Welcome to ISM 3011!
Hello! I am excited for the start of the semester and looking forward to getting to know you.
Some things to know about me:
I truly care about you, your success in this class, and your success in the future.
Your success is my success. You are welcome to email, Canvas Message, Teams Chat, or text me any time for any reason. I am happy to provide clarification and support you in any way possible.
I strive to grade your submissions in a timely manner. Consequently, I won’t always provide detailed written feedback for every submission. If you ever earn less than the full points on any assignment, I hope that by reviewing the instructions and the rubric you will understand the rationale for your grade. If ever you do not, I am happy to provide additional feedback, just ask!
I am extremely available and am able to meet in person or online if you ever want.
Some things to know about the course:
I did not design it. Within the College of Business, most classes are designed by a course coordinator and are standardized. I have the ability to change just a few things. I have taught the class previously and do feel that most of it is very interesting and useful.
You should devote multiple hours to the class every week. I strongly encourage you to use an academic calendar to plan your life. I have some tips and a walkthrough video at https://sites.google.com/site/profvanselow/success/time-management Everything for the whole semester is available now. I suggest you work ahead if possible.
Imagine this: every purchase on Amazon, every swipe of your credit card, every time Netflix recommends a show, it’s all powered by databases. Databases quietly hold the world together, storing and organizing the information that businesses rely on to make decisions, gain competitive advantages, and serve customers better.
This week, you’ll explore how databases work, why businesses invest so heavily in them, and how they connect to global issues like e-waste and conflict minerals. You’ll also get hands-on practice with relational databases and see how they can be linked to Excel to process and analyze real business data.
What happens to your Spotify playlists, Venmo transactions, or TikTok feed if the underlying database fails?
Why do some companies choose NoSQL over relational databases, and how does that affect speed, flexibility, and cost?
How can understanding data models give you an edge in your career, even if you’re not planning to work in IT?
Here are some prompts you can copy into ChatGPT or another AI tool to see how databases matter for your future:
“Explain how relational databases are used in [my major] and give a real-world example.”
“What’s the most important type of data stored in [career field] and how would a business database help manage it?”
“How do big data and NoSQL databases create opportunities in [career goal]?”
“Summarize the ethical and environmental challenges (like e-waste or conflict minerals) that businesses in [my industry] face related to information systems.”
By the end of this module, you’ll not only be able to talk about primary keys, normalization, and queries with confidence, you’ll also see how database concepts apply directly to your field.
Have you ever wondered how a text message finds its way across the globe in seconds? Or why a Zoom meeting can sometimes feel smoother than a phone call? Behind the scenes, networks and communication systems make the digital world possible, and understanding them helps you see how businesses connect, compete, and innovate.
This module takes you from the basics (LANs, WANs, IP addresses, routers, and protocols) to the bigger picture: the evolution of the Internet (Web 1.0 → Web 4.0), the rise of wireless networking, and the systems businesses rely on every single day. You’ll also examine global issues like e-waste and conflict minerals, plus experiment with Generative AI to tackle tasks that once felt impossible.
If the Internet “went down” tomorrow, how would your daily life, and your future career, be affected?
What’s the real difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web, and why does it matter for business today?
How might Web 3.0 and 4.0 change how companies market, sell, and interact with you as a consumer?
Use these prompts to explore how networks and communication systems connect to your field:
“Explain how computer networks are transforming [my major/industry], with one example of real-world impact.”
“Summarize the benefits and risks of using VPNs in [career goal/industry].”
“How will Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 affect business practices in [my career field]?”
“Give me an example of how companies in [my industry] handle e-waste or conflict mineral issues.”
“Show me how Generative AI could automate a common networking or communication task in [my career path].”
By the end of this module, you’ll not only be able to explain how the Internet actually works, you’ll also be able to connect networking concepts to your career, and even use AI to explore new ways of working with unstructured data.
💡 Networking joke of the week:
Why don’t networks ever get lost?
Because they always follow the protocol. 😉
The ERP Hands-On Exercise (SAP S/4) is one of the most involved (and rewarding!) activities of the semester. Get started early, take it step by step, and remember that persistence pays off.
Have you ever wondered how Amazon knows exactly what’s in stock, where it is, and how fast it can get to your doorstep? Or how Starbucks makes sure your mobile order magically appears at the right store just in time? Behind the scenes are powerful information systems, from ERP to CRM to SCM, that make businesses run like clockwork (well, most of the time 😉).
This week, we’ll dive into business processes, enterprise systems, and how companies use them to gain a competitive edge. You’ll explore ERP, CRM, SCM, and MIS, not just as abstract systems, but as tools that directly connect to real careers in business, management, technology, and beyond.
✨ Generative AI Prompts for Personal Relevance
Try these prompts in ChatGPT (or another AI tool) to connect Module 8 concepts to your world:
“Explain how an ERP system might be used in [my intended career/major].”
“What would be the pros and cons of using a CRM system in a small business I might own?”
“How does supply chain management affect industries like [hospitality/healthcare/finance/etc.]?”
“Give me an example of how BPM or BPR has transformed a company in [industry I’m interested in].”
🔎 Curiosity Builders
If you were starting your own company, which system would you invest in first: ERP, CRM, or SCM? Why?
How might understanding business processes give you an edge in job interviews (even if you don’t work in IT)?
😂 Relevant Joke
Why did the ERP system break up with the CRM system?
👉 It couldn’t handle the relationship management.
📌 This week’s activities include:
Short videos on ERP, CRM, and blockchain in supply chains
Chapter 11 reading & knowledge check
Video quiz & textbook quiz
Hands-on ERP exercise in SAP S/4 (get ready to see enterprise systems in action!)
This module is all about connecting the dots between technology and business strategy. By the end, you’ll not only know the terminology, you’ll see how these systems shape the companies (and careers) of today and tomorrow.
Let’s get to work, your future self (and future employer) will thank you!
Have you ever wondered how Netflix knows what you’ll want to watch next?
This week, you’ll step into the world of Big Data, Business Intelligence, and Decision-Making Systems, where raw numbers transform into powerful insights that drive every smart business move.
You’ll also roll up your sleeves in Excel and learn how Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts can reveal patterns, trends, and stories hidden inside messy data. Think of it as detective work, only your magnifying glass is a spreadsheet!
Every field, from finance and marketing to healthcare, sports, and sustainability, runs on data. The ability to organize, analyze, and visualize information is what separates someone who follows decisions from someone who makes them.
By the end of this module, you’ll not only understand the language of data (Big Data, BI, DSS, OLAP…) but actually use it to uncover insights just like data analysts and executives do every day.
Use Copilot, ChatGPT, or another AI tool to explore how data analysis fits your future:
“Explain how data analytics and Pivot Tables could be used in [my major or career field].”
“Give me an example of how Big Data helps organizations make better decisions in [industry I’m interested in].”
“Describe how an entry-level role in [career goal] might use Excel for data-driven problem-solving.”
“What are some ethical concerns with Big Data in [specific industry or field]?”
“Show me an example of a business problem that could be solved using a Pivot Table.”
How do companies turn thousands of daily transactions into business strategies?
What’s the difference between data that’s useful and data that’s just noise?
Could you use analytics to improve your own time management, study habits, or budget?
Why did the data analyst break up with the spreadsheet?
👉 Because it couldn’t pivot emotionally.
📘 Read: Chapter on Big Data, Business Intelligence, and Decision Support Systems
🧩 Learn: How databases, data warehouses, and data lakes differ
💻 Do: Excel Pivot Table Exercise — your hands-on practice using data to discover insights!
🎯 Goal: Learn to turn information into decisions that drive business success.
💬 Pro Tip: Start your Pivot Table Exercise early, it’s one of the most rewarding skills you’ll build this semester. Once you see your first trend appear from the data, you’ll realize: you’re not just using Excel, you’re thinking like an analyst.
Ever wonder how a website seems to know exactly what you’re looking for, or how Excel can summarize thousands of rows of data in seconds?
This week, you’ll explore how AI, analytics, and automation are transforming the way businesses understand customers and make decisions.
You’ll also take your Excel skills to the next level with Power Pivot, a powerful tool that helps you analyze large data sets and uncover hidden trends.
By the end of this module, you’ll not only see how AI and analytics shape business intelligence, you’ll use them yourself.
Data alone doesn’t create value, insight does.
From digital marketing to healthcare, supply chain, and finance, professionals who can interpret data and leverage AI tools are driving smarter, faster business decisions.
You’re not just learning Excel this week, you’re learning how to think like an analyst in an AI-powered world.
Try using Copilot or ChatGPT to connect this week’s content to your major or future goals:
“Explain how web analytics could be used in [my field/industry] to make better business decisions.”
“How could Excel’s AI features help someone in [my career goal, e.g., marketing, accounting, sports management]?”
“Give an example of how ChatGPT could analyze or summarize business data for [type of job I’m interested in].”
“Compare how Power Pivot and Generative AI might be used together in a real-world business project.”
“Describe a scenario where an intern could impress their boss by using AI tools in Excel.”
How can a few clicks in Excel uncover insights that once took analysts days to find?
Could AI ever replace data analysts, or will it make them more valuable than ever?
How can you use these tools right now to make better personal or academic decisions?
Why did the Excel sheet get promoted?
Because it had a lot of good data on its side!
Learn how web analytics tools like Google Analytics guide business decisions
Discover how AI works within Excel and how GenAI tools like ChatGPT can support data analysis
Complete the Excel Power Pivot Exercise to practice analyzing complex data
Reflect on how these tools are changing what it means to be “data literate” in business
💬 Pro Tip: Start your Power Pivot exercise early, it’s one of the most impressive tools you can add to your résumé. When you can tell a story with data and use AI to back it up, you’re speaking the language of the future workplace.
🛡️ Welcome to Module 11: Cybersecurity Meets Business Intelligence!
Imagine this: You’ve just built a sleek Power BI dashboard packed with data insights, and then, overnight, a hacker encrypts your entire system demanding Bitcoin. 💀
This week, we’re tackling two sides of the digital coin:
Cybersecurity and Ethics — how to recognize, prevent, and respond to digital threats that target both individuals and organizations.
Power BI Analytics — a hands-on exercise where you’ll transform data into dynamic, interactive visuals that support better business decisions.
It’s a perfect pairing: learn how to protect information, and then learn how to analyze it responsibly.
Cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing threats in business. Whether you’re in marketing, finance, accounting, or management, protecting sensitive data is part of your job. At the same time, tools like Power BI and Generative AI are revolutionizing how organizations see and use data.
Your challenge? Learn to harness this power ethically and securely.
By the end of this module, you’ll be able to:
✅ Recognize major cybersecurity threats (malware, phishing, ransomware, and more).
✅ Understand the laws, ethics, and regulations guiding data protection.
✅ Use Power BI as a real-world analytical tool, turning raw data into meaningful insight.
Try asking ChatGPT or Copilot questions like these to connect the module to your goals:
“How could cybersecurity risks impact a business in [my major or industry]?”
“What types of data dashboards might someone in [my career goal] build using Power BI?”
“How can I use AI tools ethically when analyzing business data?”
“Explain how phishing or ransomware could affect a company’s financial statements or customer trust.”
“How might data privacy laws shape marketing or analytics jobs in the future?”
If your social media account were hacked tomorrow, what data would actually be valuable to a cybercriminal?
What if the biggest cybersecurity threat in your company wasn’t a hacker, but a distracted employee?
How can visualization tools like Power BI help prevent, not just detect, business problems?
Why did the cybersecurity analyst break up with their partner?
👉 Too many phishing attempts. 🎣
📖 Explore cybersecurity fundamentals: threats, ethics, and protection.
📊 Watch: Power BI Tutorial
Every app you use, every website you visit, every AI tool you experiment with, someone designed, built, and deployed it through a process called the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
This week, you’ll explore how businesses decide whether to build or buy technology, what it really means to “move to the cloud,” and how Generative AI is transforming the way organizations create, communicate, and innovate.
Your main task? To create an AI-generated video that tells a story about how AI or GenAI is being used in business. This is your chance to blend creativity and strategy, show how your future field might harness AI for better decisions, efficiency, or impact.
Technology isn’t just something you use, it’s something every business builds, adapts, or buys to stay competitive.
Understanding how systems are developed and sourced will help you lead conversations about innovation in any organization.
And learning how to use AI tools for storytelling gives you a powerful, marketable skill: the ability to communicate ideas visually and persuasively.
Use ChatGPT, Copilot, or another GenAI tool to explore how this connects to your career goals:
“Describe a real-world example of AI being used in [my major or future career].”
“What would a short video about AI in [marketing / accounting / finance / management / analytics] look like?”
“How could a company in my field decide whether to build or buy an AI system?”
“Write a 30-second video script explaining how Generative AI could improve [a process, product, or service] in my industry.”
“Give me ethical considerations I should include when creating AI-generated content for business.”
What’s the real difference between a company that builds technology and one that buys it?
Could an AI ever help design or code another AI?
What are the trade-offs when businesses rely on cloud computing versus keeping their own data centers?
Why did the software developer go broke?
👉 Because they used up all their cache! 💾
Explore the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and major system development methodologies.
Understand how businesses make Build vs. Buy and On-Premise vs. Cloud decisions.
Discuss the role of data brokers, AI ethics, and responsible innovation.
🎥 Hands-on: Create your own AI-generated video illustrating a business use case of AI or GenAI.
💬 Pro Tip: Start brainstorming your video early! Think like a strategist: Where does AI add value in your field? The best videos tell a story, one that connects technology to people, purpose, and possibility.
This week, you’re stepping into the role of a real strategist, the kind who helps organizations make smarter decisions, invest in the right technologies, and gain a competitive edge.
Your only assignment this module is the Business Strategy & IS Alignment Exercise, but don’t let that fool you. This is one of the most powerful, career-relevant projects of the semester. It brings together everything you’ve learned and helps you build an artifact you can actually use in future job interviews.
This is your chance to:
🔥 Analyze a real business
🔥 Identify the strategy that makes it successful
🔥 Recommend the technology that will help it grow
🔥 Choose the smartest sourcing option (build, buy, SaaS, cloud, etc.)
🔥 Communicate your insights to executives and middle school students, a true test of communication mastery
Every company, big, small, startup, nonprofit, global, needs people who understand how strategy and technology work together. If you can do this well, you become incredibly valuable.
This assignment helps you:
Understand how businesses gain competitive advantage
Choose the right systems (ERP, CRM, SCM, AI tools, etc.) for the right activities
Evaluate sourcing options (on-prem, cloud, SaaS, PaaS, IaaS)
Build communication technology skills employers actively look for
And most importantly:
👉 You get to choose a business that connects to your major, goals, or passions.
Use these in ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or Gemini to speed up brainstorming and deepen your critical thinking:
“Suggest real businesses related to [my major or career] that would be good for an IS strategy analysis project.”
“What small or local businesses could benefit from improved information systems in the [industry] sector?”
“Explain which of Porter’s generic strategies best fits [business name] and why.”
“Which value chain activities are most important for a company that focuses on [differentiation/cost leadership]?”
“For a business that does [X], which information systems—ERP, CRM, SCM, AI, OLAP—would improve performance the most?”
“In simple terms, explain the strengths and weaknesses of using [chosen IS] for [company/industry].”
“Compare on-premise vs SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS for a small business in [industry]. Which is most practical and why?”
“Rewrite this slide so it’s appropriate for executive decision-makers.”
“Rewrite this slide at a middle-school reading level, with simple examples.”
Why do some companies succeed not because of what they do—but how they align technology with strategy?
Is the “best” system always the most expensive one? Or the most popular one? Or something entirely different?
Could your recommended IS investment actually change the future of the business you choose?
This assignment is detailed and takes time, so please begin it early if you haven’t already.
Choosing the right business is half the battle, ideally one connected to your major, your job, or your future ambitions.
If you want help brainstorming companies or systems, I’m happy to help! Just reach out.
Let’s finish strong, you’re building real, résumé-worthy skills this week.
As we reach the end of the semester, I want to pause and recognize what you’ve accomplished. Completing this course, especially alongside work, family responsibilities, financial pressure, and the many uncertainties of life, is not a small thing. For those of you who crossed the finish line successfully, you should be proud. You showed up, adapted, and kept going even when the material felt unfamiliar, the technology didn’t cooperate, or your motivation dipped. That persistence matters far more than perfection.
Over the semester, you didn’t just learn about Information Systems, you learned how to think about technology in a business context. You learned how systems support strategy, how data becomes insight, how technology creates advantage, and how ethical and human considerations must always remain part of the conversation. These are not just academic skills. These are lenses you will carry into your careers, interviews, and decision-making long after this course fades from memory.
I also want to speak directly to those of you who did not complete the course as successfully as you hoped. Please hear this clearly: a difficult semester does not define you. Struggle, missteps, or unfinished work are not permanent conditions, they are feedback. You still learned something valuable, even if it wasn’t what you expected. Maybe you learned the importance of time management. Maybe you learned what kinds of support you need to ask for earlier. Maybe you learned something about resilience, boundaries, or self-awareness. Growth often shows up disguised as disappointment. What matters most is how you respond next.
One of the most important lessons in Information Systems, and in life, is adaptability. Technologies change. Systems fail. Plans evolve. The people who succeed are not the ones who never struggle, but the ones who learn, adjust, and keep moving forward. I hope you take that mindset with you.
I want to thank you, genuinely, for the opportunity to teach you and to get to know you this semester. It has been a pleasure watching you wrestle with ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and make connections between technology and your own goals. Teaching is a privilege, and I don’t take that lightly.
As you head into the break, I encourage you to practice gratitude. When family or friends ask about school, share some of the cool things you’ve learned this semester. Thank the people who supported you, even when they didn’t fully understand what you were working on. None of us does this alone.
Please know that this does not have to be goodbye. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, stop by my office, or send a note anytime, for advice, encouragement, questions, or just to say hello. I would love to hear how your story continues.
Wishing you rest, reflection, and confidence as you move forward. Keep learning. Keep adapting. And keep believing in your ability to grow.
Warm regards,
Prof. Vanselow