MIS 300 Mid-Term Advice

1. Remember that the philosophy of this course is to help you become a discriminating user of IT, not a designer, developer or vendor.  Hence the most important aspect of this course is the concepts that lead to understanding, not the tiny details.

2. Basic models have been introduced in the following areas:
    a. What a general purpose computer is capable of doing
    b. How a general purpose computer is put to use
    c. How decision making takes place and the assumptions we make
    d. The role of data and information in management activities
    e. Communication, telecommunication and networking fundamentals
    f. How the World Wide Web functions as a network of knowledge
    g. The concept of a data base and why this is important for business
    h. The idea of a business platform and how the Internet functions as a business platform
    i. The concept of economy of style and how this is facilitated
    j. Transaction processing as a source of important business advantage
    k. The idea of "enterprise computing."

3. The mideterm will be a mix of questions from the textbook and from supplementary lectures.

4. There will be three kinds of questions: definitions, application of knowledge and basic facts.  The mix on the midterm will lean more heavily towards definitions but these will by no means be the majority of the questions.

5. As all questions are multiple choice, it is important to read all the answers before providing your response.

6. IMPORTANT.  From the syllabus: "For both the Mid-Term and Final Exams, you will need Scantron Form No. 882-ES, which is available at the bookstore in the Oakland Center. You will also need a #2 pencil (bring a spare, too) for filling out the form during the test.  Make-up exams will not be given, except in extenuating circumstances."