Fundamentals of Information Systems

Subject 615-502 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

This subject is delivered online although there will be four 1.5 hour meetings interspersed throughout the semester - these usually occur in weeks 1, 5, 10 and 12. A high level of online interaction through the subject’s LMS discussion forum is expected.


For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Total Time Commitment: An estimated total time commitment of 9-12 hours per week for the duration of the subject is required.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Subject Overview:

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 style of the subject is 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 rather than learning the theory, per se.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
• Explain the importance of understanding IT in its context to successful IS practice
• 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
• Describe the place of information systems as a key discipline and its relationship to ther disciplines
• Exploit the key knowledge and transferable skills as a basis for further post-graduate evel study
• Use the learned context to assess the role of IT/IS in organisations

Assessment:

Individual online written work of 5000 words, consisting of ongoing online discussion participation (10%), 3 case studies (30%); group online written work of 2500 words consisting of a group response to a Case Study (30%); a downloaded examination completed over 48 hours at the end of semester (30%).

Prescribed Texts:

Most reading materials will be made available online. Web sources will also be used in the subject.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: This subject should enhance the following:
• Analytical and interpretive skills through introduction to and use of case studies
• Research and critical thinking skills through preparation of discussion materials
• Report-writing skills
• Team work through group and project work (online)
• Confidence through group and class discussion (online)
Links to further information: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/current/postgrad/subjects/index.html
Notes:

This subject is normally only available to students in the 200 point 2 year Master of Information Systems.

Related Course(s): Graduate Certificate in Information Systems
Master of Information Systems

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