DISC 112 – Computers and Problem Solving

Spring 2020
Instructor Ms. Mahira Ilyas
Room No. 4-0041
Office Hours TBA
Email [email protected]
Telephone Ext. 8428
Secretary/TA Kashif Saeed (Ext. 8023)

COURSE BASICS – 4 credits

Section 3 Monday/Wednesday 11:00AM 12:15PM B1 – SDSB
Section 4 Monday/Wednesday 03:30PM 04:45PM A-10 - Academic Block
Section 5 Monday/Wednesday 02:00PM 03:15PM A-10 - Academic Block

LAB 3 Friday 08:00AM 10:50AM LAB 1 Library Bldg

LAB 4 Friday 02:00PM 04:50PM Trading Lab - SDSB
LAB 5 Thursday 08:00AM 10:50AM LAB 1 Library Bldg

TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Name TBA
Office
Hours
Email

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Problem solving is an essential skill that managers use in their decision-making processes. In view of
the pervasive use of computers, the contemporary manager must be aware of the tools and techniques
that support problem-solving and decision-making in the modern business environment. This course
aims at developing a basic understanding of a) the theory of information systems and the role of IS in
managing information, b) fundamentals of problem-solving techniques using spreadsheets with
particular emphasis on effectively presenting relevant information (such as through the development
of dashboards), and c) elementary concepts of computer programming to better understand and
support the development of decision-support models.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Develop a broad understanding of fundamental concepts of managing information
technology and computing in the modern business environment which include
a. Information systems to support the information and decision-making requirements
of managers at all levels within the organization
b. Types of information systems commonly used in organizations such as functional
and cross-functional systems
c. Networked or “connected” systems and the challenges and opportunities they
present across different types of organizations
d. Data resource management systems and their importance particularly in the
context of the large volumes of data that organizations have to manage in today’s
environment
2. Introduce students to the concept of modeling for improved decision-making with particular
emphasis on developing
a. a systematic approach towards building, analyzing and interpreting results of
simple spreadsheet-based models
b. effective data representation skills
3. Introduce students to computer programming fundamentals
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. To introduce students to the concept of ‘modeling’ as the process of building, refining and
analyzing the representation of data for greater insights and improved decision-making
2. To equip students with technical skills of working with the spreadsheet software, Excel
3. To develop skills that enable effective data representation
4. To introduce students to databases and explain how data can be extracted from these into
decision models
5. To introduce students to how Information Systems can support the information needs of
decision makers at various levels within the modern organization
6. To introduces students to the various challenges that a business manager might face in
managing the development, implementation and operations of information technology in
an organization
7. To introduces students to the business value of implementing data resource management
processes and technologies in an organization

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES

General Learning Goals & Objectives
Goal 1 –Effective Written and Oral Communication
Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral
communication skills
Goal 2 –Ethical Understanding and Reasoning
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and
address ethical issues in an organizational context.
Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key
problems and generate viable solutions.
Goal 4 – Application of Information Technology
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current
technologies in business and management context.
Goal 5 – Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in
diverse environments.
Goal 6 – Understanding Organizational Ecosystems
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they have an understanding of
Economic, Political, Regulatory, Legal, Technological, and Social environment of
organizations.

Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives

Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific Knowledge and Understanding
Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines
and how they interact including application to real world situations (Including
subject knowledge).
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the “science” behind the decision-making process
(for MGS Majors)
Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem,
design and apply appropriate decision-support tools, interpret results and
make meaningful recommendations to support the decision-maker
PROGRAM LEARNING COURSE LEARNING COURSE ASSESSMENT
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES ITEM
Goal 1 –Effective Written and Objective 3 (partially) Lab assignments
Oral Communication
Goal 2 –Ethical
Understanding and
Reasoning
Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking Objectives 1 and 2 Mid-Term and Final Exam
and Problem Solving Skills
Goal 4 – Application of Objectives 5 - 7 Mid-Term
Information Technology
Goal 5 – Teamwork in
Diverse and Multicultural
Environments
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Objectives 1-4 Mid-Term and Final Exam
Specific Knowledge and
Understanding
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding
the “science” behind the
decision-making process

GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY

Lab Assignment(s): 20%

Labs will be group-based individual-submission assignments: students will be encouraged to
work in groups but submit individual labs. A randomly selected lab from each group will be
graded for the whole group. All group members will receive the same marks unless one or more
group members fail to submit the lab in which case there may be a 20% (or more) deduction in
the grade for that lab. The purpose of this structure is to encourage students to “teach” each
other in small groups. Students will not be allowed to make-up a missed lab by sitting in
another lab. [Week 1 lab will be an exception. It will be a significantly shorter, individual lab to
ensure familiarity with the basic Excel environment and LMS submission]

Midterm Examination (Lecture + Lab component): (30 + 10)%

This will be a paper and computer-based exam to be conducted in the labs. The exam will have
to be completed individually.

Final Examination (Lab-based): 40%

This will be a lab-based comprehensive exam. The exam will have to be completed individually.

There will be no make-up labs or exams. A single grade will be awarded for the course (lecture +
lab)
 RECOMMENDED
LEC TOPICS SESSION OBJECTIVE(S)
READINGS
Module 1: Information Systems
Introduce format of the course
1 Course Introduction Operational aspects (LMS and Zambeel)
What is IT for business?
2 How do modern organizations compete with
Information Systems in Laudon and Laudon
IT? Understanding the fit between business
3 Global Businesses Chapter 1, 3
and IT strategy
What is an Information System?
Enterprise Business Laudon and Laudon What are business processes? How are they
Systems Chapter 2, 9 related to information systems?
4
Understand information needs at various
levels within the organization and the
different kinds of decisions they facilitate?
5 Understand different types of information
6 systems (from functional to cross-functional
and enterprise information systems)
7 How do enterprise systems help businesses
achieve operational excellence?
IT Infrastructure and Laudon and Laudon What are the current trends in computer
8 software and hardware platforms?
Emerging Technologies Chapter 5
9 Familiarize students to the fundamental
e-Commerce and m- Laudon and Laudon
concepts involved in e-commerce, m-
10 Commerce Chapter 10
commerce and related payment systems.
Laudon and Laudon Familiarize students with the fundamentals
Chapter 13 of the software development lifecycle
Information Systems
11 (SDLC)
Development
Introduce the concept of waterfall vs. agile
development
12
Data Resource Laudon and Laudon Introduce students to the fundamentals of
13
Management Chapter 6 data management in organizations
14
15 Mid-Term
Module 2: Introduction to Modeling
Problem Solving by Fairhurst - Chapter 1 Introduce students to problem solving and
16
Computer Modeling &2 model building
17 Introduction to Influence Powell & Baker Introduce students to influence diagrams
18 Diagrams Chapter 2
19 Introduce students to the broad concept of
Curtis Frye: Chapter What-If analysis as part of building models
What-If Analysis
20 8 and interpreting outcomes to support
decision-making process
Module 3: Introduction to Computer Programming
Introduction to Introduce students to the importance of
21 Programming using understanding basic concepts in computer
VBA programming using Macros
Variables and Introduce the concept of storing information
22
Calculations in memory and performing calculations
23
Conditional statements Revisit conditional statements (If-Then-Else)
24
25 Introduce students to the concept and use of
Loops
26 repeating statements using loop commands
27 Procedures Introduce students to good programming
Functions practices through the use of procedures and
28
functions
 29 Introduce students to the concept of simple
Arrays
30 data structures using Arrays
FINAL EXAM

COURSE OVERVIEW – LAB SCHEDULE

RECOMMENDED
LABS TOPICS SESSION OBJECTIVE(S)
READINGS
Course Introduction, File Management,
1 Assignment submission @ LUMS, Basic Introduce students to model building
framework of model building
Introduction to Spreadsheets: Cells, Ranges,
2 Worksheets & Workbooks, Formatting and Curtis Frye: Chapter 1 & 2; Familiarize students with the basic
Entering Data, Performing Calculations of Curtis Frye: Chapter 3 & 4 spreadsheet modeling environment
3 Data
Advance Excel Functions (logical, statistical Develop MS Excel skills
4
and lookup functions) such as limiting data, manipulating
Curtis Frye: Chapter 5, 6,
Filtering Specific Data, Sorting Data, worksheet data, sorting worksheet data,
5 10
Validating Data organizing data into levels and creating
6 Creating Charts and Tables charts
Develop students’ ability to pull data
7 Combining data from multiple sources Curtis Frye: Chapter 7 into their spreadsheet model from text
files, other databases and/or the web
8 MIDTERM No Lab Class
Practice development of influence
9 Influence Diagram
diagrams
What-if Analysis Understand the use of Excel’s What-if
10 Analysis options (Goal Seek, Data Table
and Scenario Manager)
11 VBA Programming, Defining Variables
12 Conditional Statements Develop sufficient understanding of
13 Loops programming with VBA that students
14 Procedures and Functions can develop a simple dashboard
15 Arrays

TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (2017), 15th edition by Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon
Frye, Curtis D. (2010) Step-by-Step: Microsoft Excel 2010, Microsoft Press.
Powell, S. G. and Baker, K. R. (2009) Management Science: the Art of Modeling with Spreadsheets, 3/e, Wiley.
Fairhurst, D.S. (2012) Using Excel for business analysis a guide to financial modeling fundamentals. Wiley.