HUMPHREYS COLLEGE	6650 Inglewood Ave., Stockton, CA 95207
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT CAPSTONE Course Outline Fall Quarter 2007
CATALOG NUMBER:  ADM 280	CREDIT:  4 UNITS
INSTRUCTOR:  Assistant Professor Jim DeCosta                  Office: Room 218 Email address: jdecosta@humphreys.edu   Phone: 478-0800 ext 303 Web Site: /faculty/jdecosta Office hours:  See link posted on my web site.

DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES RELEVANT TO THIS COURSE

Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

The ability to think through issues and analyze situations for efficient and effective problem resolution is invaluable.  Practice in analysis, interpretation, inference, explanation and evaluation increase ability to think critically.

Business Technology Skills

A solid foundation in current software and use of the Internet are absolute necessities in the modern office. A series of software courses in areas such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software with progressive degrees of difficulty are required to prepare students to function effectively in the computer-oriented workplace.

Technology Problem-Solving Skills

Intermediate and advanced studies of software tools require thought in many areas such as design, arrangement, and software selection for projects, and presentation arrangement. Being able to identify creative solutions or alternatives and implement them in the business office requires computer expertise.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

ADM 280 Integrated Administrative Management Capstone, 4 units

Prerequisite: ADM 242, ADM 240, or Departmental Approval.

High order cognitive skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving are called upon to create a business application solution to a management reporting problem.  Individual student solutions become an important part of the students’ portfolio, demonstrating the use of Microsoft Office Professional Suite as a tool in the production of creative solutions to business reporting problems.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is an individual exercise in the utilization of business applications software to solve business reporting problems.  This course requires that the student has demonstrable expertise with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.  Students will be given a database in the form of a Word table and a set of mocked up reports requested by management.  The students’ task is to restructure the database, provide a forms solution for the maintenance of the database, providing for easy data entry with error protection utilizing either a browser or some form of menu driven software interface.  This solution must include a means for management to access and run up to the minute reports at the click of a mouse.

The individual student solutions will become prima-facie evidence of the acumen of higher order cognitive skills, specifically of critical thinking and problems solving, and the use of business software to facilitate advanced management reporting problems.

PREREQUISITES:

ADM 242, ADM 240, or Departmental Approval

HOURS OF INSTRUCTION:

6:15 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. on selected Monday evenings and active participation in the online course which will take the place of a minimum of 8 class meetings. This is a hybrid course where the majority of your work will be done online with little or no supervision from your professor.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:

This class is an advanced business problem simulation requiring the utilization of Microsoft Office Professional business application software.  Previously learned skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint are utilized to create a software solution to a management data entry, storage, retrieval and reporting problem.  The instructor assumes the position of a troubled business executive with little or no computing skills.  The troubled executive knows how his business tracks customers, sales and purchases but wants an automated solution to data entry and common reports.  The student assumes the role of a newly hired Administrative Assistant to the President and was hired specifically to create and maintain such a system.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND/OR MATERIALS:

One USB Jump Drive or equivalent reliable source of transferring files from home or the library computer lab.

Student responsibilities will include:

The assignment is to be completed individually with the ability to consult with the “Boss” about the nature of the project and the degree to which the quarter long project is meeting expectations.

TEAM ASSIGNMENT POSSIBILITIES

Depending on class size, it is possible that you will be assigned to work in teams.  If teams are assigned, team members will be given the following additional assignment.

Team Log:  A detailed account of all team activities from your perspective.  What you and each member of the team contributed to the overall success of the project.  What you did and when you did it.  Include all meetings that occurred with team members, in class, phone conversations, email records, and the online discussion forum that will be available on the class web site.  Include copies of all individually developed files that you provided to the team for further development, save these files in a special folder on your USB drive and submit these files in zip format on the due date and via the online assignment portal. The value of this record of your accomplishments and contributions will be 200 pts.  The points will be added to the 600 individual totals and the grading will follow the same percentage basis.  90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D and less = F.  The instructor will utilize these logs to determine the individual contributions made to the group project.  It will be possible for one team member to receive more points for development of the project. 

Grading:

Three short papers submitted in Word format and deposited in the online repository by the due date (50 pts. Each) = 150 pts.

One Draft Solution Due in the online repository by the due date 150 pts.

Final Solution Due in the online repository by the due date 300 pts.

The total class grade will be judged on the completion of the assignment.  Items of consideration are; ease of use, elegance of solution, data integrity checks and balances, degree of automation, degree of redundancy necessary for data input and or maintenance,

Letter Grades:

Points	Grade	Points	Grade
540-600	A	0-359	F
480-539	B
420-479	C
360-419	D

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is not condoned or excused.  Term papers, research reports, computer generated files and essays are expected to be the individual work of the student.  References and sources of information should be identified and accurately documented within the body of any written work.  Violation of the honor code or plagiarism is cause for dismissal.

Late Work:

Project milestones may be submitted no more than one week late and will receive a 10% penalty (no exceptions).

Week	Class	Homework	Assignments/Homework Reminder
1 Mandatory class meeting	Written Class Assignment prior to being hired to solve my business problem. Course Introduction If Groups are to be utilized:  Form teams, meet and discuss what possible outcomes would best suit employer’s demands.	Study required reports and formats.  Brainstorm on how data should be recorded best for future production of required reports.	Homework:  Bring a written proposal of the business applications you will use to solve our problem.  Name the file solution1 and put it in your folder.
2 Mandatory class meeting	Class Discussion: Reading/Discussion of your proposals Choose application for the entry of data. Enter the data Groups:  After the class discussions meet and contemplate any possible changes to your chosen solutions.	Proposal for the maintenance of the data entry and integrity of data.	Homework:  Make changes to your written proposal based on this weeks work.  Identify possible problem areas with your proposed solution and how you might research a solution.  Due at the beginning of the period next week.  Name the file solution2 and put it in your folder.
3-6 No class meeting all work and communications through course interface.	Class Complete data entry Design Forms Address operator error Plan for controlled forms Groups:  Meet to discuss technological problems encountered during the construction phase of your solutions.  How you solved them, what resources you found helpful.		Homework:  Write a short report on possible problems with your proposed solution and how you intend to address solving them.  Due the beginning of week four, name the file problems1 and put it in your folder.
7 Required Class Meeting	Draft Solution Due		Draft Solution Due
8-11 Required Class Meeting on Week 9	Debug Solution Make changes per employer demands		Group Log and all individual file contributions due in zip format if Teams were formed.
12 No class meeting, project submitted online.	Final Project.		Final Project Due