1

Course Title & Section: IT-410 Needs Assessment

Term: 18FLA
Date &Time: M 6:00 -10:00PM
Location: Main Campus
Instructor: Douglas Rollins
Office Hours: By Appointment
Phone: 610-724-2598
E-mail: rollinsd@Philau.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will provide an introduction to assessing the informational needs of an organization.
Topics covered include equipment requirements, information design, and technology integration as
they impact the needs of an organization. Special attention will be given to usability studies and
design development.

TOPICS AND OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain the basic requirements for managing in the Information Age.
2. Describe Information Technology’s Strategic Importance.
3. Demonstrate the procedures and techniques for developing an organization’s IT Strategy.
4. Identify the challenges that must be faced in our fast-paced economy when developing sound IT
strategies and plans that support the organization’s goals and objectives.
5. Explain how governmental actions and telecommunication industry developments are
accelerating trends toward global business and electronic commerce.
6. Discuss how new technologies are changing the roles and the work of employees and managers
and permanently altering the way organizations conduct their affairs.
7. Define and explain why application programs and databases are valuable organizational
resources which continue to grow more valuable as organizations embrace network technologies
and e-business systems.
8. Explain the critical nature of effective and efficient operation of information technology and
telecommunication systems and the relationship of that operation to routine business success.
9. Identify and discuss the importance of and legal requirements for business controls in business
with special attention to e-business.
10. Discuss the importance of managers having an awareness of business controls and how to
develop and use refined tools, techniques, and processes to perform control responsibilities.
Describe how information technology can support high-performance organizations and leaders
to manage human resources effectively during important transitions
 2

TEXTBOOKS

Title: Principles of Information Systems

Author: Stair, Reynolds
Publisher: Course Technology Cengage Learning
Date: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-324-66528-4

ASSIGNMENTS

How Final Grades Are Determined:

Assignment Percentage

Problem Solving Exercises 25%

Discussion Questions 10%

Class Participation 10%

Portfolio 5%
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%

COURSE OUTLINE & ASSIGNMENTS:

Date In Class Homework

Class 1 Review Chapter 1 Chapter 1 - Problem

Solving Exercise #4
Chapter 1 - Discussion Questions
Read Chapter 2

Class 2 Review Chapter 2 Chapter 2 – Problem

Solving Exercise # 2
Chapter 2 – Discussion Questions
Read Chapter 3

Read Chapter 4
 3

Class 3 Review Chapter 3 & 4 Chapter 3 – Problem

Solving exercise # 1
Chapter 3 – Discussion Questions
Chapter 4 – Problem
Chapter 4 – Discussion Questions Solving Exercise # 1

Read Chapter 5

Class 4 Review Chapter 5 Chapter 5 – Problem

Solving Exercise # 1
Chapter 5 - Discussion Questions
Read Chapter 6

Class 5 Review Chapter 6 Chapter 6 – Problem

Solving Exercise # 1
Chapter 6 - Discussion Questions
Read Chapter 7 & 8

Class 6 Review Chapters 7&8 Chapter 7 – Problem

Solving Exercise # 2
Chapter 7 – Discussion Questions
Chapter 8 – Problem
Chapter 8 – Discussion Questions Solving Exercise # 1

Read Chapter 9 & 10

Class 7 Review Chapters 9 & 10 Chapter 9 – Problem

Solving Exercise # 2
Chapter 9 – Discussion Questions
Chapter 10 – Problem
Chapter 10 – Discussion Questions Solving Exercise # 2

Read Chapters 11 & 12

Class 8 Review Chapters 11 & 12

Chapter 11 – Discussion Questions

Chapter 12 – Discussion Questions

 4

GRADING FORMULA

A 93% - 100% Superior/Excellent

A- 90% - 92%
B+ 87% - 89%
B 83% - 86% Good/Better than Average
B- 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79%
C 73% - 76% Competent/Average
C- 70% - 72%
D+ 67% - 69%
D 60% - 66%
F 0% - 59% Failing

COURSE SUCCESS POLICIES

Attendance
Attendance in class is expected and required. Students are responsible for ensuring
that the faculty member is aware of their attendance at a class session. The
interchange and involvement in class sessions is an integral part of learning and
cannot be replicated through other means. More than 2 absences will result in a
grade of F for the course. Class absences will ultimately affect a student’s class
participation grade

Students are encouraged to reach out to the professor via email to let them know in
advance of any absences. Such notification does not excuse the absence or negate
previous policy statements. Please see the “Handing in work when absent” section
below for information on how & when required work must be submitted when
missing class.

Students, who, because of religious beliefs, are unable to attend a class or participate
in any examination, study or course requirement will be excused and will be
provided an opportunity to make up the missed work at the convenience of both the
student and the faculty member. While no student will be penalized as a result of
religious observances, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor of
their planned absence in advance of the scheduled class session.

Tardiness & Leaving Early

Class starts promptly at 6:00 PM, and attendance is recorded at the start of class and
end of class. Students are expected to attend the full duration of each class session.
 5

Please make sure that you allow yourself enough time to navigate parking. At no
time will a student be penalized for late arrivals under well-documented situations
involving traffic issues and/or snow related issues. Penalty for late arrivals/early
departures:
• Missing 30 minutes or more for 2 classes will result in a 10 point deduction
from the final course grade.
• Missing 30 minutes or more for 3 – 4 classes will result in a 15 point
deduction from the final course grade.
• Missing 30 minutes or more for 5 – 8 classes will result in a 20 point
deduction from the final course grade.

Handing in Work When Absent From a Class Session

In order to receive full credit for assignments: students are expected to
electronically submit their work via Blackboard PRIOR to 6PM on the day of class
missed. Work submitted after 6PM will count as late.

Late Work
Assignments are to be completed and handed in on time at the start of the class (6
PM sharp) in which it is due. In order to be fair to students who complete their
work on time, homework that is turned in more than 10 minutes after the start of
class will be counted as late and will be penalized 10 points off the assignment
grade, per day late. If you are concerned that you might be late for class, please
submit your work in to me in advance. Even if you are absent from class, the work
assigned is still due via email by 6PM that day, even though you are absent

Written Work
All course work, excepting online discussion questions and participation, are to be
handed in typed on Blackboard. All assignments are to be typed double-spaced in a
document with 1-inch margins, in size 12 font, using Arial or Times New Roman
font. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted. Be sure to save your
document in process every few minutes, use your autosave feature, and create back-
up copies during the writing process and store them somewhere other than your
computer’s hard drive.

Extensions
Extensions are rarely granted, and are only allowed in extenuating circumstances,
(such as extensive illness, death of a family member, and other events that are
beyond a student’s control). Procrastinating on one’s course work is not an
acceptable reason, even when combined with an extenuating circumstance. In the
 6

event of an extenuating circumstance, please notify the professor as soon as

possible, and be prepared to provide documentation.

Conduct
Students are expected to conduct themselves in professional and appropriate ways
at all times during their studies, both in-person and online. This includes
maintaining appropriate and respectful interactions with their professors, their
peers and any guest speakers/lecturers who may join the classroom experience. It
includes the appropriate use of electronic support (laptops, cell phones, pagers, etc.)
in ways that are not distracting. Minimally, phones should be set to silent/vibrate
and should be kept away during class. Texting, chatting, checking e-mail or the like
is considered unprofessional. While participation looks different depending upon
learning style, every student is expected to be an active participant in their own
learning, and to contribute to the class process. Student conduct will play a role in
participation grades.

Extra Credit
Extra credit asks students to go above and beyond the time required for the course,
and often requires extra time and resources, which may not be equally available to
all students. As such, there are no extra credit assignments offered as a part of this
course. Students who are struggling with their grades or work in this course are
strongly suggested to seek out the professor for support and guidance early in the
term.

Incompletes
Incompletes in this course are rarely granted, and are only allowed in extenuating
circumstances, (such as extensive illness, death of a family member, and other
events that are beyond a student’s control). Procrastinating on one’s course work
is not an acceptable reason, even when combined with an extenuating circumstance.
In the event of an extenuating circumstance, please notify the professor or an
appropriate academic school authority as soon as possible.

Learning Accommodations
Students with documented disabilities who are in need of special accommodations,
should speak to me about this the first day of class, and/or note this on the course
contract. We will work together to make the arrangements that will permit you to
do your best in this course. To be fair to all students, accommodations will be
limited to students who have formally documented disabilities through Disability
Services on campus.

Academic Integrity & Honesty

 7

Academic integrity is serious issue, and it is your duty as a student to know the
university policy on this issue. Examples of unacceptable academic behavior
include cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of academic fraud. This includes
submitting a paper written by another person, using the work of another without
properly citing their work, or attempting to disguise someone else’s work. These
are unacceptable violations of university policy and are subject to the consequences
and guidelines addressed in the Student Handbook
(www.philau.edu/studenthandbook/index.htm).

It is the student’s responsibility to be aware and informed regarding the University’s

Academic Integrity Policy. The University’s complete academic integrity policy is
available on the Learning and Advising Center’s website,
http://www.eastfalls.jefferson.edu/successcenter/index.html. Academic resources,
including information on citation and documentation for all written work and
presentations, are also available on the Learning and Advising Center’s website. The
student handbook includes all of the university policies. A student must always
submit work that represents his or her original words or ideas. In addition, it is a
violation of the standards of academic integrity to either reuse a previously graded
assignment, or submit the paper of another student in order to complete the writing
assignment(s) in a course. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent the
student's original words or ideas, the student must cite all relevant sources. The
student should also make clear the extent to which such sources were used. Words
or ideas that require citations include, but are not limited to, all hardcopy or
electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual
communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an
identifiable source.

Documented cases of plagiarism will result in a grade of 0 (zero) for that

assignment. Additionally, documented cases of plagiarism MUST be reported, in
writing, to the Director of Student Services, School of Continuing and Professional
Studies. If necessary, this documentation may be shared with the Dean of Students
Office.

By virtue of handing in assignments (physically or electronically) in this course, the

student acknowledges that they fully understand and have abided by the academic
integrity policy of Philadelphia University.

Citing Sources
An important part of academic integrity is the proper citation of research sources.
This includes texts you use in class, as well as materials from outside sources. For
this class, you are required to use APA or MLA format. The Online Writing Lab
(OWL) at Purdue
 8

Information Literacy
The American Library Association’s Presidential Commission on Informational
Literacy reports that “information literate people know how to find, evaluate, and
use information effectively to solve a particular problem or make a decision –
whether the information they select comes from a computer, a book, a government
agency, a film or any number of other possible resources”. Efforts to teach
information literacy in this course are part of a University wide initiative. More
information regarding this initiative can be found at www.philau.edu/infolit.

Additional Academic Support

Gutman Library (http://www.eastfalls.jefferson.edu/library/index.html)
Gutman Library is a gateway to a variety of information resources. The homepage of
the library provides 24/7 access to online databases of articles, e-journal
collections, e-books, and specialized information to support your coursework. See a
list of Research Guides for specific programs and courses at
http://libguides.philau.edu/start. The library building is wireless, has 80 available
workstations (PCs and Macs), printers, scanners, and copiers; as well as individual
and group study spaces.

ProQuest Research Companion - teaches information literacy/library research

skills --
See Research Guide: http://libguides.philau.edu/pqrc -or go to “R” on our
Databases A to Z list to access Research Companion.
• Learning Modules (2-3-minute videos) –embed into
BlackBoard (with Login, students can see also self-evaluation
questions)
• Tools like : topic aid (alternative terms and topic overviews);
source evaluation aid; search aid

The Academic Success Center

(http://www.eastfalls.jefferson.edu/successcenter/index.html)
The Academic Success Center provides one-on-one tutoring assistance for writing,
study strategies, test taking, and specific Philadelphia University courses. To make a
tutoring appointment, students should stop by the Academic Success Center in
Haggar Hall or call (215) 951-2799. Tutoring is not available for all School of
Continuing & Professional Studies classes, so students should call and confirm that
 9

tutoring is available for their specific class. Additionally, academic resources,

including information on citation and documentation, note taking, and study
strategies are available on the Center’s website.

Supplemental Tutoring
Beginning fall 2016, students enrolled in courses through the School of Continuing &
Professional Studies will have access to Tutor.com. To access Tutor.com, you will
need to click 24/7 tutoring on the course Bb site. This new service is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, currently at no charge to you. Tutor.com advisors can
assist with math based homework problems, writing assignments and general
classroom support in all academic areas.

Technology Resources http://www.eastfalls.jefferson.edu/oir/

The University provides wireless network access in all campus buildings and at the
Bucks Campus. If you need a computer, Gutman Library and Search Hall have open
access computers. For assistance with technology issues, students should contact
the Technology Help Desk at (215) 951-4648 or send an email to
helpdesk@philau.edu.

Inclement Weather Policy – Recommended syllabus statement

If classes are canceled due to inclement weather, or any situation preventing the
instructor from conducting a class session, students are responsible for checking
their university email and/or Blackboard for information from their faculty
advising them of any immediate impact on the students’ preparation for the next
class meeting. In order to address any missed learning due to cancellation of class
sessions, faculty members have several options including:
1. Holding class through electronic means by emailing the students or posting
to Blackboard class lessons, discussion forums and/or additional
assignments related to class content;
2. Holding class at a rescheduled time acceptable to all class members. If there
are students who are unable to attend a rescheduled class, the faculty should
make reasonable accommodations for the student(s) to make up the work.
3. Holding class through synchronous online means.
 10

Portfolio Requirements for this Course

Philadelphia University is committed to providing excellent and innovative
educational opportunities to its students. To help us maintain quality academic
offerings, the University and its programs regularly examine the effectiveness of the
curricula, teaching, services, and programs the University provides. As Philadelphia
University sees appropriate, it may retain representative examples or copies of
student work from all courses. This might include papers, exams, creative works, or
portfolios developed and submitted in courses or to satisfy the requirements for
degree programs as well as surveys, focus group information, and reflective
exercises.

Throughout the Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS) degree program, each
student is required to develop and maintain a Portfolio to track their growth
throughout the CPS degree program. The Portfolio should contain actual samples of
work completed during the program to reflect those activities & events that
significantly contribute to your learning & development. It is essential for all
students to keep the graded copies of their assignments intended for portfolio
inclusion. Students are encouraged to keep all copies of graded assignments, and
create back-up copies of electronic versions as they progress through the program.

Sample materials include documents and projects developed in conjunction with

specific courses and samples of application of concepts learned and applied in areas
of work, civic, or personal activities. Your Portfolio will be divided into the following
sections:

1. Industry or Organizational Analysis

2. Information and Technological Literacy
3. Global Perspectives
4. Specialized Professional Skills and Knowledge

Each section should contain artifacts applicable to each area. The artifacts selected
by the students could be blackboard assignments, reading analyses, small group
activities, case studies, student selected articles, and/or presentations. You are
expected to make your own selections of relevant work for inclusion in the Portfolio,
however in some core courses, your portfolio will be pre-selected and is required
for the final Portfolio. You will also expected to demonstrate an understanding of
how this course and its work represent the categories of learning in each section of
the Portfolio.
 11

GRADING RUBRICS

Scoring Level Exemplary Accomplished Developing Beginning

Problem / Formulate Describe (or List or Recognize that
Concept (through sketch out) the recognize a there is a
identification writing or problem and its variety of problem or
illustration) a components. components concept that
clear related to the needs to be
description of concept or solved.
the problem or problem.
concept and
specify its
major
components to
be examined.
Research, Select and Examine, Gather List areas to be
organize and prioritize categorize, and research researched.
prioritize information organize information.
Information appropriate to research
solving the information.
problem or
concept.
Establish Construct Prioritize the Evaluate the Develop a
criteria and several criteria and criteria and criteria list.
propose proposed propose at least propose a
solution solutions one possible solution.
consistent with solution
the proposed consistent with
criteria. the proposed
criteria.
Implement Select and Analyze and Gather Implement at
and evaluate justify the final evaluate all assessment least one
solution solution to the assessment information proposed
problem. information. about the solution.
implemented
proposed
solution(s).
 12

Inclement Weather Policy

If classes are canceled due to inclement weather, students are responsible for
checking their university email and/or Blackboard for information from their
faculty advising them of any immediate impact on the students’ preparation for the
next class meeting. In order to address any missed learning due to cancellation of
class sessions, faculty members have several options including:

1. Holding class through electronic means by emailing the students or posting to

Blackboard class lessons, discussion forums and/or additional assignments
related to class content;
2. Holding class at a rescheduled time acceptable to all class members. If there
are students who are unable to attend a rescheduled class, the faculty should
make reasonable accommodations for the student(s) to make up the work.
3. Holding class through synchronous online means.

Information on Digital Resources

Includes a course system site, materials placed on electronic reserve, class email
distribution lists, and course-specific websites. Note: Blackboard will be used to
provide effective communication and supporting resources.

Technology Resources (http://www.philau.edu/OIT/)

The University provides wireless network access in all campus buildings and at the
Bucks Campus. If you need a computer, Gutman Library and Search Hall have open
access computers. For assistance with technology issues, students should contact
the Technology Help Desk at (215) 951-4648 or send an email to
helpdesk@philau.edu.

Information Regarding the Collection of Student Work for Assessment

Philadelphia University is committed to providing excellent and innovative
educational opportunities to its students. To help us maintain quality academic
offerings and to conform to institutional and professional accreditation
requirements where relevant, the University and its programs regularly examine
the effectiveness of the curricula, teaching, services, and programs the University
provides. As Philadelphia University sees appropriate, it may retain representative
examples or copies of student work from all courses. This might include papers,
exams, creative works, or portfolios developed and submitted in courses or to
satisfy the requirements for degree programs as well as surveys, focus group
information, and reflective exercises.

Required use of Blackboard

 13

Blackboard Discussion Board (18%) - An important and integral component of

this course between our face to face class meetings each week will be the use of the
Blackboard Discussion Board. Each week I will post a discussion question related to
the material we are currently covering in class. I ask that you respond to my initial
question and to the responses posted by 2 other students in class as well. The
minimum posting requirement is three substantive posts per week in order to earn
full participation credit. A sample substantive post will be discussed during our first
class session. Please plan to devote approximately 1.25 hours per week in
responding to question/responses on the Discussion Board. Also, a rubric will be
distributed and discussed in class indicating how discussion board postings will be
graded each week.