This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of a range of tools and techniques for systems development and knowledge of a number of specific systems development methodologies. The main topics include the tools and techniques for systems development, the evaluation of the tools and techniques, evolution of development methodologies, the organisational context in which systems development takes place and a number of systems development approaches. These include participative development, soft systems approaches, object-oriented development, structured systems development approaches, data and information-oriented approaches and rapid application development.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorial/wk
Workload commitments for FIT5111 are:
IMS5006, IMS5024
FIT9003 and FIT9006, or one of IMS9001, BUS5021
Henry Linger
Gail Bourne
Henry Linger
Dr. Dora Constantinidis
Contact hours: By appointment
David Grant
Contact hours: By appointment
At the completion of this unit students will:
Examination (2 hours): 40%; In-semester assessment: 60%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Critical review plus presentation of findings | 20% | Submission due Week 6. Presentation of findings due in weeks 6 and 7 tutorials. |
| A Case Study report and presentation | 25% | Submission due Week 11. Presentations due in weeks 11 and 12 tutorials |
| Participation Assessment - Tutorial - Critical reviews of journal articles. | 15% | Throughout semester |
| Examination 1 | 40% | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
Students must use the online facilities available through the unit MUSO website (Moodle). Information regarding references, schedules, asessment tasks and so on will be available there. Students will also be expected to access and use the discussion forums.
Students are required to word process their assignments for submission. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted.
| Week | Date* | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 21/02/11 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0. | |
| 1 | 28/02/11 | Introduction, Overview of systems development concepts -tradtional SDLC; evolution of system development approaches | Assignment 1, Critical Review handed out. References for papers 1-4 for tutorial review handed out. |
| 2 | 07/03/11 | Guest Lecture; Learning Skills Unit, Monash Library - Writing Critical Reviews and Presentation Skills | |
| 3 | 14/03/11 | Philosophical perspectives. (paradigms, ontology, epistemology). Frameworks for understanding, comparing, selecting and adopting System Development practices/ methodologies | Review of first paper in tutorial. |
| 4 | 21/03/11 | People/organisational themes in IS development approaches/practices - organisational cultures, stakeholders, communities of interest | Review of second paper in tutorial. |
| 5 | 28/03/11 | Structured systems analysis and design and ER modelling practices; ISD methodologies SSADM, I.E. Objected-oriented development practices; ISD methodologies, RUP OOA | Review of third paper in tutorial. |
| 6 | 04/04/11 | Soft approaches/practices - ISD methodologies - SSM | Assignment 1:Critical review due. Presentation of Assignment 1 findings. |
| 7 | 11/04/11 | Soft approaches/practices - ISD methodologies - SSM review; Effective Technical Human Implementation of Computer Systems (ETHICS) | Presentation of Assignment 1 findings. Assignment 2 (Case Study) handed out |
| 8 | 18/04/11 | Participative development approaches/practices - JAD; Prototyping; RAD - JMRAD, DSDM | Review of fourth paper in tutorial. References for papers 5 &6 for review handed out. |
| Mid semester break | |||
| 9 | 02/05/11 | Participative development approaches/practices - Agile methods -SCRUM . Visiting industry expert. | Review of fifth paper in tutorial. |
| 10 | 09/05/11 | External development practices - application packages, out sourcing, off shoring. Visiting industry expert. | Review of sixth paper in tutorial. |
| 11 | 16/05/11 | Other delivery methods and issues: web development, software as a service; reusable frameworks, cloud computing, inter organisational systems. Visiting industry expert. | Assignment 2: Case Study report due ...................................................... Case Study Presentation |
| 12 | 23/05/11 | Summary and Review | Case Study Presentation |
| 30/05/11 | SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
*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.
To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:
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
It is expected that you will attend at least 70% of the lectures and attendance will be taken accordingly. It is also expected that all students attend lectures given by the industry experts.
Please also note that you wil need to attend all the student presentations, as outlined in the indiviual assesment descriptions below, and attend four out of the six review presentations in tutorials.
This assignment will be assessed on:
The presentation of the findings is a hurdle requirement and will be completed to inform other students of the work carried out.
The submission and presentation will be assessed on completeness of the assessment task and the format of both the written presentation and the oral presentation of the task findings. As group activity, assessment will include peer reviews and interviews in order to assess different contributions of group members, both quantitative and qualitative. Assistance and practical work will be given during the preceding tutorials in order to assist team building and team communication. The presentation given earlier by the Language and Learning unit from the library will assist with the formal presenation part of this assignment.
You are expected to have read the paper specified for that tutorial and prepare some notes that summarise your understanding of the given paper and identify questions and issues that, in your opinion, the paper raises related to ISD methodologies and/or practice and be prepared to discuss this in a review group.
The assessment for this item is based on the peer evaluation and tutor observation of your performance in the review tutorials, including preparation, participation and contribution, the ability to allow and encourage others to contribute, the ability to share your understanding of ISD with other students and the ability to use the university library resources
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.
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis
There is no prescribed text for this unit but it is recommended that you refer to:
Avison, D.E. & Fitzgerald, G. (2006). Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools (4th edn). London: McGraw-Hill.
Additional relevant readings and references will be provided on the unit MUSO website during the semester.