DEBRE BIRHAN UNIVERSITY

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS COLLEGE

MANAGMENENT INFORMATION SYSTEM COURSE OUTLINE

Program MBA
Module Code MBA-M103
Module Title Management Information Systems
Course Number MBA721
Course Title Management Information Systems
EtCTS credit 2
Lectuter Woldetsadik K.(Assist. Prof.)
Email woldkagn@gmail.com
Course Description
Most organizations today are in the process of designing, developing and implementing
numerous information technologies (IT) based systems to support employees in their
decision-making tasks. Successfully achieving this objective requires an understanding not
only of the hardware, software and design aspects of such a System or of the complex
mathematical and statistical models that are fundamental to a DSS's claim of superior
decisions, but also of human decision-making and the organizational context within
which decisions are made.
This course provides an overview of information systems in the business world. It is
intended to provide students in the MBA program with a firm grasp of the function of
computer-based information systems in modern business organizations. It presents an
organizational view of how to use information technology to create competitive firms,
manage global organizations, and provide useful products and services to customers.
It will primarily emphasize on the fundamentals underlying the design, implementation,
control, evaluation, and strategic use of modern, computer-based information systems for
business data processing, office automation, information reporting, and decision making.
Emphasis is on managerial and strategic aspects of information technology.

Topics include hardware, software, telecommunication systems, strategic use of

information systems, the development of information systems, and social and ethical issues
involved with information systems.

Course Objectives:
In order to determine the value of this course and to ensure that the concepts, principles, and
problem-solving skills developed in the course will be applied on the job or in future academic
settings; by the end of the course you should be able to fulfill a number of roles that require
competency in the following areas:

I. Understanding Foundation Concepts

 Explain why knowledge of information systems is important for business

professionals and identify five areas of information systems knowledge they need.
  Give examples to illustrate how the business applications of information systems can
support a firm’s business processes, managerial decision making, and strategies
for competitive advantage.
 Provide examples of the components of real world information systems. Illustrate that in
an information system, people use hardware, software, data, and networks as resources
to perform input, processing, output, storage, and control activities that transform data
resources into information products.
 Provide examples of several major types of information systems from your
experiences with business organizations in the real world.
 Identify several challenges that a business manager might face in managing the
successful and ethical development and use of information technology in a
business.
 Identify several basic competitive strategies and explain how they can use
information technologies to confront the competitive forces faced by a business.

II. Assess the State of Current Information Technologies

 Identify several major developments and trends in the industries, technologies, and
business applications of telecommunications and Internet technologies.
 Provide examples of the business value of Internet, intranet, and extranet
applications.
 Identify the basic components, functions, and types of telecommunications
networks used in business.
 Explain the functions of major types of telecommunications network hardware,
software, media, and services.

III. Apply MIS on Business Applications

o Give examples of how Internet and other information technologies support

business processes within the business functions of accounting, finance, human
resource management, marketing, and production and operations management.
o Identify the major categories and trends of e-commerce applications.

o Identify the essential processes of an e-commerce system, and give examples of how
they are implemented in e-commerce applications.
o Identify and explain the business value of several types of e-commerce
marketplaces.
o Identify the changes taking place in the form and use of decision support in
business.
o Identify the role and reporting alternatives of management information systems.
Explain the decision support system concept and how it differs from traditional
management information systems.

o Explain how the following information systems can support the information needs
of executives, managers, and business professionals: a. Executive information
 systems, b. Enterprise information portals,
c. Knowledge management systems
o Give examples of several ways expert systems can be used in business decision-
making situations.

IV. Understand Development Processes

 Discuss the role of planning in the business use of information technology, using
the scenario approach and planning for competitive advantage as examples.
 Discuss the role of planning and business models in the development of
business/IT strategies, architectures, and applications.
 Identify several change management solutions for end user resistance to the
implementation of new IT-based business strategies and applications.
 Describe and give examples to illustrate how you might use each of the steps of
the information systems development cycle to develop and implement a business
information system.
 Explain how prototyping improves the process of systems development for end
users and IS specialists.
 Identify the activities involved in the implementation of new information
systems.
 Describe several evaluation factors that should be considered in evaluating the
acquisition of hardware, software, and IS services.

V. Understand Management Challenges

o Identify several ethical issues in how the use of information technologies in

business affects employment, individuality, working conditions, privacy,
crime, health, and solutions to societal problems.
o Identify several types of security management strategies and defenses, and
explain how they can be used to ensure the security of business applications
of information technology.
o Propose several ways that business managers and professionals can help to
lessen the harmful effects and increase the beneficial effects of the use of
information technology.
o Identify several ways that information technology has affected the job of
managers.

o Identify the seven major dimensions of a networked organization and

explain how they can affect the success of a business.
o Explain how failures in IT management can be reduced by the involvement
of business managers in IS planning and management.
o Explain the effect on global business/IT strategy of the trend toward a
transnational business strategy by international business organizations.

Course Schedule
Chapter 1: Fundamental Concepts of Information Systems
1.1 What is Information System?
1.2 Importance of Management Information System
1.3 Evolutions of information system
1.4 The fundamental Role of Information Systems in business
1.5 The trends in information system
1.6 Types of Information System
1.7 Using Information Technology for strategic advantage

Chapter 2: Information System Infrastructure

2.1 Categories of Computer Systems
2.2 Computer System Concept
2.3 Peripherals
2.4 Computer Software
2.5 System Software: Computer System Management
2.6 Data Resource Management
2.7 Traditional File Processing
2.8 Database Management
2.9 Telecommunication and Networks
Chapter 3: Systems Planning and Development
3.1Overview of Systems Development
3.2Alternative Systems-Building Approaches
3.3Systems design, implementation, maintenance, and review

Chapter 4: Information Systems in Business

4.1 Functional Units
4.1.1 Human Resources Management
4.1.2 Financial and Accounting Management
4.1.3 Production/Operations Management
4.1.4 Marketing and Sales Management
 4.1.5 Distribution Management
4.1.6 Customer Relationship Management
4.2 Business Intelligence Systems
Chapter 5: Knowledge Management
5.1 Meaning of Knowledge Management
5.2 Types of Knowledge
5.3 Knowledge Management Process

Chapter 6: Information Security Management

6.1 IT Security, Ethics, and Society Business Ethics
6.2 Corporate Social Responsibility
6.3 Theories Principles of Technology Ethics
6.4 Cybercrime Protection Measures
6.5 Internet Abuses in the Workplace
6.6 Other Challenges
6.7 Security Management of IT

Chapter 7: E-Commerce: Digital Markets, Digital Goods (12th week)

7.1 E-commerce and the Internet
7.2 E-commerce: Business and Technology
7.3 The Mobile Digital Platform and Mobile E-commerce
7.4 Building an E-commerce Web Site

Chapter 8: Enhancing Decision making (13th week)

8.1Decision making concepts
8.2Decision methods, tools and procedures
8.3Decision Making and Information Systems
8.4Business Intelligence in the Enterprise
8.5Business Intelligence Constituencies
Teaching Method
As future business professionals, students are expected to have read relevant
materials and to have completed assignments prior to the class. The class
discussions/lectures are intended to emphasize the primary concepts from each
reading and to provide an opportunity to answer any questions that may
result from the readings and/or assignments. Because of the intensive nature of
this class, it is essential that each student allocate adequate time to prepare for every
activity.

Professional Conduct

All students are expected to conduct themselves professionally. This means that
behavior that would not be tolerated in a business meeting will not be tolerated in
this classroom.

Cellular telephones are prohibited. Please turn off any cellular telephones before
entering the classroom.

Those who engaged in cheating or dishonest activities may receive an automatic

failure in this course. Make-up tests/presentations, which will be harder, will be
given at the discretion of the instructor based on documented evidence only; the
student must contact the instructor prior to the regular test/presentation if absence is
unavoidable.

Class Attendance

Class participation is an important part of the learning experience. Many topics

discussed in class may not be in the materials to be read; thus, missing classes
implies missing knowledge which leads to missing opportunities to perform well on
examinations and on the job after graduation. Based on several years spent observing
student performance and class involvement, people who skip classes tend to receive
very low grades. The choice is yours.

Student Evaluation

Final Examination 50%

individual assignment 25%
group assignment 25%
Total 100%
Grading System

Letter grades will be used as prescribed in the college’s legislation.

Major References

nd
Alter, S. (1996). Information Systems: a management perspective, 2 edition, Benjamin

Publishing Company, Menlo Park.

Applegate, Lynda M., Robert D. Austin, and F. Warren McFarlan. 2003.

Corporate Information Strategy and Management: Text
th
and Cases, 6 edition. Boston, Massachusetts: The McGraw-
Hill Companies, Incorporated.
Haggs, S., Cummings, M., and Phillips, A., (2007). Management Information System:
th
for the information age, 6 edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, USA.

Jessup, Leonard, and Joseph Valacich. (2003). Information Systems Today. Upper

Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Incorporated.

Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J. P. (2004). Management Information Systems Managing

th th
the Digital Firm, 8 to 11 Editions, Prentice Hall, USA.
McLeod, Jr.R. & Schell, G. (2004). Management Information System, Pearson
Education, Inc. New Jersey, USA.
O’Brien, James A. (2004). Management Information Systems: Managing
th
Information Technology in the E-Business Enterprise, 6 edition. Boston,
Massachusetts: The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Incorporated.

rd
Oz, E. (2002). Management Information System, 3 edition, Vikas Publishing house,

Bangalore.