INSS 550 DATABASE MANAGEMENT & DECISION SYSTEMS

IFSM 410 DATABASE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

COURSE SYLLABUS

Interim Syllabus, Subject to Change

Class Times: Sat., Sun.  0900 to 1600                           Class Location: Rein Main
Lecturer: Ron Dickinson, Ph.D.                                    Office Hours:  1hr. before class and
Phone: TBA                                                                               by appointment  By email and phone between weekends.
e-mail: rdickins@faculty.ed.umuc.edu                              Course Credit: 3 semester hours

 Class Meeting Dates: Aug. 18/19; Sept. 8/9, 22/23; Oct. 13/14

Pre-requisite: All pre-requisite classes as listed in catalog or permission of the lecturer

TEXTBOOK: Database Systems:  Design Implementation and Management by Rob and Colonel, 4th Edition, Course Technology, 2000.  

                       INSS 550 and IFSM 410 will have additional Readings from the Library on the web

HANDOUTS: Will be distributed from time-to-time; you will be responsible for this material

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An introduction to the design and management of database systems in a business environment.  Topics include the role of databases in organizations, the management of information as a critical business resource; types and functions of database management systems; conceptual data modeling, entity-relationship and semantic data models, and the fundamental principles of relational and object-oriented database design.  The implementation and maintenance of database management systems are discussed as is the role of the database administrator.  This class will also include a weekend on decision support systems and the final weekend will include some special topics like distributed database as well as the final exam.

About the Lecturer

Dr. Dickinson first began programming computers in 1964 with the first IBM System/360 mainframes. He was an IBM Systems Engineer for many years and worked with project managers in Forturne 500 corporations and government to apply IBM technology to many corporate information systems needs. He also spent several years in IBM HQ developing product and marketing strategies for IBM's networking, office and workstation product divisions. He also holds a M.S. and Ph.D in Marketing and MIS and emphasizes an integrated view of business and technical aspects of systems design and development. Ron also has been an independent consultant to small and medium sized businesses and e-businesses in the Pacific Northwest and an author of commercial software. Ron has also taught graduate and undergraduate courses in marketing, in addition to Visual Basic and Java programming before coming to UMUC.

GRADING SCALE

INSS 550       90-100 = A

80 - 89   = B

70 - 79  = C

Below 70 = FA

ASSIGNMENTS

 Project--Students will be divided into small teams and will analyze a typical business problem. This problem will be carried through the requirements, analysis and design phase, with the appropriate models required, and brought into production. This requires a project team with a project leader, design and development models, database design and development with query, input and output interfaces in Access; and database population. Additionally, a quality User’s Manual describing the use of the system will be produced. In the last week of classes each team will make a management-level presentation of their system.

Research Article Reviews and Class Participation---Graduate students will select three papers from a list of current database and decision support journal articles (tentative list at first class meeting). The student  will make a 10-minute class presentation +5 minute question period,  turn in a 3-page summary along with a page of resources used,  (use the APA format for this bibliography, as provided on the UofM Library website), and   provide each class member a 1-page handout.  Students will be graded on the quality of their presentations and summations along with their classroom discussion.  By the end of the class every student should have an elementary understanding of these topics; this material will be eligible for testing on exams.  Students also are expected to be able to discuss the concepts in the book and demonstrate their applications through discussion of real-world problems.  This part of the course will familiarize students with the concepts in modern databases and some of the respected researchers in the field. Undergraduate students will select from a different, less demanding but still fully professional list of journal articles for their reviews. Their evaluations will be based on similar criteria in quality, but with optional references.

Midterm/Final--Graduate midterm and final exams will consist of essay questions related to the goals listed at the beginning of each chapter and the outside readings and a comprehensive exam question. This portion of the tests (worth 45 points) will be graded exactly like comprehensives; that is: 75% for content, 25% for English and organization. Undergraduate midterm and final exams will consist of essay questions on the same topics as the graduate questions but less demanding in terms of the answers expected. The answers will be evaluated for 75% content and 25% English and organization similarly to graduate student exams.

COURSE POLICIES/EXPECTATIONS

The following policies apply to this class. These policies are generally reflected in the student catalog.

*   ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular class attendance is expected, both mornings and afternoons of weekend classes. If you should miss a meeting, it is your responsibility to obtain information concerning the material covered and upcoming assignments. If there is a quiz or other assignment due on that class period, previous arrangements should be made with the instructor whenever possible. Please note that those students receiving tuition assistance from the Federal Government must not miss three consecutive class meetings without prior approval, or the education Services Officer (ESO) must be notified by the instructor.

*  ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students are expected to do their own work. Cheating on tests, plagiarism on written assignments, or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in a "0" for the assignment. Note that a D or an F usually results in at least 60 or 50 points, where violation of academic honesty results in none. See the European Division Catalog for the UMUC policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

*  ASSIGNMENT/TEST SCHEDULES: Students are expected to hand in all assignments and complete all tests on the days they are due. If a student fails to complete any assignment or test, the resulting grade will be a "0," rather than an "F." Any other assignments will be marked down half a letter grade for each half week the assignment is late. Quizzes cannot be made-up unless the student had an excused absence. Major tests to be missed must be taken before the date the test is to be given in class. On the date of research presentations or project presentations, each person must be in attendance for all student project presentations. Otherwise, the presentation will be deemed late and a 10% reduction will be made for all presentations given that the student missed.

* CLASS PREPARATION: Students are expected to come to class prepared. This means they should have read the materials assigned for class for that session and have prepared any pertinent assignments. Quizzes may be given at any time without warning or advanced notice.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives for this course are listed in each chapter. Questions on the midterm and final will be directly related to these goals, even though the topic may not be covered in class.  Students completing class should:

• Develop database planning models
• Identify types of databases utilized within business structures 
• Identify, describe and model different database topologies 
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of databases over flat files; of different types of database

        topologies 

• Develop SQL queries
• Develop logical and physical database designs
• Produce 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF structures
• Explain centralized, decentralized, and distributed database systems.
• Discuss security systems and issues appropriate for databases in intranet and Internet settings.
• Develop Specification Requirements for on-line databases
• Describe the process for developing applications, including development of Program Specification Requirements

The activities and assignments for this course are designed to help the student know, comprehend, and apply the basic concepts of systems analysis and design.  In addition to the academic objectives, students are expected to improve their skills in the following areas:

1. Critical Thinking: Students should improve their ability to analyze computer user situations and make appropriate suggestions for resolving business problems through computer systems.  The projects in this class encourage students to think critically about real-world situations.
2. Writing Skills: Students should improve writing skills through development of the Feasibility Study and formal report on the major project and on the mid-term and final.
3. Oral Presentation Skills: Students should improve their presentation skills through their oral reports on the major project, class discussions, and group presentations.
4. Computer Skills: Students are expected to improve their computer skills by using word processing and project management software.  The use of  Internet and e-mail are also encouraged.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Aug. 18/19

….available first weekend of class…

Read textbook Chapters 1, 2, and 3(Sunday) for first class meeting.