IS 207 - FAQ (Spring 2005)

IS 207 FAQ
Last updated: 8 December 2004

The New Frequently-asked Questions about IS 207 Page

1. What is IS 207 and where did it come from?

The history is that there was a four-unit course, IS 208: Analysis of Information Systems and Organizations offered each Spring through 2003. For Spring 2004 the course was split into two 2-unit courses; IS208A was the "systems" course, and IS208B was the "organizations" course. For the 2004-05 Academic Year, the "organizations" part was combined with parts of the old IS 204 into what is a new IS 203. IS 207 is the current "systems" course--a two-unit, half-semester course required of all first-year SIMS students. (See more about the requirements in Questions 2 & 11 below.)

2. Why has this change been made?

The SIMS faculty continually reviews its curriculum. The most recent updating of the MIMS core courses started in 2003. This change is being made to better meet the needs of all MIMS students. Those students who have had the appropriate courses and experience will be allowed to substitute other courses for 207, if appropriate. (See Question 4 and Question 11 below.)

3. How does IS 207 fit into the SIMS curriculum?

IS 207 is a required core course for all students in the MIMS (Masters degree) program. (See Questions 10 & 11 below.) It will be offered for the first time during the Spring 2005 semester. (See Question 7 below.) Ph.D. students are not required to take IS 207.

4. What topics will be covered in IS 207?

Although we are still working on the specific content and the exact mix of topics can vary from year to year, the following list gives some idea of the topics:

IS207

Systems analysis and the system development life cycle

Project management

Process analysis and management tools including data flow diagrams and flow charts

Research design

Data and statistical analysis tools

Cost analysis

Budgets and the budget process

While aspects of some of these topics are covered in other SIMS and MOT courses, we try to tie them into the course objectives, which leads to different emphases.

5. What are the assignments and how are students graded?

There are typically a mix of individual and group assignments. A reasonably good guide can be found in http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is208A/s04/index.html#assignments , which details the assignments from IS 208A in 2004.

6. I am not a SIMS student. Can I take or audit IS207?

Graduate students in other programs may enroll in IS207 with the instructor's persion, if there is room. (There is a space constraint.) Contact Professor Yale Braunstein.

7. I'm a MIMS student. Can I postpone taking IS207 until my second year?

Except under the most extraordinary circumstances, the answer is no. We do not advise postponing IS 207 for several reasons:

The project requirement in IS207 is good preparation for the final project you will do during your fourth semester.

It makes no sense to do the IS207 project and the final project at the same time.

IS207 can be very useful for summer internships.

If you need to postpone taking IS207, you should talk to both your advisor and Associate Dean Larson as soon as possible and, certainly, no later than the start of your second semester.

8. There is a special package for IS207 with the textbook and software packages. If I don't want the software, can I buy the book on its own through the SIMIANs , online, or at a bookstore?

Yes. The package is meant only as a convenience for students. It contains the second edition of the Dennis & Wixom text (Systems Analysis & Design, John Wiley Pulishers) along with the latest available versions of SPSS (Student Edition) and MS Project software (Windows versions only) and has the ISBN of 0-471-66040-X. The ISBN for the text alone is 0-471-07322-9. The main advantage of the package is to make full versions of the programs available to you at a "low" price.

Two additional notes:

We are using the second edition for 2005; this is the same book used in IS208A in 2004.

There is another text by Dennis, Wixom & Tegarten with a similar title (Systems Analysis and Design with UML) and some of the same content. We are not using the UML text.

All required software is available on the SIMS LAN for use in the lab. A limited-time trial version of MS Project is available from Microsoft.

9. I already know SAS, Systat, or some other statistical software package. Do I have to use SPSS for the statistical assignment in IS207?

You can use any statistical package for the assignment.

10. I worked for XYZ.com for n years and already know lots about IT management and project management. Should I still take IS207?

I'm clearly biased so you should get lots of opinions. For most MIMS students the answer is "probably yes." First, there are a variety of topics in the course designed, in part, to supplement your knowledge and experience. Second, we truly believe that the course material adds new perspectives to your "how we did it right/wrong" experiences at XYZ.com. Third, you will learn from the experiences other students provide during class discussions and they will learn from you.

10(a). Can I substitute one of the MOT project management courses for IS207?

[

Updated 12/8/2004] In general, no. IS 207 covers systems analysis, process analysis, statistical analysis, and cost analysis topics in addition to the more traditional project management topics. (See Question 4 above.) Although MOT courses such as Project Management Case Studies: Rescuing Mismanaged Systems Implementations and Managing the New Product Development Process are good courses, they are not substitutes for IS207.

11. I have reviewed the topic list and have covered all (or almost all) of the material by means of a mix of coursework and job experiences. Can I be exempted from the IS207 requirement? How do I do this?

Possibly yes. You should first discuss this informally with Professor Braunstein. The specific requirements approved by the SIMS faculty are:

Project Management & Systems Analysis

Complete IS207 --or--

Demonstrate project management and systems analysis capabilities through experience and coursework AND take another acceptable social science, management, or policy course. (Please note carefully that there are several "ands" in this sentence.)

We are in the process of developing forms to aid in this process. After you have been notified that your request has been approved, check that a copy of the decision has been sent to Phil Walz in order for it to be included in your file.

This page created and maintained by Yale Braunstein.