FIT1013 IT for business - Semester 2, 2014

Introduction to business application tools and introduction to basic computing concepts. Principles of spreadsheets and relational databases, covering their use for the generation of business plans, reports, financial statements, etc. Both the spreadsheet and database components incorporate an introduction to programming with visual basic for applications (VBA). The database component covers principles of database design. The business application software packages used in the unit are Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access.

Mode of Delivery

Clayton (Day)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

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

• Two hours of lectures
• One 2-hour laboratory

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

• A minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

BUS1010, CSE1720, GCO1851, MMS1401

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Previous student feedback has highlighted that this is a very useful unit especially for the IBL students of the Faculty.

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students will have:

• A sound knowledge of spreadsheet applications which will provide an understanding of business spreadsheet modelling for analysis, reporting and presentation of organisational data;
• learnt to construct applications using VBA as the language for enhancing the appearance and usability of spreadsheet and database systems;
• a knowledge of the use of relational databases for analysis, reporting and presentation of organisational information;
• an appreciation that a knowledge of programming can be used to enhance the utility of office productivity software packages.

Unit Schedule

Week	Activities	Assessment
0	Register for an FIT1013 lab - these start in Week 1.	No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1	Unit information. Excel: Working with formulas and functions. Working with Excel tables. Analysing data: working with Excel tables, Pivot tables, Pivot Charts, filters including advanced filters, etc.
2	More Excel functions: AND(), OR() and NOT(); Nested IF; VLookup(), Match(), Index(), IffError(), ISNA(), Choose(), Database functions. Excel: Range names, data validation, worksheet and workbook protection, macros - the macro recorder.	Tutorial tasks and quizzes are due and assessed weekly from Week 2 to Week 11
3	Excel: More on Decision support: Goal Seek, Data tables, breakeven analysis, Scenario Manager. ActiveX controls to help develop an Excel application.
4	Fundamentals of VBA programming - string variables, string concatenation. The InputBox function, MsgBox prompt, Val function. Object variables in Excel VBA. The Set statement. VBA examples. Variable scope.	Assignment 1 due 22 August 2014
5	VBA: Numeric variables. VBA coding examples using a ListBox. Using the WorksheetFunction Object, using worksheet functions in VBA. VBA Control structures, Selection, Selection Case. Nested Selection. Comparison, Relation and logical operators. UCase and LCase functions. Debugging code.
6	VBA: Date variables. Date functions: DateDiff, DateAdd, DateValue, TimeValue, Offset property of the Range object. Control structures, repetition. Do loop control structures. For..Next statement. For Each..Next statement. MsgBox function - Buttons argument. Customising screen elements. Custom GUIs - Creating User Forms. Form design. AddItem method for ListBox. Array variables and string manipulation functions.
7	Relational Database concepts: field, record, table, relational database, primary key, and foreign key. Query, Form, Report wizards. Compacting and repairing. Creating a database, table relationships, referential integrity. Database inconsistencies, cascade update, cascade delete.
8	Class Test in lecture.	Class Test in lecture
9	Introduction to queries, maintaining a database. Simple queries. The Expression builder. Calculated fields. Aggregate functions. More advanced queries: Pattern match. Like, In, Not operators. Parameter queries. Crosstab query. Find duplicates, find Unmatched, Top value queries. Lookup field Wizard. Input masks. Data validation.
10	Action queries, Indexes, Joins, SQL â Structured Query Language (brief). Joins. Indexes. Creating Custom Forms. Guest presenter.
11	Access macros, macro groups. Switchboards, command buttons. VBA for Access. Managing and securing a database.	Assignment 2 due 17 October 2014
12	Summary and revision.
	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.

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes

Assessment Summary

Examination (2 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Assessment Task	Value	Due Date
Assignment 1	5%	Week 4, 22 August 2014
Assignment 2	18%	Week 11, 17 October 2014
Class Test	7%	Week 8 in lecture
Tutorial tasks	10% is the maximum awarded for the weekly tutorials and quizzes	During the relevant tutorial
Examination 1	60%	To be advised

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Assignment 1

  Description:

  Data analysis using PivotTables.

  Weighting:

  5%

  Criteria for assessment:

  The assessment for this assignment will be based on your ability to:

  • Analyse a structured range of data using a PivotTable to analyse the data.
  • Use the analysis to provide a summary report of recommendations.
  • Use a PivotChart to substantiate the analysis and recommendations.

  Due date:

  Week 4, 22 August 2014

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 2

  Description:

  Creating an application using Excel visual basic for applications.

  Weighting:

  18%

  Criteria for assessment:

  The assessment criteria will be based your ability to perform the following tasks:

  • Write Macros (sub procedures) using VBA in Microsoft Excel
  • Use appropriate data types, to declare and use variables and/or constants
  • Use the Workbook, Worksheet and Range objects
  • Write event procedures for some Excel and VBA objects.
  • Use other objects as necessary
  • Use repetition and selection structures in VBA code
  • Perform data validation on user input
  • Use the Vlookup() worksheet function in VBA code
  • Construct arithmetic expressions in VBA code.
  • Follow appropriate rules relating to the scope of variables
  • Design user forms, using a variety of common graphic-controls (graphic-objects)

  Due date:

  Week 11, 17 October 2014

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Class Test

  Description:

  The test will be based on materials from Weeks 1 to 7 inclusive.

  Weighting:

  7%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Students will be required to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the materials presented in lectures and tutorials from Weeks 1 to 7 inclusive.

  Due date:

  Week 8 in lecture

• Assessment task 4

  Title:

  Tutorial tasks

  Description:

  These should be completed each week during tutorial time.
  
  Week 2 onwards: tasks will be given during tutorial classes based on lectures from the previous week - see unit outline.

  Weighting:

  10% is the maximum awarded for the weekly tutorials and quizzes

  Criteria for assessment:

  How well students complete the assigned tasks.

  How well students demonstrate their understanding of the material presented in the lectures.

  Due date:

  During the relevant tutorial

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  60%

  Length:

  2 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
• Test results and feedback
• Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

Online submission

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.

Recommended text(s)

Parsons, Oja, Ageloff and Carey. (). Microsoft Excel 2010, New Perspectives Series, Comprehensive Edition. () Course Technology.

Adamski, Hommel and Finnegan. (). Microsoft Access 2010, New Perspectives Series, Comprehensive Edition. () Course Technology.

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