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.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorial/wk
Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit as follows:
IMS5006, IMS5024
FIT9003 and FIT9006, or one of IMS9001, BUS5021
Gail Bourne
Consultation hours: By appointment
Henry Linger
Consultation hours: By appointment
Dr. Dora Constantinidis
Consultation hours: By appointment
David Grant
Consultation hours: By appointment
Examination (2 hours): 40%; In-semester assessment: 60%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Critical review plus presentation of findings | 20% | Submission due Week 5. Presentation of findings due in weeks 5 and 6 tutorials. |
| A Case Study report and presentation | 25% | Submission due Week 11. Presentations due in weeks 11 and 12 tutorials |
| Participation Assessment - Tutorial - 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 |
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:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
We will involve the Learning Skills Unit from Monash Library to provide additional support for critical academic writing, critical evaluation and support for 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
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.
Students must use the online facilities available through the unit MUSO website (Moodle). 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.
It is recommended that you refer to:
Avison, D.E. & Fitzgerald, G. (2006). Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools (4th edn). London: McGraw-Hill.
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0. | |
| 1 | Introduction, Overview of systems development concepts -tradtional SDLC; evolution of system development approaches | Assignment 1, Critical Review handed out. References for papers 1-2 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 3, 4, 5 and 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 |
| 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, out sourcing, off shoring. | Review of sixth paper in tutorial. |
| 11 | Other delivery methods and issues. | Assignment 2: Case Study report due: Case Study Presentation |
| 12 | Summary and Review | Case Study Presentation |
| 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 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 expected that you will attend at least 70% of the lectures, including 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.
This assignment will be assessed on:
The submission and presentation will be assessed on completeness of the assessment task and the format of both the written presentation and the oral presentation 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 construcrive 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.
You are expected to have read the paper specified for that tutorial and 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
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.
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:
Additional relevant readings and references will be provided on the unit MUSO website during the semester.