Welcome to FIT3068, System Integration for Semester 1, 2009. This is a 6 point unit and is a core unit in the BITS Information system major. This unit has been designed to provide you with an understanding of enterprise systems. It will define Enterprise System scale (ERP) packages as the main business information system in the portfolio of large organisations. The unit will examine the forms and mechanisms of business process integration and of data integration within the Enterprise System package, and between the Enterprise System and other business information systems and databases. The unit will introduce the different types of integration associated with various types of middleware software. The unit will address the role of middleware in the specification and implementation of business process workflow systems in both the homogenous environment of an Enterprise System package and in heterogenous software environments.
ASCED Discipline Group classification: 020305 Systems Analysis and Design
This unit will give students an understanding of the portfolio of information systems needed to support a large organisation and identify Enterprise Systems (ERP) packages as the principal business information system in large organisations. It will examine the forms and mechanisms of business process integration and data integration between the Enterprise System and other business information systems, including legacy systems and office systems. It will introduce students to the concept of workflow and to selected software tools for process modelling and workflow design, and to the different types of integration software (middleware) and technologies that enable business process integration through workflow automation.
Systems Integration has the general objective of preparing IS major students for professional practice as systems analysts in corporate environments that implement complex workflow solutions for mainstream business processes.The unit intends to equip students to be able to hold informed discussions with both the business users and the technology implementers about the software tools available to deliver the required business functionality.
Cognitive Domain Objectives At the completion of the unit students will have knowledge of:
and have an understanding of:
Affective Domain Objectives At the completion of the unit students will have been exposed to attitudes, values and beliefs consistent with the following objectives:
Psychomotor Domain Objectives At the completion of the unit students will be able to:
Social Domain Objectives At the completion of the unit students will be able to:
For on campus students, workload commitments are:
FIT3068 is a core unit at 3rd year level in the BITS major in Information Systems and is an elective available to any other degree.
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed 12 credit points of second year FIT units or be simultaneously enrolled.
Monash is committed to ‘Excellence in education’ (Monash Directions 2025 - http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html) and strives for the highest possible quality in teaching and learning.
To monitor how successful we are in providing quality teaching and learning Monash regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through Unit Evaluation Surveys. The University’s Unit Evaluation policy (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/unit-evaluation-policy.html) requires that every unit offered is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys as they are an important avenue for students to “have their say”. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
Faculties have the option of administering the Unit Evaluation survey online through the my.monash portal or in class. Lecturers will inform students of the method being used for this unit towards the end of the semester.
Contact hours : Friday, 10.00-11.30
Contact hours : TBA
A combination of lecture and related laboratory work will link together and provide the basis for this unit.
Lectures will include webcasts, guest speakers from industry appropriate discussion topics that relate to enterprise system integration. Assignments will support the learning of these issues.
Tutorials:
Students will use SAP to understand enterprise system integration issues. Students are required to have hands on experience in sap and appropriate process modelling tools.
Students will also be involved in tutorial discussions about topical issues that relate to enterprise systems.
On-campus students should register for tutorials/laboratories using Allocate+
Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are 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.
| Week | Topic | Key dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to information systems | 2 March |
| 2 | Information systems in organisations | 9 March |
| 3 | The challenge of integration | 16 March |
| 4 | Business process view | 23 March |
| 5 | Enterprise Systems (1) | 30 March |
| 6 | Enterprise systems (2) | 6 April |
| Mid semester break | ||
| 7 | Enterprise systems (3) | 20 April |
| 8 | Enterprise systems (4) | 27 April |
| 9 | SOA and webservices | 4 May |
| 10 | Enterprise systems (5) | 11 May |
| 11 | Organisational change strategies | 18 May |
| 12 | Future issues and trends | 25 May |
| 13 | Review | 1 June |
There are no prescribed texts for this unit. Students will be given recommended readings that are pertinent to the topic they are studying each week. Below are a list of recommended texts and readings that students may find helpful in preparing for lectures and tutorials and assignments.
Students are expected to find appropriate references for the various topics discussed in the lectures and assignments using the facilities provided by the Monash University Libraries.
On campus students will have access to software that they require for this unit, which is installed in the computing labs. This will include: SAP (version to be advised)
Study resources we will provide for your study are:
The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching. To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.
The Educational Library and Media Resources (LMR) is also a very resourceful place to visit at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/library/
All unit and lecture materials are available through MUSO (Monash University Studies Online). Blackboard is the primary application used to deliver your unit resources. Some units will be piloted in Moodle. If your unit is piloted in Moodle, you will see a link from your Blackboard unit to Moodle (http://moodle.monash.edu.au) and can bookmark this link to access directly. In Moodle, from the Faculty of Information Technology category, click on the link for your unit.
You can access MUSO and Blackboard via the portal: http://my.monash.edu.au
Click on the Study and enrolment tab, then Blackboard under the MUSO learning systems.
In order for your Blackboard unit(s) to function correctly, your computer needs to be correctly configured.
For example:
For more information, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/downloadables-student.html
You can contact the MUSO Support by phone : (+61 3) 9903 1268
For further contact information including operational hours, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/contact.html
Further information can be obtained from the MUSO support site: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/index.html
This unit is assessed with two assignments and a two hour final formal supervised assessment.
To pass this unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:Title : Assignment 1: TBA
Description :
Weighting : 20%
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : TBA
Title : Assignment 2: TBA
Description :
Weighting : 20%
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : TBA
Weighting : 60%
Length : 2 hours
Type ( open/closed book ) : Closed book
All assignments will be submitted by paper submission to level 6, Caulfield School of IT FIT3068 assignment drop box by 4 pm on the day the assignment is due. However students who have completed their assignment and are ready to hand it in, may do so by leaving it in the allocated assignment drop box before the due date.
The assignment must include the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached at the front of the assignment.
Do not email submissions.
The due date is the date by which the submission must be received.
Assignments
Standards for presentation
All printed assignment work must be word processed and meet the standards set
out in the assignment. Refer to the following URL for writing assignments and
for referencing styles:
http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/assignments/sims-style-guides.html
All assignments must include an appropriate signed CaSIT assignment cover page. Located at:
http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/assignments/
http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/assignments/policies.html
The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. 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. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.
The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. 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. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.
If you believe that your assignment will be delayedbecause of circumstances beyond your control such as illness, you should applyfor an extension at least three days prior to the due date. All applications for extensions must bemade in writing to your lecturer.
In cases of illness, medical certificates or other supporting documentation will be required and a copy of the email or other written communication confirming acceptance of the extension must be attached to the assignment submission.
Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty.
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
Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.
Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of the Monash University Education Policy at http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/assessment/
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.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 the University Plagiarism policy and procedure (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) which applies to students detected plagiarising.
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.
The university requires faculties to keep a simple and confidential register to record counselling to students about plagiarism (e.g. warnings). The register is accessible to Associate Deans Teaching (or nominees) and, where requested, students concerned have access to their own details in the register. The register is to serve as a record of counselling about the nature of plagiarism, not as a record of allegations; and no provision of appeals in relation to the register is necessary or applicable.
The Faculty of Information Technology is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however, the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your communications and written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are, therefore, requested to check for this and to ensure your work and communications are non-discriminatory in all respects.
Students with disabilities that may disadvantage them in assessment should seek advice from one of the following before completing assessment tasks and examinations:
Deferred assessment (not to be confused with an extension for submission of an assignment) may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Information and forms for Special Consideration and deferred assessment applications are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html. Contact the Faculty's Student Services staff at your campus for further information and advice.