University of Sydney Handbooks - 2019 Archive

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Business Information Systems

Errata
item Errata Date
1.

The following unit has been cancelled:

INFS3080 Business Information Systems Projects

12/12/2018
2.

Sessions have changed for the following unit:

INFS3600 Business Information Systems in Practice Session: Available Semester 1 only

15/1/2019

The units of study listed in the following table are those available for the current. Students may also include any units of study, which are additional to those currently listed, which appear under these subject areas in the Business School handbook/website in subsequent years (subject to any prerequisite or prohibition rules).

Timetabling information for the current year is available on this website: Timetables.

Table A - The University of Sydney Business School

Business Information Systems

1000-level units of study

INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive January,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 1x 2hr lecture and 1x 1hr lab workshop per week Prohibitions: ISYS1003 or INFO1000 Assessment: group work (10%), group project (25%), mid-semester test (25%), and final exam (40%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day, Block mode
The Digital Economy, with its focus on information as a key business resource, has changed the way Business Information Systems (BIS) are viewed in organisations. BIS are now seen as enablers of innovation in which people, supported by powerful technology, are considered to be the most important component. This is because problem-solving, innovation and critical thinking skills cannot be outsourced or easily acquired by competitors. This unit is designed to develop your understanding of how businesses operate. It shows how information systems support business operations and management through integration of people, business processes and systems. You will be provided with an introduction to state-of-the art business analysis techniques, frameworks and models to assist in understanding the nature and contribution of BIS in a range of business contexts. With its emphasis on business rather than IT, this unit does not require prior IT-related experience. In this unit you will learn about the increasingly important role of IT in business and acquire valuable business analysis and problem-solving skills.
INFS1020 Digital Work Environments

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 1 x 1.5 hour lecture and 1 x 1.5 hour workshop Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: mid-semester test (20%), individual assignment (15%), group report (25%), final exam (40%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Digital technologies, such as social media, mobile devices, and data analytics, have changed the way we collect and present ideas, communicate, and work together. In this unit students are introduced to various digital work environments and their implications for how work is done. Students learn about how employers recruit graduates online, what it is like to join and work in a modern, digital workplace, and the tensions that arise when traditional, structured workplaces are transformed through digital, flexible, and networked ways of working. Students engage in hands-on activities to acquire skills for how to present themselves effectively and professionally online (personal branding), how to communicate in digital channels in an organisational context (professional communication), how to effectively search for and work with digital information (data literacy), and how to digitally coordinate work in teams.

2000-level units of study

INFS2010 People, Information and Knowledge

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x 3hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: group project report (30%); group project presentation (10%); individual assignment (10%); final exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
To compete effectively in today's knowledge economy businesses are required to systematically manage their information and knowledge resources. In this unit you will develop an understanding of the main issues businesses face when they develop and implement knowledge management initiatives. You will be introduced to the tools and systems that enable businesses to acquire, store, distribute, analyse, and leverage information and knowledge resources. By focusing on the theoretical and practical principles that link people, information, and organisations, this unit will help you understand the processes of generating, communicating, and using knowledge in businesses, and the way these can be integrated with business strategy and information technology. Assumed knowledge for this unit is INFS1000 or equivalent.
INFS2020 Business Process Modelling and Improvement

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1 x 3 hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: individual assignment (25%), group project (25%), final exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit provides you with an in depth understanding of the role of business process management (BPM) and process architectures in a business environment. You will gain essential skills of the entire BPM lifecycle, from process identification to process monitoring, including process modelling, analysis, redesign and automation required to achieve high performing business processes in a service oriented business environment. In this unit, you will attain considerable hands-on skills with BPM tools, by documenting, analysing, and simulating current and improved processes. Assumed knowledge for this unit is INFS1000 or equivalent.
INFS2030 Digital Business Management

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x 3hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: individual project proposal (10%), group project report (35%), group project presentation (5%), mid-term exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit will provide you with a detailed overview of the concepts and models used in doing business digitally via the Internet. These concepts and models will enable you to evaluate, synthesise and implement Internet-enabled business models. The unit will provide the critical link between the firm's performance and modern Internet technologies, such as e-Commerce platforms, Social Media and Social Networking. Emphasis will be put on the utilisation of Internet technologies to enable new forms of digital business, rather than on the technologies themselves. Assumed knowledge for this unit is INFS1000 or equivalent.
INFS2040 Project Management Foundations

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x 3hr seminar per week Prohibitions: INFO3402 or ENGG1850 Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: group assignment (30%), mid-term exam (20%), final exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Projects are a common way of managing organisational transformation and change, the development of new products and the implementation of Information Technology (IT) in business. Information Systems (IS) business analysts will work in projects and need an understanding of both project management and the project environment. This unit will introduce you to the end-to-end project management lifecycle as described in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). You will learn how to successfully manage projects from initiation through execution to completion. The focus of this unit will be on the management, execution, and coordination of project activities. To this end you will learn hands-on project management techniques and gain first hand experience with a modern online project management platform, including an introduction to agile project management methodologies.
INFS2050 Data Governance and Technology Assurance

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1 x 3hr seminar per week Prohibitions: INFS3010 or INFS3030 Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: individual assignment (20%), group project (30%), final exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Data governance is a major imperative for organisations in effectively managing, using, protecting and leveraging their critical data assets. This unit introduces students to key concepts, processes, technologies and stakeholders related to the design and implementation of a data governance program. The unit takes an interdisciplinary and multi-level approach that examines standards, frameworks and methodologies for managing data quality, protecting critical and sensitive information, supporting business analytics and meeting compliance obligations. In examining different stages of the data lifecycle, students also learn about legal, professional and ethical responsibilities, policy implications, required skill sets and accountabilities.

3000-level units of study

INFS3040 Enterprise Systems and Integrated Business

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x 3hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: individual assignment (25%), group project (25%), final exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit provides you with an in depth understanding of the way in which implementation and use of large scale integrated Enterprise Systems change the nature of organisational capabilities, processes, and roles. You will understand the strategic role of Enterprise Systems in providing a platform for improved business operations and designing information infrastructures. You will gain considerable hands on experience with an enterprise wide system, such as SAP, concentrating on the way in which such systems support integrated business processes. Through a combination of discussion and practical work, you will gain strong knowledge in both the organisational and technical aspects of Enterprise Systems You will also explore the emergence and implications of cloud-based Enterprise Systems and the implementation process. Assumed knowledge for this unit is INFS1000 or equivalent.
INFS3050 Business Intelligence for Managers

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x 3hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: tutorial work (10%), midsession exam (30%), practical assignment (30%), final exam (30%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
To gain or maintain their competitive edge, more than ever before, organisations need to rely on high-quality information to support decision making processes at all organizational levels. Business Intelligence (BI) is now being recognized as one of the top business priorities world-wide. While in the past, the term BI was used to describe a very broad range of software applications, the latest thinking in this field emphasises IS support for human intelligence, in the context of business decision making. In this unit students learn how BI helps information discovery and how to analyse multidimensional data. Students gain hands-on experience in using a commercial BI platform. These practical skills, combined with in-depth analytical skills enable students to assist any organization (regardless of its size and industry domain) to derive more intelligence from its data, improve its performance and ultimately, compete on analytics. Issues are explored from the business rather than the technology perspective. This unit does not require prior programming experience.
INFS3080 Business Information Systems Projects

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: TBA Prerequisites: 48 credit points of units Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 and INFS2040 Assessment: individual assignment (20%); group project (40%); final exam (40%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit covers advanced topics in project management with an emphasis on contemporary issues in the delivery of complex Information Systems solutions for businesses. The topics include alternative project management methodologies and techniques, the human and organisational aspects of project management, the importance of project governance, the changing nature of project management in the digital era, as well as the evolving role of the project manager in the global business environment.
INFS3110 Information Systems for Accountants

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 1 x 3 hour workshop per week Prohibitions: INFS2001 Assumed knowledge: INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903 Assessment: individual assessment (20%), group workshop assessment (30%), final exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit demonstrates how accounting information systems (AIS) can improve business performance relating to the conduct of accounting based transactions. It provides students with the skills necessary to identify and assess opportunities for business improvement, by looking at both conceptual and physical AIS and to understand the varied ways in which the business must assess risks, controls, costs and benefits in relation to the implementation of an AIS. From an end-to-end systems perspective students gain knowledge of approaches and methodologies related to the design, implementation and operation of an AIS. Through graphic representations visual thinking can be applied to analyse, assess and improve the conceptual AIS with a view to its physical implementation. Students learn the importance of an integrated approach to managing business cycles including expenditure, conversion and revenue where multiple competing requirements often need to be balanced. Students develop expertise in business analysis, a foundation skill for accountants, auditors, project managers and business analysts.
INFS3600 Business Information Systems in Practice

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1 x 3 hr workshop per week Prerequisites: Students commencing from 2018: completion of at least 120 credit points including (INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903) and INFS1020. Pre-2018 continuing students: completion of at least 120 credit points including (INFS1000 or INFO1000 or INFO1003 or INFO1903), INFS2001 and INFS2020 Assessment: individual assignment (30%), group assignment (30%), final exam 40% Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: This unit should only be undertaken by students in their final semester of the Business Information Systems major.
This capstone unit bridges the gap between theory and practice by integrating knowledge and consolidating key skills developed across the Business Information Systems major. It aims to provide students with practical experience in identifying, analysing, and solving contemporary business problems. Much of this unit is dedicated to a problem-solving, experiential approach to learning. Students ensure their career-readiness by demonstrating their ability to apply concepts, theories, frameworks, methodologies, and skills to authentic problems and challenges faced in the field of information systems.

4000-level units of study

BUSS4000 Honours in Business

Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Prerequisites: BUSS4001 AND 2 x Honours coursework units in the specialisation area ((BUSS4112 and BUSS4113) or (BUSS4212 and BUSS4213) or (BUSS4312 and BUSS4313) or (BUSS4412 and BUSS4413) or (BUSS4512 and BUSS4513) or (BUSS4612 and BUSS4613) or (BUSS4712 and BUSS4713) or (BUSS4812 and BUSS4813)). Corequisites: BUSS4104 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit is administrative only and serves as a consolidation for all marks to represent a single final mark for students undertaking Honours. Marks will be calculated as follows: BUSS4001 (20%); BUSS4X12 (10%); BUSS4X13 (10%); BUSS4104 (60%).
BUSS4001 Business Honours Research Methods

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1 Prerequisites: Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area Assessment: researcher essay (20%); discipline and cluster based assessments (40%); research proposal (30%); research proposal presentation (10%) Mode of delivery: Block mode
This unit is an introduction to research methods used in business disciplines. The unit provides students with an understanding of the range of methods that may be used to answer research questions, their strengths and weakness and underlying philosophical assumptions. Key elements of the research process are addressed, including the purpose of the research; devising the research questions and hypotheses; selecting a research strategy; methods and procedures for data collection and analysis; and interpreting and reporting the results. Students learn important research terminology, how to write a research proposal and ethical considerations in conducting research. The first component of this unit is delivered to the whole Business School Honours cohort and covers obligations as a researcher. The second component of the unit splits into Disciplinary areas and covers issues related to research design.
BUSS4212 Business Information Systems Honours A

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Prerequisites: Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area Corequisites: BUSS4001; BUSS4213 Assessment: minor essay (40%), major essay (60%) Mode of delivery: Block mode
This unit covers advanced research-integrated coursework topics in Business Information Systems such as enterprise systems and organisational change, business benefit realisation from IT investment, information system evaluation, IT benefits management, and enterprise system implementation research from theoretical and case study perspectives.
BUSS4213 Business Information Systems Honours B

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Prerequisites: Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area Corequisites: BUSS4001: BUSS4212 Assessment: minor essay (40%), major essay (60%) Mode of delivery: Block mode
This unit covers advanced research-integrated topics in Business Information Systems relevant to the development of the honours thesis. These include the application of appropriate research methods with a view to assisting students to conduct their proposed research.
BUSS4104 Business Honours Thesis

Credit points: 24 Session: Semester 2 Prerequisites: BUSS4001 + 2 x Honours coursework units in the specialisation area Corequisites: BUSS4000 Assessment: individual thesis (100%), oral thesis communication (0%) Mode of delivery: Supervision
This unit comprises the research and writing of a supervised thesis on an approved topic in business. A written Honours Thesis and presentation of the research work is undertaken.