Unit Outline
| Unit Name | Information Technology for Business | ||||||||
| Unit Code | HC1041 | Core/Elective | Core | ||||||
| Level | Undergraduate | Credit Points | 3 | ||||||
| Study Period | Year 2021 Trimester 3 | Duration | 1 trimester | ||||||
| Pre-requisites | None | ||||||||
| Student Workload (hrs) | Lecture | 1 | Tutorial | 2 | Other | ||||
Staff Contact Details
| Staff member | Phone | Consultation times* | ||
| Unit Coordinator | Mr. W. Metzger | WMetzger@holmes.edu.au | TBC | |
| Lecturer |
*Other consultation times by appointment only.
Key Dates
| Assessment Task | Assessment Description | Percentage Weight | Due Date |
| 1 | Discussion Assessment Activities (5 tutorial activities) | 30% | DAA-1 19/11/21 DAA-2 03/12/21 DAA-3 17/12/21 DAA-4 21/01/22 DAA-5 04/02/22 |
| 2 | Major Individual Assignment | 30% | MIA-1 04/02/22 |
| 3 | Final Tutorial Questions Assessment | 40% | TBC |
Unit Description
This unit focuses on information technology and applications in business contexts. It provides students with a real-world understanding of information systems (ISs) and a firm foundation in business-related information technology (IT) on which they can build successful careers. Students will know enough about IT to work productively with IT specialists, and they will know enough about business applications to get information systems to support their work in the best way possible. “Real world” examples of business scenarios are discussed weekly to provide a narrative similar to the challenges and opportunities a business professional or entrepreneur would encounter in a company. Ultimately, they will give students the opportunity to integrate business IT principles, view IS issues in action, and to solve business problems related to IT just as they arise in the real world. The running case approach shows students how the full range of business functions operate while gaining an in-depth knowledge of a specific business.
Unit Learning Outcomes
On completion of this subject you will be able to:
Students who successfully complete this Unit will be able to:
- Evaluate and justify theoretical and practical knowledge of information technology in a business context
- Analyse information technology issues in a business environment and provide solutions to these issues using their knowledge of information technology and practical techniques in a business environment
- Apply research skills analysing academic literature and integrating ideas from the literature to the information technology issues in business and in preparation for life-long learning
- Understand the ICT profession in information technology
- Communicate using effective oral and written communication tools, act in a professional manner
- Review and describe the major privacy, legal, ethical and societal issues with respect to managing digital information and information systems
Unit Learning Resources
The Library has limited print copies of prescribed textbooks for two-day loans, and options for viewing available online.
Prescribed textbook (compulsory)
Kenneth J. Sousa & Effy Oz (2015), Management Information Systems, Cengage Learning, USA, Seventh Edition.
Additional Resource
Chaffey, D. (2015), Digital Business and E-Commerce Management: Strategy, Implementation and Practice, 6th ed., Pearson
Recommended Readings
- George Reynolds (2018), Ethics in Information Technology, Cengage Learning, 6th Edition
- Ralph Stair, George Reynolds (2016), Principles of Information Systems, Cengage Learning, 13th Edition
- David T. Bourgeois (2014), Information Systems for Business and Beyond, available online:
- https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/textbooks/Information%20Systems%20for %20Business%20and%20Beyond.pdf
- Zorzini, C. (2013), The Ultimate Guide to Create a Successful Online Business, available online:
- https://ecommerce–platforms.com/wp–content/uploads/2015/04/The–Ultimate–Guide–To–Create–aSuccesful–Online–Business.pdf
- Kevin Grant, Ray Hackney, David Edgar (2009), Strategic Information Systems Management, Cengage Learning, 1st Edition
- Chris Gillies et al. (2008), Business Management of Information Technology, available online:
- https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/documents/business–management–of–IT.pdf
Blackboard
Lecture notes/slides, recommended reading, tutorial activities and all other relevant information will be made available on Blackboard.
It is the student’s responsibility to check Blackboard on a regular basis. It is advised that students watch the lecture materials and readings before joining the interactive tutorial session.
Assessment Details
In order to pass this Unit, you must:
Achieve an overall percentage of 50% of the assessments
| Assessment 1: Discussion Assessment Activities – (DAA) | |
| Aligned Unit Learning Outcomes | 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6 |
| Group or Individual | Individual Assignment – No Late Submissions |
| Weighting | 30% – 5 weekly Discussion Activities. Max 6% per Activity |
| Due Date | DAA-1: 19/11/21, DAA-2: 03/12/21, DAA-3: 17/12/21, DAA-4: 21/01/22, DAA-5: 04/02/22 (11:59pm – each DAA Submission) |
ASSESSMENT 1: DESCRIPTION
Purpose and requirement of this assessment:
The purpose of this assignment will be to test students’ knowledge on weekly lecture and tutorial activities. Students are expected to have reviewed the topics studied during preceding weeks.
Guidelines:
Students are required to answer the weekly discussion questions. Answers are to be submitted to the discussion board of blackboard. Student’s must also comment on another student’s work critically and respectively. Each posting will be approximately 200 words.
| Assessment 2: Major Individual Assignment – (MIA) | |
| Aligned Unit Learning Outcomes | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 |
| Group or Individual | Individual Assignment |
| Weighting | 30% Major Essay / Report Assessment |
| Due Date | MIA-1: Friday, 11:59pm: 04/02/2022 |
ASSESSMENT 2: DESCRIPTION
Purpose:
This assignment is designed to assess your level of knowledge of the key topics covered in the unit by constructing an essay (or report) on an organisation, and how computer security and other issues, have impacted the selected organisation.
Description Continue:
Less than 2,500 words +/- 10% Word Count (Excluding References)
The detailed information can be found on the Assessment Folder on your Blackboard shell
See the Major Assignment Information, regarding more detail on submission requirements and task, via Blackboard.
| Assessment 3: Final Tutorial Questions Assessment | |
| Aligned Unit Learning Outcomes | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 |
| Group or Individual | Individual Assignment |
| Weighting | 40% |
| Due Date | Week 13 [Exam Period – TBC] |
ASSESSMENT 3: DESCRIPTION
Purpose and requirement of this assessment:
The purpose of this assignment will be to test students’ knowledge on all weekly lecture and tutorial activities. Students are expected to have reviewed the topics studied during preceding weeks.
Guidelines:
Students are required to answer the (6) tutorial questions. Answers are to be submitted on the question sheet back to the relevant blackboard submission link. Student’s must be self-aware of the time limits of completing and submitting their solutions. Each question will have an approximate word count and instructions as to referencing etc.
Assessment Submission
- All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover
Page.
- The assignment must be in MS Word format, 1.5 spacing, 12-pt Arial font and 2 cm margins on all four sides of your page with appropriate section headings and page numbers.
- Reference sources must be cited in the text of the report and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list, all using Harvard referencing style.
Ensure the report is checked for plagiarism using SafeAssign. Please read the academic integrity statement included in this document. Consult your lecturer if you are unsure or require clarification about academic integrity.
Extensions and Special Consideration
If circumstances beyond your control will prevent you from submitting an assignment by the due date or your performance has been impacted by circumstances outside your control, then you should apply for Special Consideration through Student Services as soon as you become aware of the problem. You may be allowed to do the task at another time or may give you an extension of up to two weeks or have yours marks adjusted. Assignment Extensions are normally only approved when students apply before the due date. Student Services may ask you to supply supporting documentation about the difficulties you are facing, and evidence of the work you have completed so far.
Note that work that is submitted late without an approved extension will be subject to a marking penalty or may not be marked at all. Details of the penalties can be found in the Higher Education Student Handbook at https://www.holmes.edu.au/pages/about/policies
Academic Integrity
Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding Academic Integrity, as Academic Integrity is integral to maintaining academic quality and the reputation of Holmes’ graduates. Accordingly, all assessment tasks need to comply with academic integrity guidelines. Table 1 identifies the six categories of Academic Integrity breaches. If you have any questions about Academic Integrity issues related to your assessment tasks, please consult your lecturer or tutor for relevant referencing guidelines and support resources. Many of these resources can also be found through the Study Sills link on Blackboard.
Academic Integrity breaches are a serious offence punishable by penalties that may range from deduction of marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of course enrolment.
Table 1: Six categories of Academic Integrity Breaches
| Plagiarism | Reproducing the work someone else without attribution. When a student submits their own work on multiple occasions this is known as self-plagiarism. |
| Collusion | Working with one or more other individuals to complete an assignment, in a way that is not authorised. |
| Copying | Reproducing and submitting the work of another student, with or without their knowledge. If a student fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent their own original work from being copied, this may also be considered an offence. |
| Impersonation | Falsely presenting oneself, or engaging someone else to present as oneself, in an in-person examination. |
| Contract cheating | Contracting a third party to complete an assessment task, generally in exchange for money or other manner of payment. |
| Data fabrication and falsification | Manipulating or inventing data with the intent of supporting false conclusions, including manipulating images. |
Source: INQAAHE, 2020 Holmes Institute Academic Integrity and Conduct Policy can be found at https://www.holmes.edu.au/pages/about/policies
Calendar
Please note, the sequence of some topics may change due to staff availability, resourcing, or due to unforeseen circumstances.
| Week | Topics | Assessment | Tutorial Activities |
| 1 | Business Information Systems: An Overview | Introduction | |
| 2 | Strategic Uses of Information Systems | Discussion activity 1 | Case Study 2 |
| 3 | Systems Planning, Development and Choices in Systems Acquisition | Case Study 12 | |
| 4 | Business Functions and Supply Chains | Discussion activity 2 | Case Study 3 |
| 5 | Business Hardware and Business Software | Case Study 4 | |
| 6 | Business Networks and Telecommunications | Discussion activity 3 | Case Study 6 |
| 7 | Databases and Data Warehouses | Review | |
| 8 | Web-Enabled Enterprise | Discussion activity 4 | Case Study 8 |
| 9 | Challenges of Global Information Systems | Case Study 9 | |
| 10 | Decision Support and Expert Systems | Discussion activity 5 Individual Assignment | Case Study 10 |
| 11 | Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management | Case Study 11 | |
| 12 | Risks, Security, and Disaster Recovery | Review |
