IMS5037 Research Topic , Unit Information Guide (Semester 1, 2006)

This is a project unit, and as such, is aimed at students who wish to pursue a particular topic of research in the fields of business intelligence, information systems development, information technology management, e-business, knowledge management, library studies and archiving & recordkeeping. Students enrolling in this unit should have the approval of the Head of School or their nominee. The aim of this research unit is to enable students to have the opportunity to carry out a thorough investigation of an area of interest. The research is done under supervision, and provides a chance for a student to pursue a topic of interest that has not been covered in other coursework units, or to build more in-depth knowledge in an area with which they already have some familiarity but desire more knowledge and expertise.

Amongst others, suitable candidate areas for investigation would include:

C1. To gain detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of a topic of interest to the student which is not formally taught to that level in MIMS, but would be regarded as relevant to and enhancing the student's studies.

C2. Develop an ability to analyse and synthesise and construct arguments from a range of published sources.

C3.To develop skills at critiquing and evaluating other ideas, opinions and argument.

A1. Willingness to present ideas for scrutiny to supervisor.

A2. Demonstrate willingness and ability to accept criticism of ideas.

A3. To appreciate the nature and demands of independent research.

Not generally applicable; contingent on choice of topic.

S1. To learn self-reliance and time management skills in order to gain greater independence as a learner.

S2. To learn to work effectively in a close, cooperative relationship with a supervisor.

Entry to this unit subject to approval of Head of School, or nominee, the unit co-ordinator

24 credit points of IMS 9000-level units, or equivalent; or 24 credit points of graduate level units in the Master of Information Management and Systems, Master of Information Management and Systems (Professional), Master of Information Technology or the Master of Business Systems, or equivalent; or an approved undergraduate degree in information systems (IS) or information management (IM) or equivalent

Foundation knowledge in information management and systems fundamentals

Entry to this unit subject to approval of Head of School, or nominee, the unit co-ordinator

24 credit points of IMS 9000-level units, or equivalent; or 24 credit points of graduate level units in the Master of Information Management and Systems, Master of Information Management and Systems (Professional), Master of Information Technology or the Master of Business Systems, or equivalent; or an approved undergraduate degree in information systems (IS) or information management (IM) or equivalent

Foundation knowledge in information management and systems fundamentals

Required text(s)

To be discussed with the supervisor.

Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.

Software requirements:

To be discussed with the supervisor.

Hardware requirements:

Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 8 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

To be discussed with the supervisor.

Study resources for IMS5037 are:

To be discussed with the supervisor.

The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+

Assessment for the unit consists of one assignment and/or project work with a weighting of 100%.

To pass this unit you must:

Undertake personal supervision and create and complete an original project.

Your score for the unit will be calculated by:

Assessment of the project output.

Assessment Requirements

Assignment specifications will be made available . Information about assignments will be published on the Unit's Notices Newsgroup.

Assignments. 1 Standards for presentation. All printed assignment work must be word processed and meet the standards set out in the assignment. Refer also to the School of Information Management and Systems guidelines for writing assignments for additional information on presentation standards: http://www.sims.monash.edu.au/resources/style.html. 2. All assignments must include an appropriate signed SIMS assignment cover page. See the SIMS web site for downloadable (PDF) copies of SIMS assignment cover pages http://www.sims.monash.edu.au/resources/assessment.html. 3 Extensions. If you believe that your assignment will be delayed because of circumstances beyond your control such as illness, you should apply for an extension prior to the due date. All applications for extensions must be made in writing (or e-mail) to your lecturer, and a response to your request will be communicated back to you in the same manner. No extensions are automatic. Every one will be dealt with individually. Anna Davis will refer requests to Graeme Johanson, the subject co-ordinator. Medical certificates or other supporting documentation will be required. Late assignments submitted without an approved extension may be accepted up to one week late, at the discretion of your lecturer, but will be penalised at the rate of 10% of total assignment marks per day (including weekends). Example: Total marks available for the assignment = 100 marks. Marks received for the assignment = 70 marks. Marks deducted for 2 days late submission (20% of 100) = 20 marks. Final mark received for assignment = 50 marks. After one week, the assignment will score zero. 4 Submission of assignments. Assignments should be submitted to the tutor during your allocated tutorial, or sent to the supervisor by post or fax, to arrive by the due date, to Dr Graeme Johanson as follows: Name of supervisor, IMS5037, Caulfield School of Information Tedchnology, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University. P.O.Box 197, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Australia. Fax: 9903 1077. 5 Return of assignments. Assignments will either be returned by the supervisor. OCL students assignments will be posted back to them. Please include a stamped, addressed envelope. Every effort will be made to mark assignments as fast as possible, to facilitate feedback to you.

Late submission of assignments

Extensions. If you believe that your assignment will be delayed because of circumstances beyond your control such as illness, you should apply for an extension prior to the due date. All applications for extensions must be made in writing (or e-mail) to your supervisor, and a response to your request will be communicated back to you in the same manner. No extensions are automatic. Every one will be dealt with individually.The unit co-ordinator, Dr Graeme Johanson, and your supervisor will answer requests for extensions. Medical certificates or other supporting documentation will be required. Late assignments submitted without an approved extension may be accepted up to one week late, at the discretion of your lecturer, but will be penalised at the rate of 10% of total assignment marks per day (including weekends). Example: Total marks available for the assignment = 100 marks. Marks received for the assignment = 70 marks. Marks deducted for 2 days late submission (20% of 100) = 20 marks. Final mark received for assignment = 50 marks. After one week, the assignment will score zero.

This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment. 

Extensions

It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. 

Extensions. If you believe that your assignment will be delayed because of circumstances beyond your control such as illness, you should apply for an extension prior to the due date. All applications for extensions must be made in writing (or e-mail) to your supervisor, and a response to your request will be communicated back to you in the same manner. No extensions are automatic. Every one will be dealt with individually.The unit co-ordinator, Dr Graeme Johanson, and your supervisor will answer requests for extensions. Medical certificates or other supporting documentation will be required. Late assignments submitted without an approved extension may be accepted up to one week late, at the discretion of your lecturer, but will be penalised at the rate of 10% of total assignment marks per day (including weekends). Example: Total marks available for the assignment = 100 marks. Marks received for the assignment = 70 marks. Marks deducted for 2 days late submission (20% of 100) = 20 marks. Final mark received for assignment = 50 marks. After one week, the assignment will score zero.

Grading of assessment

Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:

We will aim to have assignment results made available to you soon after assignment receipt.

You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.

You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.

Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating  has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.

In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work. 

When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer. 

Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.

Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.

Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.

Contact your supervisor.

This is the only notice about this unit, unless you request further information from Dr Graeme Johanson or your supervisor

Consultation Times

by e-mail appointment

If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:

This person's profile is not available.

All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.