MGT 470 Seminar in Management: Managing Using the Internet--Spring 1998
Western Illinois University--Regional Center--Monday, 6:30-9:15 pm Room 108
Terence C. Krell, M.B.A., Ph.D. Office Phone: 762-3999 ext. 257 Home Phone: 793-1998
URL: http://www.abc-xyz.com/krell/ e-mail: tckrell@abc-xyz.com
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 1-3:30 pm; Mon 9:15-9:45pm (*this class only); and by appointment
THE COURSE
Because this course is a seminar, it is expected that students will contribute their
own original thinking as a significant portion of the content of the course. Therefore
students should expect to initiate a high degree of interaction and active discussion. This course will be run on an organizational model, that is, the structure and
relationships and evaluation all model a real organization. The topic of this course
is the integrative and strategic use of an interactive communications, data processing,
and storage-retrieval capability known as the internet. The basic capabilities of
the web include the following: Communication, (written, video, voice, files, electronic)
realtime or delayed. Search for information. Submision of Information. Retrieval
of information. Interaction with a centralized database. Publication of documents/information.
Collection of documents/information. Creation of documents/information. In particular
this course will focus on the use of the world wide web to manage and be managed by others. It is required for this course that students have access to the world
wide web. Private or company accounts, Compuserve, AOL, or University accounts are
all acceptable. An internet Discussion Area (DA) has been set up at: http://www.abc-xyz.com/krell/mwforum.html
, which may also be accessed through a link on the instructors home page listed above.
You are expected to participate in these discussion areas regularly.
MENTORS
By the end of the course everyone will have completed an individual project. Everyone has someone whom they mentor on a project. Everyone has someone who is mentoring
them on a project. Thus everyone has both a mentor whom they ask help and advice
of and who evaluates them on the process and outcome of the project, and someone
who is asking help and advice of them and whom they are evaluating. Thus everyone is part
of two, two-person teams, one where they are the mentor, one where the other person
is the mentor. Evaluation is based both on the process people go through to accomplish their project and the outcome of the project. Mentors are responsible for presenting
the mentee's proposed project to the class and defending it. Mentee's will present
their own final project. A portion of the mentor's grade will be based on the grade
assigned by the instructor to the mentee's project. A portion of the Mentee's grade
will be based on the evaluation of the mentor. Mentor's and mentee's are expected
to stay in contact by internet discussion area. Each pair will be provided with a
separate discussion area.
GRADING PLAN & ASSIGNMENTS
Your course grade will be based on the following components and point distribution:
- Individual Project 50% - Mentee's Project 10% - Mentor's evaluation 5%
- In Class Participation 10% - Online Participation 25%
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
1. TEXT:
Management on the World Wide Web: Leshin, Prentice Hall, 1997
2. Regular (at least 3 days a week) access to a computer with a graphical WWW browser (the RC computer lab, a
home or work connection, or a walk-in computer rental are all acceptable)
3. A private e-mail address (one is available for free for all registered students from
the university, or you can get
a free address from http://www.hotmail.com
or http://mail.yahoo.com
)
CLASS ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSION
Attendance at all class sessions is expected, especially class discussion of assigned
topics. Due to the fact that participation in class and with your teams counts 10%
of your grade, each student must contribute significantly to in-class discussion
of topics. You should, therefore, make a conscientious effort to attend class discussions
and to be sufficiently prepared to contribute to the discussions. Merely coming to
class is not sufficient. Being shy is no excuse for not being prepared, and may mean
you will choose not to participate as much as more vocal personalities. Quality of participation
is more important than quantity in determining your participation grade. It is therefore
the task of those who consider themselves shy to make sure the quality of their participation is higher than that of those who are more vocal.
ONLINE PARTICIPATION
The nature of this course requires that you be active in online (internet) discussion.
Some specific assignments will be made as appropriate, but in general you are expected
to go online and contribute to discussion of class topics at least 3 days each week with no more than two days between your contributions. In other words, going online
MWF is acceptable and MTF is acceptable. MTTh and MTW are not acceptable as there
is a 3 and 4 day gap in contact respectively. These are minimums; it would be better for you to go online and contribute daily. In addition to participation in discussion,
you are also required to post, in the appropriate discussion area, your class notes
for the previous class session and comment on the notes posted by others.
POLICIES REGARDING WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
Written assignments are due on the day scheduled and should be turned in to your instructor
electronically by noon of that date.
Assignments turned in after that time are considered to be late. Retain one copy
for yourself. Late assignments are eligible for a grade no higher than a 70 (and
that only if the paper is otherwise an 90 or 85 paper). No late papers will be accepted
if submitted more than one day past the scheduled due date (except by prearranged consent
of the instructor. HINT: try to have your papers completed a day early). All written
assignments are to be typed, converted to a text-only or ASCII format and submitted
electronically (either pasted in-line to the body of the message or as an attached
text file) and to follow correct form, spelling, grammar, etc. Papers which, in
the opinion of the instructor, employ disproportionately poor grammar and poor quality
written communication skills will be assigned a grade that is one-letter (10 points) lower
than would otherwise be assigned. The University rules (see the student handbook)
on academic honesty and plagiarism apply: In brief, turn in your own work.
CLASS POLICIES
1. Attendance is required. Three tardies will count for one absence. See me in advance,
if you have a problem. IF YOU MISS MORE THAN 2 SESSIONS TOTAL, YOU ARE IN DANGER
OF FAILING THE COURSE.
2. Reading in this course is essential for discussion. Reading assignments must be
completed on time.
3. You will be expected to come to class, participate in group discussion activities,
complete assignments, and pull your own weight in team projects.
4. No make-ups will be allowed. Reports and written projects will be lowered one full
grade for each day past the due date if turned in late.
5. Keep copies of all assignments you turn in.
6. All assignments must be typed and submitted electronically.
7. Requests for a change in your grade on any assignment or part thereof, must be
made in writing. Such requests must include a description of the error made and the
reason(s) you believe it is an error, and must be made within one week of receiving
your grade.
8. University regulations prohibit eating, drinking, and smoking in the classroom.
9. Usually I will be available before and after sessions for consultation in office
hours. Contact me at the above numbers on other occasions.
10. This syllabus is subject to change with notice.
11. Students with special needs are welcome in this class. If you fall into this category,
please contact the instructor privately as well as the appropriate university office.
INSTRUCTOR'S GRADING STANDARDS
95 - Exceptional, innovative, or comprehensively written; 80 - Solid performance to
assignment; 70 - Marginal or unbalanced analysis, or poorly written; 60 - Completely
off-target, minimal analysis, very poorly written 0 - Not turned in. At the end of
the semester, each grade will be weighted according to the grading plan and an overall
percentage computed. Multiply the percentage grade you receive for each individual
assignment by the weighted percent of total grade and add the results together to
reach a net score. A net score of 90 or above earns an "A", 80 or above a "B", 70 or above
a "C"; 60 or above a D. There are no preordained grade quotas. Overall, solid performance
will earn a grade of "B". An "A" will be reserved for outstanding performance. Marginally acceptable work will earn a "C".
OUTLINE:
There is no final exam.
Part One
A.Learning the technology B.Getting on-line C.Communication/Management theory
and evolution
Part Two
A.Assigning Tasks B.Getting to know your partners. C.Selecting a Semester
Project
Part Three
A.Getting approval of the Project B. Working on Projects.
MGT 470 Project Deadlines
(All submissions to be electronic by noon CT of the due date)
Topic Approval:
Topic Description submitted to Mentor for revision (copy to Professor.) Fri 2/20
Mentor's revisions sent back (copy to Professor.) Mon 2/23
Revised topic resubmitted to Professor Sat 2/28
Professor comments on topic to Mentor and author.
First Draft
1st draft submitted to Mentor Sat 3/21
Mentor returns draft with comments and recommendations (copy to Professor.) Wed 3/25
Second Draft
2nd Draft of Project Submitted to Mentor Wed 4/8
Mentor comments on 2nd draft. Fri 4/10
Revised 2nd draft submitted to Mentor & Professor Fri 4/17
Professor comments on revised 2nd draft to Mentor and author.
Third Draft
3rd Draft submitted to Mentor Fri 5/1
Mentor comments on 3rd draft (copy to Professor.) Wed 5/6
Revised Final draft submitted to Professor Mon 5/11
All projects must be completed and turned in by 5/11