Business Applications in C/C++

This course focuses on the C/C++ programming language and its applications in business. Programming topics include: fundamental data types, flow of control statements, functions, the preprocessor, arrays, pointers, strings, structures and unions, dynamic memory allocation and file manipulation. Typical applications discussed include an automated cash register simulation, payroll calculations, scheduling manufacturing production, table sorting, string manipulation, data compression, a menu processor, stacks and queues, sequential and random file processing.

Business Telecommunications

The study of all forms of electronic communication in organizations today. Course topics include data communications hardware and media, protocols and standards, local area and wide area networking, network management, telecommunications software and application design.

Database Management Systems

This course focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of file and database management systems. Topics include data models hierarchical, network, relational; data structures, storage structures, storage devices and their relation to data access; importance of data as an organizational resource; data management, sharing, availability, security, integrity and consistency; data independence and conceptual data models. Examples of database applications and software packages are selected.

I.S. Policy & Practice

This course focuses on the relationship of the information systems plans and strategies to those of the organization. Topics include IS perspectives, planning and control, application development and maintenance, systems management and control, IS strategy, computer center administration, social and legal considerations, telecommunications directions, the information center.

I.S. Project Management

This course combines project management methods and structured systems development techniques and applies them to the complex world of information systems development. The central project management functions planning, organizing and controlling are presented in the context of the systems development process. Topics include project planning, estimating, testing, implementation, documentation, management of change, utilization of services consultants, software houses, turn-key systems and proprietary software packages.

Information Systems Principles

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of information systems and information technology for students with minimal background in the field. Topics include: organizational issues; overview of information systems components software, hardware, people, data; telecommunications applications; contemporary approaches to information systems development including CASE tool support for process modeling, datamodelling and prototyping; ethical and societal issues of information systems. The course will employ extensive use of case studies.

Organizational Behavior

This course covers current concepts of human behavior as applied to organizations. Studies the role of the manager with respect to interpersonal relations. Covers anthropological, psychological, and sociological approaches in the identification and solution of the human aspects of business decisions. Evaluates behavioral science contributions to the study of effective leadership.

Research Project I

This course confronts the student with major contemporary debates and key issues of information systems and information technology, and provides a framework within which to develop a research project effort. This seminar discusses current methods used in information systems research, including quantitative, qualitative and conceptual approaches. The student will learn how to define a research issue, how to select an appropriate research method, and how to design a research plan. Each student will select a project area, and search the literature (formal and informal) for relevant material. These materials will be shared with the seminar class, and interactive peer discussion and critiques will assist each student in the development of the project report. Each student will prepare a research paper with a literature review, appropriate bibliography, definition of a research question, a research design and an analysis of expected results. Students will be evaluated and graded based upon class presentations, interim project work and delivery of a final written project report and oral presentation to the seminar. This course requires successful completion of an acceptable research paper on a topic approved by the instructor.

Structured Systems Analysis

The underlying concept is the building of a logical model of a system using structured techniques that enable users, analysts and designers to get a clear and common picture of the system. Topics include: system life cycles, systems development process, data flow diagrams, building and using the data dictionary, analyzing response and immediate access requirements, process specification, structured English and decision trees, management advantages of structured development.

Structured Systems Design

Structured design is concerned with the architecture of programs and systems, that is, the way in which a system should be broken into modules, which modules, relationships between modules, information passed between modules and the packaging of these modules into executable programs leading to minimum cost systems. Topics include module coupling and cohesion, transform centered systems, transaction centered systems, span of control/scope of effect, packaging and optimization considerations of design, structure and program quality, software reliability, management advantages of structured design methodology.

Telecommunications Management

Principles of managerial accounting, financial analysis and project management are introduced and applied to the planning, implementation and operation of telecommunications systems.