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Monash University

FIT5160 Business process modelling, design and simulation - Semester 2, 2009

Chief Examiner:

Dr Yen Cheung
Senior Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 52441
Fax: +61 3 9905 5154

Contact hours: Lecture: Wednesday 9-11am

Lecturer(s) / Leader(s):

Caulfield

Dr Yen Cheung
Senior Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 52441
Fax: +61 3 9905 5154

Contact hours: Lecture: Wednesday 9-11am

Clayton

Dr Yen Cheung
Senior Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 52441
Fax: +61 3 9905 5154

Contact hours: Wednesday 9-11am

Additional communication information:

Tutor:

Peter Huynh

Email: bstutat@infotech.monash.edu.au

Introduction

Welcome to FIT5160 Business Process Modelling, Design and Simulation for Semester 1, 2009. This 6 point unit is a core unit in the Business Systems professional track for the MBIS, MBusSys and MIMS degrees, and an elective unit for others studying these degrees and other postgraduate courses with the Faculty of IT.The unit has been designed to provide you with an understanding of analytical techniques and tools that can be used to model, analyse, understand and design business processes. You will also gain hands-on experience in using software tools for modelling and analysing business processes.

Unit synopsis

Business processes must be designed to ensure that they are effective and meet customer requirements. A well-designed process will improve efficiency and deliver greater productivity. This unit will introduce students to analytical tools that can be used to model, analyse, understand and design business processes. Students will also gain hands-on experience in using simulation software as a tool for analysing business processes.

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of this unit students will:

  1. Have a thorough understanding of business organisations, their functional structure and the advantage of considering the process oriented view of organisations;
  2. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of business processes, their structure and how processes fit in to the overall organisation objectives;
  3. Be able to use analytical tools for modeling, analysing, understanding and designing business processes;
  4. Have acquired skills to use simulation software as a tool for analysing business processes;
  5. Be able to report to and advise management on business process design and re-engineering issues.

Contact hours

3 x contact hrs/week

Workload

For on campus students, workload commitments are:

  • two-hour lecture;
  • two-hour tutorial in a laboratory;
  • a minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

Unit relationships

Prerequisites

FIT9003 or IMS9001 and IMS9003 or BUS9520 and BUS5071

Prohibitions

BUS5502

Relationships

FIT5160 is a core unit in the Business Systems professional track for the MBIS, MBusSys and MIMS degrees, and an elective unit for others studying these degrees and other postgraduate courses with the Faculty of IT.

You may not study this unit if you have completed BUS3502, FIT2006 or BUS5502 in your degree.

Teaching and learning method

The teaching and learning in the unit is structured in the traditional manner around lectures and laboratory-based workshops. Most of the lecture and tutorial material is strongly supported by the prescribed text for the unit, it is very important that you get a copy of the text. Each week there is reading set from the text, you will find the unit isn't too difficult if you study consistently through the semester and keep up with the lectures, tutorials, readings, tutorial exercises and assigned work.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are intensive, 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.

Your learning is also supported by web-based resources including a Moodle-based web site. All your unit resources are available at this site.

Timetable information

For information on timetabling for on-campus classes please refer to MUTTS, http://mutts.monash.edu.au/MUTTS/

Tutorial allocation

On-campus students should register for tutorials/laboratories using the Allocate+ system: http://allocate.cc.monash.edu.au/

Unit Schedule

Week Topic Study guide Key dates
1 Introduction to Business Process Design Chapter 1 of Prescribed Text 22 July
2 Process Management and Process Oriented Improvement Programs Chapter 2 of Prescribed Text 29 July
3 Simulating Business Process Design Chapter 3 of Prescribed Text 5 August
4 Tools for Process Analysis and Design Chapter 4 of Prescribed Text 12 August
5 Managing Process Flows Chapter 5 of Prescribed Text 18 August
6 Introduction to Statistical modelling and Queuing Chapter 6 of Prescribed Text 26 August
7 Business Process Simulation 1 Chapter 6 of Prescribed Text plus lecture materials 2 September
8 Business Process Simulation 2 Chapter 7 of Prescribed Text 9 September
9 Business Process Simulation 3 Chapter 8 of Prescribed Text and lecture materials 16 September
10 Analyzing Process Input Chapter 9 of Prescribed Text 23 September
Mid semester break
11 Analyzing Process Output Chapter 9 of Prescribed Text 7 October
12 Optimizing Process Performance Chapter 10 of Prescribed Text 14 October, Assignment due 16 Oct 4pm
13 Revision Lecture Materials 21 October

Unit Resources

Prescribed text(s) and readings

Prescribed Text: Laguna, M., Marklund, J. (2005), Business Process Modeling, Simulation and Design, Pearson Prentice Hall.

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.

Recommended text(s) and readings

Recommended Texts:

  1. Weske, M. (2007) Business Process Management: Concepts, Languages and Architectures, Springer
  2. Reijers, H.A. (2003) Design and Control of Workflow Processes, Springer

Required software and/or hardware

The simulation software, Extend 6 which accompanies the prescribed text. On-campus students may use this software which is installed in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook.

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Students will need access to:

* a personal computer with Windows XP
* the internet via dial-up connection or preferably by broadband
* a printer for assignments

On-campus students 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.

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

The following are available from the unit website (Moodle):

  • Weekly detailed lecture notes outlining the learning objectives, discussion of the content, required readings and exercises
  • Weekly tutorial or laboratory tasks and exercises
  • Assignment specifications
  • A sample exam questions
  • This Unit Guide outlining the administrative information for the unit

Assessment

Overview

Examination (3 hours): 60%; Assignments: 40%

Faculty assessment policy

To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

  • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
  • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
  • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 44% then a mark of no greater than 44-N will be recorded for the unit.

To pass this unit, a student must obtain :
  • 40% or more in the unit's examination and
  • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment
     and
  • an overall unit mark of 50% or more
Ifa student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or theunit non-examination assessment then a mark of no greater than 44-Nwill be recorded for the unit.

Assignment tasks

Assignment coversheets

Assignment coversheets are available via "Student Forms" on the Faculty website: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/
You MUST submit a completed coversheet with all assignments, ensuring that the plagiarism declaration section is signed.

Assignment submission and return procedures, and assessment criteria will be specified with each assignment.

  • Assignment task 1
    Title:
    Tutorial Exercises assigned each week
    Description:
    A maximum of 10% is awarded for all the 12 weekly tutorials that are submitted.
    Weighting:
    10%
    Due date:
    One week after each tutorial
  • Assignment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment : Modelling and Simulation with Extend
    Description:
    This is a group assignment involving the design and simulation of a system using the techniques and tools of the unit content.
    Weighting:
    30%
    Due date:
    16 October, 4pm

Examination

  • Weighting: 60%
    Length: 3 hours
    Type (open/closed book): Closed book

See Appendix for End of semester special consideration / deferred exams process.

Due dates and extensions

Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. 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 not regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.

Students requesting an extension for any assessment during semester (eg. Assignments, tests or presentations) are required to submit a Special Consideration application form (in-semester exam/assessment task), along with original copies of supporting documentation, directly to their lecturer within two working days before the assessment submission deadline. Lecturers will provide specific outcomes directly to students via email within 2 working days. The lecturer reserves the right to refuse late applications.

A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.

Refer to the Faculty Special consideration webpage or further details and to access application forms: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html

Late assignment

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 5% per day, including weekends. Assignments received later than one week (seven days) after the due date will not normally be accepted.

Return dates

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.

Appendix

Please visit the following URL: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/units/appendix.html for further information about:

  • Continuous improvement
  • Unit evaluations
  • Communication, participation and feedback
  • Library access
  • Monash University Studies Online (MUSO)
  • Plagiarism, cheating and collusion
  • Register of counselling about plagiarism
  • Non-discriminatory language
  • Students with disability
  • End of semester special consideration / deferred exams
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