This is a core unit for the major in Information Systems in the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems (BITS). It is needed for the introduction of this major as part of revisions to the faculty restructure in 2006-07.

This unit has been updated as part of a 2009 review and comparison of data with current Handbook, Syllabus + and Callista data.

30/11/2017 - Unit disestablished at FEC 5/17 Item 7.3.

This is a core second year unit for the Information Systems major in the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems (BITS). It requires students to have developed a sound basic knowledge of IT through the first year common core units. It also requires students to study FIT2001 as a co-requisite unit, in order to ensure that they have exposure to some specific techniques in analysis and design to provide a focus for the general conceptual issues it addresses. The unit has no direct links to later units, but provides a conceptual problem-solving framework within which students can learn and reflect on the various aspects of systems development taught throughout the IS major.

It aims to provide students with a broad knowledge and understanding of information systems development as a problem-solving activity. This will act as an important contextual basis within which to learn, understand and critically evaluate analysis and design techniques used in information systems development.

All students undertaking the Information Systems major in the BITS need an understanding of the phases of the systems development process as problem-solving activities. This unit will provide an important contextual framework in which to place their understanding of material covered in other units about the use of technology and systems in organisations and the use of specific IS development techniques.

At the completion of this unit students will have -

A theoretical and conceptual understanding of:

• the purpose, objectives and tasks of analysis and design as problem-solving activities in the context of the development of information systems;
• key issues involved in addressing informational, organisational, human and technological problems that arise in information systems development;
• a range of problem-solving approaches relevant to the identification, definition, representation and addressing of informational, organisational, human and technological problems that arise in information systems development;
• a range of problem solving techniques relevant to the problems that arise in information systems development;
• the problem-solving strategies and approaches embodied in some of the key analysis and design techniques used in information system development;
• the importance of the identification and definition phases in the problem solving process;
• key differences between problem solving approaches and techniques, and their strengths and weaknesses in relation to their use as part of the system development process;
• the importance of communication, interpersonal skills and ethical and professional behaviour in addressing the problems that arise in system development.

Developed attitudes that enable them to:

• recognise the value of a systematic, critical and reflective approach to analysis and design as problem solving activities within the systems development process;
• recognise the ethical and organisational issues that may accompany the identification, definition, representation and addressing of problems that arise in an organisational context;
• appreciate the subjective nature of problem interpretation by organisational stakeholders and would-be problem solvers, and its impact on system development approaches and techniques for analysis and design;
• appreciate the importance of the ability to approach system development problems from a variety of perspectives.

Developed the skills to:

• evaluate the overall context of information systems development problems in a critical manner, and identify appropriate methods for addressing those problems;
• apply a range of general analysis and design techniques relevant to the identification, definition, representation and addressing of problems that arise in information systems development.

Demonstrated the communication skills necessary to:

• know the team skills necessary for successful development and implementation of IT solutions to information system development problems;
• appreciate the importance of the inter-relationships between IT professionals and other stakeholders involved in the development of information systems.

020399

This unit will examine the process of information system development and the key tasks in systems analysis and design from a problem-solving perspective. It will identify the key overall features which are common to all system development approaches and analytical and design techniques as problem-solving activities. From this foundation, it will examine, compare and contrast specific development approaches and analysis and design methods/techniques in the context of these problem-solving requirements.

On-campus

Examination (3 hours): 60%: In-semester assessment: 40%

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorials/wk

Studio room required

FIT

Completion of 24 points of FIT first year common core units