Computer Applications in Management

CAPP-340 (3)

 University of Maryland
University College

Electronic Distance Education
Heidelberg, Germany
DE Term 5, 2000-2001; Dates: 11 June - 5 October 2001

(3 sem. hours via Electronic Communications)
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Course Goal:

To provide each student with an understanding of the application of computers in management and the opportunities they provide for more effective performance;

To highlight concerns about data integrity, security, and privacy;

To enable each student to create useful databases and spreadsheets using micro-computer software.

Course Description:

Prerequisites: CAPP 100F and G or equivalent. An overview of the capabilities of computers and their usefulness as managerial tools. Focuses on the use of electronic spreadsheets and databases systems for building business applications. This course builds upon the knowledge of electronic spreadsheets and databases systems acquired in the prerequisite seminars and gives students advanced experience in the use of this software Extensive computer use by students.

This is a core course in the Business and Management Specialized Curricula. This follow-on course to CAPP 100F and G in databases and spreadsheets greatly expands your horizons on what computers mean to a manager.

In this class we focus on expanding your understanding of computer applications used in business and management. We look at IT from the customer and user's perspectives. We review basics of computer hardware, software, and the Internet. We concentrate on single and multi-user systems including multimedia, networks, systems development, specialized applications in manufacturing, etc. This will of course include working through exercises with the Microsoft Office suite of products, especially Excel and Access.

There are two student projects (an Excel project and an Access project) that you will complete largely outside of class. You will use both spreadsheet and database management system software to complete projects based on a business scenario.

If you know your way around Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet program as well as Microsoft Access or another relational database program, you should be able to handle the course projects even if you have not had CAPP 100F and G. (You will however need access to the Office suite of software during the term to complete the projects and assignments.)

Both course books are very useful introductory texts. Publisher web site support for the Senn text is very good.

Come and join us this term.

As we are linking via the Internet, you can expect a number of assignments that push you out onto the Internet to find examples of computer applications in Business and Management.

Assignments/Evaluation/Grades:

We use WebTycho as our virtual classroom. Discussions take place there and documents are posted for exchange there as well. We will use email as our back-up mode of contact send me an email with your current or changed email address. Please place the course designator - capp340 - as the first item in the subject line of each email message you send in this course.

Class Participation: (10% of course grade)

  • individual work,
  • a journal in which you reflect on your process of learning and sharing during the course, and
  • small group work.
 I will look at these three things that I ask you to do on a continual basis. You will be graded on your consistent, steady progress through this course.

Course Projects: (30%)

You will develop one integrated spreadsheet-database project using both Excel and Access or one project focused on each of the two programs separately. The key software tools will be MS Excel and MS Access. Access focuses on storage and retrieval of data. Excel focuses on manipulation and calculations.

  1. Project ID: Determine whether you will pursue a single integrated or two separate projects. Select your topics, relevancy to management and potential for medium- to long- term use.
  2. Proposal: Describe your objectives and requirements for your project(s) of choice.
  3. Planning Phase: Model in words and diagrams (flowcharts, schematics, etc.) your project(s). Use Systems thinking and diagramming methods. Complement your diagrams with an outline narrative.
  4. Draft Phase: Prepare a draft of your project(s) and submit it for evaluation.
  5. Revision Phase: As needed, submit a final version of your project(s).

You and I will agree on the project(s) you will conduct.

  • Tailor your project to the power of the tool you will use. Do not try to use Access for intensive calculation nor Excel principally for data storage and retrieval.
  • Select project(s) to construct tools that respond to a need in your work area, your home, a local club or other activity. I really want you to build tools that will be used after this course is over.
  • We will be working with the MS Office suite of programs and I want you to practice integrating the programs as a part of your report. Nonetheless, the projects are to be self-documenting.
  • You will report your progress at the end of each stage to me. Provide comments and explanations as needed to explain your project(s). In turn, I will provide feedback on your proposal, draft and revisions.
  • Due dates are staggered throughout the term.

Project Critique: (10% - 5 % each) You will critique the computer projects conducted by one of your classmates.

 Your project(s), prepared as set out above, will be critiqued by a fellow student.
Midterm: open-book, take-home (15%). You will have 48 hours for each of these tests.
Final exam: open-book, take-home (35%) .

This is not a correspondence course. Your presence in our virtual classroom is a vital part of the learning experience for everyone in this course. Consequently lack of consistent participation 2-3 times weekly in spite of long hours at work, computer problems, deployments, vacations, business trips, other courses, etc. may earn you a grade of F(n) as such action overrides the grading percentages shown above.


I will try to help every student earn an "A" by demonstrating a mastery of course concepts. I do understand that students have many other responsibilities, but it is your responsibility to your own learning and to assisting the learning of others in this class that I will be most concerned with. I will work with every student within reason to help her or him complete this course successfully. I grade each exam and assignment on a relative scale (A-F; 70-0 points typically). Your final grade is a weighted average of your separate grades in this course with some allowance made for technical problems imposed by the delivery method (WebTycho with email backup). It will come as no surprise that for a variety of reasons a number of students each term choose not to earn an "A".

Policies/Procedures:

Consistent, quality participation and effort are essential if both you and the class as a whole are the reach our goals. You must check your WebTycho virtual classroom and your email account every 48 hours and respond to queries within one day (even if just to say when you will be able to give a more complete answer to the request). Additionally, you need to keep me informed of your primary and alternate email addresses, and any changes that occur. I will try to allow you time to explore the subject both individually and in small groups while giving you feedback on completed assignments.

Students will take turns leading group discussions.

Finally, do not fall behind. Work ahead if possible. Do some work on this course every day or two. Set aside time to do this. If confused, in doubt, or in need of a clarification on any aspect of the course, contact me first.



Phil Richardson; prichard@faculty.ed.umuc.edu Revised 9 June 2001