This unit will develop students capabilities to undertake research in the information systems field. Students will learn various research methods and study published research papers in which these research methods have been used. In particular, students will learn to evaluate how well the research methods have been used in published research papers. Students will also develop an understanding of some of the exciting, leading-edge research in the information systems field. This understanding may enable students to identify research topics that they would like to pursue, perhaps in an honours, masters, or PhD thesis.
3 hr seminar/wk
Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit as follows:
Ron Weber
Dr Braam Van Der Vyver
At the completion of this unit students will have:
Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Critical evaluation of a published paper in an information systems journal. | 35% | 16 September 2011, 5 pm |
| Seminar participation | 15% (consisting of the average of a student's best 8 participation scores). | At the beginning of each week's class. |
| Examination 1 | 50% | 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
All reading materials used in the unit will be available online through the Moodle web site for the unit.
The final examination is open book. All reading materials used in the unit can be taken into the final examination if a student so wishes.
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Please read the Week-1 readings prior to coming to class. | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 |
| 1 | Introduction: Choosing the Research Problem | Class Participation |
| 2 | Theory Building-I | Class Participation |
| 3 | Theory Building-II | Class Participation |
| 4 | Experiments-I | Class Participation |
| 5 | Experiments-II | Class Participation |
| 6 | Experiments-III | Class Participation |
| 7 | Case Study Research-I | Class Participation |
| 8 | Case Study Research-II | Class Participation; Critical evaluation of a published paper in an IS journal - 16th September 2011 at 5pm |
| 9 | Design Science Research-I | Class Participation |
| 10 | Design Science Research-II | Class Participation |
| 11 | Action Learning-I | Class Participation |
| 12 | Action Learning-II | Class Participation |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
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
The criteria used to assess the assignment are:
The "ability to contribute to a structured discussion of key IS issues" is one of the objectives of FIT4007. Each week the lecturer will assess the contribution of each student based on (a) the student's understanding of the readings that have been assigned, (b) the student's insights in terms of the quality of the assigned readings, and (c) the extent to which the student contributes constructively to the class discussion. The seminar participation mark will be the average of a student's best eight participation scores. Students will be notified of their participation mark each week and their overall participation mark in Week 12. A copy of the assessment proforma that will be used is available on this web site.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
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
READING LIST FOR FIT4007
Week 1: Introduction; Choosing the Research Problem
Locke, K., and Golden-Biddle, K. (1997). Constructing opportunities for contribution: Structuring intertextual coherence and “problematizing” in organizational studies. Academy of Management Journal, 40 (5), 1023-1062.
Week 2: Theory Building-I
Gregor, S. (2006). The nature of theory in information systems. MIS Quarterly, 30 (3), 611-642.
Monge, P.R. (1990). Theoretical and analytical issues in studying organizational processes. Organization Science, 1 (4), 406-430.
Week 3: Theory Building-II
Griffith, T.L., Sawyer, J.E., & Neale, M.A. (2003). Virtualness and knowledge in teams: Managing the love triangle of organizations, individuals, and information technology. MIS Quarterly, 27 (2), 265-287.
Sambamurthy, V., Bharadwaj, A., & Grover, V. (2003). Shaping agility through digital options: Reconceptualizing the role of information technology in contemporary firms. MIS Quarterly, 27 (2), 237-263.
Week 4: Experiments-I
Experimental design reading from Web:
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/contents.php
Design section only up to quasi-experimental design.
Week 5: Experiments-II
Straub, D., Boudreau, M-C., & Gefen, D. (2004). Validation guidelines for IS positivist research. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 13, Article 24.
Week 6: Experiments-III
Allen, G.N., & March, S.T. (2006). The effects of state-based and event-based data representation on user performance in query formulation tasks. MIS Quarterly, 30 (2), 269-290.
Komiak, S.Y.X., & Benbasat, I. (2006). The effects of personalization and familiarity on trust and adoption of recommendation agents. MIS Quarterly, 30 (4), 941-960.
Week 7: Case Study Research-I
Eisenhardt, K.M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14 (4), 532-550.
Klein, H.K. & Myers, D. (1999). A set of principles for conducting and evaluating interpretive field studies in information systems. MIS Quarterly, 23 (1), 67-94.
Week 8: Case Study Research-II
Watson-Manheim, M.B, & Bélanger, F. (2007). Communication media repertoires: Dealing with the multiplicity of media choices. MIS Quarterly, 31 (2), 267-293.
Sarker, S., & Lee, A.S. (2006). Does the use of computer-based BPC tools contribute to redesign effectiveness? Insights from a hermeneutic study. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 53(1), 130-145.
Week 9: Design Science Research-I
Hevner, A.R., March, S. T., Park, J., & Ram, S. (2004). Design science in information systems research. MIS Quarterly, 28 (1), 75-106.
Gregor, S., & Jones, D. (2007). The anatomy of a design theory. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 8 (5), 312-335.
Week 10: Design Science Research-II
Arnott, D. (2006). Cognitive biases and decision support systems development: A design science approach. Information Systems Journal, 16 (1), 55-78.
Albert, T.C., Goes, P.B, & Gupta, A. (2004). GIST: A model for design and management of content and interactivity of customer-centric web sites. MIS Quarterly, 28 (2), 161-182.
Week 11: Action Learning-I
McKay, J. & Marshall, P. (2001). The dual imperatives of action research. Information Technology and People, 14 (1), 46–59.
Davidson, R.M., Martinsons, M.G., & Kock, N. (2004). Principles of canonical action research. Information Systems Journal, 14, 65-86.
Week 12: Action Learning-II
Braa, J., Monteiro, E., & Sahay, S. (2004). Networks of action: Sustainable health information systems across developing countries. MIS Quarterly, 28 (3), 337-362.
Iverson, J.H., Mathiassen, L., & Nielsen, P.A. (2004). Managing risk in software process improvement: An action research approach. MIS Quarterly, 28 (3), 395-433.
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