MIS 382N: IT Capstone

05035, 05040
Spring 2025

CLASS MEETS: T/TH 3:30pm-4:45pm, GSB 3.130

Instructor: Caryn Conley, Ph.D. (Please call me Dr. Conley, Prof. Conley, or Caryn)
Office: CBA 3.430
Pronouns: she/her/hers Office hours: During class time via Zoom
Email: [email protected] and by appointment
Phone: 512-471-7497 (email or Slack is best)

Course Description
This course is an interactive course designed as an industry-sponsored business systems development project
using emerging technologies. The primary objective of this course is to help you experience a project that
integrates various software, hardware, and services components, and a holistic understanding of the challenges
presented by “real world” business systems development projects. The project aims to create business, social,
and public value for entities sponsoring the projects. Most of the time in this course will be spent by students
working on their projects outside of the classroom.

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS THAT APPLY THEMSELVES

1. LO1: Students will be able to plan, design, develop, and implement a system solution that solves a
business problem utilizing skills and knowledge learned through previous MSITM courses.
2. LO2: Students will be able to monitor, assess, manage, and adapt working relationships with peers
and real-world client contacts effectively and professionally.
3. LO3: Students will be able to adapt to the changing needs of a real-world organization.

PRE-REQUISITES FOR THE COURSE:

Students are expected to have successfully completed the Summer and Fall coursework in the MSITM program
prior to enrolling in this course.

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HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE:
To be successful in this course, treat your client project like a real project, not like a class project. The outcome of
these projects could have a meaningful impact on your client team or organization, so work hard to make this
impact:
• Behave professionally with your client as well as with your teammates.
• Be prompt for meetings and meet personal and team deadlines.
• Communicate when you have ideas to share or challenges you or your team are facing.
• Review the components of each class deliverable and ask questions when instructions are not clear to
you.
• Develop a plan with your team to meet task and milestone deadlines and deliverables.
• Perform retrospectives after each major deadline to reflect on what went well and what you could
improve or change going forward to ensure an overall positive project outcome.

Course Requirements
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Unlike other courses, this course does not have designated reading materials. Templates and short readings on
various topics may be available on Canvas to aid in the completion of some sections of the project reports.

REQUIRED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

Work with your sponsoring organization to determine what hardware and software is required for you to build
and implement the system solution for the project. Your team has the freedom to use any additional software of
your choice to manage project documents, deliverables, and timelines, as well as communication within your
team and with your sponsoring organization.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Class attendance Attendance is expected for all designated class sessions (see schedule below), which
primarily relate to guest speakers and one-on-one meetings between the professor and project teams. In
addition, team meetings with the sponsoring organization and professor will be scheduled twice during the
semester, and all student team members are expected to attend virtually. Please communicate with me as soon
as possible if you are prevented from attending class on these dates.

Class participation During guest speaker visits, you are expected to pay full attention to the guest speaker and
actively participate in any discussion or class activities conducted by the guest speaker. During one-on-one
meetings between the professor and the project teams, all team members are expected to attend and contribute
to the discussion. During team meetings with the sponsoring organization and professor, all team members are
expected to attend and contribute to the presentation and discussion.
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McCombs Classroom Professionalism Policy. The highest professional standards are expected of all
members of the McCombs community. The collective class reputation and the value of the Texas MS experience
hinges on this. You should treat the Texas MS classroom as you would a corporate boardroom. Faculty are
expected to be professional and prepared to deliver value for each and every class session. Students are expected
to be professional in all respects. The Texas MS classroom experience is enhanced when:
• Students arrive on time. On time arrival ensures that classes are able to start and finish at the scheduled
time. On time arrival shows respect for both fellow students and faculty and it enhances learning by
reducing avoidable distractions.
• Students respect the views and opinions of their colleagues. Disagreement and debate are encouraged.
Intolerance for the views of others is unacceptable.
• Students do not confuse the classroom for the cafeteria. Please plan accordingly (energy bars and similar
snacks are permitted). Please be respectful of your fellow students, guest speakers and faculty in your
choices.
• Students minimize unscheduled personal breaks. The learning environment improves when disruptions
are limited.
• Technology is used to enhance the class experience. I will let you know when it is appropriate to
use your laptop.
• Phones and wireless devices are turned off. When a true need to communicate with someone outside of
class exists (e.g., for some medical need) please inform the professor prior to class.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Project plan – client presentation and written report (related learning outcome – LO1)
The project plan should describe in sufficient detail the phenomenon, problem or opportunity that
motivates this project and explain why this project is important to do. You will cover project objectives,
scope, stakeholders, implementation plan, and risks and their mitigation. The sponsoring company will
help evaluate the quality of the initial project plan and client presentation. Refer to Canvas for additional
details. (25% of grade)

2. Project status updates—written reports (related outcome – LO1, LO2)

The purpose of the status update is to report on your progress and identify issues on which you need
clarification and guidance. Refer to Canvas for additional details. (20% of grade)

3. Final deliverable—written report and system evaluation (related outcomes – LO1, LO2, LO3)
The final report should provide sufficient details so that an executive manager in the sponsoring
company, who was not involved in the project development and implementation, could understand the
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 business problem, the proposed solution, how the system addresses the problem, remaining risks, ROI,
and whether and how the system should be fully implemented. The sponsoring company will evaluate
the quality of the system that you deliver at the end of the project. Refer to Canvas for additional details.
(30% of grade)

4. Final deliverable—client presentation (related outcome – LO1, LO2, LO3)

This presentation is a condensed version of the relevant material from your final written report. The
sponsoring company will help evaluate the quality of the final client presentation. Refer to Canvas for
additional details. (20% of grade)

5. Teamwork and Peer feedback (related outcome – LO2)

Working effectively as a team is a crucial aspect to achieving project goals. You will evaluate your
individual strengths and how this can positively and negatively impact your team using the Big 5
framework. In addition, an important skill as a professional working on software development teams is
the ability to provide and receive constructive feedback. You will provide constructive feedback to your
teammates halfway through the project and at the conclusion of the project. (5% of grade)
The peer evaluation is of utmost importance in the capstone project grading. If your final peer
evaluation is high, you may receive more 100% of the grades earned by your team on all client project
deliverables. If the peer evaluation is low and remains unimproved after the mid-semester peer
feedback, you may receive 85% or less of the grades earned by your team on all client project
deliverables. Refer to Canvas for more information.

GRADING FOR THIS COURSE

You will be evaluated in the following manner:
Assignments Percent of Total Grade
Status reports and meeting with Dr. Conley (Fall semester) Completion
1. Project plan – client presentation and written report 25%
2. Project status updates—written reports 20%
3. Final deliverable — written report and system evaluation 30%
4. Final deliverable — client presentation 20%
5. Teamwork and Peer feedback 5%

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COURSE OUTLINE
All instructions, assignments, readings, rubrics and essential information will be on the Canvas website. Check
this site regularly and use it to ask questions about the course.

Changes to the schedule may be made at my discretion and if circumstances require. It is your responsibility to
note these changes when announced (although I will do my best to ensure that you receive the changes with as
much advanced notice as possible).

Week Date Class Topic Deliverables

1 Jan 14, 16 Course introduction, Jan 16 - Guest speaker

2 Jan 21, 23 Jan 21 – Guest speaker; Jan 23 - Student work
3 Jan 27-31 Project plan, presentations with clients and Presentations with clients, project
Conley plan due Jan 27
4 Feb 4, 6 Feb 4 – Guest speaker; Feb 6 - Student work
5 Feb 11, 13 Student work - meet with professor as
necessary
6 Feb 18, 20 Student work - meet with professor as
necessary
7 Feb 25, 27 Student work - team meetings with Conley Status report and Peer feedback due
Feb 28
8 Mar 4, 6 Student work - meet with professor as
necessary
9 Mar 11, 13 Student work - meet with professor as
necessary
Mar 17-21 Spring break
10 Mar 25, 27 Student work - meet with professor as
necessary
11 Apr 1, 3 Student work - team meetings with Conley Status report due Apr 4
12 Apr 8, 10 Student work - meet with professor as
necessary
13 Apr 15, 17 Student work - meet with professor as
necessary
14 Apr 21-25 Final presentations with clients and Conley Presentations with clients and
professor
Apr 25 Final written report due Peer feedback due Apr 25

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Policies

CLASSROOM POLICIES

STATEMENT ON LEARNING SUCCESS

Your success in this class is important to me. We will all need accommodations because we all learn differently.
If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as
possible. Together we’ll develop strategies to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. I also
encourage you to reach out to the student resources available through UT. Many are listed on this syllabus, and I
am also happy to connect you with a person or Center if you would like.

GRADING POLICIES
The following plus/minus grading system will be used to calculate your final grade. Historically the numerical
cut off for each letter grade is as follows. The actual cut off will depend on overall class performance, i.e. history
may or may not repeat itself in this regard.

Grade Cutoff
A 94%
A- 90%
B+ 87%
B 84%
B- 80%
C+ 77%
C 74%
C- 70%
D+ 67%
D 64%
D- 60%
F <60%

LATE WORK
Late work is generally not permitted as it will impact the success of your project. In extenuating circumstances,
late work will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

ABSENCES
The only absences that will be considered excused are for religious holy days or extenuating circumstances due
to an emergency. Please see the policy below for religious holy days. For an emergency, please notify me as soon
as possible prior to the start of class on the day that will be missed.

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RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS
By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of
observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an assignment, or a project deliverable in order to
observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable
time after the absence.

STUDENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• You have a right to a learning environment that supports mental and physical wellness.
• You have a right to be respected.
• You have a right to be assessed and graded fairly.
• You have a right to freedom of opinion and expression.
• You have a right to privacy and confidentiality.
• You have a right to meaningful and equal participation to improve your learning environment.
• You have a right to learn in an environment that is welcoming to all people. No student shall be isolated,
excluded or diminished in any way.
With these rights come responsibilities:
• You are responsible for taking care of yourself, managing your time, and communicating with your
professor and with others if things start to feel out of control or overwhelming.
• You are responsible for acting in a way that is worthy of respect and always respectful of others. Your
experience with this course is directly related to the quality of the energy that you bring to it, and your
energy shapes the quality of your peers’ experiences.
• You are responsible for creating an inclusive environment and for speaking up when someone is
excluded.
• You are responsible for holding yourself accountable to these standards, holding each other to these
standards, and holding the teaching team accountable as well.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
UT HONOR CODE
The core values of UT Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and
responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty,
trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.

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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
I take this issue seriously. Any dishonesty—such as cheating, false representation, plagiarism, etc.—
that comes to my attention will result in an F in the course. The University defines academic
dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act
designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not
limited to, providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension on an
assignment, and submission of essentially the same written assignment for two different courses without faculty
permission.

MCCOMBS SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY POLICY

The McCombs School of Business has no tolerance for acts of scholastic dishonesty. The responsibilities of both
students and faculty with regard to scholastic dishonesty are described in detail in the BBA Program’s Statement
on Scholastic Dishonesty at https://my.mccombs.utexas.edu/BBA/Code-of-Ethics. By teaching this course, I
have agreed to observe all faculty responsibilities described in that document. By enrolling in this class, you have
agreed to observe all student responsibilities described in that document. If the application of the Statement on
Scholastic Dishonesty to this class or its assignments is unclear in any way, it is your responsibility to ask me for
clarification. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties,
including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since dishonesty harms
the individual, all students, the integrity of the University, and the value of our academic brand, policies on
scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. You should refer to the Student Judicial Services website at
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/ to access the official University policies and procedures on scholastic
dishonesty as well as further elaboration on what constitutes scholastic dishonesty.

UNIVERSITY RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

Your success in this class is important to me. We will all need accommodations because we all learn differently.
If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as
possible. Together we’ll develop strategies to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. There
are also a range of resources on campus:

SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

This class respects and welcomes students of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. If there are circumstances
that make our learning environment and activities difficult, if you have medical information that you need to
share with me, or if you need specific arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please let me
know. I am committed to creating an effective learning environment for all students, but I can only do so if you
discuss your needs with me as early as possible. The University of Texas at Austin provides, upon request,
appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Students with disabilities may
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request appropriate academic accommodations from Disability & Access (D&A). Please refer to the D&A website
for more information: http://community.utexas.edu/disability/. If you are already registered with D&A, please
discuss your required accommodations with me at the beginning of the semester.

COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH CENTER

Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol,
getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.

All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many helpful resources
available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for
support sooner rather than later is often helpful.

If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or
depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. cmhc.utexas.edu/individualcounseling.html

STUDENT EMERGENCY SERVICES:

If at any time you experience an emergency that necessitates your absence from a class requirement (e.g.,
attendance, assignment submission, or exam), please report your circumstances and absence via the Student
Emergency Services website: deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BEHAVIOR CONCERNS ADVICE LINE (BCAL)
If you have concerns about the safety or behavior of fellow students, TAs or Professors, call BCAL (the Behavior
Concerns Advice Line): 512-232-5050. Your call can be anonymous. If something doesn’t feel right – it
probably isn’t. Trust your instincts and share your concerns.

BCAL is a service for students, faculty, and staff of the university to discuss their concerns about another
individual’s behavior. Trained staff members will assist the caller in exploring available options and strategies.
They will also provide appropriate guidance and resource referrals to address the particular situation. Dialing
(512) 232-5050 (or https://bcal.utexas.edu/) will connect you to trained staff members 24/7/365. Calls to BCAL
can be anonymous, and there is also an on-line reporting form (not anonymous).

TITLE IX REPORTING
Title IX is a federal law that protects against sex and gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual
assault, sexual misconduct, dating/domestic violence and stalking at federally funded educational institutions.

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UT Austin is committed to fostering a learning and working environment free from discrimination in all its
forms. When sexual misconduct occurs in our community, the university can:
1. Intervene to prevent harmful behavior from continuing or escalating.
2. Provide support and remedies to students and employees who have experienced harm or have become
involved in a Title IX investigation.
3. Investigate and discipline violations of the university’s relevant policies.

Faculty members and certain staff members are considered “Responsible Employees” or “Mandatory Reporters,”
which means that they are required to report violations of Title IX to the Title IX Coordinator. I am a
Responsible Employee and must report any Title IX related incidents that are disclosed in writing,
discussion, or one-on-one. Before talking with me, or with any faculty or staff member about a Title IX related
incident, be sure to ask whether they are a responsible employee. If you want to speak with someone for support
or remedies without making an official report to the university, email [email protected] For more
information about reporting options and resources, visit titleix.utexas.edu or contact the Title IX Office at
[email protected].

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