"I am ready to have MS Access (or Excel) assignment X (appropriate number) regraded. I understand that the highest score I can receive at this point is a 90. As a UNCW Seahawk committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry, I affirm that I did not seek help from any MIS 213 classmate, that the work I am submitting is entirely my own, and that it accurately reflects my understanding of the material."

Extra Credit

There is no specified extra credit in this class. I may, on occasion, subjectively award extra credit for assignment solutions that demonstrate meaningful, functional effort beyond the norm.

Attendance

Lecture attendance is expected and will count towards your overall grade, weighted at 5%. Each absence will result in a .33% reduction of your final grade. If an unexpected life event prevents you from attending class, email me and I will be reasonable.

Communication

The best way to contact me is via email. When writing me email, please, indicate your class. Also, be clear/concise: start with your question and then provide supporting details. You do not need to tell me how hard you have been working or how confused you are. Example
If you post questions in the assignment comment section in Canvas, I will likely not see it - don't do that.

Technical Assistance

MIS213 requires that you become familiar with several aspects of the UNCW IT infrastructure including: OneDrive, Horizon. If you have trouble with any of these items, you should contact TAC/ITS as they are the managers of these systems. [Note: contact me if experiencing problems with Entropy.]

Student Illness

Students are to do a health check each day before coming to campus. Students who experience COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact the Abrons Student Health Center at (910) 962-3280. If a student becomes ill, s/he should let the professor know and must not attend the course in-person. If a student is too ill to attend virtually, they will be given the opportunity to complete the material asynchronously.

Disaster Contingency Plan

In the event that UNCW closes, students will be given an assignment to make up for 1 week of missed class time. This will be emailed to students within two days of the UNCW closing announcement. In the event that the rest of the semester is online, students need to be prepared by having reliable internet access, a webcam, and a microphone.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and need accommodations, you must be registered with Disability Services (DePaolo Hall, 910.962.7555). Please provide your Accommodations Letter within the first week of class or as soon as possible. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreed upon arrangements based upon the recommendations in the Accommodations Letter. For additional information, please see UNCW Disability.

Title IX

UNCW takes all forms of interpersonal violence very seriously. When students disclose, first- or third-hand, to faculty or staff about sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking, this information must be reported to the administration in order to ensure that students' rights are protected, appropriate resources are offered, and the need for further investigation is explored to maintain campus safety. There are three confidential resources who do not need to report interpersonal violence: UNCW CARE, the Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center. If you want to speak to someone in confidence, these resources are available, including CARE's 24-hour crisis line (910-512-4821). For more information, please visit www.uncw.edu/care

Code of Student Conduct

This course is subject to the Code of Student Life of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (the Code). The full Code is found here Code of Student Life. UNCW practices zero tolerance for violence and harassment of any kind. For emergencies, contact UNCW CARE at 910.962.2273 or Campus Police at 910.962.3184. For University or community resources visit Safe Relate Campus Resources.

Religious Observance Policy

In accordance with NC SL 2010-211, students are entitled to two excused absences for religious observances per academic year. These absences must be requested using the form provided on SeaNet, under "Student Services." These requests must be submitted by the student prior to the absence. Once the request is submitted, an email will be sent to all impacted instructors automatically. There is no need to send additional notification to instructors or the Registrar's Office. Any absence for religious purposes will be considered unexcused unless the appropriate form is submitted.

Seahawk Respect Compact

In the pursuit of excellence, UNC Wilmington actively fosters, encourages, and promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance, and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff and the broader community.

Therefore, we expect members of the campus community to honor these principles as fundamental to our ongoing efforts to increase access to and inclusion in a community that nurtures learning and growth for all.