Faculty of Business School of Information Systems Technology and Management. INFS1602 Computer Information Systems

Transcription

1 Faculty of Business School of Information Systems Technology and Management INFS1602 Computer Information Systems Course Outline Session 1, 2007

2 1 COURSE STAFF Communication with Staff INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE Teaching times and Locations Units of Credit Relationship of this course to other course offerings Approach to learning and teaching COURSE AIMS AND OUTCOMES Course Aims Student Learning Outcomes Teaching Strategies STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT Workload Attendance General Conduct and Behaviour Keeping Informed LEARNING ASSESSMENT Formal Requirements Assessment Details Assignment Format and Submission Procedure Late Submission Special Consideration and Supplementary examinations ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM STUDENT RESOURCES Course Website Textbooks Other Reference Books Other Resources, Support and Information CONTINUAL COURSE IMPROVEMENT COURSE SCHEDULE INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 2

3 1 COURSE STAFF The following team will co-ordinate INFS1602 this session: Course Co-ordinator Deborah Bunker Ph: , Office: Quad Tutors TBA Details on Website as of 4/3/2007 The consultation times and locations for staff will be available on the course website ( Your tutors will provide you with their contact details and consultation times in your first tutorial (Week 2). 1.1 Communication with Staff The best way to contact course staff is via or to see them during their consultation times. If you need to contact any of the course staff urgently but are unable to contact them then you should leave a message with the School Office either in person (Quad 2091E) or by phone ( ). 2 INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE 2.1 Teaching times and Locations Lectures The lecture is held on Wednesday, from to (11am to 12noon) in CLB 7. A repeat of the lecture is held on Friday from 15:00 to 16:00 (3pm to 4pm), in Matthews Theatre A. You should attend the lecture into which you are enrolled. Classes will not start until everyone is seated. Please be reminded that you should be in the lecture NO LATER than 5 minutes past the hour. Late arrivals at classes are disruptive and the lecture will stop until you are seated Tutorials Tutorials are held each week from Week 2 to Week 13 and are compulsory. Each tutorial is one hour long and will involve a range of activities including working through exercises and group discussions. The agenda for each tutorial is set out on the tutorial page on the course website. You will need to read the agenda and prepare for each tutorial the week PRIOR to that tutorial (starting in Week 2). You should have enrolled in a tutorial when you enrolled in the course, however if you have not, then you must do this via the enrolment mechanism at my.unsw.edu.au. Your attendance at your tutorial is compulsory. You are expected to have attended 80% of all tutorials to pass this course (8 out of 10 tutorials) and an attendance roll will be kept. You can only attend the tutorial in which you are enrolled. If you wish to change tutorials you must do so via the enrolment mechanism at my.unsw.edu.au. PLEASE DO NOT ASK THE COURSE CO-ORDINATOR OR TUTORS TO CHANGE YOUR CLASSES FOR YOU. You can only enrol in a tutorial where there is a vacancy. If you are unable to attend your allocated tutorial because of illness or misadventure then you should notify your tutor as soon as possible (and give them a copy of your documentation i.e doctor s certificate) and, if you circumstances allow, you may be able to attend another tutorial in that week Computer Laboratories The computer laboratories are held each week from Week 2 to Week 12 and are compulsory. Each lab is one hour long. INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 3

4 You should have enrolled in a laboratory when you enrolled in the course, however if you have not, then you must do this via the enrolment mechanism at my.unsw.edu.au. Your attendance at your laboratory is compulsory. You are expected to have attended 80% of all laboratories to pass this course (8 out of 10 laboratories) and an attendance roll will be kept. You can only attend the laboratory in which you are enrolled. If you wish to change laboratories you must do so via the enrolment mechanism at my.unsw.edu.au. PLEASE DO NOT ASK THE COURSE CO-ORDINATOR OR TUTORS TO CHANGE YOUR CLASSES FOR YOU. You can only enrol in a laboratory where there is a vacancy. If you are unable to attend your allocated laboratory because of illness or misadventure then you should notify your lab tutor as soon as possible (and give them a copy of your documentation i.e doctor s certificate) and, if you circumstances allow, you may be able to attend another laboratory in that week. The computer laboratories are for you to work through your individual computer assignment (see Section 5). Your laboratory tutor will hold a formal class each week and be able to assist you with your questions about the assignment. 2.2 Units of Credit Computer Information Systems (INFS1602) is 6 Units of Credit 2.3 Relationship of this course to other course offerings Every business has an information system. These systems are a fundamental component of the business and provide the business with the information its people need to operate and manage the business. If you are studying Information Systems then INFS1602 is the introduction to the area and is a prerequisite for most latter year information systems course. The material that you cover in this course will be built upon in the more advanced IS courses. If you are studying accounting, finance, marketing or any other business course, INFS1602 is an ideal course as it will give you an understanding of how this important aspect of the business works as well as improving your understanding of how businesses work in general. The course will explore the key systems that are used by accountants, marketeers and financial managers. As INFS1602 does not assume any experience with technologies you will find that fits easily with your background and it will sit well in your degree programme. If you intend to become an accountant then INFS1602 is very important as it is a prerequisite in becoming a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA). By taking INFS1602 you open up the possibility of doing more advance business oriented IS courses such as IS Audit. If you are studying software engineering or computer science then INFS1602 is an ideal course as it will give you an understanding of the business context in which your software and technology will be used, hence improving your capacity to build and delivery the quality systems that organizations want and need. 2.4 Approach to learning and teaching The field of Information Systems is exciting and dynamic. New technologies and new ways of doing things are emerging all of the time. Nothing stays the same for very long! Such a fast moving environment means that not only do we need to learn about Information Systems today, but you need to learn how to continue learning about Information Systems in the future. This course aims to equip with you with the necessary understanding of IS fundamentals, as they stand, and also equip you with critical thinking tools and techniques that will allow you to understand Information Systems in the future. Information Systems are complex things that are integral part of every business and our society. Information Systems are difficult to study in the abstract and are best understood through the use of real world examples and case-studies, from which we then look for theory INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 4

5 to explain their behaviour. Our course takes this approach lots of cases and examples from which we distil our understanding of what IS are, how they are (and should be) used and how they are best acquired. We will cover a lot of material this session and some of this material is very difficult. It is vital that you study from Week 2. This means you should read the set readings, work through the set questions (prior to your tutorials and laboratories), attend the lectures, tutorials and labs each week. The staff involved in the course will facilitate your learning by providing the guidance as to what you need to study (through the reading list, the self assessment questions and the lectures, tutorials and labs). They will also assist you with problems you may encounter (through the labs, tutorials and student consultations). At the end of the day, however, it is your responsibility to make a concerted and timely effort to study this course. If you make this effort will find the material interesting, the course worthwhile and the interaction with you fellow students stimulating. You should also do well. Please be aware that all quizzes will be based on your text readings (see details in Section 5.2.3) and so it is critical that you read ahead of the designated unit of study. 3 COURSE AIMS AND OUTCOMES 3.1 Course Aims This course aims to provide you with a comprehensive introduction into information systems. It will explain the key information technologies, examine the role of systems in the organization, discuss how these systems are acquired and explore the current issues that face the use of information systems in the business and society. The course aims to further your development as a scholar and future business professional. The course will refine your communication skills and group-work skills, improve your time management and assist in your research skills. 3.2 Student Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course you should be able to: 1. describe Information Systems, their roles in organizations and their current limitations and strengths within organisations; 2. critically apply a variety of tools, techniques and frameworks to analyse IS; 3. identify a range of information technologies used to support different types of IS, and explain their use and suitability to a situation; 4. identify and discuss, in an informed way, issues that effect the professional and the private user of information systems; recognise the professional responsibilities and appropriate behaviours of IS professionals; and 5. use skills in information seeking to identify resources from multiple information sources, in a variety of formats and assess their suitability and appropriateness for a particular purpose. 3.3 Teaching Strategies The course involves four key components the lecture, the tutorial, the computer laboratory and your private study. Each lecture will provide a short overview of topic at hand and will then focus on explaining the difficult concepts and issues. The role of the lecture is to help you understand the context of the topic as well as work through the difficult points. Each tutorial will involve a number group exercises which relate to the current week s topic. You are required to prepare for each tutorial and the tutorial will require your participation. The exercises to be covered in each tutorial are set out in the Weekly Study Guides (on the course website). The role of the tutorial is to help build your understanding of the topic INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 5

6 through the application of what your have learnt to case-studies and real-life scenarios. They also give you the opportunity to discuss your work with your colleagues, and hence gain an indication of your own progress. The computer labs provide you with an opportunity to work on your computer assignment and get assistance about question you might have. Your private study is the most important component of this course. To assist your study each week has a Weekly Study Guide. These guides are available on the course website and set out the learning objectives for the week, the required readings, self assessment exercises, tutorial questions and other relevant items. The self assessment exercises are designed to test your understanding of the topic at hand and include review questions, application questions and discussion questions of varying difficulty. The readings, self assessment exercises and your own topic summaries form the basis of an excellent private study regime. Keeping up to date is very important and each week builds on the prior weeks so it is important that you get your study regime organized quickly. 4 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT 4.1 Workload It is expected that you will spend at least ten hours per week studying this course. This time should be made up of reading, research, working on exercises and problems, and attending classes. In periods where you need to complete assignments or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Over-commitment has been a cause of failure for many students. You should take the required workload into account when planning how to balance study with employment and other activities. Over-commitment results in poor outcomes because it leads to insufficient effort, inappropriate study environment or poor study habits. It is important you devote quality time to your study of INFS1602. You need to do this in an environment that lets you concentrate on your study without interruption or distraction. It is also vitally important that you study well. Building good study habits and methods is an ongoing process. You should think about what works well and what doesn t work well for you so you can improve your study. The university can assist you in developing good study habits (see point 7.4 below). 4.2 Attendance Your regular and punctual attendance at lectures is expected. You are expected to be in your lecture room by 5 minutes past the hour. Late arrival at lectures is disruptive to your colleagues and disrespectful to them and your lecturer. Please be aware that if you arrive late the lecture will stop until you take your seat. Your regular and punctual attendance at the tutorials and laboratories is also required and the roll will be taken (from Week 3) and your arrival time logged. You are expected to be in class at 5 minutes past the hour and your arrival will be timed from this point. For every 50 minutes of late time you accumulate you will have a week of attendance deducted from your record. University regulations stipulate that if you attend less than 80% of scheduled classes (8 out of 10) then you may be refused final assessment. 4.3 General Conduct and Behaviour You are expected to conduct yourself with consideration and respect for the needs of your fellow students and teaching staff. Behaviour which is rude, aggressive, disruptive, or interferes with a class (including talking on your mobile phone) is completely unacceptable and you will be told to leave the class. Your obligations in regard to your conduct are set out is available at: INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 6

7 4.4 Keeping Informed All announcements regarding the course are placed on the announcements discussion forum on the course website ( You should check this discussion forum at least twice a week. Important announcements will also be repeated in the lecture. From time to time, the University will send announcements to your university address without providing you with a paper copy and the University deems that you received this information. 5 LEARNING ASSESSMENT 5.1 Formal Requirements In order to pass this course, you must: Attend 80% of all classes (8 out of 10 tutorials and 8 out of 10 laboratories) Achieve a composite mark of at least 50; and Complete each assessment component to minimum acceptable level (normally a minimum mark of 40%). If this level of performance is not achieved in any component a UF grade will be awarded. Please note that assessment components may be scaled to a mean of 60% and all assessment tasks are subject to SISTM assessment policies which are available on the SISTM website. 5.2 Assessment Details Component: Value Due date Mode Learning Obj s. Computer Assignment 20% Week 13 Individual 1, 2, 3, 5 (completed in class) Tutorial Group Work (completed in class) Quizzes (best 2 marks taken) 10% Week 13 Group 1, 2, 4 20% Weeks 4, 7 & 11 Individual 1, 2, 4 Final Exam 50% Exam period Individual Individual Computer Assignment (20% of Final Mark 8 out of 10 Labs must be attended to qualify for this course component.) This course involves the completion of a computer based assignment worth 20% of your overall assessment. The assignment will be completed in laboratories and will require you to work through the Haag et al. (2004) Microsoft 2003 workbook (which is one of the textbooks) and complete exercises from the workbook. You will then be required to complete an assignment. The deliverable includes printouts of the exercises completed and a softcopy (i.e. a CD or disk containing the assignment you created). The exercises and assignment will be spread out over the session so that you can get through the workbook at a consistent and reasonable pace. The assignment is a small system created using Microsoft Assess. The Computer Assignment webpage will set out the specific requirements for the assignment. Details of the assignment will be released by the start of Week 5. The marking criteria used in this assignment will focus on the extent to which you have met the requirements specified in the detailed assignment requirements. In addition marks will be awarded for the quality of the presentation and the level of innovation displayed. A detailed marking criterion for the assignment will be set out on the assignment s webpage. INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 7

8 The learning outcomes of this assignment include: To develop your practical skills in the software tools involved. Microsoft Access popular in industry and prospective employers should be impressed that you have completed a major assignment using this tool. To develop your problem solving skills. To improve your understanding and appreciation of the use of information systems in the business environment In addition that will also develop your time management and personal organization skills. The assignment and workbook exercises will be completed in the weekly computer lab (from Week 2 to Week 13). The times, locations and coverage of the labs will be set out on the Computer Assignment page on the course website Group Tutorial Work (10% of Final Mark - 8 out of 10 Tutorials must be attended to qualify for this course component.) The Group Work will be undertaken in groups of three within your tutorial. A confidential peer assessment will be available for you to evaluate the contribution of each group member (including yourself) in the weekly group work. Groups will be finalised in the Week 2 tutorial. It is expected that the groups will remain unchanged throughout the session. The assessment will involve undertaking some tasks in your tutorial each week. The specific requirements of this work will be set out in the Weekly Study Guides (on the course website). The marking criteria for this work will focus on the quality of the analysis undertaken and the strength and soundness of analysis undertaken and the subsequent discussion about that analysis, as presented in the tutorial. In addition marks will be awarded for the quality of the presentation and the level of innovation displayed. A detailed marking criterion for the assessment will be set out on the course webpage. The group assessment has been designed to develop your analysis and critical thinking skills and improve your understanding and appreciation of the business environment. Being a group assessment it will improve your communication skills, group-work skills, time management and personal organization Quizzes (Weeks 4, 7 & 11 20% of Final Mark - 2 out of 3 Quizzes must be attempted to qualify for this course component) There is an assessable quiz in weeks 4, 7 & 9. These quizzes are based on the course text (see table below for relevant chapters). Students are expected to read and study the relevant text chapters that relate to the quiz. Students MUST attempt at least 2 of these quizzes to receive a mark for this assessment component. The quiz will be administered in the first 30 minutes of tutorials in Weeks 4, 7 and 11 and the student s best 2 (out of the 3 quiz attempts) will be worth 20% of the final course mark. A student MUST attempt at least 2 (out of the 3) quizzes to be eligible for ANY PART of this 20%. QUIZ CHAPTERS TESTED Quiz in Week 4 Based on Chapters 2, 3 & 5. Quiz in Week 7 Based on Chapters 4 & 6 and Learning Module E. Quiz in Week 11 Based in Chapters 7, 8 and Final Exam (50% of Final Mark) A final examination worth 50% of the overall marks will be run during the University examination period. The exam will be a closed book exam of 2 hours duration. All exams are INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 8

9 conducted in accordance with the UNSW Rules for the Conduct of Examinations and it is your responsibility to be familiar with these rules. The exam is designed to test your understanding of the core concepts of Information Systems and their application in the business environment. The exam will test both these aspects through short answer questions, extended answer questions, case based questions and essays. Further details regarding the format of the exam, its coverage and expectations will be given later in the course. Examples of past exam questions are available on the course website. 5.3 Assignment Format and Submission Procedure You individual laboratory assignment is to be submitted in your Week 13 laboratory. Your group assessment is to be submitted in your tutorials Week 13. Details regarding the format and submission requirements of each assignment are set out each assignments webpage. If you do not submit an assignment in the designated class you may submit it to the School Office (QUAD 2091E) during business hours but it will be deemed to be a LATE ASSIGNMENT the day following your scheduled class. 5.4 Late Submission The late submission of assignments carries a penalty of 10% of the available marks for that assignment per day (including weekends and public holidays) of lateness. An extension of time to complete an assignment may be granted by the course co-ordinator in case of misadventure or illness. Applications for an extension of time should be made to the course co-ordinator be or in person. Please note that you will be required to substantiate your application with appropriate documentary evidence (such as medical certificates, accident reports etc) of the grounds on which you are making your application further details. Please note that work commitments and computer failures are not considered to be sufficient grounds for an extension. 5.5 Special Consideration and Supplementary examinations If you are ill or suffer a misadventure which you believe adversely impacts on your performance in the final examination you can apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration (including supplementary examinations) must be made to UNSW Central within 3 working days of the examination. Applications cannot be accepted by teaching staff. You should note that applying for special consideration does not automatically mean that you will be granted additional assessment or that you will be awarded an amended result. Details of these procedures and polices can be found at: A register of applications for Special Consideration is maintained. History of previous applications for Special Consideration is taken into account when considering each case. 6 ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM The University regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct, and has very strict rules regarding plagiarism. For full information regarding policies, penalties and information to help you avoid plagiarism see: Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one s own.* Examples include: direct duplication of the thoughts or work of another, including by copying work, or knowingly permitting it to be copied. This includes copying material, ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document (whether published or unpublished), composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, web site, Internet, other electronic resource, or another person s assignment without appropriate acknowledgement; INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 9

10 paraphrasing another person s work with very minor changes keeping the meaning, form and/or progression of ideas of the original; piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole; presenting an assessment item as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in collusion with other people, for example, another student or a tutor; and, claiming credit for a proportion a work contributed to a group assessment item that is greater than that actually contributed. Submitting an assessment item that has already been submitted for academic credit elsewhere may also be considered plagiarism. The inclusion of the thoughts or work of another with attribution appropriate to the academic discipline does not amount to plagiarism. Students are reminded of their Rights and Responsibilities in respect of plagiarism, as set out in the University Undergraduate and Postgraduate Handbooks, and are encouraged to seek advice from academic staff whenever necessary to ensure they avoid plagiarism in all its forms. The Learning Centre website is the central University online resource for staff and student information on plagiarism and academic honesty. It can be located at: The Learning Centre also provides substantial educational written materials, workshops, and tutorials to aid students, for example, in: correct referencing practices; paraphrasing, summarising, essay writing, and time management; appropriate use of, and attribution for, a range of materials including text, images, formulae and concepts. Individual assistance is available on request from The Learning Centre. Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for research, drafting, and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items. * Based on that proposed to the University of Newcastle by the St James Ethics Centre. Used with kind permission from the University of Newcastle Adapted with kind permission from the University of Melbourne. 7 STUDENT RESOURCES 7.1 Course Website The course website is hosted on WebCT ( To access the course website you must be enrolled in the course. Please note that it can take up to 24hrs for your enrolment in NSS to be updated to WebCT. The course website contains the topic guides (which includes lecture slides and readings list), tutorial information, assignment details, announcements and other information about the course. 7.2 Textbooks The textbooks: Haag, S., Cumming, M. & Phillips, A. (2007) Management Information Systems for hte Information Age McGraw Hill (6th Edition). INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 10

11 Haag, S., Perry, J. & Wells, M. (2004) Introductory Microsoft Office Access 2003, McGraw Hill. These are sold together as a bundle at the UNSW bookshop. Both books will be used in the course. 7.3 Other Reference Books The following texts may be of some assistance: Laudon, KC & Laudon, JP, (2004), Management Information Systems, 8 th edition, Prentice Hall, (note that the 7 th edition (2002) is also fine) O Brien, J (2005) Management Information Systems, 7 th edition, McGraw Hill 7.4 Other Resources, Support and Information The University and the Faculty provide a wide range of support services for students, including: Learning and study support o FCE Education Development Unit ( o UNSW Learning Centre ( ) o EdTec WebCT information ( ) Counselling support ( Library training and support services ( Disability Support Services. Students with a disability that requires some adjustment in their teaching or learning environment are encouraged to discuss their needs with the Course Coordinator or the Equity Officer ( Early notification is essential to enable any necessary adjustments to be made. In addition, it is important that all students are familiar with University policies and procedures in relation to such issues as: Examination procedures and advice concerning illness or misadventure es.html Occupational Health and Safety policies and student responsibilities; %20Accountability.pdf 8 CONTINUAL COURSE IMPROVEMENT Each session feedback is sought from students and other stakeholders about the courses offered in the School and continual improvements are made based on this feedback. UNSW's Course and Teaching Evaluation and Improvement (CATEI) Process ( is one of the ways in which student evaluative feedback is gathered. Significant changes to courses and programs within the School are communicated to subsequent cohorts of students. INFS1602 Computer Information Systems, Session 1, 2007 Page 11

12 9 COURSE SCHEDULE Week Week Beginning Lecture Topic Readings* Tutorial Topic see Weekly Study Guide for Details 1 26/2 Course Overview Ch 1 and No Tutorial The Changing Face of Business Learning Module K 2 5/3 Gaining Competitive Advantage with Ch 2 and The Changing Face of Business IT. Learning Module B 3 12/3 Computer Hardware and Software Learning Gaining Competitive Advantage with Module A 4 19/3 Databases and Data Warehouses Ch 3 and Learning Module C & J 5 26/3 Electronic Commerce: Strategies for a New Economy 6 2/4 Private Study special staff consultation times to be posted on website. 6/4 13/4 Easter Holiday Recess 7 16/4 Network Basics Learning Module E 8 23/4 Private Study special staff consultation times to be posted on website. 9 30/4 Decision Support and Artificial Intelligence 10 7/5 Systems Development: Phases Tools and Techniques 11 14/5 Protecting People and Information (Privacy and Security) IT. Computer Hardware and Software Ch 5 Databases and Data Warehouses Private Study review questions will be posted. Electronic Commerce: Strategies for a New Economy Private Study review questions will be posted. Ch. 4 Network Basics Ch 6 Decision Support and Artificial Intelligence Ch 8 and Systems Development: Phases Tools Learning and Techniques Module H Ch 7 Protecting People and Information (Privacy and Security) 12 21/5 Enterprise Infrastructure and Integration 13 28/5 Emerging Trends and Technologies Ch 9 Enterprise Infrastructure and Integration 14 4/6 Course Review No Tutorial *readings from course textbook for the current lecture in advance of the following week s tutorial A tutorial and laboratory schedule will be available on the course website. Deliverables and Events Tutorials and Labs start QUIZ 1 in first 30 minutes of tutorial this week. No Lectures, No Tutorials & No Laboratories because of Good Friday public holiday (Friday). QUIZ 2 in first 30 minutes of tutorial this week. No Lectures, No Tutorials & No Laboratories because of Anzac Day public holiday (Wednesday). QUIZ 3 in first 30 minutes of tutorial this week. Tutorials and labs finish this week. Group and Individual assignments DUE (in class).