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Monash University

FIT9003 Database systems design - Semester 1, 2012

This unit is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts necessary for the analysis, design, use and implementation of business information systems using relational database management systems. The main topics covered include requirements elicitation, systems analysis and design informed by a lifecycle based methodology, motivation for the database approach to managing information, conceptual modelling, coverage of logical process and data models (hierarchical, network and relational data models), and the use of SQL and other facilities provided by database management systems.

Mode of Delivery

  • Caulfield (Off-campus)
  • Caulfield (Evening)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs studios/wk

Workload

For on-campus students, workload commitments per week are:

  • two-hour lecture and
  • two-hour studio (requiring advance preparation)
  • a minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.
  • You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks, for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Off-campus students should plan to spend an equivalent amount of time per week as part of their workload, and should seek advice from the lecturer when needed.  

Off-campus students will not be expected to attend lectures or studio sessions, but lectures will be recorded and made available via both a unit Podcast (available through Moodle and at http://podcast.infotech.monash.edu.au/fit9003) as well as the Library's Monash University Lectures Online (MULO) service.  All studio exercises and solutions will be posted to the unit's Moodle site (see below for access details), and some of the studio sessions themselves will be recorded and made available through the podcast. 

Students are encouraged to post their studio solutions to the Moodle discussion forums for feedback.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

CSE9002, BUS3112, BUS4112, IMS9001, IMS9003, GCO9804, BUS9003, BUS5071, FIT1004, FIT2010, FIT9012, FIT9019

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Rob Meredith

Consultation hours: By appointment

Academic Overview

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students will have -

A knowledge and understanding of:
  • the purpose of requirements specification, of functional modelling of processes and data, and of the database concept;
  • the relational database model;
  • how to allow them to apply integrity constraints and business rules to a system design and implementation based around an enterprise level database management system.

Developed attitudes that enable them to:
  • understand business information systems as the implementation of company policies and objectives;
  • respect the points of view of both technical and business actors in the system development process.

Developed the skills to:
  • undertake the functional modelling of processes and data for a business problem;
design and implement a database;
  • implement integrity constraints and business rules in a database;
  • write queries in SQL to maintain and use a relational database.

Demonstrated the communication skills necessary to:
  • communicate requirements for business functionality in terms of data required, management of that data and its processing;
  • work co-operatively in a professional systems development team.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Assignment 1a - Draft Conceptual Database Design 10% Week 6
Assignment 1b - Database Design 30% Week 9
Assignment 2 - Structured Query Language (SQL) 10% Week 12
Examination 1 50% To be advised

Teaching Approach

  • Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
    This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.
    Lectures will be used to present theory and outline concepts that will be put to use in practice during the studio sessions.   
  • Studio teaching
    Studio teaching is a facilitated active, participatory, peer learning approach.
    Studios will allow students to discuss concepts and practice techniques covered in the lecture and assessed in the assignment work.

    Exercises will be conducted in both lecture and studio sessions to allow students to practice the techniques taught.

Feedback

Our 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
  • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments
  • Other: Online discussion forums with comments

Your feedback to Us

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

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

Based on previous student feedback this unit is well structured and no changes have been made this semester.

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

Required Resources

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.

A software drawing package such as Microsoft Visio (Windows); a copy of which can be obtained from the Faculty's IT service desk.  You will need access to a computer running Windows to install a copy of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express Edition (version 2005 or later, also available from the Faculty's IT service desk).

For work on the SQL tutorials and Assignment 2 from off-campus, you will need to install the Monash VPN software (details on the Moodle site).

To watch the podcasts you will need podcast software such as iTunes to download and play episodes.  Alternatively, episodes can be manually downloaded with a web browser and watched using either iTunes or other video software such as VLC freely available from:http://www.videolan.org/ 

Information about how to obtain the relevant database software from Microsoft to allow connection to Monash's database server will also be provided via Moodle. You will need to install the Microsoft VPN software if you want to access the database server from off-campus (again, instructions will be provided on Moodle).

You will also need a web browser and Microsoft Word.  These are available for use in the University computer labs.

Prescribed text(s)

Prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.

Simsion, G.C. & Witt, G.C.. (2005). Data Modelling Essentials. (3rd) Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.

Recommended text(s)

Rob, P. & Coronel, C.. (2007). Database Systems Design, Implementation and Management. (7th) Thomson Course Technology.

Hoffer, J.A., George, J.F. & Valacich, J.S.. (2005). Modern Systems Analysis and Design. (4th) Pearson Education International/Prentice-Hall.

Hoffer, J.A., Prescott, M.B. & McFadden, F.R.. (2005). Modern Database Management. (6th) Prentice-Hall/Pearson Education.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0 Please register for a studio session (on-campus students only) and familiarise yourself with the Moodle site and podcast. No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction to Systems and Databases  
2 ER Modelling Basics  
3 Conceptual, logical and physical models  
4 Advanced modelling techniques and the data dictionary  
5 The Consulting Process  
6 Normalisation 1 Assignment 1a due
7 Normalisation 2 Feedback from Assignment 1a
8 Introduction to SQL  
9 Advanced SQL and middleware Assignment 1b due
10 Implementation  
11 Alternative Modelling Techniques  
12 Design Assignment 2 due
  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.

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)

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1a - Draft Conceptual Database Design
    Description:
    This is the first submission for Assignment 1 where you will develop a complete specification for a database system.  In this first part, you will develop a conceptual entity relationship diagram.  You may also complete as much of the deliverable for Assignment 1b as you like for feedback from your tutor.  The purpose of this assignment is to get feedback and refine your design before final submission in Assignment 1b.
    Weighting:
    10%
    Criteria for assessment:
    1. Quality of the introductory narrative overview
    2. Quality of design solution, in particular level of support for business requirements outlined in the case, and elegance of solution
    3. Correctness of notation
    4. Quality and professionalism of presentation, including layout, structure and grammar
    Due date:
    Week 6
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 1b - Database Design
    Description:
    You will submit your final database design including conceptual model, normalised model, logical model and data dictionary, incorporating feedback from Assignment 1a in your design.
    Weighting:
    30%
    Criteria for assessment:
    1. Quality of the introductory narrative overview
    2. Quality of design solution, in particular level of support for business requirements outlined in the case, and elegance of solution
    3. Correctness of notation
    4. Correctness of the normalisation process
    5. Correctness and completeness of the data dictionary entries and assertion check-list
    6. Quality and professionalism of presentation, including layout, structure and grammar
    Due date:
    Week 9
  • Assessment task 3
    Title:
    Assignment 2 - Structured Query Language (SQL)
    Description:
    You will write a number of SQL queries and commands.
    Weighting:
    10%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Each SQL command will be assessed as to whether the output of the command achieves the task required or answers the business question asked.

    Due date:
    Week 12

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    50%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

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 VLE site for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Resubmission of assignments

Assignments may not be resubmitted.

Referencing requirements

The nature of the assignment work in this unit means that there will be little need for citation and referencing.  However, any material that is submitted as part of your assignment submission that is not your own must be cited appropriately. 

See the Library website for information on citation technique:  http://guides.lib.monash.edu/content.php?pid=88267&sid=656564

Other Information

Policies

Student services

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:

  • Website: http://monash.edu/equity-diversity/disability/index.html;
  • Email: dlu@monash.edu
  • Drop In: Equity and Diversity Centre, Level 1 Gallery Building (Building 55), Monash University, Clayton Campus, or Student Community Services Department, Level 2, Building 2, Monash University, Sunway Campus
  • Telephone: 03 9905 5704, or contact the Student Advisor, Student Commuity Services at 03 55146018 at Sunway
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