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Courses

This page contains content from the 2007–08 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.

Information Systems Management

Also see the degree and certificate programs in information technology and management.

Courselist

ISMT E-100 Information Systems Management (12528)
(Website) (Printable version)
Jeffrey E. Francis, MS, Consultant.
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,625.
Fall term: Mondays, 7:35-9:35 pm, Maxwell Dworkin, Room G115.

This course provides a broad overview of the issues managers face in the selection, use, and management of information technology (IT). Increasingly, IT is being used as a tool to implement business strategies and gain competitive advantage, not merely to support business operations. Using a case study approach, topics include information technology and strategy, information technology and organization, and information technology assets management. The course takes a management rather than a technical approach to the material presented. As such, it should be of use to students of general management interested in information technology and to students of information technology interested in management. Prerequisite: knowledge of the use of information systems in business settings. (4 credits)

ISMT E-110 Internet and Integrated Productivity Software for Managers
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,700.

Fall term (12555) (Website) (Printable version): Stephan Kolitz, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University. Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, Emerson Hall, Room 108. Required sections to be arranged.

Spring term (22314) (Website) (Printable version): Teresa J. Chisholm, MBA, Director of Special Projects, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Harvard University. Antoinette M. Trainor, CSS, Department Administrator, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Registrar's Office, Harvard University. Mondays, 5:30-7:30 pm, Science Center, Hall A. Optional sections to be arranged. Online and on-campus options. See Distance Education. Lecture 1 video.

This course provides a solid foundation in end-user office productivity software for word processing, spreadsheet analysis and modeling, database management, charting, presentations, and appropriate applications for interacting with the Web (including development of web pages) and the rest of the Internet. Students learn the conceptual basis of each of these tools and apply them to representative tasks in business and in the home. The emphasis is on using software to organize, analyze, and communicate information. Students should expect to spend 10 or more hours each week working on assignments, usually in Harvard University computer labs. The course demands a high level of commitment to keep up with class assignments and learn the use of the software tools. Prerequisites: basic experience using either Windows or the Macintosh operating system and some experience using a word processing program such as Microsoft Word. (4 credits)

ISMT E-120 Desktop Applications for Managers
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.

Fall term (12531) (Syllabus) (Printable version): Jean A. Pfeifer, CSS, Senior Project Manager, Office of Administrative Systems, Harvard University. Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 202. Optional sections Tuesdays, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term (22333) (Website) (Printable version): Jean A. Pfeifer, CSS, Senior Project Manager, Office of Administrative Systems, Harvard University. Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 202. Optional sections Tuesdays, 7:35-9:35 pm.

This course presents an advanced treatment of office desktop software useful for managers at all levels. It emphasizes the use of desktop software to increase office productivity. Topics include automating repetitive tasks, streamlining work processes, sharing information via the Internet, collaborating within work groups, and learning techniques for integrating and combining applications and for sharing best practices among co-workers. Assignments require and class demonstrations are done with Microsoft Office XP. Prerequisite: experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, or similar software. Microsoft Access experience is not required, although some familiarity with a database program is helpful. (4 credits)

ISMT E-123 Interactive Online Marketing (22564)
(Website) (Printable version)
Rob Graham, BS, Director of Training, LearningCraft.
Course tuition: noncredit and graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.
Spring term: Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 202.

From e-mail marketing to rich media advertising, search engine optimization to behavioral targeting, this course explores the process of thinking about, planning for, targeting, and effectively communicating with online consumers to make certain that the right message gets to the right person at the right time. Students learn the fundamentals of interactive communications planning and design, study human behavior models, learn about web-based interface development, and explore a wide variety of technologies used to create dynamic online marketing campaigns. In addition, the course provides an overview of some of the major players in the online marketing industry. Prerequisites: basic understanding of search engines and Macintosh and Windows operating systems. (4 credits)

ISMT E-125 Strategies for e-Commerce Entrepreneurs (22746)
(Syllabus) (Printable version)
Kishan Mallur, MS, Director, IT Infrastructure Services, University Information Systems, Harvard University.
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.
Spring term: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 202. Required sections Wednesdays, 7:35-8:35 pm.

Intended for entrepreneurs interested in e-commerce strategies, this course defines facets of business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, including business strategy, business models, distribution channels, entrepreneurship issues, legal issues, and market strategy. It highlights opportunities and risks. Students collaborate on an existing project or propose a new e-commerce venture, present a business case, and create a website demonstrating critical functions of the new venture. Prerequisites: understanding of e-commerce fundamentals and prior experience, training, or coursework in either business fundamentals, finance, or some working knowledge of website development. (4 credits)

ISMT E-130 Spreadsheet Models for Managers (12515)
(Website) (Printable version)
Richard Brenner, SM, Principal, Chaco Canyon Consulting.
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.
Fall term: Thursdays, 7:35-9:35 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 202. Optional sections to be arranged.

Using commercial spreadsheets, this course explores practical approaches to business modeling, emphasizing the needs of financial, retail, wholesale, service, publishing, or software concerns ranging in size from start-ups to global enterprises. Students learn to model costs, revenue, cash flow, plant and equipment requirements, and employee costs and productivity. In a term project of their design, students develop a business model and use it to study how a business responds to change. To simulate the workplace environment, students are encouraged, but not required, to work assignments and term projects in teams. Prerequisite: ISMT E-110, or the equivalent experience with spreadsheets. (4 credits)

ISMT E-135 Simulation for Management Decision Making (22358)
(Website) (Printable version)
Stephan Kolitz, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University.
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,700.
Spring term: Mondays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 1 Story Street, Room 306. Required sections to be arranged.
Online and on-campus options. See Distance Education. Lecture 1 video.

Simulation is one of the most widely used methodologies for modeling and analyzing complex systems and processes. In recent years its use in business applications has increased dramatically due to available and easy-to-use software on increasingly powerful personal computers. Students learn how to design, build, use, and analyze simulation models of business systems and processes using widely available simulation software. The business systems and processes that the class studies are supply chain management (including production and inventory management, and transportation), project management, financial decision making, and others tailored to the background and interests of the class. Prerequisites: ISMT E-110, or the equivalent, and some background in probability or statistics. An evaluation assignment will be available on the course website. Before registering, students should use it to see if they have the proper background for the course. (4 credits)

ISMT E-140 Using Databases for Information Management (22360)
(Website) (Printable version)
Maria R. Garcia, EdD, Associate Professor of Graduate Studies, Franklin Pierce University.
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.
Spring term: Wednesdays, 7:35-9:35 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 201. Optional sections to be arranged.

Managers encounter information management requirements both for personal use and as a company-wide resource. This course provides the fundamental concepts necessary to understand, develop, analyze, evaluate, and manage computerized database applications. Students become acquainted with the terminology associated with discrete field data collection, entry, conversion, querying, reporting, and development using Microsoft Access. Students build a working database using Microsoft Access to serve the information needs of an enterprise. Through research and hands-on projects, students develop an appreciation for the adaptability, scalability, and practical utilization of databases. As a final project, students build a business database application. Prerequisites: ISMT E-110 or familiarity with office productivity software, such as word processors and spreadsheets. (4 credits)

ISMT E-150 Introduction to GIS (12917)
(Syllabus) (Printable version)
Wendy Guan, PhD, Director of GIS Research Services, Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University.
Course tuition: noncredit and graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.
Fall term: Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 201. Optional sections Thursdays, 7:35-8:35 pm.

This course introduces the concepts and components of a geographic information system (GIS). It also teaches the essential skills of operating a functional GIS through the use of ArcGIS software package. By the end of the course, students understand the operational processes of spatial data acquisition, editing and QA/QC, metadata development, geodatabase design, spatial query and display, spatial analysis and modeling, preliminary GIS application development, cartographic mapping and dynamic visualization, and GIS implementation basics. GIS technology has broad applications in natural and social sciences, humanities, environmental studies, engineering, and management. Examples include wildlife habitat study, urban and regional planning, contagious disease monitoring, agriculture and forestry, environmental quality assessment, emergency management, transportation planning, and consumer and competitor analysis. This course introduces a few selected cases of GIS application in different disciplines. Prerequisite: familiarity with Word documents, spreadsheets, and browsing the Internet. (4 credits)

ISMT E-152 Operational GIS (22871)
(Website) (Printable version)
Wendy Guan, PhD, Director of GIS Research Services, Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University. Guoping Huang, DDes, Geographic Information Systems Specialist, Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University.
Course tuition: noncredit and graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.
Spring term: Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 53 Church Street, Room 201. Optional sections Th 7:35-8:35 pm.

This advanced course focuses on case studies of real world GIS problems using primarily the ArcGIS software. Three cases are introduced, covering urban and natural environments and requiring geodatabase design, data editing, spatial analysis, modeling, and visualization. Students form two-to-three person groups and take on one of the three cases as their primary project. Class time is divided equally between the three cases on a rotating basis, combining multimedia lectures, hands-on demonstrations, guest presentations from the real case organizations, project status updates from students, and diagnostic discussions. The project cycle includes background introduction and problem statement; conceptual plan of the project; literature and data review, detailed plan of the project; analysis methods review; preliminary results review, visualization design; and final project presentation and evaluation. All students are required to participate in the complete project cycle of all three cases during the class time, but section time and homework assignments are focused on their own project only. Prerequisites: ISMT E-150, or the equivalent; familiarity with ArcGIS. (4 credits)

ISMT E-200 Trends in Enterprise Information Systems (22365)
(Website) (Printable version)
Zoya Kinstler, PhD, Senior Architect, Information Technology, Verizon Business, Inc.
Course tuition: graduate credit $1,700. Limited enrollment.
Spring term: Mondays, 7:35-9:35 pm, Sever Hall, Room 308. Required sections Mondays, 6:30-7:30 pm.

A capstone for the information management systems (IMS) concentration in the Master of Liberal Arts in Information Technology Program, this course brings together topics learned throughout the students' graduate coursework in a format that combines lectures, case studies, and a team project. The course is geared toward information technology (IT) professionals who are interested in design and deployment of enterprise-scale software applications. Real-life industry scenarios and enterprise-scale projects are discussed, blending business and technology perspectives in each case. Topics include enterprise applications, business-to-business portals, enterprise data management, building IT business cases, IT architecture and integration, and information technology infrastructure library (ITIL). Prerequisites: at least nine Master of Liberal Arts in Information Technology courses and enrollment in the IMS concentration. (4 credits)