FIT9006 Information technology management - Semester 1, 2010

Students are studying FIT9006 at Caulfield campus in Semester 1, 2010.  Discussion groups are available in the unit's MUSO/ Blackboard site to allow you to share thoughts and questions related to the content and delivery of the unit. It is advisable to use these discussion groups as the first point of contact for such questions so that all students have the benefit of the answer. Communications about personal matters, such as requests for extensions, study problems or the like, should be directed to your lecturer by email, telephone or meeting.

Prohibitions

Teaching approach

FIT9006 provides students with a comprehensive set of study notes, readings, tutorials to facilitate your learning. The lectures and tutorials will build on these teaching resources rather than reproduce them, and are an opportunity for you to raise questions.

Lectures: Emphasis in lectures will be given to providing an overview of the concepts and discussing some of the debates that these issues provoke. You are expected to read through the study notes and readings as an adjunct to the lecture, as two hours is far too short to cover all the important concepts in detail.

Tutorials: Each week's material is accompanied by a set of tutorial questions that take various forms:

1. Exercises to test how well you have understood the content.
2. Cases that help develop deeper understanding of IT management issues as they occur in industry.
3. Practical tasks developing skill with applications and their use for IT management.

You will be expected to have prepared for tutorials prior to attending the class.

The two assignments will provide you with feedback of your grasp of the content as well as record a mark toward your final grade.

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.its.monash.edu.au/

Unit Schedule

*Please note that these dates may only apply to Australian campuses of Monash University. Off-shore students need to check the dates with their unit leader.

Improvements to this unit

Prescribed text(s) and readings

There is no single prescribed text book , as no one text adequately covers the range of topics that we deal with in FIT9006. Some useful texts on IT management and related topics are listed below under 'Further reading'. Other weekly readings are available on the Library web site, in the FIT9006 reading list.

Recommended text(s) and readings

Further reading

• Applegate, Lynda M., Austin, Robert D. & McFarlan, F. Warren. (2009). Corporate information strategy and management: Text and cases. (8th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Irwin. ISBN 9780073402932; 0073402931.
• Avison, David & Torkzadeh, Reza. (2009). Information systems project management. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN: 9781412957021.
• Frenzel, Caroll W. & Frenzel, John C. (2004). Management of information technology. (4th ed.).Boston, MA : Thomson, Course Technology. ISBN 0-619-03417-3.
• Fuller, Mark A., Valacich, Joseph S. & George, Joey F. (2008). Information systems project management: A process and team approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN: 013145417X; 9780131454170.
• Gelinas, Ulric J. & Dull, Richard B. (2010). Accounting information systems. (8th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.   ISBN 9780324663808; 0324663803.
• Hoffer, Jeffrey A., George, Joey F.  & Valacich, Joseph S. (2008). Modern systems analysis and design. (5th  ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice-Hall.  ISBN 9780132240765.
• Brown, Carol V. et al. (2009). Managing information technology. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson-Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780131789548; 0131789546.
• McManus, John & Wood-Harper, Trevor. (2003). Information systems project management: Methods, tools and techniques. Harlow, Eng.: Prentice Hall/ Financial Times.
• Pearlson, Keri & Saunders, Carol S. (2010). Managing and using information systems: A strategic approach. (4th ed.).  Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN 9780470343814; 0470343818.
• Reynolds, George W.  (2007). Ethics in information technology. (2nd ed.). Australia; UK; Thomson, Course Technology.  ISBN 1418836311.
• Schwalbe, Kathy. (2010). Information technology project management. (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology Cengage Learning. ISBN 9780324786927; 0324786921.
• Turban, Efraim & Volonino, Linda. (2010). Information technology for management: Improving performance in the digital economy. (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Required software and/or hardware

To access weekly lecture and tutorial materials, students will need access to an Adobe Acrobat reader, and Microsoft Office software.

Microsoft Project will be the project management software used, and Microsoft Visio will be used for preparing charts and diagrams for tutorials and assignments. Students may also use other relevant drawing or other software they have access to, eg SmartDraw.

Off-campus students will be provided with academic licenses for these products. On-campus students may use the software in the computer labs.

Alternatively, software may be purchased at academic price at good software retailers on provision of evidence of enrolment (your current student card).

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

• This Unit Guide outlining the administrative information for the unit.
• A guide to Assignments in the unit.
• The FIT9006 web site on Blackboard, where lecture slides/ notes, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary study material will be posted.
• Announcements and discussion groups that can be linked to from the Unit Homepage.
• Audio-recorded weekly lectures available on MULO:
  http://www.mulo.monash.edu.au/fac-infotech.html

Overview

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 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will 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:

  Assignment 1: IT systems failure

  Description:

  This assignment is designed to test your understanding about the key reasons that generally contribute to the failure of IT systems in organisations. It aims to compare how the critical factors discussed in the existing IT literature sources can help explain (and sometimes predict) the actual failure occurrences of IT systems in real-life organisational settings.

  Weighting:

  20%

  Due date:

  Week 6: 15 April (Thursday), 2010

  Remarks:

  Your assignment submission will be evaluated using these criteria:

  •  Research skills--Identification and use of relevant sources; accurate referencing.
  • Content-related factors--Systematically addressing the key areas identified.
  • Cognitive skills--Analysis, evaluation and synthesis.
  • Writing skills--Structure, coherence, expression, presentation.

• Assignment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 2: Managing IT/IS projects

  Description:

  This assignment aims to assist you to develop:

  • Understanding of the project management process in relation to information systems development.
  • Skills in IS project strategic planning and tactical planning.
  • Skills in applying project management techniques and using project management software (MS Project).
  • Skills in modelling business processes using process modelling.
  • An appreciation of the importance of teamwork and effective social relationships within a project team.

  The assignment will involve a group component (10%) and an individual component (10%).  However, there will be an alternative version of the assignment for those whose circumstances make it difficult to work on a group assignment.

  Weighting:

  20%

  Due date:

  Week 11: 20 May (Thursday), 2010

  Remarks:

  Criteria for assessment :

  •  Content-related factors--Demonstrated understanding of the basics of project management as applied to IS development.
  • Application of project management techniques and software--Demonstrated skills in applying project management techniques and using project management software.
  • Business process modelling skills.
  • Demonstrated understanding, awareness and sensitivity to the process and social dimensions of project team work.
  • Writing and presentation skills, accurate referencing.

Examination

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

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 without an approved extension will be subject to a penalty of 5% of total assignment marks per day late. Assignments received later than two weeks 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.