Course Description:

The hot trends and topics in information technology change quite rapidly over short periods of time. New technologies are constantly evolving with profound impact on organizations and individuals. The Lattanze Seminar by its very mission always addresses those IT topics with the highest degree of business relevance. Students will attend Lattanze seminars, interact with business leaders in the field of information technology, conduct research, and deliver presentations on current and emerging IT issues.

Course Objectives:

The objectives of this course are to:

1. Advance your organizational effectiveness through the practical understanding of key information technologies and their impact.
2. Improve your ability to research and evaluate information technologies.
3. Interact with business leaders in the field of information technology.
4. Enhance your communication skills and apply these skills in assignments and presentations.

To successfully complete the course, students will:

1. Attend 5 classes and 10 Lattanze seminars;
2. Prepare and submit Seminar Summaries;
3. Prepare and present Current Topics Report;
4. Prepare and present Book Review;
5. Prepare and present Research Paper at final Special Seminar.

There are no exams for this course!

Attendance & Class Participation

Due to the seminar structure of this course, full attendance is expected. Lattanze morning seminars all start promptly at 8:30 AM. You are invited to partake in the continental breakfast beginning at 8:00 AM. You are encouraged to ask questions and participate. There are 15 total course sessions (5 classes and 10 seminars) and 10 points will be awarded for good or superior quality participation (A, A-, B+, B), and zero points for deficient quality (B- or below).

As the seminar structure requires you to be flexible, you may miss one morning seminar should it be  necessary. To make up the 35 points (10 class participation + 25 seminar summary) missed for the seminar, you may submit a second current topics report executive summary (no oral presentation required). The report is due the next class following the missed seminar.

Seminar Summaries

Each student will prepare a seminar summary to be discussed at the next regular class meeting. The summary should be no more than one page in length and should list the major points discussed during the seminar (a top ten list would be appropriate). The summary will be collected at the beginning of class prior to discussion. Please retain one copy for yourself so that you can participate in the discussion. For each summary, 25 points will be awarded for superior quality (A, A-), 20 points for good quality (B+, B), and zero points for deficient quality (B- or below).

Current Topic Report

Each student will prepare a current topic report on the IT topic of his/her choice. The presentation will consist of a written report and a 5 minute oral presentation. The purpose of these presentations is to expose the class to a variety of relevant IT issues as reported in Web-based or traditional (magazines, newspapers, journals, etc.) sources. Several students will present during each class session. A presentation schedule will be developed during the first class. A copy of the report should be distributed to the instructor and all classmates at the beginning of the presentation.

Book Review

Each student will prepare a book review on the IT topic of his/her choice. The presentation will consist of a written review and a 5 minute oral presentation. The purpose of these presentations is to expose the class to a variety of relevant IT issues examined in detail in a book. Several students will present during each class session. A presentation schedule will be developed during the first class. A copy of the review should be distributed to the instructor and all classmates at the beginning of the presentation.

Research Paper & Presentation

Each student will prepare and present a research paper on the IT topic of his/her choice. Presentations will take place during our last session. This will be a special Lattanze Seminar and will give you a chance to gain exposure in front of an audience of IT professionals and managers. The research paper will consist of a substantial written paper and 15 minute oral presentation. Guidelines for the research paper will be discussed during the first class.

Grading:

The breakdown of points to determine your grades is as follows:

Grades will be given on the basis of the following final point totals:

Notes:

1. Graded research papers will be retained by the instructor for future reference.
2. You are responsible for all material covered and any announcement made in any class session, whether you are present or not.
3. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the schedule should it become necessary.

The Lattanze Center offers three types of seminars targeted to different markets:

• Executive Seminars are broad information and strategy overviews; directed at mid- to upper-level IT management up to the Chief Information Officer and Chief Executive Officer.
• Research Seminars focus on research and theoretical foundations of IT; directed at educators, academicians, students, and those interested in history, evolution, and theory of IT trends and issues.
• Technology Seminars are specific demonstrations and/or hands on examinations of current IT hardware and software tools; directed at programmers, technicians, and analysts.

Class Schedule:

Tuesday, January 23, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Class:
Introduction to Course & Project

Thursday, January 25, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Technology Seminar:
Enterprise JavaBeans for Senior Technologists and Managers
Dave Ranck, Chief Technology Officer, Software Consortium

Wednesday, February 7, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Research Seminar:
Using Research on Computer Ethics and Professionalism to Improve Information Technology
Dr. Joyce Currie Little, Professor, Towson University
Dr. Mary J. Granger, Professor, George Washington University

Tuesday, February 13, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Executive Seminar:
Sourcing Strategies
Linda Cohen, Senior Analyst, Gartner

Tuesday, February 20, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Class:
Seminar Recap & Current Topics Reports

Thursday, March 1, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Executive Seminar:
Privacy: The Major Driver for Security in Conducting Business Over the Internet
Jason B. Taule, Global Director – Information and Systems Security Practice, Ajilon LLC

Tuesday, March 13, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Technology Seminar:
eBusiness Development with Microsoft Office 2000 & Outlook
Dave Ranck, Chief Technology Officer, Software Consortium

Thursday, March 22, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Executive Seminar:
Lessons Learned from eBusiness Implementations
Presented and Hosted by Arthur Andersen

Friday, March 30, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Executive Seminar:
Becoming an Employer of Choice in the Super Fluid IT Environment
Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurist

Tuesday, April 3, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Class:
Seminar Recap & Current Topics Reports

Tuesday, April 10, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Executive Seminar:
Legal Issues in IT and eBusiness
Clement D. Erhardt III, Esquire, Adjunct Professor, Loyola College

Wednesday, April 18, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Research Seminar:
Using Creativity to Increase IT Effectiveness
Dr. Edward Sim, Assistant Professor, Loyola College

Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Makeup class (IF NECESSARY):
The Rise of eBusiness and the Need for Website Localization
Larry Burgee, Executive Director - Lattanze Center

Thursday, April 26, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Executive Seminar:
Knowledge Enables Everything: The Knowledge Management Scenario, 2001 - 2006
French Caldwell, Research Director, Gartner

Tuesday, May 1, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Class:
Seminar Recap & Current Topics Reports

Tuesday, May 8, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Special Seminar:
Lattanze Seminar Series Student Presentations

Note: All classes and seminars will be held at the Loyola Graduate Center Timonium.