Undergraduate Information Technology Management Curriculum

MGT 2200 - Information Technology
During recent decades, IT has transformed companies—their business processes, decision-making structures, corporate strategies, and the way they interact with customers and suppliers. What do these changes mean to business operations and strategy? What new threats and opportunities do they present?

While technology has progressed at an amazing pace, the management processes designed to utilize the technology have often lagged. Consequently, the major IT challenges faced by companies are not primarily technical in nature, but rather managerial and human in focus. They pose challenges such as: how to justify large IT investments; how to manage risks; how to choose the appropriate technology; how to integrate the technology with existing processes and systems; and how to store, manage, and take advantage of the increasing amounts of data, information, and knowledge that can be captured nowadays.

This introductory course in the management of information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) will focus on understanding the fundamentals of IT and IS from a managerial viewpoint, not a computer science perspective.  These are the specific course objectives:

• Develop a basic technical understanding of IT and IS: Business managers and consultants need to understand the technical fundamentals in order to assess trade-offs and make strategic decisions.
• Build an IT vocabulary: Understanding the language and terminology of IT is essential to competing successfully in a job market that requires technology literacy.
• Develop an understanding of IT applications: Managers and consultants need to know how to harness the power of IT to build and sustain competitive advantage. In this course, students are exposed to Excel and to a database management system (MySQL or Microsoft Access – choice made by the instructor of each section).
• Obtain a basic understanding of how modern enterprises strategically leverage IT, IS, and data to generate competitive advantage.

Some electives are not offered every semester. This list may change over time. For specific information about classes, pre-requisites, professors, days/times and classroom locations for a given term go to Oscar. Current students may also visit the ITM Site in T-Square for more information about courses and suggested sequences.

MGT 3742 - Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Decision Making
Spreadsheets have been used for centuries to organize and present data for decision making. Since the introduction in 1979 of VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet software, the capabilities of the form have increased to include sophisticated specialized add-ons, database functions, and programming tools that enable skilled managers to create ever more advanced and useful models for decision making. Today the electronic spreadsheet is a mainstay of decision making and ad-hoc modeling in business.

This course enables students to use advanced feature of spreadsheet software to create models for decision making. The emphasis is on acquiring a skill set with which to create models in any domain of business using examples from various areas such as finance and operations.

This is not an introductory course.  Students should possess working knowledge of a basic spreadsheet program before taking the course. The course will begin with a brief review of essential spreadsheet knowledge and skills, much of which is already considered “advanced”, before proceeding to programming concepts and techniques used to create applications for decision support in business.

MGT 3743 - Emerging Technologies
Emerging technologies can change the business and societal environment rapidly and dramatically.

Knowing how to analyze emerging technologies and to forecast their implications for individuals, businesses, markets, and society is a critical skill in a broad range of contexts, including:

• Managers considering the use of use an emerging technology within their organizations,
• Analysts predicting the impact of an emerging technology on an industry,
• Inventors or entrepreneurs developing a new technology,
• Policy‐makers charged with helping society benefit from emerging technologies.

This course introduces students to methods for analyzing and making decisions about emerging technologies. This includes tools, principles, and theories for evaluating which technologies will emerge and why. Given this understanding, students should be able to develop useful technology forecasts and leverage those forecasts for business advantage.  The specific course objectives are:

• Discuss the prospects of emerging technologies. (This set changes as new technologies emerge.)
• Apply tools and techniques to scan the horizon for emerging technologies relevant to business and society.
• Analyze how emerging technologies will affect individuals, firms, markets, policy, and society in the future.
• Describe the system in which technologies emerge, including catalysts and inhibitors.
• Develop and refine forecasts for how advances in technology will affect business and society in the future.
• Predict which emerging technologies will be successful and why.

Note: Spring section is open to all students. Fall section is restricted to Technology and Management program students.

MGT 3745 - Business Programming
"Everybody in this country should learn how to program, since it teaches you how to think" - Steve Jobs.

In recent decades, computer programming has created tremendous social welfare and wealth, perhaps even rivaling farming in its revolutionary effects on society. Learning to think algorithmically and to use computers as tools is one of the first steps towards participating in that revolution.  (See the video “What most schools don't teach” at http://youtu.be/nKIu9yen5nc for an eloquent explanation of what it means to learn to “code”.) People who understand programming and business have a leg up in the pursuit of gratifying, high paying work in information systems.

And programming can simply be a lot of fun--a creative and useful hobby with almost instantaneous results. 

This course introduces students to object-oriented programming using Java and a web-scraping development kit. Students will hone problem solving and critical thinking skills while stepping through the development process from design through coding, testing, and release to solve a real business problem.  The specific course objectives are:

• Familiarity with the fundamental principles of programming, debugging and testing an application using a modern object-oriented programming language
• Proficiency in problem solving through programming using object-oriented design principles and algorithms of your own creation—and experiencing the joy of programming
• Experience with software development in a group work environment—the most common scenario in industry

MGT 4050 - Business Analytics
Today, businesses, consumers, and societies leave behind massive amounts of data as a by-product of their activities. Leading-edge companies in every industry are using business analytics to replace intuition and guesswork in their decision-making. As a result, managers are collecting and analyzing enormous data sets to discover new patterns and insights and running controlled experiments to test hypotheses.

This course teaches rigorous algorithms and methodologies for analyzing business data. It illustrates the processes of business analytics by allowing students to apply business analytics, algorithms and methodologies to real-world business datasets from finance, marketing, and operations. The use of real-world examples and cases places business analytics techniques in context and teaches students how to avoid the common pitfalls, emphasizing the importance of applying proper business analytics techniques. In addition to cases, this course features hands-on experiences with data collection and business analytics software.

This course prepares students to understand big data and business analytics and become leaders in these areas in business organizations. After taking this course students should be able to:

• Approach business problems data-analytically, thinking carefully and systematically about whether and how data and business analytics can improve business performance.
• Develop and execute business analytics projects within business organizations.
• Interact intelligently on the topic of business analytics with CIOs, business managers, and data scientists.

MGT 4052 - Systems Analysis and Design
When most people think of developing an information system, they think of programming. However programming is wasted if the product doesn’t solve the business problem. The foundation for the development of an effective information system occurs before a single line of code is written—during systems analysis and design. 

Analysis is the process of understanding the business problem and the constraints that limit possible solutions. It begins with asking questions, and then proceeds to analysis of the answers and documenting conclusions, including requirements. Design is the working out of alternative solutions that answer the requirements using the capabilities of available technology and people. These activities usually go together and are called Systems Analysis and Design.

Systems Analysts and Designers bridge the understanding and capabilities of information systems users and information systems developers. They work closely with users to understand and model their business problems. They design new or improved information systems, specifying how systems will perform, and work with developers to ensure that the product solves the users’ business problem.

This course will provide students with a foundation in the methods and practice of systems analysis and design. The portfolio element for this course is a document containing business requirements, a system design with appropriate illustrations and narratives, and a prototype. Proficiency in Microsoft Visio, Word, Excel and PowerPoint will be in evidence. The specific course objectives are:

• Understanding of the fundamental systems development life cycle and its phases, the common development methods, including agile methods, and the typical roles and skills of analysts
• Proficiency in the gathering of information on business problems and constraints and in modeling business processes, data and behaviors.
• Proficiency in the design and creation of a prototype of a system that can be used to simulate functionality with stakeholders, and specifications that can be used by developers to implement a system
• Familiarity with the phases of system construction, system testing, and document development
• Familiarity with the system installation process, including conversion strategies, change management techniques, and post-installation processes

MGT 4053 - Business Data Communications
Data communications did not begin with the Internet and cell phones. Throughout history, battles have been won and lost, fortunes made and squandered, empires created and destroyed because someone could transmit data from one point to another, quickly, reliably and sometimes secretly while someone else did not have, or failed to appreciate, the opportunities and threats posed by the technology.

This course is designed to enable students to plan and use data communications to support a business strategy, including determining requirements, requesting and evaluating proposals, working with vendors on implementation and maintenance, and addressing common management issues such as security and continuity planning.

Understanding how the wired and wireless infrastructures work, how the Internet works, and how applications use networks will give students a good base from which to envision the opportunities and threats that will arise from new products and services and from research in the underlying technologies. The portfolio element for this course is a document containing business requirements, a request for proposal, a proposal, and a short report on a new data communications technology or equipment.  Proficiency in Microsoft Visio, Word and Excel will be in evidence. The specific course objectives are:

• Understanding of the models commonly used to organize and discuss the work of data communications.
• Understanding of common challenges in network management and tools used to address them
• Understanding of the principles of client-server application architecture
• Proficiency in simple logical network design and in evaluating alternatives
• Proficiency in simple physical network design and in evaluating alternatives
• Proficiency in preparing an overview for management of a current topic in the field
• Familiarity with the major organizations and companies that shape the hardware and service landscape of data communications.

MGT 4056 - Electronic Commerce
Whether you’re a manager in a large, established global enterprise or an entrepreneur in the early stages of a business start-up, e-Commerce possibilities and competitive threats now often shape the business agenda. Whether a firm becomes a winner in the increasing wired “e-Economy” will largely be determined by how its leadership reacts to new technology-driven opportunities, to the changing values and characteristics of technology “empowered” consumers and business buyers, and to rival strategies and competitive actions.

This course examines several business, managerial and economic issues related to electronic commerce and electronic business. Building on the functional core area courses such as Information Technology (IT) management, operations, strategy, economics and marketing, this course focuses specifically on business model analysis and design in the context of electronic commerce, particularly EC startups.

The course features interactions with industry leaders using their live cases, hands-on (lab and field) experiments and field trip experiences, and integration of cutting edge research with education. The course project is for each team to do the digital business model analysis, design and search of their own EC startup. Alternatively, each team may research, write and present a new EC startup case.

MGT 4057 - Business Process Analysis and Design
In a modern organization, business processes are supported by a complex software infrastructure--partly procured and partly developed in-house--that interlinks, automates and increases their efficiency.

This is a course on business processes and the underlying software infrastructure that supports them. Although the concept of business processes is deceptively simple, the complexity lies in the details and the myriad of different ways in which companies structure these processes. The emphasis of this course is on this software infrastructure and its relationships to business processes and organizational structure, and how firms can manage these relationships most effectively. The teaching format of the course draws upon in-class lectures, case discussions, guest speakers from industry, and hands-on exercises. These topics are covered in depth:

• IT-enabled process change within the enterprise
• Challenges of intra-firm process change
• Challenges and benefits of inter-firm process change
• Process Modeling
• Enterprise IT systems and business analytics

This course helps students prepare for a variety of careers:

• IT or Supply Chain consultants who need to understand the tools available in the marketplace to support business processes
• Financial analysts focusing on the software/IT industry
• Systems analysts--business professionals who specializes in the integration of technology in the firm
• Sales and Marketing professionals who focus on IT/Software products

MGT 4058 - Database Management
Almost every modern organization, whether in the manufacturing or service sector, uses database technology to store critical data and manage its operations. Database technology is critical to every functional area in an organization, including marketing, manufacturing, operations, and accounting.

This is an introductory course on database technology designed to provide hands-on experience in designing and developing databases to meet organizational goals through instruction in database management and design. With the advent of end-user computing and the proliferation of personal computers and local area networks in the workplace, understanding this important technology is crucial to every employee in the organization.

Topics include database concepts, data modeling, relational database development, SQL, the application of popular database systems software, and some additional topics on more advanced database technology and applications.

The portfolio element for this course is a database implemented in MySQL that will support decision making in a problem area of the student’s choice.
After taking this class, students should have a grasp of the following major subjects in database management:

• Conceptual data modeling (Entity-Relationship model)
• Logical database design
• Relational data model
• SQL and the basics of MySQL
• Data warehousing

MGT 4450 - Project Management
Every program ever written, every app that was ever downloaded, every new computer or tablet or phone that was created is the result of a project. A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to accomplish a unique product, service, or result. This course is concerned specifically with projects that create or update computer software. However, project management principles and practices are used in many industries, e.g. construction, automobile and aircraft manufacturing, consumer electronics, and computer hardware, among others.

IT Project Managers play an essential role in the smooth and successful execution of IT initiatives. Often working in teams, they ensure project alignment with business objectives, secure and track resource use, keep channels of communication open with all important stakeholders, and apply best practices of the project management field to bring IT projects in on time and budget and to specification. Interpersonal skills are essential to success in this profession. Even if you are not managing an IT project, you will almost certainly be part of one at some time.

The project management profession is strongly influenced by the PMI (Project Management Institute) through its two widely recognized certifications—the PMP (Project Management Professional) and the CAPM (Certified Associate of Project Management). This course lays the groundwork for additional study to prepare for the CAPM exam.

The portfolio element for this course is a document containing a business case, a project charter and requirements management plan, and a project plan with updates. Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Word and Excel will be in evidence. The specific course objectives are:

• Understanding of the concepts and models commonly used to organize and discuss the work of project management.
• Understanding of the importance of leadership and ethics in project management, the nature of the challenges managers face, and some methods for meeting those challenges.
• Proficiency in creating a business case for an IT project.
• Proficiency in creating a project charter and a requirements management plan.
• Proficiency in the development of a project plan that reflects current PMBOK and ITPM practice.
• Proficiency at updating the various parts of a project plan as the project unfolds, and communicating changes to stakeholders

MGT 4803 - Social & Digital Analytics

Social and digital strategies are driving businesses in the modern age. Successful managers need the skills to identify the metrics that matter in the social and digital space, measure its impact on the organizations bottom line and communicate the strategic opportunities that emerge from social and digital insights. This course covers every aspect of digital marketing and business operations including the following topics:

• Social media
• Search
• Website
• Email
• Digital media

Mastering the social and digital analytics and its related strategy practice provides both a competitive advantage and a foundation for the future.

This course prepares students to understand social and digital metrics, apply analytics techniques and become leaders in these areas in business organizations. This course covers the definitions, methods, algorithms and implications of digital analytics while reviewing issues, and challenges occurring today. It will provide hands-on experience with the tools used in the field, and will position students with the foundation for a career in the social and digital analytics field. The use of real-world examples, guest speakers that are practitioners in the field, and current issues in analytics will ensure this course is topical and applicable to the student’s current experience.

The ITM Concentration focuses on the design and development of computer-based business information systems and the role they play in organizations. It covers such topics as database design, systems analysis and design, data communications, and other concepts employed in the application of information technology to business activities.

After completing MGT 2200 (Information Technology), students complete six information technology management courses--at least three from Group A and the remainder from Group A or Group B. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all courses for a concentration.

Questions about the ITM concentration? Contact Dr. Michael Smith or the Scheller Undergraduate Program Office at 404-894-2605.

The Information Technology Management (ITM) Certificate focuses on the design and development of computer-based business information systems and the role they play in organizations. It covers such topics as database design, systems analysis and design, data communications, and other concepts employed in the application of information technology to business activities.

This certificate is available to all undergraduate students at Georgia Tech. The ITM Certificate requires 5 courses totaling 15 semester hours covering management information systems, a programming class, a database class, and a selection of general elective courses in ITM. Only courses for which the student has received a grade of “C” or higher may count toward the ITM certificate.