Fundamentals of Information Systems (ISYS90026)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
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About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Ofir Turel
Semester 2
Ofir Turel
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Online Semester 2 - Online |
|---|---|
| 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
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
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role and importance of ICT service provision and acquisition in the responsibilities of an ICT infrastructure manager
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: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Tutorial participation. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO's) 1 to 7 are addressed. | From Week 2 to Week 11 | 10% |
Hurdle case: this is the first case study exercise where students are introduced to Case Study methodology. This is a hurdle case, which is not marked, and is used to provide early feedback on how students should be analysing and writing up a case. The total time commitment for this exercise is around 15 hours. ILO's 2, 4 and 5 are addressed in this assessment.
| Week 4 | 0% |
Individual case 1: Following the case study method taught to students in the Hurdle case, students are asked to fully analyse and respond to a case study. Approximately 25 hours. ILO's 1 to 4, 6 and 7 are addressed in this assessment.
| Week 6 | 15% |
Individual case 2: Following the case study method taught to students in the Hurdle case, students are asked to fully analyse and respond to a case study. Approximately 25 hours. ILO's 1 to 4, 6 and 7 are addressed in this assessment.
| Week 9 | 20% |
Group case: Students form groups of 5 students, and together analyse and respond to a larger case study. Approximately 40 hours. ILO's 1 to 7 are addressed in this assessment.
| Week 12 | 30% |
Exam case: End of semester Case Study. Approximately 30 hours. ILO's 1 to 4, 6 and 7 are addressed in this assessment.
| During the examination period | 25% |
Additional details
Majority of 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.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1 - Online
Principal coordinator Ofir Turel Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 6x 90 minute lectures, 7x 90 minute tutorials. Total 19.5 hours. Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 Semester 1 contact information
Ofir Turel
- Semester 2 - Online
Principal coordinator Ofir Turel Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 6x 90 minute lectures, 7x 90 minute tutorials. Total 19.5 hours Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Semester 2 contact information
Ofir Turel
Time commitment details
200 hours
Last updated: 31 January 2024
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 Ph.D.- Engineering Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering - 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.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 31 January 2024