Course Syllabus

Course Description

Considers the theory and practice of management information systems, including information requirements analysis, design methodology, and system implementation considerations. Topics include new technology convergence, management of disrupted technology, technology impacts, and business continuity planning.

Course Textbook(s)

Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2016). Management information systems: Managing the digital firm (14th ed.) [VitalSource Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781323309568

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Summarize the complexities of information technology practices. 2. Describe the role of the information technology professional within an organization. 3. Evaluate the process of developing an information system for an organization. 4. Explain how information technology systems influence organizational strategies. 5. Examine information systems decision-making from a managerial perspective. 6. Compare and contrast databases and database management. 7. Evaluate the driving ethical issues of information systems. 8. Analyze the importance of software, hardware, and telecommunications to the business. 9. Examine advanced information systems solutions such as ERP (enterprise resource planning) and SAP (software

application and products). 10. Explain important information systems compliance and security considerations.

Prerequisite(s)

No prerequisite courses are required for enrollment in this course.

Credits

Upon completion of this course, the students will earn 3 hours of college credit.

CSU Online Library

The CSU Online Library is available to support your courses and programs. The online library includes databases, journals, e-books, and research guides. These resources are always accessible and can be reached through the library web page. To access the library, log into the myCSU Student Portal, and click on “CSU Online Library.” You can also access the CSU Online Library from the “My Library” button on the course menu for each course in Blackboard.

The CSU Online Library offers several reference services. E-mail ([email protected]) and telephone (1.877.268.8046) assistance is available Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library’s chat reference service, Ask a Librarian, is available 24/7; look for the chat box on the online library page.

Librarians can help you develop your research plan or assist you in finding relevant, appropriate, and timely information. Reference requests can include customized keyword search strategies, links to articles, database help, and other services.

MBA 5401, Management Information Systems

MBA 5401, Management Information Systems 1

LibGuides

Think of a LibGuide (a Library Guide) as a mini-website to help you with your assignments. It has relevant information such as databases, e-books, and websites specific to your courses. If you have any questions, please reach out to your friendly library staff.

Click here for the LibGuide for this course.

Unit Assignments

Unit II Case Study

Introduction:

This unit addresses the role of the technology professional in an organization and how information technology (IT) systems influence organizational strategies. This case study analyzes two retailers' business models and strategies. Then, it looks at the role that technology and IT personnel play in the assigned business case, and, finally, makes the connection between how IT influences those organizational strategies. This assignment allows you to recall the learned concepts and shows you how to apply those concepts to show a logical alignment between those requirements learned in this unit and the assignment.

Assignment Instructions:

Analyze the case study titled "Who's the World's Top Retailer? Walmart and Amazon Duke It Out" on pp. 116-118 of your textbook.

For this assignment, you will need to:

1. analyze the case study comparing Walmart and Amazon's business models and business strategies, 2. explain the role that information technology plays in each of these businesses and describe the role of the various IT

professionals involved in this case, 3. explain how IT helps influence Walmart and Amazon's organizational strategies, and 4. summarize your findings in a two- to three-page paper.

Unit III PowerPoint Presentation

IT Support of Business Processes

Introduction:

The main learning outcome of this unit addresses the importance of software, hardware, and telecommunications to a business. This involves the support of current and new, emerging technologies to the business. The assignment is a good assessment because you have to think of areas of an organization that could benefit by emerging technologies. You will need to research the technology's capabilities and discuss the advantages the technology will offer an organization. This way, you have to be able to assess how technology supports business.

Assignment Instructions:

Imagine that you are an IT manager charged with keeping up with current technology. Create a PowerPoint presentation for the chief information officer that provides an overview of two areas that you want to update based on emerging technologies. Be sure to provide the new technologies' capabilities and the advantages they will bring to the organization.

Be sure to cite all sources used in a reference slide with proper APA formatting. Be sure to provide at least two scholarly sources from the CSU Online Library. Your PowerPoint presentation must contain eight to ten slides; the cover and reference slides do not count in the length requirement.

You may also use the speaker's notes function for the presentation part of your PowerPoint and provide transitions from one slide to the next.

Below you will find a helpful resource created by the CSU Success Center on developing APA-style PowerPoint presentations:

https://columbiasouthern.adobeconnect.com/_a1174888831/powerpointbestpractices/

If you need additional help, contact the CSU Success Center.

Unit VI Case Study

Introduction:

The main learning outcome for this unit addresses advanced information systems solutions. You need to be able to understand not only the concepts behind implementing an advanced solution like ERP, but also the management and technological factors involved in an implementation, the value added by implementing advanced systems, what prompts the

MBA 5401, Management Information Systems 2

need for an advanced system like an ERP system, and the potential benefits of implementing IS advanced systems such as ERP systems. This case gives them a successfully implemented case to analyze.

Assignment Instructions:

Review what you have learned about enterprise resource planning (ERP) from the textbook and from the unit's study guide.

Analyze the case study titled "Vodafone: A Giant Global ERP Implementation" on pp. 376-378 in your textbook.

For this assignment, you will need to:

1. analyze and discuss the central issue(s) faced by Vodafone, including the contributing management and technological factors;

2. explain why ERP was a necessary information system solution to address the organization's issues; 3. evaluate the success of Vodafone's implementation plan and provide one suggestion to improve the process; 4. discuss the value the new ERP system brought to Vodafone as a company; and 5. summarize your findings in a two to three page paper.

Unit VII Essay

Introduction:

The learning outcome for this unit involves the process of developing an information system (IS) for an organization. There are many factors involved in this process, including core activities and the methodologies for managing the process. Project management plays a part as well. Additionally, IS development does not happen in a silo; there is also the business side to consider as part of the process. All of these considerations are brought together and addressed in this assignment.

Assignment Instructions:

For this assignment, you will need to access the CSU Online Library to research two articles concerning information systems development and project management. Drawing on these two articles, your textbook, and other sources, write an essay that addresses the following:

1. Provide a well-formulated thesis statement in your introduction paragraph. 2. Explain how a business user could be involved in the core activities of building an information system. 3. Analyze how software development methodologies (such as agile development) can work in tandem with project

management for the benefit of both information systems development projects and organizations. 4. Evaluate how project managers and/or IT managers can ensure that information system development projects are in

alignment with business strategies and goals. 5. Summarize your findings in a five-page paper using proper APA formatting.

Your response must be at least five pages in length, not including the title and references pages, and in APA format. You are required to use the two outside articles. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying APA citations.

APA Guidelines

The application of the APA writing style shall be practical, functional, and appropriate to each academic level, with the primary purpose being the documentation (citation) of sources. CSU requires that students use APA style for certain papers and projects. Students should always carefully read and follow assignment directions and review the associated grading rubric when available. Students can find The CSU Citation Guide by clicking here. This document includes examples and sample papers and provides information on how to contact the CSU Writing Center.

Grading Rubrics

This course utilizes analytic grading rubrics as tools for your professor in assigning grades for all learning activities. Each rubric serves as a guide that communicates the expectations of the learning activity and describes the criteria for each level of achievement. In addition, a rubric is a reference tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts to meet the requirements of that learning activity. It is imperative for you to familiarize yourself with these rubrics because these are the primary tools your professor uses for assessing learning activities.

Rubric categories include (1) Discussion Board, (2) Assessment (Written Response), and (3) Assignment. However, it is possible that not all of the listed rubric types will be used in a single course (e.g., some courses may not have Assessments).

The Discussion Board rubric can be found within Unit I’s Discussion Board submission instructions.

The Assessment (Written Response) rubric can be found embedded in a link within the directions for each Unit Assessment. However, these rubrics will only be used when written-response questions appear within the Assessment.

Each Assignment type (e.g., article critique, case study, research paper) will have its own rubric. The Assignment rubrics are built into Blackboard, allowing students to review them prior to beginning the Assignment and again once the Assignment has been scored. This rubric can be accessed via the Assignment link located within the unit where it is to be

MBA 5401, Management Information Systems 3

submitted. Students may also access the rubric through the course menu by selecting “Tools” and then “My Grades.”

Again, it is vitally important for you to become familiar with these rubrics because their application to your Discussion Boards, Assessments, and Assignments is the method by which your instructor assigns all grades.

Communication Forums

These are nongraded discussion forums that allow you to communicate with your professor and other students. Participation in these discussion forums is encouraged but not required. You can access these forums with the buttons in the Course Menu.

Click here for instructions on how to subscribe/unsubscribe and post to the Communication Forums.

Ask the Professor

This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content questions. Questions may focus on Blackboard locations of online course components, textbook or course content elaboration, additional guidance on assessment requirements, or general advice from other students.

Questions that are specific in nature, such as inquiries regarding assessment/assignment grades or personal accommodation requests, are NOT to be posted on this forum. If you have questions, comments, or concerns of a non- public nature, please feel free to e-mail your professor. Responses to your post will be addressed or e-mailed by the professor within 48 hours.

Before posting, please ensure that you have read all relevant course documentation, including the syllabus, assessment/assignment instructions, faculty feedback, and other important information.

Student Break Room

This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Communication on this forum should always maintain a standard of appropriateness and respect for your fellow classmates. This forum should NOT be used to share assessment answers.

Schedule/Grading

The following pages contain a printable Course Schedule to assist you through this course. By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted.

Unit I Information Systems Practice in Organizations [ Weight: 8% ]

Read/View: Unit I Study Guide Chapter 1: Information Systems in Global Business Today Chapter 4: Ethical and Social Issues in Information Systems

Discuss: Unit I Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit I Assessment 6%

Unit II Information Systems and the Strategic Organization [ Weight: 14% ]

Read/View: Unit II Study Guide Chapter 2: Global E-Business and Collaboration Chapter 3: Information Systems, Organizations, and Strategy

Discuss: Unit II Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit II Case Study 12%

MBA 5401, Management Information Systems 4

Unit III Infrastructure and Emerging Technology [ Weight: 18% ]

Read/View: Unit III Study Guide Chapter 5: IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies Chapter 7: Telecommunications, the Internet, and Wireless Technology

Discuss: Unit III Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit III Assessment Unit III PowerPoint Presentation

6% 10%

Unit IV Databases, Information Management, and Business Intelligence [ Weight: 8% ]

Read/View: Unit IV Study Guide Chapter 6: Foundations of Business Intelligence: Databases and Information Management

Discuss: Unit IV Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit IV Assessment 6%

Unit V Security and Compliance [ Weight: 8% ]

Read/View: Unit V Study Guide Chapter 8: Securing Information Systems

Discuss: Unit V Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit V Assessment 6%

Unit VI Advanced Information System Solutions [ Weight: 20% ]

Read/View: Unit VI Study Guide Chapter 9: Achieving Operational Excellence and Customer Intimacy: Enterprise Applications Chapter 10: E-Commerce: Digital Markets, Digital Goods

Discuss: Unit VI Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit VI Assessment Unit VI Case Study

6% 12%

Unit VII Managing Information Systems Development [ Weight: 16% ]

Read/View: Unit VII Study Guide Chapter 13: Building Information Systems Chapter 14: Managing Projects

Discuss: Unit VII Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit VII Essay 14%

MBA 5401, Management Information Systems 5

Unit VIII Managing Information Systems and Decision Making [ Weight: 8% ]

Read/View: Unit VIII Study Guide Chapter 11: Managing Knowledge Chapter 12: Enhancing Decision Making

Discuss: Unit VIII Discussion Board 2%

Submit: Unit VIII Assessment 6%

MBA 5401, Management Information Systems 6

  • MBA 5401, Management Information Systems
  • Course Syllabus
    • Course Description
    • Course Textbook(s)
    • Course Learning Outcomes
    • Prerequisite(s)
    • Credits
    • CSU Online Library
    • LibGuides
    • Unit Assignments
      • Unit II Case Study
      • Unit III PowerPoint Presentation
      • Unit VI Case Study
      • Unit VII Essay
    • APA Guidelines
    • Grading Rubrics
    • Communication Forums
    • Schedule/Grading

Case Study Who’s The World’s Top Retailer? Walmart and Amazon Duke It Out

Walmart is the world’s largest and most successful retailer, with $476 billion in fiscal 2014 sales and nearly 11,000 stores world-wide, including over 4,000 in the United States. Walmart has 2 million employees, and ranks Number 1 on the Fortune 500 list of companies. Walmart had such a large and powerful selling machine that it really didn’t have any serious competitors. No other retailer came close—until now. Today Walmart’s greatest threat is no other than  Amazon.com , often called the “Walmart of the Web.” Amazon sells not only books but just about everything else people want to buy—DVDs, video and music streaming downloads, software, video games, electronics, apparel, furniture, food, toys, and jewelry. The company also produces consumer electronics—notably the Amazon Kindle e-book reader. No other online retailer can match Amazon’s breadth of selection, low prices, and fast, reliable shipping.

For many years, Amazon has been the leader in online retail and is now the world’s largest e-commerce retailer. It, too, has a very large and powerful selling machine, although it has primarily focused on selling through the Internet. But if Amazon has its way, that’s about to change, because it dearly wants to move in on Walmart’s turf.

Walmart was founded as a traditional, off-line, physical store in 1962, and that’s still what it does best. But it is being forced to compete in e-commerce, whether it likes it or not. Six or seven years ago, only one-fourth of all Walmart customers shopped at  Amazon.com , according to data from researcher Kantar Retail. Today, however, half of Walmart customers say they’ve shopped at both retailers. Online competition from Amazon has become too tough to ignore.

Why is this happening to Walmart? There are two trends that threaten its dominance. First, Walmart’s traditional customers—who are primarily bargain hunters making less than $50,000 per year—are becoming more comfortable using technology. More affluent customers who started shopping at Walmart during the recession are returning to Amazon as their finances improve. Amazon has started stocking merchandise categories that Walmart traditionally sold, such as vacuum bags, diapers,and apparel, and its revenue is growing much faster than Walmart’s. In 2013, Amazon had sales of nearly $67 billion, compared to online sales of about $9 billion for Walmart.

If more people want to do even some of their shopping online, Amazon has some clear cut advantages. Amazon has created a recognizable and highly successful brand in online retailing. The company has developed extensive warehousing facilities and an extremely efficient distribution network specifically designed for Web shopping. Its premium shipping service, Amazon Prime, provides fast “free” two-day shipping at an affordable fixed annual subscription price ($99 per year), often considered to be a weak point for online retailers. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon’s shipping costs are lower than Walmart’s, ranging from $3 to $4 per package, while Walmart’s online shipping can run $5–$7 per parcel. Walmart’s massive supply chain needs to support more than 4,000 physical stores worldwide, which Amazon doesn’t have to worry about. Shipping costs can make a big difference for a store like Walmart where popular purchases tend to be low-cost items like $10 packs of underwear. It makes no sense for Walmart to create a duplicate supply chain for e-commerce.

However, Walmart is no pushover. It is an even larger and more recognizable brand than Amazon. Consumers associate Walmart with the lowest price, which Walmart has the flexibility to offer on any given item because of its size. The company can lose money selling a hot product at extremely low margins and expect to make money on the strength of the large quantities of other items it sells. Walmart also has a significant physical presence, with stores all across the United States, and its stores provide the instant gratification of shopping, buying an item, and taking it home immediately, as opposed to waiting when ordering from Amazon. Two-thirds of the U.S. population is within five miles of a Walmart store, according to company management.

Walmart has steadily increased its investment in its online business, spending more than $300 million to acquire five tech firms, including Small Society, One Riot, Kosmix, and Grabble, while hiring more than 300 engineers and code writers. Other recent acquisitions include Torbit, OneOps, Tasty Labs, and Inkiru, that will help give Walmart more expertise in things like improving the product recommendations for Web visitors to  Walmart.com , using smartphones as a marketing channel, and personalizing the shopping experience. Walmart has been steadily adding new applications to its mobile and online shopping channels, and is expanding its integration with social networks such as Pinterest

The company’s technology team is working on an application called Endless Aisle, which would allow shoppers to immediately order from  Walmart.com  using their smartphones if an item is out of stock. A Pay With Cash program enables the 25 percent of Walmart customers who don’t have credit cards or bank accounts to order their products online and then pay for them in cash at their nearest Walmart store. Walmart’s online and digital development division @WalmartLabs acquired the recipe technology startup Yumprint in order to expand its online grocery delivery services. Management hopes that Yumprint will help Walmart customers more easily make shopping lists from recipes they find in Yumprint before they shop. The company also hired former eBay executive Jamie Iannone to manage the integration of Sam’s Club’s Website with Walmart’s global e-commerce unit.

Walmart’s Sam’s Club has been testing a new subscription service called My Subscriptions that allows its 47 million members to order over 700 items, including baby, beauty, and office supplies in order to compete with Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program. Online customers will not need to pay shipping fees for these subscription items. Sam’s Club used to be unaffected by competitors like Amazon among shoppers of fresh food, groceries, and basic products that were either not sold on Amazon, or were more expensive online. Now 35-40 million households enrolled in Amazon Prime, and many Sam’s Club members tend to belong to Amazon Prime as well. Sam’s Club is starting to feel the pressure. Amazon is looking into starting a new business called “Pantry,” which would allow customers to purchase goods like toilet paper and cleaning supplies in bigger bundles for cheaper shipping costs.

Walmart is also trying to improve links between its store inventory, Web site, and mobile phone apps so that more customers can order online and pick up their purchases at stores. Shoppers can order items online and pick them up from lockers in local stores without waiting in line. (Walmart already offers in-store pick up of online orders.) Walmart’s lockers are similar to Amazon’s recent deal with Staples and 7-Eleven to do the same.The idea is to be able to offer Walmart products anywhere a consumer prefers to shop, whether that’s online, in stores, or on the phone.

The company is re-thinking its in-store experience to draw more people into its stores. More than half of Walmart customers own smartphones. Walmart has designed its mobile app to maximize Walmart’s advantage over Amazon: its physical locations. About 140 million people visit a Walmart store each week. The company started testing the app’s in-store mode, which detects when a customer is in a physical store. When the mode is activated, customers can check their wish lists, locate items of interest in the store, and see local promotions. The app’s “Scan & Go” feature lets customers scan items as they shop so they can move quickly through self-checkout. Shoppers can add items to their lists using voice or by scanning bar codes.

The Walmart Web site uses software to monitor prices at competing retailers in real time and lower its online prices if necessary. The company is also doubling inventory sold from third-party retailers in its online marketplace and tracking patterns in search and social media data to help it select more trendy products. This strikes directly at Amazon’s third party marketplace which accounts for a significant revenue stream for Amazon. Additionally, Walmart is expanding its online offerings to include upscale items like $146 Nike sunglasses and wine refrigerators costing more than $2,500 to attract customers who never set foot in a Walmart store.

Amazon is working on expanding its selection of goods to be as exhaustive as Walmart’s. Amazon has allowed third-party sellers to sell goods through its Web site for a number of years, and it has dramatically expanded product selection via acquisitions such as its 2009 purchase of online shoe shopping site Zappos.com to give Amazon an edge in footwear.

On June 18, 2014, Amazon announced its own Fire Phone to provide a better mobile platform for selling its products and services online. Amazon’s smartphone has four cameras that can track faces to show images that appear to have depth similar to a hologram. Users are able to scroll through Web or book pages just by tilting the device or to quickly navigate menus, access shortcuts, and view notifications. Mayday is a 24-hour customer support service for users of Amazon’s devices, offering one-tap access to Amazon customer service agents who can talk to phone users via video chat, and take over the screen on their devices to show them exactly how to do something. Firefly is a tool that automatically recognizes through the camera over 100 million items, including merchandise, music, or television shows, then offers a way to buy them through Amazon’s online store. For example, a user could point the phone at a pair of running shoes and then order them immediately from  Amazon.com .

Amazon continues to build more fulfillment centers closer to urban centers and expand its same-day delivery services, and it has a supply chain optimized for online commerce that Walmart just can’t match. But Walmart has thousands of stores, in almost every neighborhood that Amazon won’t ever be able to match. The winner of this epic struggle will be which company leverages its advantage better. Walmart’s technology initiative looks promising, but it still hasn’t succeeded in getting its local stores to be anything more than local stores. Still up in the air is the question of the relationship of online selling to Walmart’s overall business model. Should Walmart try to best Amazon as the world’s dominant e-commerce site? Or would it be better off using online selling to boost revenue for all of Walmart. Would more companywide profits be generated by having a modest online site and using technology to boost store profits?

Sources: Shelly Banjo, “Wal-Mart Looks to Grow by Embracing Smaller Stores, “Wall Street Journal, July 8, 2014; Greg Bensinger, “Amazon Unveils ‘Fire Phone’ Smartphone,” Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2014 and “Amazon Raises Prime Subscription Price To $99 A Year,” Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2014; Anna Rose Welch, “Walmart, Sam’s Club Amp Up Online Shopping Experiences, “Integrated Solutions for Retailers, February 28, 2014; Donna Tam, “Walmart: Amazon image recognition a ‘shiny object’,” CNET, February 6, 2014; Brian O’Keefe, “Walmart Plans to Be an Online Juggernaut,” Fortune, July 23, 2013; Claire Cain Miller and Stephanie Clifford, “To Catch Up, Walmart Moves to Amazon Turf,” New York Times, October 19, 2013; Claire Cain Miller, “Wall-Mart Introduces Lockers as It Battles Amazon in E-Commerce,” New York Times, March 27, 2013; Evan Schuman, “Amazon’s Supply Chain Kicking the SKUs Out of Walmart’s,” StorefrontBacktalk, June 19, 2013; and David Welch, “Walmart Is Worried About Amazon,” Business Week, March 29, 2012.

Previous Next

Get help from top-rated tutors in any subject.

Efficiently complete your homework and academic assignments by getting help from the experts at homeworkarchive.com