M&IS 44048: Software Integration

Spring 2003

All Sections:

  • Section 001 Tuesday & Thursday 12:15-1:00
  • Section 002 Tuesday & Thursday 5:30-6:45
  • Section 003 Monday & Wednesday 8:00-9:15

  • Dr. Geoffrey Steinberg
  • Ms. Sharen Bakke
  • Dr. Geoffry Howard


    Objective

    To help you become an excellent writer. To learn to work cooperatively on a team while producing professional quality results. Specifically you will be developing and maintaining an information system. Thus the course will draw on your analytical, communication and technical skills. Professionalism is expected throughout in comportment and outcome.


    Course Description

    This is a course about information system development. The students form teams. Each team analyzes a business situation, designs a solution, and implements the solution by developing computer programs that adhere to the design. The project has five phases with very specific milestones in each. At the completion of each phase the team submits a written report with significant portions prepared by each student. The five phases of the project are:

    1. Feasibility Study, Analysis, Project Schedule
    2. Design
    3. Development, Installation, Testing, User Documentation
    4. System Testing and Technical Documentation
    5. Proof of Performance
    The writing assignments specifically involve technical writing. Such writing includes presentation of the results of business analysis, description of information system technical specifications, documentation to enable maintenance of a completed information system, installation instructions and user manuals. Also included are more traditional business writing assignments such as business report preparation and memo writing.

    Each team prepares a comprehensive report covering work completed in each project phase. Each student individually prepares at least one section of his/her team’s report for each phase.

    In addition to the phase reports each team prepares a weekly status report for submission to the instructor. Responsibility for the weekly report rotates among team members. The author of the weekly report receives a grade for each status report prepared.


    Writing Assignments and Guided Revision

    Each student completes five individual writing assignments during the course. Each assignment is associated with one of the five phases of the team’s project work. For two of the phase reports each student is required to submit a preliminary copy of his/her work for review and critique by the instructor. For the remaining three phase reports the student is strongly encouraged (but not required) to submit work for preliminary review.

    In the case of the two required preliminary submissions no grades are assigned based on the instructor’s initial critique. The student is expected to revise the paper in accordance with the instructor’s suggestions.

    The instructor’s critique of preliminary submissions will include these items:
    1. Spelling and grammar
    2. Proper phrasing of ideas and proper development of sentences and paragraphs
    3. Organization and clarity of paper
    4. Completeness of investigation
    5. Development of argument
    Note: Each student is required to submit papers for preliminary review for the 2nd and 4th phases.

    Note: Weekly status reports are not subject to preliminary review.


    The Impact of Your Performance and Your Team's Results

    This is a group project course. Students work in teams toward accomplishment of specific project goals. The course grade for each student will be determined this way:
    1. 40% based on the team’s collective effort - the project outcome.
    2. 18% based on the student’s contribution to the team’s outcome.
    3. 42% based on the student’s writing performance.

    Role of the Instructor

    This is a non-traditional course in that it does not involve lecture and examination. The course is not taught in a classroom. Students are grouped into teams and each team meets with the instructor once a week in a conference room. The weekly meeting is known as and conducted as a “staff meeting.” The instructor serves as project manager and mentor.

    The course objective is to teach the students to work cooperatively as a team and accomplish professional business objectives. High quality writing is expected of professionals and is a key element in the student experience in this course.


    Class Organization and Staff Meetings

    Students are divided by the instructor into teams. The instructor holds "staff meetings" with each team once weekly for not more than thirty minutes. Staff meetings will be held at the discretion of the instructor in the M&IS Department Meeting Room or online in a virtual conference.

    All staff meetings will be with Dr. Steinberg. This applies to students in all sections. Attendance at staff meetings is mandatory.

    The class as a whole does not meet after the beginning of the semester.


    Textbook and Supplies

    The is no textbook.

    You will need a webcam, microphone, speakers and access to the Internet to participate in mandatory online virtual staff meetings.


    Your Grade

    Your course numeric grade is computed this way:

    Project Phase 1 Group Performance 1,48%
    Project Phase 2 Group Performance 1,48%
    Project Phase 3 Group Performance 1,48%
    Project Phase 4 Group Performance 1,48%
    Project Phase 5 Group Performance 1,48%
    Team’s Collective Result40%
    Your Personal Contribution to Team’s Collective Result418%
    Project Phase 1 Individual Writing 57%
    Project Phase 2 Individual Writing 2,57%
    Project Phase 3 Individual Writing 57%
    Project Phase 4 Individual Writing 2,57%
    Project Phase 5 Individual Writing 57%
    Weekly Status Report 3,57%
    Your Writing Performance42%
    100%100%

    1 Every team member gets the same grade.
    2 Preliminary submission required. Revise` after review by instructor.
    3 Average score of all evaluations of your status reports.
    4 Evaluation by Dr. Steinberg
    5 Evaluation by Dr. Howard and Ms. Bakke     		The standard Kent State University grading scale is used:

    <=90 <=80 <=70 <=60 <=0
    A B C D F



    Orion

    Your grades are maintained and available to you at all time son the Orion server. You must go to http://orion.kent.edu and register for this course.


    Etc.

    Lateness: Not allowed. No exceptions. Lateness as a professional is not acceptable and it is not acceptable in this class either.

    Attendance: Expected. The standard KSU allowances for absence are permitted with proper documentation. Any other absence will impact on your individual contribution score.

    Computer virus: It is not nice to send a virus to a server. If you do then you may render all group projects useless. So be careful!

    Students with Disability: In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) in the Michael Schwartz Services Center (672-2972).

    Backup Your Work: Expected. Your team will be provided space on a server. The server is not backed up. It is your responsibility to maintain backup copies of everything that you develop.

    Coding Standards: All programs that your team creates must follow these standards.