Fundamentals of Information Systems

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

This subject is delivered online although there will be five 1.5 hour meetings interspersed throughout the semester - these usually occur in weeks 1, 5, 8, 10 and 12. A high level of online interaction through the subject’s LMS discussion forum is expected.

An estimated total time commitment of 8-10 hours per week for the duration of the subject is required.

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For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

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
• 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.

Individual online written work of 5000 words, consisting of ongoing online discussion participation (20%), 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 (20%).

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

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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)

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