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CIS 304

Syllabus used in previous years. This is intended to give you an idea about the class. There is no guarantee that this reflects future syllabi.

CREDIT HOURS: 3

TITLE: Systems Analysis & Design
  1. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
    Topics to be covered are: Systems development processes; structured analysis and design methods; prototyping; Systems Development Life Cycle; communications skills; a systems design model will be developed during the course. Prerequisites: High level programming language or consent of Instructor.

  2. PURPOSE:
    The overall purpose is to equip students with the concepts and skills they need to analyze and design information systems. The course concentrates on the front-end of the systems development process touching very lightly on the design and development of programs and their testing and maintenance.

  3. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
    Upon successful completion of the course, you must be able to:
    1. Describe the major alternative methodologies used in developing information systems and the considerations involved in choosing the appropriate methodology.
    2. Create the requisite systems documentation at each point in the analysis/design of an IS.
    3. Identify a business need for information and develop an appropriate strategy to procure the information and meet the business need.
    4. Prepare and use various information gathering techniques for eliciting user information requirements and system expectations (objectives).
    5. Construct and interpret a variety of system description documents.
    6. Communicate effectively, in both oral and written forms, systems specifications and be persuasive in these presentations.
    7. Develop a complete project plan using suitable software.
    8. Document completed systems for the end-user.

  4. CONTENT OUTLINE:
    (separate handout)

  5. INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
    Classroom time will be used mainly to discuss some of the key topics/issues introduced in the assigned reading. This may be supplemented by video clips at appropriate times. A semester-long project will dominate your activities during this course. You will work in teams of 2 or 3 students. Other activities designed to promote learning include weekly homework and four exams.

  6. FIELD AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES:
    You have the option of analyzing and designing an Information System for area businesses (or other campus business units) of your choice for a true "real-world" project experience. Additional field experiences are provided through the student chapter of AITP.

  7. RESOURCES:
    Waterfield library, PC lab (useful software: ABC flow charter, Visio and the like).

  8. GRADING PROCEDURES:
    I chose this particular grading model because of the nature of the material in this course. Most of the material that will eventually be retained will occur as you work on your term project. The final grade will be distributed as follows:
    9.
    1. GRADING FACTORS:
      Factor Final Grade %
      Quizzes/Assignments
      35%
      Project
      25%
      User Manual
      15%
      Final Exam
      25%

    2. GRADING SCALE:
      Average   Grade
      90 or above       A
      80 - 89%       B
      70 - 79%       C
      60 - 69%       D
      Below 60%       E

    3. QUIZZES:
      These are 20 – 30 minutes long. The format of the exam will be multiple choice and/or short answer. I plan on giving at least 6 this semester. Regular assignments will be given; some will count as quiz scores.

    4. PROJECT:
      Details for the project will be given later in a separate handout. This will be a group effort and requires demonstrating good analytical and communication skills. This involves creating several sample reports, charts and PowerPoint presentations.

    5. EXAMS:
      You will be given one exam, your final. The content will include material from selected chapters. Material for the exams will be drawn from lectures, classroom discussions and the text. They will be a combination of end-of-chapter questions, analysis problems, multiple choice questions etc. The general format will be discussed a week or so before the scheduled date.

    6. USER MANUAL:
      For the User Manual, you will be given a small sample application to document for the user. You will learn to use some neat features in MS-Word.

    7. MAKE-UP POLICY:
      There are no make-ups. To allow for legitimate absences, I will drop the lowest quiz/assignment score.

  9. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
    Since the grading procedure does not include attendance per se, missing one class or two during the semester will not necessarily be detrimental to your final grade. However, the more classes you miss, the greater the opportunity to miss some of the material that may show up on an exam. Please drop the course if you don't want to do your own work.

  10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY:
    A College-wide policy for academic dishonesty has been posted in all classrooms. Also, it is illegal to copy software that has been installed in the computer labs. This amounts to violation of copyright laws - a federal offense punishable by jail time, fine or both. It is your duty to become familiar with these policies. It will be strictly enforced. All instances of academic dishonesty will be immediately reported to the Dean of the College.


  11. TEXT AND REFERENCES:
    (required) Modern Systems Analysis and Design, by Hoffer, George & Valacich, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co, 1999 (Second Edition).

  12. PREREQUISITES:
    High level language or consent of instructor.

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