IMS 4212: Course Introduction
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ISM 4212
Dr. Larry West
http://systems.bus.ucf.edu/lwest
lwest@bus.ucf.edu
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 1
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Course Topics
• ISM 4212 — Database Management Systems
– "Design and implementation of relational databases in
organizations" (UCF Undergraduate Catalog)
• Additional topics
– Database application design and implementation
– Data warehousing
– Database administration
– Distributed databases
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 2
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Storage Problems
• Identify a storage problem that has nothing to do with
information or data
• What are the items to be stored?
• What different approaches are taken by different
people to store these items?
• For each approach:
– What are the costs?
– What are the advantages?
– What are the disadvantages?
– Do advantages and disadvantages apply to placing
items in storage, storage, or retrieval?
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 3
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Database Design
• All business information systems rely on stored data
• Data can be stored efficiently or inefficiently
• “Efficiency” applies to:
– Act of placing data into storage
– Storing data
– Act of retrieving data
– Act of modifying data
• There are often tradeoffs
– Easier storage makes for harder retrieval
– Etc.
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 4
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Database Design (cont.)
• "Efficiency" depends on many factors
– Type of data
– Capabilities of computer hardware
– Capabilities of database management system (DBMS)
– Access & user needs
– Data volume
– Transaction frequency and nature
• Design decisions create costs and benefits
• Database designer creates the data structures used by
applications
– These enable storage and retrieval
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 5
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Database Designers
• Database design is a key element in any information
system
• Database designers must understand the business's
processes to design effective databases
• Effectively analyzing organizational data needs and
designing effective structures is where you will make
your money in the early years of your careers
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 6
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Prerequisites
• ISM 3253 is an absolute and unwaiverable prerequisite
– Group project requires implementation in VB
– VB will be the example language used in client server
presentations
• If you do not meet this prerequisite you should go
ahead and leave now.
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 7
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
What’s Different About this Course
• To succeed in this course you must perform the same
tasks you will perform on the job as an MIS
professional
– Understand problems and design solutions
– Translate specifications from someone else into a
finished requirement
– Learn techniques with some learning on your own
– Recognize how to adapt techniques learned for one use
to another similar use
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 8
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
What’s Different About this Class (cont.)
• You have no right to a good grade in this class, even if
you show up every day
• You are responsible for understanding the material,
memorizing it just won’t work
• You are responsible for managing your efforts
– Backing up your projects
– Having time to coordinate with the instructor
– Planning time to study and complete the projects
• You must have time to use the lab or your own
computer for projects
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 9
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
What’s Different About this Course (cont.)
• While the class has lots of theory in it the theory is all
applied
• Your group project or SQL either works or it doesn’t
• Your answer is either right (it works) or its wrong (it
doesn’t)
• I will evaluate you as if you worked for me and your
work becomes part of what I give my boss
You are past the general background part
of your educations now
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 10
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
How to Succeed . . .
• Don’t see memorization as the goal
– Allow knowledge to embed itself through use
– Be able to recognize why a step is used or suggested
• Thoroughly understand the problem you are dealing
with — be able to solve it with pencil and paper before
you attempt to implement the solution
• Allow adequate time to complete assignments
• Allow adequate time to get help from the instructor
when you are stuck
• Practice techniques we cover in class right away
• Coordinate with the instructor
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 11
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
How to Succeed (cont.)
• Work effectively with your team
– Divide responsibility
– Keep each other informed
– Do your part on time and expect your team members to
do the same
• Get the fundamental skills under control early
– Practice
– Experiment
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 12
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
What I’m Assuming About You
• You understand basic Windows tasks
– Editing
– Saving, opening, copying, moving, and deleting files
• You understand the fundamentals of programming
• You have time in your schedule to complete the
assignments and work with your group
• You understand how to use e-mail and the Web or will
learn quickly
• You have access to computer and software
– See “Textbook” link on course page
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 13
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
What You Can Assume About Me
• I understand this material
• I won’t try to trick you
• I want you to succeed
• I will give you the grade you earn
• I will be available to you as described in the syllabus
except for announced absences
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 14
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Grading
Points Grade Points Grade Points Grade
92 + A 80 + B- 68 + D+
89 + A- 78 + C+ 62 + D
87 + B+ 70 + C 60 + D-
82 + B 69 + C- < 60 F
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 15
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Grading Weights
Exams 30% Two midterms and final exam. Final is comprehensive but
emphasizes material since the last midterm. All exams are
open book and open note but computers may not be used
during exams.
Homework 20% Three major homework assignments.
Quizzes 15% Number of quizzes to be determined. Total quiz average will
be multiplied by 15% to give contribution to course
grade. Quizzes will be done outside of class and may
require computer work. Some "quizzes" will look more like
small homework assignments than traditional quizzes.
Project 35% Group project for the design and implementation of a
working database and application
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 16
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Grade Distribution Fall 2008
A 9
A- 6
B+ 2
B 10
B- 2
C+ 2
C 8
C- 4
D 4
F 7
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 17
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Problem Grades
TOTAL GRADE P1 P2 P3 E1 E2 E3 H1 H2 H3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8
69.34 C- 42 8 9 73 76 82 83 41 38 20 13 16 9 20 20 20 20
69.29 C- 28 19 10 73 87 67 95 78 0 17 16 18 10 20 20 20 20
69.24 C- 28 25 10 63 79 67 94 77 0 18 17 18 6 20 20 20 20
68.96 C- 42 4 10 74 89 84 84 30 47 11 17 14 8 20 20 20 20
65.78 D 44 18 5 47 50 70 93 54 59 0 8 17 6 20 20 20 20
62.23 D 38 4 10 78 59 83 65 63 0 11 16 14 5 20 20 20 20
61.95 D 28 15 10 74 72 49 83 57 0 15 13 18 10 20 20 20 20
55.12 D 28 13 7 82 67 0 88 42 6 14 17 9 14 20 20 20 20
50.58 F 25 21 0 74 0 65 78 70 0 16 17 14 13 0 20 20 0
35.99 F 0 0 6 72 71 59 50 38 0 17 17 17 2 0 0 0 20
28.89 F 0 0 0 60 55 37 75 54 12 18 8 9 5 0 0 0 0
22.98 F 0 0 0 22 41 32 0 48 24 10 10 14 7 0 20 20 0
22.06 F 0 0 6 76 0 0 75 67 0 13 14 0 0 0 0 0 0
21.64 F 0 0 0 58 0 0 88 58 0 0 17 0 0 0 20 20 0
7.09 F 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 58 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 18
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Admin Stuff
• Attendance
• About the text books and software
• Using the Web Site
• Using e-mail
• Registering
• Lab Overview
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 19
IMS 4212: Course Introduction
Write this
down!
ISM 4212
Dr. Larry West
http://systems.bus.ucf.edu/lwest
lwest@bus.ucf.edu
Dr. Lawrence West, Management Dept., University of Central Florida
lwest@bus.ucf.edu 20