Course Outline
TITLE: CSS/335
– Computers and Information Processing
INSTRUCTOR: Kurt
Madsen
SCHEDULE: September
16, 2002 through October 14, 2002
CAMPUS: University
of Phoenix St. Petersburg, FL Campus
This course outline has been adapted from the CSS/335 course module from the University of Phoenix.
· Define the roles of information systems in business.
· Define the System Development Life Cycle methodology.
· Review basic hardware components of a computer.
· Discuss trends in Computers and Information Processing.
· Distinguish between operating systems, programming languages, programs, and applications.
· Review common computer software.
· Analyze the role of office automation.
· Define terminology used with databases.
· Analyze the ways databases are used as components of business solutions.
· Analyze database administration.
· Demonstrate a Microsoft Access database.
· List business applications of telecommunications.
· Define the terms and examine the technology of networks and telecommunications.
· Analyze the role of the Internet.
· Distinguish between the Internet, intranets, extranets, and e-business.
· Apply the System Development Life Cycle methodology.
Information systems
· Define the roles of information systems in business.
· Define the System Development Life Cycle methodology.
· Review basic hardware components of a computer.
· Discuss trends in hardware.
1. Read Chapters 1, 2, and 3 in the text.
2. Read Chapter 10, pages 344-347 in the text.
3. Read the articles for week one.
Introductions, review course administration (e.g., syllabus, grading, expectations), and course overview.
1. Information systems
a. Roles of information systems in business
1) Support of business processes and operations
2) Support of decision-making by employees and management
3) Support of strategies for competitive advantage
b. Changing roles of information systems over time
c. Benefits of information technology (IT)
1) Speed
2) Consistency
3) Precision
4) Reliability
d. Opportunities of information technology
1) Operational - more efficient
2) Tactical - more effective
3) Strategic – transformation of business
4) Automatic teller machines are a good example of a system that is more efficient and more effective and has transformed banking.
e. Roles of different IT professionals
1) Programmers
2) Systems analysts
3) Systems designers
4) Project managers
5) Network specialists
6) Database administrators
7) Trainers
8) Computer operators
2. The concept of a system
a. Single-user vs. multi-user systems
b. Microcomputers vs. midrange computers vs. mainframe computers
c. The System Development Life Cycle
1) Investigation
2) Analysis
3) Design
4) Implementation
5) Maintenance
d. System
Development Life Cycle vs. project management (NOTE: The SDLC will be explored in greater depth
in following weeks.)
3. Hardware
a. Definition
b. Computer Trends
c. Basic hardware components of a computer
1) Input devices
2) Output devices
3) Secondary storage devices
4) Network and telecommunication devices
5) CPU, RAM, BIOS, controllers
Operating Systems and Programming
· Distinguish between operating systems, programming languages, programs, and applications.
· Review common computer software.
· Analyze the role of office automation.
1. Read Chapter 4 in the text.
1. Software
a. Definition
b. Operating Systems (DOS, Windows 98, Windows NT, UNIX)
c. Utilities (Libraries)
d. Programming Languages (FORTRAN, COBOL, C/C++, Visual Basic, Java, 4GL, SQL, Script Languages, HTML)
e. Applications (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Access, Oracle, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Visio, multimedia, accounting software, CAD/CAM, SAP, etc.)
2. Software acquisition
a. Buy
b. Buy and modify
c. Build in-house
d. Outsource to build
3. Application design
a. Input
b. Output
c. Processing logic
d. Code
e. Test
f. Documentation
4. Software trends
a. Buy or outsource
b. Graphical User Interface (GUI)
c. Object-oriented programming
d. Component Technology
e. Rapid Application Development
5. Office automation
a. Word processing
b. Spreadsheet
c. Presentation
d. Database
e. Groupware (Lotus Notes)
f. Document management and workflow
Database Management
· Define terminology used with databases.
· Analyze the ways databases are used as components of business solutions.
· Analyze database administration.
· Demonstrate a Microsoft Access database. Optionally, Demonstrate Open Source DB (e.g., MySQL)
1. Read Chapter 5 in the text.
2. Read the articles for week three.
3. Prepare a 2-3 page paper (350 words per page) analyzing the use of databases in your organization. Include what database applications are used (Microsoft Access, DB2, Oracle, etc.). Conclude by proposing improvements. For large organizations, restrict the scope of the paper to the department in which you work.
1. Database terminology
a. Character, Field, Record, File, Database
b. Entity, Attributes, Relations (ERD)
c. Relational, Object-Oriented
d. Types of databases
1) Operational
2) Distributed
3) Data Warehouses, Marts, and Mining
4) External
5) Hypermedia
2. Objectives of database management systems
a. Integrating databases
b. Reducing redundancy
c. Sharing information
d. Maintaining integrity
e. Enabling database evolution
3. Database development
a. Planning
b. Analysis/Requirements
c. Conceptual Design
d. Logical Design
e. Physical Design
4. Database administration
a. Planning
b. Design
c. Creation
d. Maintenance
e. Analysis of usage
f. Security
5. Backups and contingency planning
6. Demonstration
Use Microsoft Access or Open Source DB (e.g., Linux/Unix-based)
to construct a simple database. Add
sample data to the database and display database data with Microsoft
Access's default forms. Construct and
run simple queries. By demonstration,
compare and contrast the use of Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel.
If you chose to use open source DB,
compare and contrast DBMS vs. spreadsheet solutions and how they can be used to
interchange data.
Networking, Telecommunications, and the Internet
· List business applications of telecommunications.
· Define the terms and examine the technology of networks and telecommunications.
· Analyze the role of the Internet.
· Distinguish between the Internet, intranets, extranets, and e-business.
1. Read Chapters 6 and 11 in the text.
2. Read the articles for week four.
3. Complete Discussion Questions 1 and 5 in Chapter 5.
4. Complete the Discussion Question 5 in Chapter 6 in the text.
1. Business applications of telecommunications
2. Telecommunication-based services
3. Network operating system
a. Peer-to-peer
b. Server-based
4. Networks
a. LAN
b. WAN
c. Intranet, extranet
d. Client/server
e. Network computing
5. Topology
a. Bus
b. Star
c. Ring
6. Media
a. Physical
1) Twisted pair
2) Coaxial
3) Fiber
b. Unguided
1) Radio
2) Microwave
3) Satellite
7. Centralized vs. distributed architectures
8. Connectivity devices
a. Network Interface Card
b. Hub
c. Bridge
d. Gateway
e. Router
9. Protocols
a. OSI model
b. TCP/IP
10. Transmission speeds
11. Internet technologies
a. Structure of the Internet
b. Internet capabilities
c. World Wide Web
d. Addressing
e. Search engines
f. HTML (use View Source in browsers to display HTML)
g. Internet vs. intranet vs. extranet
E-commerce vs. e-business
h. Application Service Provider (ASP) vs. In-House IT
Business Systems Development
· Apply the System Development Life Cycle methodology
· Review and Discussion of Future Trends in Technology and IT Careers
1. Read Chapter 10 in the text.
2. Read the articles for week five.
1. System Development Life Cycle
2. Feasibility
3. Tangible and intangible benefits
4. Prototyping
5. Implementation
6. Change management
7. Importance of maintenance and documentation
9. Learning Team Presentations
The objective of the Learning Team project is to introduce you to the methodology used to develop systems in a multi-user environment, and to familiarize you with the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). All learning team assignments throughout the course support this project. System solutions are a large capital investment in today’s business world, and the application of such large investments must be based on specific business needs and subsequent returns. System projects are being held accountable for meeting business needs. It is therefore critical to identify and articulate, both verbally and quantifiably, those business needs as well as a plan to realize them via information systems in order to obtain successful information technology solution projects.
There are two goals for this project. The first goal is to provide students with a general understanding of how businesses use the SDLC to plan and execute projects related to information systems. The second goal is to provide the student with some basic skills to further his or her career, specifically by identifying opportunities at work and presenting plans for improvements. Such presentations become the basis for promotions, raises, and career advancement.
§ Weekly learning team assignments as described in the “Learning Team Assignments” portion of the website for this course.
§ During Week Five, each Learning Team will submit a final paper in the form of a project proposal. This paper can include material from previous learning team assignments because it pulls all concepts together into one, comprehensive deliverable.
§ During Week Five, each Learning Team will submit a final presentation (using Microsoft PowerPoint or similar).
The Learning Team will be graded on the scope and depth of research, the quality of analysis, and recommendations. Refer to the materials, “Standards for Written Work,” and “Standards for Presentations,” found in the Program Handbook. Details on grading policies can be found in the syllabus.