This unit looks at how computer systems and technologies can be used to automate and control the process of trading, including the operational systems that exist in the individual firms, the exchange of information between trading partners and electronic commerce.
Topics to be studied will include:
Applications of information systems to companies that trade in goods and services
Computerisation of operational systems: purchasing, sales, dispatching, receiving, accounts payable, accounts receivable and inventory control.
Automation of the exchange of business data between trading partners, electronic commerce (EC).
EC technologies including bar coding, electronic data interchange (EDI), point of sale systems (POS), electronic funds transfer (EFT), data encryption and role of standards in data management practice.
EC and Just-in-Time, vendor managed inventory and other supply chain reforms.
Objectives
At the completion of this unit, students will have:
Knowledgeof:
Main types of programs in trading systems
Nature and purpose of inventory systems
Widely used inventory reordering approaches
Various forms of automatic identification
An understandingof:
Information exchange involved in trading products for cash
Need for formal communication and control systems
Concepts of Just-In-Time (JIT) replenishment
Role of Electronic Commerce (EC) technologies in achieving JIT
Role of standards in electronic commerce
Skillsin:
Using the MYOB program
Control strategies and security measures
Implementing an inventory system and consequent savings in operational costs
Analysing the relationship between EC implementation and JIT replenishment
Attitudeof:
Efficiency and productivity gains through the use of technologies
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this unit.
Unit relationships
GCO5801 is a elective unit in the MBS and MIT degrees
There are no prerequisites for this unit..
You may not study this unit and BUS4020 in your degree.
Texts and software
Required text(s)
Johnston R, Trading Systems and Electronic Commerce , Erudition Publishing, Melbourne, Australia, 1998
Mind Your Own Business (MYOB) small business accounting software. Trial version obtainable from: http://www.myob.com.au/products/testdr.shtml
Textbook availability
Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.
Software requirements
MYOB
Software may be:
downloaded from www.myob.com
Hardware requirements
Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the Faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
Recommended reading
You could read research papers on the topics for deeper understanding, you can do litrature search using digital Monash library
Library access
You may need to access the Monash library either personally to be able to satisfactorily complete the subject. Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.
Study resources
Study resources for GCO5801 are:
A printed Unit book with 12 study guides, MUSO website, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary material will be posted. Discussion group will be available from the MUSO website
The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+
Assessment
Assessment weighting
Assessment for the unit consists of 2 assignments with a weighting of 30% and an examination with a weighting of 70%.
Assessment Policy
To pass this unit you must:
Since it is not possible to fully test your ability in a two-hour exam alone and since assignment work is not completed in a controlled environment, your final mark cannot be more than 10 marks higher than any of these two components expressed in percentage, i.e., expressed as a mark out of 100.
Your score for the unit will be calculated by:
Final mark = min(A+10, E+10, A´(1-R) + E´R)
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Assignment 1
20th August 2006
10%
Assignment 2
8th October 2006
20 %
The exam is 2 hours long and is closed book.
Exam period (S2/06) starts on 23/10/06
70 %
Assignment specifications will be made available at MUSO.monash.edu.au of GCO5801 in assignment subsection.
Assignment Submission
Assignments will be submitted by electronic submission to muso.monash.edu.au
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
Penalty applies for late submission, one week late submission will not be accepted.
This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment.
Extensions
It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions.
Normally, there are no assignment extensions
Grading of assessment
Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:
Grade
Percentage/description
HD High Distinction -
very high levels of achievement, demonstrated knowledge and understanding, skills in application and high standards of work encompassing all aspects of the tasks.
In the 80+% range of marks for the assignment.
D Distinction -
high levels of achievement, but not of the same standards. May have a weakness in one particular aspect, or overall standards may not be quite as high.
In the 70-79% range.
C Credit -
sound pass displaying good knowledge or application skills, but some weaknesses in the quality, range or demonstration of understanding.
In the 60-69% range.
P Pass
acceptable standard, showing an adequate basic knowledge, understanding or skills, but with definite limitations on the extent of such understanding or application. Some parts may be incomplete.
In the 50-59% range.
N Not satisfactory
failure to meet the basic requirements of the assessment.
Below 50%.
Assignment return
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.
Feedback
Feedback to you
You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.
Feedback from you
You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.
And if you are having problems
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.
Plagiarism and cheating
Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.
In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work.
When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer.
Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.
Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.
Communication
Communication methods
Unit website and for all personal communication use email
Notices
Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the Notices Newsgroup in the Unit Website. Check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.
Consultation Times
These will be published in the on line discussion groups in the unit website.
If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:
Dr Iqbal Gondal Senior Lecturer Phone +61 3 990 26669
All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.
