This unit examines the nature of the information needs of organisations, groups and individuals, and the ways in which IT-based systems support them. The main focus of the unit will be on organizational needs for IT-based systems and information management, but it will also consider the wider social context for issues relating to information and IT usage. The changing hopes and expectations of what IT and information can offer to assist the enterprise will be a particular focus of attention. This will provide the basis for consideration of the range of roles required of the IT professional in developing and implementing IT-based solutions to information problems.
2 hrs lectures/wk; 2 hrs tutorials/wk
Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week on this unit throughout the semester.
This will include:
Lectures: 2 hours per week
Tutorials: 2 hours per week
and up to an additional 8 hours per week for reading resources and texts, completing tutorial exercise, working on assignments, private study and revision.
Michael Vitale
Consultation hours: Building H room 7.45 Monday 12:30 - 1:30; Thursday 11:00 - 1:00; Other days and times by appointment michael.vitale@monash.edu 9903 1082
Michael Vitale
Consultation hours: Monday 12:30 - 1:30; Thursday 11:00 - 1:00; Other days and times by appointment
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Basic concepts: Issues in the supply, demand, and management of information | None -- note no tutorials in Week 1 |
| 2 | Basic concepts: Organisations and their information needs | Assignment 2: Tutorial participation exercises - commences |
| 3 | Basic concepts: The nature of information and implications for organisations | |
| 4 | Basic concepts: IT and information - visions, capabilities and limitations | Assignment 1: Case Study in organisational use of information and IT - made available |
| 5 | Basic concepts: Developing and acquiring information and information systems | |
| 6 | Information management as an organisational problem | Assignment 3: Major issues in IT usage - made available |
| 7 | An introduction to organisational information management practices | Assignment 1 due; This week's lecture has been rescheduled to Wednesday 12:00 - 2:00 due to the ANZAC Day holiday |
| 8 | Information technology - standards, specialisation and commodification | |
| 9 | Organisations and information - the problem of organisational change | |
| 10 | Dreams, realities, and nightmares in organisational information usage | |
| 11 | Issues in system development and acquisition and the problem of failure | Assignment 2 complete; Assignment 3 due |
| 12 | Current issues and future concerns; unit review | |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in 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 learning system.
Examination (3 hours): 60%; in-semester assessment: 40%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| A case study in organisational use of information and IT | 15% | Week 7 of semester |
| Tutorial participation exercises | 10% | Weeks 2 to 11 of semester |
| Major issues in IT usage | 15% | Week 11 of semester |
| Examination 1 | 60% | To be advised |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the key basic concepts relating to:
Demonstrated ability to apply the academic theory in these areas to its practice in an organisational setting
Demonstrated ability to carry out an investigation and report on its findings in written and verbal form
Demonstrated level of knowledge and understanding of the key issues involved in the topic
Demonstrated level of knowledge and understanding of the impact of these issues on organizations in practice
Quality of research and clarity of expression of ideas
Monash Library Unit Reading List
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
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.
Students may not resubmit assignments.
Follow the Monash Library Guides for Citing and Referencing at http://guides.lib.monash.edu/content.php?pid=88267&sid=656564
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).
If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.
Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.
Required resources will be included with each topic in the Moodle page for the unit.
The unit will include field trips for the purpose of learning about how information is supplied and managed in the real world. The distances travelled will be very short and the trips can readily be managed on public transportation.
There will be no significant additional costs.
The examination will be open-book, and students will be allowed to bring books, class notes, and readings into the examination. However, the use of electronic devices will not be permitted.
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: www.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 http://www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/.
The Monash University Library provides a range of services, resources and programs that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
For more information on Monash’s educational strategy, see:
www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
Based on previous student feedback this unit is well structured and no changes have been made for this semester.
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp