Information Technology Infrastructure

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Lectures

10 hours per week, 120 hours in total

None

None

None

None

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.

This subject provides participants with an understanding of the current issues in the design and management of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and service provision. The current impacts of the convergence, commoditisation and standardisation of ICT will be covered, as well as concepts, architectures, relevant standards, policies and security considerations for the design, implementation and management of ICT infrastructures and service provision. Managerial aspects will include the consideration of organisational issues in the design of ICT infrastructures, and the preparation, review and evaluation of ICT infrastructure design and administration reports. Participants will become familiar with managerial approaches to the administration of organisation-wide ICT infrastructure, and the alignment of that infrastructure and service provision with an organisation's business and strategic goals.

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• describe current issues in the convergence, commoditisation and standardisation of ICT technologies and infrastructures;
• describe a range of managerial issues related to the development and maintenance of interoperability in open systems design of ICT infrastructures;
• understand the principles underlying layered systems architectures and service virtualisation, and their application to ICT infrastructures;
• demonstrate awareness of ICT control and service governance frameworks in managing an enterprise ICT infrastructure;
• explain how national and global standards organisations influence ICT infrastructure standards and regulations, and may impact on future ICT developments; and
• describe appropriate processes for the acquisition and deployment of ICT infrastructure and associated services.

A 2,500 word proposal report, due early semester (30%); a 2,500 word evaluation report, due mid semester (30%); a 24-hour, limited time assignment, due end semester (40%).

A range of readings will be provided during the course, including current articles and reports.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students should develop skills in literature search and analysis, critical thinking and independent learning.