This unit explores fundamental concepts of information management within organisations. The unit matches known information needs of the business organisation with IM services and solutions, and teaches students how to use IM tools developed to manage information within organisations. The unit begins with a review of Information Management fundamentals, from layers of individual and collective use within organizations, to the place of information within the process of knowledge creation. Other topics addressed include theories and applications of classification and metadata schema, the place of knowledge and memory within an organisational context, the role and nature of records, and the development of information products.
Topics include:
Review of information management fundamentals
Classification Scheme Development
Metadata
Storage, Digital Preservation and Memory
Developing an Information Product
Objectives
Knowledge and Understanding
C1. Know the main techniques used for IM in organisations
C2. Understand the purpose of facet and business analysis, and their application to the development of basic classification schemes
C3. Understand the place of information creation, representation, storage, access, retrieval, and use within organisations
C4. Understand the purpose of using various classification schemes for conducting business analysis for information requirements specification
Attitudes, Values and Beliefs
A1. Recognise the importance of managing information and knowledge
A2. Recognise the concept of ownership and security of information and knowledge
A3. Recognise the importance of problems associated with managing information/knowledge processes within organisations
A4. Recognise issues related to the information lifecycle within organisations
Practical Skills
P1. Be able to evaluate the organisational context of information and its sources critically
P2. Be able to deploy data gathering tools and techniques relevant to the development of information products
P3. Be able to evaluate the usefulness of classification and metadata schemes
P4. Be able to create metadata records and use metadata modelling tools
P5. Be able to evaluate and use ICTs and IM tools to create, represent, store, access, retrieve and use information within an organisational context
Relationships, Communication and TeamWork
S1 Be able to work as part of a team developing information policy within an organisational context
Prerequisites
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed
IMS1603 or equivalent
Unit relationships
IMS2603 is a core unit in the Bachelor of Information Systems.
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed
IMS1603 or equivalent
You may not study this unit and
IMS2102
in your degree.
Texts and software
Required text(s)
Prescribed texts: None.
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
Lab work will utilise a range of installed software.
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 4 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
Recommended reading
Recommended texts:
See separate lecture notes and tutorial/laboratory exercises to be provided during thesemester.
Other references:
The following journals will be useful throughout the unit
Information, communication & society (CA)
Information Management Journal (CA)
Information Today
Library philosophy and practice
Records Management Quarterly (CA)
Access to electronic versions is available via the Monash library catalogue. Hard copies of some journals (designated CA) may be found in the Caulfield campus library.
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 IMS2603 are:
It is essential for all students to have the requisite software and Internet access.
We provide:
•· Assignment specifications
•· Lecture Notes
•· Tutorial and laboratory exercises
•· Discussion forums at the unit website
•· A sample examination paper.
Structure and organisation
Week
Topics
Key Dates
1
Introduction and overview
2
Information and knowledge processes
3
Individual and organi- sational knowledges
4
Document aggregation
5
Introduction to classification
6
Classification systems
Assignment 1 due 28 August
7
Information discovery and retrieval
8
Metadata
9
Metadata
10
Media, storage, representation
Non teaching week
11
Information policy
Assignment 2 due 2 October
12
Information policy
13
Revision
Timetable
The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+
Assessment
Assessment weighting
Assessment for the unit consists of 3 assignments with a weighting of 50% and an examination with a weighting of 50%. Read this section VERY carefully.
Assignment 1, Value 10%
Due Date: 5pm, 28 August 2006.
Assignment 2, Value 25%
Due Date: 5pm, Monday 2 October 2006.
Tutorial Assignment, Value 15%
Due Date: one week after presentation in class.
Assessment Policy
To pass this unit you must:
gain all of the following:
•· at least 40% of the marks available for the examination component, if any: i.e. the final examination and any tests performed under exam conditions, taken as a whole
•· at least 40% of the marks available for the assignment component: i.e. the assignments and any other assessment tasks (such as presentations) taken as a whole
•· at least 50% of the total marks for the unit
Where a student gains less than 40% for either the examination or assignment component, the final result for the unit will be no greater than ‘44-N'.
Where a student gains less than 40% for either the examination or assignment component, the final result for the unit will be no greater than ‘44-N'.
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Assignment 1
28 August 2006
10%
Assignment 2
2 October 2006
25 %
Tutorial Assignment
week after presentation
15 %
The exam is 3 hours long and is closed book.
Exam period (S2/06) starts on 23/10/06
50 %
Assignment specifications will be made available on the IMS2603 Unit Web Assignment Page.
Assignment Submission
Assignments will be submitted by hand to tutor's pigeonhole. On-campus Students Submit the assignment to the tutor's pigeonholeby the submission date, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached The due date is the date by which the submission must be received.
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
Late assignments submitted without an approved extension may be accepted at the discretion of your lecturer, but will be penalised at the rate of 10% of total assignment marks per day (including weekends). Example:
Total marks available for the assignment = 100 marks
Marks received for the assignment = 70 marks
Marks deducted for 2 days late submission (20% of 100) = 20 marks
Final mark received for assignment = 50 marks
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.
Requests for extensions must be made by email to the unit lecturer at least two days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.
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
The unit lecturer and tutors are available for consultation at regular times posted in the IMS2603 website. Please send an email to organise a consultation time outside those regular times. Discussion groups relating to the unit are also available at the IMS2603 website.
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
Tuesdays 1-3
Wednesdays 2-3
Fridays 3-5
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 Steven Wright Lecturer Phone +61 3 990 32994
Ms Natalie Pang
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.
