With increased globalisation, companies are facing stiffer competition and successful companies cannot afford to harbour inefficiencies if they are to be competitive. Furthermore, customers are becoming more demanding. Business processes must be designed to ensure that they are effective and meet customer requirements. A well-designed process will improve efficiency and deliver greater productivity.
This unit will survey the analytical tools that can be used to model, analyse, understand and design business processes. Students will also gain hands-on experience in using simulation software as a tool for analysing business processes.
Upon completion of this unit students should have acquired: an understanding of business organisations, their functional structure and the advantage of considering the process oriented view of organisations; a thorough knowledge of business processes, their structure and how processes fit in to the overall organisation objectives; knowledge of the analytical tools that can be used to model, analyse, understand, and design business processes; and skills to use simulation software as a tool for analysing business processes.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs laboratories/wk
You are expected to spend 12 hours per week on various activities including reading, communication with other students and unit lecturers, and preparation for learning tasks and formal assessments.
ETC2490, BUS3502
Completion of 24 points at level 1 from FIT or BusEco
Mark Wallace
Consultation hours: Appointments by email
Tam Leong Hing
Peter Huynh
Consultation hours: Thursday 10am - 11am. Appointments by email
Nikit Sharma
Consultation hours: Appointments by email
Examination (2 hours): 70%; In-semester assessment: 30%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 - Process Modelling | 15% | 16 April 2012 |
| Assignment 2 - Process Simulation | 15% | 25 May 2012 |
| Examination 1 | 70% | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
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http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
Based on previous evaluations of this unit the following changes have been made:
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.
ExtendSim Software (installed in the designated laboratories of this unit).
Prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.
Wisner J.D., Stanley, L.L.. (2008). Process Management - creating value along the supply chain. () Thomson South Western Publishing (ISBN: 978-0-324-29157-5).
Manuel Laguna and Johan Marklund. (2004). Business Process Modeling, Simulation and Design. () Prentice Hall (ISBN: 10: 0131099795).
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Introduction to Business Processes and Process Modelling | |
| 2 | Business Process Re-engineering and Six Sigma Process management | |
| 3 | Process management | |
| 4 | Process Modeling 1 | |
| 5 | Process Modeling 2 | |
| 6 | Guest Lecture | |
| 7 | Queuing and Statistics | Assignment 1 due 16 April 2012 |
| 8 | Extend as a Process Simulation Tool | |
| 9 | Business Process Simulation 1 | |
| 10 | Business Process Simulation 2 | |
| 11 | Interpreting Simulation Outcomes | |
| 12 | Optimising Process Performance | Assignment 2 due 25 May 2012 |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken 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 MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
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).
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.
Students are not allowed to resubmit any of the assignments unless they have been requested to do so by the lecturer.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/
The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows: