This unit provides students with an understanding of the development and use of information systems that support managers, especially their decision-making tasks. Students will learn of the nature of management work and decision theory and how this affects the development of decision support systems. A number of commonly used decision support methods and techniques will be explored. Students will be introduced to personal decision support systems, group support systems, negotiation support systems, data warehousing, executive information systems and business intelligence.
Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
(b.) Additional requirements (all students):
For independent study it is anticipated that on average you will spend per week:
• 3 hours preparing for the tutorial/laboratory,
• 5 hours of reading and assignment work.
FIT5130 or FIT9003 or equivalent
Caddie Gao
Tam Leong Hing
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 the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. 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, 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
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Overview of using IT to support management decision making | |
| 2 | Managerial information behaviours | |
| 3 | Overview of decision making and normative decision theory | |
| 4 | Behavioural decision theory 1 | |
| 5 | Behavioural decision theory 2 | |
| 6 | DSS development methods | Assignment 1 due 4pm, Friday 11 April 2014 |
| 7 | Simulation modelling | |
| 8 | Personal decision support systems | |
| 9 | Data warehousing | |
| 10 | Business intelligence | Assignment 2 due 4pm, Friday 16 May 2014 |
| 11 | Decision support strategy and governance | Assignment 2 allocated sessions |
| 12 | The decision support industry | Assignment 2 allocated sessions |
| 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): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 - Strategic Decision Analysis | 25% | 4pm, Friday 11 April 2014 |
| Assignment 2 - Personal Decision Support | 25% | 4pm, Friday 16 May 2014 |
| Examination 1 | 50% | To be advised |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see resources and tutorials at http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/
Mastery of a decison analysis task and presentation of that analysis. The detailed marking guide is available on the FIT5094 Moodle-based unit website.
Mastery of the development of a simulation model, and presentation and manipulation of the model. The detailed marking guide is available on the FIT5094 Moodle-based unit website. The assessment of this assignment will take place in a simulated work environment. Students are required to attend a 15-minute session allocated to them in Weeks 11 and 12.
A large number of articles and other reading material will be made available on the FIT5094 Moodle-based unit website.
The Caulfield Campus Library has a world-class collection of books and journals on decision support related topics.
Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Faculty of Information Technology Style Guide
Examination/other end-of-semester assessment feedback may take the form of feedback classes, provision of sample answers or other group feedback after official results have been published. Please check with your lecturer on the feedback provided and take advantage of this prior to requesting individual consultations with staff. If your unit has an examination, you may request to view your examination script booklet, see http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/procedures/request-to-view-exam-scripts.html
Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
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.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html
No resubmission of assignments is possible in FIT5094.
All assignments should use APA style.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-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). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.
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.
You will need access to:
Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook.
There is no compulsory text for FIT5094. However, the following two texts are general textbooks that cover the DSS area. They both have chapters or sections that address some sessions. Both are available from the reserve collection of the Caulfield Library (the 1st Edition of Marakas is still relevant.)
Mallach, E.G. (2000). Decision Support and Data Warehouse Systems. () Boston: McGraw Hill (ISBN: 0-07-289981-6).
Marakas, G.M. (2003). Decision Support Systems in the 21st Century. (2nd Edition) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall (ISBN: 0-13-101879-5).
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:
Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/
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 Malaysia 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 Malaysia, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.