Fundamentals of Information Systems (ISYS90026)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Assoc Prof Shanton Chang
Email: shanton.chang@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Aims
Information Technology now impacts on people and processes within and beyond organisational boundaries. The discipline of Information Systems is concerned with the effective use of IT by people and organisations. This subject provides context on Information Systems practice and use viewed through a range of roles that interact with these systems, including those of system developers, users, business managers, IT managers, and vendors. It provides students with a foundation that is further built on in other information systems subjects.
The subject supports course-level objectives by allowing students to understand the complexity of real-world applications of information systems within a range of industries. It challenges students to integrate concepts, theories and frameworks with case studies and examples drawn from industry. The emphasis is on gaining a tool kit for a rich understanding of the practical problem solving rather than learning the theory per se. The subject contributes to the development of independent critical inquiry, case study analysis and problem solving.
Indicative Content
Klings’s Social Informatics, Prahalad and Hamel’s Core Competencies, Porter’s Competitive Advantage, Chan and Luftman’s Concepts of Business – IT Alignment, Cullen and Seddon’s Outsourcing Management, Willcock’s Offshoring Challenges, Agarwal and Sambamurthy’s IT Governance issues and various Change Management Models.
Intended learning outcomes
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Explain the importance of understanding IT in its context to successful IS practice by looking at issues such as IT-supported core competencies, competitive advantage, business-IT alignment, governance and outsourcing, and change management in IT.
- Apply key areas of research and practice in information systems
- Identify interrelationships between concepts in information systems
- Critically discuss and analyse information systems issues at an advanced level
- Exploit the key knowledge and transferable skills as a basis for further post-graduate level study
- Use the learned context to assess the role of IT/IS in organisations.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- Analytical and interpretive skills through introduction to and use of case studies
- Ability to look at cases and business contexts from multiple perspectives
- Research and critical thinking skills through preparation of discussion materials
- Team work through group and project work
- Confidence through online discussion
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
All assessment in this subject takes the form of case discussion and analysis. This approach trains students in solving problems from different points of view and equips you with critical analysis skills and competencies. It also requires students to respond to business problems, highlight weaknesses and opportunities for the businesses, and provide a credible solution and analysis for the business.
In Part B of the Assessment, students complete 3 separate case studies over a period of time (Weeks 4, 7 and 11), each addressing a particular theme within the subject. Part C and D (the Group Case (due Week 12) and End of Semester Case) requires an integration of all concepts learned during the semester.
- Part A: Ongoing online discussion (20%) of approximately 1500-2000 words, requiring 25-30 hours of work. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 4 and 5 are addressed in the ongoing online discussion.
- Part B: Three separate case study online discussions (30%) of approximately 1200 words each due in week 4, 7 and 11, requiring 35-40 hours or work. ILO 2 and 3 are addressed in the case study online discussion.
- Part C: Group based case study online discussion (30%) with groups of 5 students of approximately 2500 words per group, requiring 35-40 hours of work. ILOs 2, 3, and 6 are addressed in the group case study online discussion.
- Part D: End-of-semester case online discussion (20%) of approximately 1500 words due in week 12, requiring 25-30 hours of work. ILOs 2, 3, and 6 are addressed in the end of semester case discussion.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Shanton Chang Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 10 hours Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 27 February 2017 to 28 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2017 Census date 31 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 Semester 1 contact information
Assoc Prof Shanton Chang
Email: shanton.chang@unimelb.edu.au
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Shanton Chang Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 10 Hours Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 24 July 2017 to 22 October 2017 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2017 Census date 31 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2017 Assessment period ends 17 November 2017
Time commitment details
200 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject is delivered online, although there will be five 1.5 hour meetings throughout the semester. A high level of online interaction through the subject’s LMS discussion forum is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
This subject is normally only available to students in the 200-point 2 year Master of Information Systems.
Learning and Teaching Methods
This is predominantly an online subject. All material will be delivered online (with 5 face to face sessions throughout the semester). Each week, students are expected to read a set of readings, followed by in-depth critical and moderated online discussion of the concepts from the readings, and application of concepts to real world case studies. All assessment will also be submitted online.
Indicative Key Learning Resources
All material and readings provided online on a weekly basis. In addition, publicly available you-tube resources of interviews with CIOs, and guest lectures from Industry Partners during the face-to-face seminars.
Careers/Industry Links
This subject is relevant to careers as IT analyst and consultant. As a body of knowledge and skills, Knowledge Management has been championed by many prominent organisations including, Deloitte, PwC, Accenture, Ernst and Young, KPMG. Students will work on real-world cases of organisations attempting knowledge management initiatives, and also read papers produced by these companies. There will be two lectures from invited practitioners from industry.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Science (Information Systems) Course Master of Information Technology Course Master of Information Systems Course Ph.D.- Engineering Major MIT Spatial Specialisation Major MIT Health Specialisation Specialisation (formal) Health Major MIS Professional Specialisation Major MIS Research Specialisation Specialisation (formal) Spatial Major MIS Health Specialisation - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022