IST 321 introduces the student to the role of information systems and technologies in achieving a variety of system goals. Emphasis will be placed on the theories and skills required for planning, developing, implementing, and managing the integration of information technology and different systems. IST 321 is required for all Information Sciences and Technology (IST) undergraduates who have chosen the Information Technology Integration Option in their Baccalaureate degree. It is the prerequisite for IST 421 (Information Technology and Systems Integration II). The course will cover the following topics:

• Understand the Organization and Enterprise
• Systems Basics
• Systems Analysis and Development
• Overview of IT Integration (What, Why, strategy, architecture, Who, How, ?
• Systems Integration Life Cycle
• Planning for IT Integration
• Process/Enterprise Modeling (Work Flow Analysis, Business Process Reengineering)
• XML fundamental and itsapplication for Data Integration (include Data Warehousing)
• Implementation Issues (customer relationship management, change management, and project management)

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Upon completion of the course, the student will be able:

• To understand the "information value chain" within an organization and enterprise;
• To plan, develop, and implement information technology-based systems;
• To understand the dynamics and associated issues when systems are introduced into practice;
• To foster an understanding of the role of IT in system integration;
• To recognize information technology integration issues in different systems;
• To acquire the fundamental organization, technology, and data modeling skills necessary for system integration; and
• To understand and practice the basics of project management and team work.

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• Ruh, W. A., Maginnis, F. X. and Brown, W. J., Enterprise Application Integration: A Wiley Tech Brief, Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001. ISBN: 0-471-37641-8 (RMB)
• Goldfarb, C. F. and Prescod, P., The XML Handbook, Fourth Edition, Prentice Hall PTR, 2001. ISBN: 0-13-065198-2 (GP)
• Supplement reading materials (R). Click Here to see the list.

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• Four individual hands-on exercises will be assigned and graded. One exercise relates to project management, one practice relates to process modeling/reengineering, and two are in XML and its applications. In addition, five individual reading summaries and two group case studies will be assigned. All exercises need to be professionally prepared and written. If it is an individual assignment, please make sure that you follow the university’s academic integrity policy. Peer evaluations will be conducted to prorate individual contributions to the group work.

• One CLOSED book examination and a number of reading summaries will be given. The examination will be given in class (to be announced).

• A team-based project is required for the course. Details of the project will be announced in class later.

• Question and class participation are encouraged and will be taken into consideration in the final grade.

• Students with disabilities. It is Penn State’s policy to not discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for modifications in your testing or learning situation, your instructor should be notified during the first week of classes so that your needs can be accommodated. You will be asked to present documentation from the Office of Disability Services (located in 116 Boucke Building, 863-1807) that describes the nature of your disability and the recommended remedy. You may refer to the Nondiscrimination Policy in the Student Guide to University Policies and Rules.

• Americans with Disabilities Act. IST welcomes persons with disabilities to all of its classes, programs, and events. If you need accommodations, or have questions about access to buildings where IST activities are held, please contact us in advance of your participation or visit. If you need assistance during a class, program, or event, please contact the member of our staff or faculty in charge.

• PSU Statement on Academic Integrity. According to the Penn State Principles and University Code of Conduct: Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at Penn State University, allowing the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner. In according with the University's Code of Conduct, you must not engage in or tolerate academic dishonesty. This includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person, or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any violation of academic integrity will be investigated, and where warranted, punitive action will be taken. For every incident when a penalty of any kind is assessed, a report must be filed. This form is used for both undergraduate and graduate courses. This report must be signed by both the instructor and the student, and then submitted to the Senior Associate Dean.

• Affirmative Action & Sexual Harassment. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to a policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by Commonwealth or Federal authorities. Penn State does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Direct all inquiries to the Affirmative Action Office, 211 Willard Building.

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Evaluation of knowledge and understanding of materials will be by examination, hands-on exercises, reading summaries, case studies, project, and class participation.

Grade Status:

• Section 1

• Section 2

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Here is a selected list of web pages/sites related to IT and Systems Integration.

• Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) Resources
• XML Resources
• Reading Lists in Enterprise Application Integration
• Reading Lists in Enterprise Modeling

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This schedule is tentative and will be revised continuously, especially on the availability of class lecture notes. Please check back periodically. A password and an Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read the class notes. If your computer doesn't have one installed, click here to download a free copy and install it. At current moment, only MS Internet Explorer can properly read and secured page.
Click Here to download the peer evaluation form.

Session	Topics	Reading	Notes
August
28 (W)	State-of-the-Art Review	Syllabus; R3, R4	Introduction, Topics, Skills, PowerPoint, Option 2
30 (F)	XML Basics	GP 1-6, 53; R20	XML Basics
September
2 (M)	Labor Day (No Class)
4 (W)	Organization - The Value Chain Model Reading Summary #1 Due	R5, R6	Organization
6 (F)	Creating XML Documents Selected Applications of XML - GP Parts 2-13 (for Skip Over only)	GP 53, 54 R20	XML Document Practice #1
9 (M)	The Value Chain Model		Value Chains
11 (W)	Systems Basics / Systems Development Cycle Reading Summary #2 Due	R7, R8, R9; Systems Analysis and Development (For reference)	Overview of SDLC
13 (F)	Creating Document Type Definition (DTD)	GP 53, 54	Creating DTD
16 (M)	Information Systems Planning	COCOMOII - Software Development Cost Estimation Model (For reference)	Case Study #1 Architecture Selection Feasibility Studies Preliminary Inv. Report Preliminary Investigation
18 (W)	Information Requirements Analysis
20 (F)	FedEx - "We Deliver" through Technology	Guest Speaker: Mike Hmel IE Validator
23(M)	Physical and Interfaces Design
25(W)	Overview of IT Integration Reading Summary #3 Due	RMB 1-2; R2	Overview
27 (F)	Term Project Introduction Practice #1 Due
30 (M)	Building Blocks of Integration	RMB 3	Building Blocks
October
2 (W)	Overview of Project Management		Project Management
4 (F)	Project Management Practice Case Study #1 Due		Practice #2 PM WorkSheet Project 2000 Guide
7 (M)	Approaches to IT Integration Reading Summary #4 Due	RMB 2; R1	Types of Integration
9 (W)	System Integration Life Cycle	RMB 7, 8	Information Systems Planning
11 (F)	Project Management Practice
14 (M)	Fall Break (No Class)
16 (W)	Planning - Environmental Assessment
18 (F)	Process Modeling - DFD Practice #2 Due	DFD Brief DFD Examples	Practice #3 DFD Note
21 (M)	Achieving Competitive Advantage in the Global Technology Industry	RMB 8; Paul Bell, president of Dell Europe, Middle East and Africa, and senior vice president of the Dell Corporation	Announcement;
23 (W)	Process Modeling Practice - DFD	MS Visio
25 (F)	Process Modeling - IDEF	IDEF Brief IDEF Manual IDEF Article	Workflow Management IDEF0 Note
28 (M)	XML Stylesheet Language (XSL)	GP 62, 63	Elements of XSLT Creating XSLT Document
30 (W)	XML Schema (XSDL) Practice #3 Due	GP 58-60; Schema Guide	Practice #4 Schema Note
November
1 (F)	XML and Database Interfaces	GP 8; ADO/ASP Examples	XML/DB Interface
4 (M)	Understanding BPR	R13 BPR1 BPR2	Video - Caterpillar
6 (W)	Make BPR Works Reading Summary #5 Due	R11, R12 Case - Bell (Teams 1, 5, 9) Case - Capital (Teams 2, 6, 10) Case - Hallmark (Teams3, 7, 11) Case - Taco Bell (Teams 4, 8, 12)	BPR Note 1 BPR Note 2
8 (F)	Case Study - BPR (Team Work)
11 (M)	Mid-Term Examination
13 (W)	Integration Architecture	RMB 4-7; R14, R15, R16, R17 Arch Case Study	Arch Note Arch_Example1 e-Biz Example Message Queuing
15 (F)	Implementing Related Issues	RMB 9; R18
18 (M)	Team Case Presentation		Presentation Guide
20 (W)	Team Case Presentation
22 (F)	Team Case Presentation
25 (M)	Team Project
27 (W)	Thanksgiving Holidy (No Class)
29 (F)	Thanksgiving Holidy (No Class)
December
2 (M)	XML and Database Interfaces	GP 8; ADO/ASP Examples	XML/DB Interface Project Presentation Schedule
4 (W)	Implementing Change Management	R19	CM Notes CM Case Study 1 CM Case Study 2
6 (F)	Term Project Presentation
9 (M)	Term Project Presentation
11 (W)	Term Project Presentation
13 (F)	Term Project Presentation
16-20	No Final Examination

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