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INFM 603
Information Technology and Organizational Context
Spring 2012
Course Description

Catalog Description

Application of communication and information technologies to support work processes, including technology-enhanced communication networks, computer-supported collaborative work, decision-support systems, interactive systems, and systems analysis. Acquisition of information systems and their integration into the organization.

Enrollment Policy

This is a core course in the MIM program. Students enrolled in other programs (including iSchool Ph.D. students) should consult with the instructor to determine whether their academic preparation is appropriate for this course. Students who have completed LBSC 690 may not register for INFM 603.

MIM students who believe that their background has adequately prepared them in terms of the the knowledge and experience that would be gained in this course may request to instead take an additional advanced technology course that better matches their needs. Such requests are made using the College's process for waiver of a requirement, which is described in the Master's Student Handbook.

Goals

Approach

The first part of the course is designed to build a progressively richer understanding of how specific foundational capabilities are used together to both process information and create the user experience. Homework assignments will be used to demonstrate mastery of specific technologies. In the part half of the course, class sessions will be devoted to more holistic consideration of how those capabilities are used together to support the activities of an organization. During this part of the semester, students will complete a term project in which they demonstrate mastery of the integrated use of technologies that were mastered individually during the first half of the semester. By examining technologies first individually and then more holistically, students will have the opportunity to enrich their understanding of how specific technologies interact to help achieve the objectives of an organization.

Contact Information

  Instructor
Name Doug Oard
Email oard@umd.edu
Office HBK 2118F
Phone (301)405-7590
I am available by phone to discuss material from class, the readings, homework assignments, the project, etc. Email is the best way to reach me to set up a time to talk, and it is also a good way to get a quick answer to a simple question.

Schedule

Day Time (P.M.)Activity Room
Wednesday5:15-5:45 Office HoursBLD3 2216
Wednesday6:00-8:45 Class BLD3 2216

A syllabus that summarizes what we will cover each week can be found on the class Web site. There are no scheduled lab sessions.

Course Materials

The class Web site at http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~oard/teaching/603/spring12/ contains the most recent version of all material produced for this course. Among other things, this course description, the syllabus, the reading list, slides used in class, and homework assignments can be found there.

Textbook and supplemental reading assignments for each week can be found on the syllabus. The principal texts for this course are:

Students are encouraged to use the course mailing list to share information that would be of general interest or for any other purpose that seems reasonable. Mail sent to that address after March 1 will reach the instructor and all students.

Classes this semester will not be recorded, but recorded lectures from a previous semester are available online at http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~oard/teaching/603/fall11/syllabus.html.

Grading

Course grades will be assigned based on homework, a term project, and an in-class final examination. With the exception noted below, scores on each component will be combined to produce a single overall score for each student as follows:
Component Portion of Grade
Homework 20% (5% each for the best 4 of the 5)
Project 50%
Final Exam 30%

The homework assignments are designed to provide an opportunity for students to explore specific topics in a structured way. Students may work together on the homework assignments, but all of the material that is turned in for grading must be produced individually. For example, students may form study groups and work out homework solutions together on a chalkboard or by each working separately on different terminals and then sharing what they have learned, but it would not be permissible for one student to prepare an answer set and then for other students to copy those answers and submit it as their own work. Turning in copied files is specifically prohibited; each student must individually type or handwrite any materials that are submitted for grading, including computer programs.

A term project will be completed by each student before the end of the semester. Each project will involve implementation of an information system using technologies covered during the first part of the course. Students will be assigned to two-person teams; the assignment process will be based on preferences submitted at the same time as Homework Assignment 6. Additional details are provided on the project plan Web page.

The final exam will be a 3-hour take-home exam. It will be made available at 9 PM on Thursday May 9 and it will be due by 9 PM on Sunday May 20. The exam must be completed in one 3-hour session any time during that period, and must be submitted (by email) immediately upon completion. Students may not discuss any aspect of the examination with anyone other than the instructor after the exam becomes available.

The University of Maryland is one of a small number of universities with a student-administered Honor Code and an Honor Pledge. The Code prohibits students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents, and forging signatures. Students must write the following signed statement on each examination or assignment:

I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment).

Compliance with the code is administered by the Student Honor Council, which strives to promote a community of trust. Allegations of academic dishonesty should be reported directly to the Honor Council (301-314-8450) by any member of the campus community. Cases are decided by joint faculty-student boards. For additional information, consult the Office of Student Conduct Web site.

Class Attendance

This is a graduate course in which each student is responsible for making their own decisions regarding how best to master the material. Students will be responsible for mastery of all content covered in class, in the assigned readings, and in homework and project assignments. Experience strongly suggests that students should attend class when they are able to, and that when events preclude class attendance that they should carefully review the video for the corresponding lecture from the previous semester (if available) and the posted slides for this semester and then discuss what they missed with one or more classmates before the next class session. Class attendance for the project presentations is required; students whose schedule requires that they miss a class on another date do not require permission from the instructor.

Accommodations for Religious Holidays and Other Special Circumstances

Students wishing to discuss accommodations for religious holidays on dates that assignments are due, or other circumstances not addressed in this course information page, should discuss those circumstances with me by March 7 in order to permit adequate time for planning. Only accommodations for unforeseeable circumstances will be considered after that date.

Accommodations for Disabilities

The University is legally obligated to provide appropriate accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Accommodations will be made only in accordance with University policy. Students who are entitled to accommodations due to disabilities must first set up an appointment with the Disability Support Services (DSS). To permit adequate planning, this process must be completed and the instructor notified by DSS at least two weeks before the session in which the accommodation is required.
Doug Oard
Last modified: Sun Apr 1 18:47:11 2012