FIT5130 Systems analysis and design - Semester 1, 2014

The unit introduces students to the key principles which underlie the analysis and design of information systems to support business and other organisational undertakings. It covers design and design thinking, requirements elicitation, consulting skills and conceptual and logical systems modelling.

Mode of Delivery

• Caulfield (Day)
• Caulfield (Off-campus)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• 2 hours of lectures
• One 2-hour studio

(b.) Study schedule for off-campus students:

• Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and studio sessions, however should plan to spend equivalent time working through the relevant resources and participating in discussion groups each week.

(c.) Additional requirements (all students):

• A minimum of 8 hours independent study per week for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

FIT9030

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

This is the first offering of this unit.

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

• select and use conceptual and logical modelling techniques to design an information system;
• select and use techniques to elicit requirements for an information system design;
• select and use approaches to the systems development lifecycle including the waterfall model and modern alternatives;
• assess and discuss the capabilities and limitations of an information system;
• communicate the requirements for the business functionality of an information system in terms of data required, data storage and processing to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Teaching Approach

• Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
  This teaching and learning approach helps students to initially encounter information at lectures, discuss and explore the information during studio sessions, and practice in a hands-on environment.
• Studio teaching
  This approach is hands-on learning where you interact with fellow students in a workroom.

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Assignment 1a - Draft narrative overview and design specification template

  Description:

  This is an initial submission for a design specification for a case that will be provided to you.  You will produce a 'narrative overview' that outlines the design problem and proposed solution in plain language and introduces the design document.  You will also create a document structure with sections and headings that includes the overview, as well as placeholders for the design content that will be developed for submissions 1b and 1c later in the semester.
  
  The purpose of this submission is to provide feedback and advice to aid your learning of the design process.

  Weighting:

  5%

  Criteria for assessment:

  1. Quality of the narrative overview - does your understanding of the design problem accurately reflect the actual case and does your proposed solution address these requirements?
  2. Professionalism and presentation - is your document template, and the written expression and grammar of a standard acceptable in professional practice?

  Due date:

  Week 6

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 1b - Draft design specification

  Description:

  This submission builds on work from assignment 1a, incorporating feedback from the assessment of that work.  Your design specification will include an Entity Relationship model, a UML class model and UML use case models, as well as the narrative overview from 1a.
  
  This work is again intended to provide feedback for the final submission of the specification in 1c.

  Weighting:

  15%

  Criteria for assessment:

  1. Correctness of modelling techniques - have you correctly followed the rules of constructing the various models in the design specification?
  2. Quality of your design - how well does your model satisfy the business requirements of the case?
  3. Professionalism and presentation - is your specification presented to a standard acceptable to professional practice?

  Due date:

  Week 9

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Assignment 1c - Final design specification submission

  Description:

  This is the final submission of your design specification, and incorporates the feedback from 1a and 1b submissions.

  Weighting:

  20%

  Criteria for assessment:

  1. Correctness of modelling techniques - have you correctly followed the rules of constructing the various models in the design specification?
  2. Quality of your design - how well does your model satisfy the business requirements of the case?
  3. Professionalism and presentation - is your specification presented to a standard acceptable to professional practice?

  Due date:

  Week 12

• Assessment task 4

  Title:

  Assignment 2 - Portfolio

  Description:

  The portfolio assignment provides you the opportunity to get feedback throughout the semester by completing various learning activities from two categories: readings and modelling exercises.  Throughout the semester you will choose three activities from each category for submission and feedback.  Due dates for each activity will be specified in the assignment specification distributed in class and via Moodle.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  The overall assignment mark for the portfolio will be the average of the six marks for the various portfolio submissions.

  For readings activities, the assessment criteria are:

  1. Quality of reflection and analysis of the reading - to what extent does your reflection on the reading go beyond a basic overview to incorporate critique, reflection and integration of other material? Does your reflection demonstrate insight and understanding?
  2. Quality of written expression - does the piece use correct grammar, spelling and citation techniques?

  For modelling activities, the assessment criteria are:

  1. Correctness of the technique - have you followed the rules for drawing this kind of model?
  2. Quality of your design - how well does your model solve the design problem given?

  Due date:

  Various dates with final submission no later than the start of SWOT VAC

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  50%

  Length:

  3 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

Learning resources

Feedback to you

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments
• Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

Online submission

Required Resources

Readings will be assigned on Moodle each week, each of which will be available electronically through the library.  You must keep up to date with the prescribed readings.

Technological Requirements

Students should regularly use the unit web site and discussion forums hosted on Moodle.  Important information and learning material will be posted there on a regular basis.

On-campus students attending class may wish to bring their own laptop.  The unit will make use of Visio in studio sessions.  This is installed on all laboratory machines, but is also available for students to install on their own computers.  Students using non-Windows computers are free to use alternative diagramming software.  Contact the teaching staff to see if your software will be adequate for the unit.

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit