OIT 361

Technology Concepts for Managers

Graduate School of Business

Recommended for route(s):

[ Academia ] Intellectual Property: Computer Software

General course Description:

Electronics, computing, networks and software applications have become an integral part of business. The course is aimed at the student who wishes to learn those electronic and computer science concepts needed to understand how computers, networks, and the software that runs them operate, but who lacks background in engineering or computer science. The premise of the course is that adequate knowledge of technology is now a prerequisite for a successful manager, but that knowledge does not have to be at the level of rigor required in the practice of engineering or computer science. This course is intended to provide a basic literacy in these areas, with an emphasis on implications for managers and organizations. A meaningful course that focuses on particular technologies is difficult because rapid changes in any technology can quickly render today's lessons obsolete. Therefore, this course will stress fundamentals and trends, rather than a snapshot of the current status of different technologies. As a result, classroom coverage of current "hot" topics in technology is subordinate to giving the technology concepts necessary for one to learn such current (and future) topics on their own. Investigation of technology will be facilitated by lectures readings and homework assignments. Students will have an opportunity to investigate and learn more about a particular technology in more depth as part of a term project. The general flow of the course will focus upon four areas approximately as follows: Part I Electronic Systems: Fundamental Electronics (2 sessions), Digital and Microelectronics (2 sessions), Computer Hardware and Systems (2 sessions), Technology Trends (1 session), Communications including wireless (2 sessions); Part II Networks: Networked Computing (1 session), the Internet (2 sessions); Part III Software: Software and software development (3 sessions), Data Base Technology (1 session); and Part IV The Web: Clients and Servers (1 session), Case study of a web site (1 session), Video/Multimedia (1 session). The course is specifically designed for students with liberal arts or soft science backgrounds who have career ambitions in high-tech or who wish to be more technically aware as managers. Students with hard science, engineering or computer science backgrounds are welcome but must avoid redirecting the class discussion into narrow or advanced material that causes dysfunction to less technical colleagues. Students may elect either to take a final exam or do a term project. Students electing to do a term project will create it as a Web page. Separate training for building a Web page will be offered.

Course Style: A Substantive course teaches the law, theory, and policy in a particular area of law

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