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Monash University

FIT5111 Information systems development practices - Semester 1, 2013

This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of a range of tools and techniques for systems development and knowledge of a number of specific systems development methodologies. The main topics include the tools and techniques for systems development, the evaluation of the tools and techniques, evolution of development methodologies, the organisational context in which systems development takes place and a number of systems development approaches. These include participative development, soft systems approaches, object-oriented development, structured systems development approaches, data and information-oriented approaches and rapid application development.

Mode of Delivery

Caulfield (Day)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorial/wk

Workload requirements

Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit as follows:

  • 2 hour lecture
  • 2 hour tutorial 
  • and up to an additional 8 hours of personal study in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

IMS5006, IMS5024

Prerequisites

FIT9003 and FIT9006, or one of IMS9001, BUS5021

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Gail Bourne

Consultation hours: By appointment

Henry Linger

Consultation hours: By appointment

Tutors

Caulfield

David Grant

Consultation hours: By appointment

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will:
  • understand the evolution of systems development methodologies;
  • understand the tools and techniques that are used in the development of information systems;
  • be able to select appropriate tools and/or techniques for the development of information systems;
  • understand the strategies that are used to improve productivity and quality during systems development;
  • understand the organisational context within which systems development takes place;
  • be able to evaluate and critique different system development methodologies.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction, Overview of systems development concepts - traditional SDLC; evolution of system development approaches Assignment 1: Critical Review handed out. References for papers 1-3 for tutorial review handed out
2 Guest Lecture; Learning Skills Unit, Monash Library - Writing Critical Reviews and Presentation Skills Assignment 1 discussion
3 Philosophical perspectives (paradigms, ontology, epistemology). Frameworks for understanding, comparing, selecting and adopting System Development practices/methodologies Review of first paper in tutorial
4 People/organisational themes in IS development approaches/practices - organisational cultures, stakeholders, communities of interest Review of second paper in tutorial
5 Structured systems analysis and design and ER modelling practices; ISD methodologies SSADM, I.E. Objected-oriented development practices; ISD methodologies, RUP OOA Assignment 1: Critical Review due. Presentation of Assignment 1 findings
6 Soft approaches/practices - ISD methodologies - SSM Presentation of Assignment 1 findings. References for papers 4-6 for review handed out
7 Soft approaches/practices - ISD methodologies - SSM review; Effective Technical Human Implementation of Computer Systems (ETHICS) Review of third paper in tutorial. Assignment 2: Case Study handed out. SSM tutorial to help with Case Study
8 Participative development approaches/practices - JAD; Prototyping; RAD - JMRAD, DSDM Review of fourth paper in tutorial
9 Participative development approaches/practices - Agile methods - SCRUM Review of fifth paper in tutorial
10 External development practices - application packages, outsourcing, offshoring Review of sixth paper in tutorial
11 Other delivery methods and issues Assignment 2: Case Study report due. Presentation of Case Study
12 Summary and Review Presentation of Case Study
  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.

Assessment Summary

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

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Assignment 1: Critical Review and presentation of findings 20% Assignment due Week 5. Presentation in Week 5 and 6 tutorials
Assignment 2: Case Study report and presentation 25% Assignment due Week 11. Presentation in Week 11 and 12 tutorials
Participation Assessment: Tutorials / Critical Reviews of journal articles 15% Review tutorials will be in Weeks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10
Examination 1 40% To be advised

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
Teaching of the unit will comprise of lecture presentations, tutorial discussions and practical assignments.

These sessions will raise significant issues related to weekly topics and provide students with the knowledge of fundamental theories and concepts. The issues will be critically examined through discussions based on reading materials and case studies. Reference to reading materials will be posted on the unit website in advance of the scheduled discussion. It is expected that students will have prepared for the session by reading the set material.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)

Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/

Assessment Tasks

Participation

It is expected that you will attend at least 80% of the lectures, particularly all lectures given by the industry experts.

Please note that you should attend all of the student presentations, as outlined in the individual assessment descriptions below, and attend at least four out of the six review presentations in tutorials.

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1: Critical Review and presentation of findings
    Description:
    This will be an individual assignment. It will be a critical review of a published journal article that explores aspects of Information Systems Development (ISD) methodologies or approaches. Specific tasks and marking criteria will be distributed at the appropriate time during the semester. Presentations will be held in Week 5 and 6 tutorials. The presentation given earlier by the Language and Learning unit from the library will assist with skills needed to carry out such a critcal evaluation.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    This assignment will be assessed on:

    • Originality and clarity of the argument and its development
    • Ability to synthesise and reflect on relevant issues in ISD and the depth and breadth of those reflections
    • Use of current and relevant literature
    • Layout, structure, spelling, etc. and adherence to style guides including citation and reference standards
    • Presentation of findings
    • Review and feedback of other students' findings (during presentations)
    Due date:
    Assignment due Week 5. Presentation in Week 5 and 6 tutorials
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2: Case Study report and presentation
    Description:
    The assignment will be a case study, using an appropriate methodology, to evaluate a real world situation. This will be a group assignment and will involve a report and presentation. Specific tasks and marking criteria will be distributed at the appropriate time during the semester. Presentations will be held in Week 11 and 12 tutorials.
    Weighting:
    25%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The submission and presentation will be assessed on completeness of the assessment task and the format of both the written and oral presentations of the task findings.

    As a group activity assessment will include peer reviews and tutor observation in order to assess different contributions of group members, both quantitative and qualitative. Feedback and constructive criticism will be assessed on other group's work observed during their presentations.

    Assistance and practical work will be given during the preceding tutorials in order to assist team building and team communication. The presentation given earlier in the semester by the Language and Learning unit from the library will assist with the formal presenation part of this assignment.

    Due date:
    Assignment due Week 11. Presentation in Week 11 and 12 tutorials
  • Assessment task 3
    Title:
    Participation Assessment: Tutorials / Critical Reviews of journal articles
    Description:
    Individual reviews and commentaries on journal papers relevant to the lecture material, presented in tutorials. Assessment will be based on both tutor observations and peer assessment. This assignment will encourage you to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of ISD practice by engaging with and reflecting on the relevant ISD literature and drawing meaningful conclusions from your reflections.
    Weighting:
    15%
    Criteria for assessment:

    You are expected to have read the paper specified for that tutoria, prepare some notes that summarise your understanding of the given paper, and identify questions and issues that, in your opinion, the paper raises related to ISD methodologies and/or practice, and be prepared to discuss this in a review group.

    The assessment for this item is based on the peer evaluation and tutor observation of your performance in the review tutorials, including preparation, participation and contribution, the ability to allow and encourage others to contribute, the ability to share your understanding of ISD with other students and the ability to use the University library resources.

    Due date:
    Review tutorials will be in Weeks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10
    Remarks:
    The assessment will be made from the top 4 marks, out of the possible 6 review assessments, during the semester. Hence you must attend at least 4 of these 6 review tutorials. However, attending all presentations will assist in raising your assessment grade. Tutors may moderate this assessment after observing the groups in action.

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    40%
    Length:
    2 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

Learning resources

Reading list

Additional relevant readings and references will be provided on the unit Moodle website during the semester.

Monash Library Unit Reading List
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html

Feedback to you

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-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).

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.

Required Resources

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.

Students must use the online facilities available through the unit Moodle website. Information regarding references, schedules, asessment tasks and so on will be available there. Students will also be expected to access and use the discussion forums. Students are also expected to use Library resources to support their assignment and tutorial work.

Students are required to word process their assignments for submission. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted.

Recommended Resources

It is recommended that you refer to:

Recommended text(s)

Avison, D.E. & Fitzgerald, G.. (2006). Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools. (4th Edition) London: McGraw-Hill.

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis.

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Based on student feeback:

We will involve the Learning Skills Unit from Monash Library to provide additional support for critical academic writing, critical evaluation and delivering presentations.

More visiting experts (from industry) will be invited to speak.

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

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