Information Systems Planning and Evaluation -- Dr. Dania Bilal

Dr. Dania Bilal

IS 582: Information Systems Planning and Evaluation
Spring 2009 Course Syllabus

Course Schedule

Lecture Notes

Assignments & Projects

Readings and Systems List

Professor: Dr. Dania Bilal
Meeting Time: Monday, 1:25p.m.-4:25p.m.
Meeting Place: Haslam 106
Office Location: COM 446
Office Hours: Monday 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Other time is available by appointment.
Voice Mail: (865) 974-3689
E-mail: dania@utk.edu
Web Page

Catalog Description: Information systems used in libraries and information agencies. Emphasizes planning, evaluation and system implementation. Covers usability engineering, interface design, and human computer interaction.

Additional Course Description
This course introduces the information system concept with emphasis on systems used in various types of libraries and information agencies. Based on the systems analysis and design approach, the course covers system components, system development life cycle (SDLC), selection and evaluation of next generation ILS,and impact of technological advances on system development and meeting user needs.

Texts
Valacich, J.S., George, J.F., & Hoffer, J. A. 2006. Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design. 3rd. edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Barbara Schultz-Jones. 2006. An Automation Primer for School Library Media Centers and Small Libraries. Linworth Publishing.

Bilal, Dania. 2002. Automating Media Centers and Small Libraries: A Microcomputer-Based Approach. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. [Copies of certain chapters will be placed on digital reserve, UT Hodges Library].

Additional Text
Bilal, Dania. 2009 (in progress). Automating Media Centers and Small Libraries: A Systems Analysis and Design Approach. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. Copies of chapters will be made available upon completion.

Readings: Literature and web sources identified by the instructor.

Prerequisites
SIS students must have had a minimum of two out of the three required courses (IS 510, 520, 530). Students must have adequate computing skills, familiarity with web and social networking concepts, and Web navigation and Internet skills.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

become familiar with selected concepts related to library automation and information systems;
identify and discuss the six phases of the system development life cycle (SDLC);
discuss emerging technologies and trends in selecting automation software (e.g., open source, off-the-shelf);
develop a feasibility study for selecting, upgrading, or imigrating to a new automation software package for a specific information environment;
gather and structure an ILS system requirements;
discuss the system implementation process; and
evaluate an information system using specific usability methods

Teaching and Course Delivery
This course combines theory and practice. It integrates collaborative learning, lectures, class discussions, hands-on activities, and field experiences. The course is offered on campus only and the delivery of the course is face-to-face.

Expectations

Students are responsible for identifying libraries/information agencies close to their locations to complete specific projects identified by the instructor.
Students should attend all class sessions. Absences must be cleared with the instructor in advance.
Students should be in class on time. Late arrival should be cleared with the instructor in advance, if possible.
Students who miss a class are responsible for obtaining class notes and other materials related to the course.
Tests must be taken as scheduled.
Projects and other assigned activities must be submitted on time.

Contacting the Instructor
Feel free to contact me for questions or to share ideas! You are encouraged to drop in during office hours, talk after class, set up an appointment if it is more convenient for you, or email me. To ensure quick response to your email, start your message subject line with IS 582. I will reply to your messages as soon as I can.

Submission of Assignments/Projects
Assignments and projects must be submitted in hard copy. Bring the hard copy to class on the due date. Paginate the assignment, give your name, and mailbox no. Online submission is allowed upon approval with the instructor. Projects and assignments must be word-processed, well-organized, and well-written.

Each late assignment will receive a reduced credit of one point per day, unless the instructor is informed in advance about this matter. Students should have legitimate reasons for late submissions.

Lecture Notes
Lecture notes will be available on the course Web page before class. Make sure you print the notes and bring them to class. The notes do not substitute for the assigned readings.

Special Needs
Contact the Office of Disability Services at 191 Hoskins Library at 865.974.6087 if you need course adaptations or accommodations. The office staff will work with you to arrive at the appropriate program and will register you for services needed. Please contact me about this matter to discuss appropriate solutions.

Readings and Class Participation
You are responsible for the assigned readings every week. In a professional environment you would be conversing with your colleagues. I expect a similar effort in this class. Class participation and keeping up with the readings is assigned 5% of the total grade.

Attendance
Attendance is expected because class discussions are an important part of mastering the content of the course. If you miss a class, notify the instructor as soon as possible. You are responsible for taking notes from your classmates about the class session you miss.

**Evaluation**
Students will be evaluated on the following:
Assignment 1: Literature review	15%
Assignment 2: Data Fllow Diagrams	15%
Tests (2)	10%
Project 1: Feasibiliy Study & Cost analysis	20%
Project 2: System Usability (team work)	20%
Field visit report	15%
Participation, readings, etc.	5%

Evaluation
The evaluation criteria of your work include but are not limited to: Quality of writing, organization, amount of analysis and synthesis provided, demonstration of critical thinking skills, adherence to the guidelines, and submission on time.

Academic Integrity
"Study, preparation and presentation should involve at all times the student's own work, unless it has been clearly specified that work is to be a team effort. Academic integrity requires that all work presented be the student's own work, not only on tests, but in themes, papers, homework, and class presentation...Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of data, providing unauthorized help, and other acts of academic dishonesty are abhorrent to the purposes for which the University exists" (Hilltopics).

**Grading**
Grading will be based on the following scores:

93 - 100	A	Excellent
87 - 92	B+	Very good
80 - 86	B	Good
75 - 79	C+	Satisfactory

**Course Schedule**
Date	Topic	Readings	Due
Jan. 12	Course introduction Demo of Aleph system; Demo of SUNLINK OPACs ; Demo of Z39.50 OPACs	Scan Valacich et al., chap. 1	None
Jan. 19	Martin Luther King Holiday - No class	None	None
Jan. 26	Concepts, Types of information system; components; ILS modules & functions SDLC Phase 1: Project planning	Valacich et al., chap. 1 Schultz-Jones, chap. 2	Identify institution for field visit
Feb. 2	SDLC Phase 1: Project initiation & planning	Schultz-Jones, chaps. 6-7;Valacich et al., chap. 3	Discussion of readings
Feb 9	SDLC Phase 1 (cont'd.); SDLC Phase 2: System selection	Valacich et al., chap. 3	Assignment #1 Discussion of readings
Feb 16	Software & hardware considerations Other considerations	Schultz-Jones, chap. 9 Bilal (TBA)	Discussion of readings
Feb. 23	SDLC Phase 3: Systems analysis & requirements DFDs; RFP Next-generation ILS	Valacich et al., chaps. 4-5 Breeding, M., 2007 (LTR article)	Test #1 Discussion of readings
March 2	Collection preparation, part 1.	Bilal,Chap. 5 Schultz-Jones, Chap. 10	Discussion of questions for field visit
March 9	Collection preparation, part 2.	See March 2	Discussion of DFDs
March 16	Spring break	None	None
March 23	Field visit - No class	None	None
March 30	SDLC 4: System Interface design	Valacich et al., scan chap. 8 Neilsen & Loranger, chaps. 4&5 (Reserve) Shneiderman & Plaisant, 2009, chap. 12 (Reserve) Shneiderman & Plaisant, 2009,chap. 2 (given in class) Usability Heuristics Interface design tips Usability guidelines Jakob Neilsen's site	Assignment #2 Field visit report Discussion of readings
April 6	SDLC Phase 6 : System Evaluation Usability methods & materials	Usability Methods Usability reports Methods Table See also Readings for March 30	Outline/draft of Project #1 Discussion of readings
April 13	SDLC 5: System implementation System migration Standards and protocols	Valacich et al. , scan chap. 10 Schultz-Jones, chaps. 10-11	Test #2 Project #1 Draft ideas for Project #2
April 20	Network architecture and topologies[Guest speaker]	Bilal, chap.7 Networking hardware	Project #1 Discussion of readings

Project #2: Usability Assessment. Due May 1 by noon.

Additional readings and new websites will be added throughout the semester.

Dr. Bilal's Homepage.

Last updated on March 28, 2009.

Dr. Dania Bilal

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on the following:

Grading

Grading will be based on the following scores:

Course Schedule