University of Sydney Handbooks - 2020 Archive

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Business Information Systems

Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce

The information below details the unit of study descriptions for the units listed in the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.

Errata
Item Errata Date
1.

The following unit has been cancelled for 2020:

INFS6032 Agile Project Management

01/06/2020

Business Information Systems

Achievement of a specialisation in Business Information Systems requires 30 credit points from this table comprising:
(i) 6 credit points in foundational units of study
(ii) 24 credit points in elective units of study.

Units of study for the specialisation

Foundational unit of study

INFS5002 Digital Business Foundations

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive January,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 1x 3 hr seminar per week Prohibitions: INFS6001 Assessment: group project (40%), individual assessment (40%), mid-term test (20%)
This unit introduces students to the foundations of information systems and their emerging strategic role in transforming organisations and creating sustainable digital business models. Students develop an understanding of systems issues, information management and use, and how various digital technologies work together to create an infrastructure for digital business and how technologies (such as social media) are disrupting 'business as usual'. The role of information systems in capturing and distributing organisational knowledge and in enhancing decision-making is explored. Students will gain an understanding of how the information systems function and the processes in organisations can be leveraged to create digital innovation and business transformation. Finally, the special challenges and opportunities created by the pervasiveness of technology and the future disruptions resulting from digital technologies are explored.

Elective units of study

INFS6004 Business Transformation Projects

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x3hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: Understanding the major functions of a business and how those business functions interact internally and externally so the company can be competitive in a changing market. How Information Systems can be used and managed in a business. How to critically analyse a business and determine its options for transformation. Desirable Experience as a member of a project team. Assessment: assignment 1 (10%), assignment 2 (40%), assignment 3 - report (40%), assignment 3 - presentation (10%)
The forces that currently drive business transformation, such as globalisation, the IT revolution and environmental sustainability, require businesses to be in a constant state of change to stay competitive in turbulent markets. However, as companies need to maintain their current revenue streams, they need to progress through a series of integrated business transformation projects. In this unit, students learn how to analyse an organisation within a local and global context and develop knowledge of techniques required for managing technology-enabled business transformation projects. Topics covered include: the drivers of business transformation, managing change as a process, analysing information and processes, and planning, leading, sustaining, diffusing and learning from transformational projects.
INFS6012 Enterprise Systems Management

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x 3hr seminar per week Assessment: individual assignment (25%), group project (25%), final exam (50%)
This unit explores the strategic managerial issues that arise from the implementation and use of Enterprise Systems as a means of integrating data and standardising processes. The unit utilises a combination of practical sessions with an Enterprise System, such as SAP, and analyses based on readings of case studies to explore the long-term effects of strategic implementation decisions, and issues with regard to Enterprise System implementation projects. The unit explores the emergence and implications of cloud-based Enterprise Systems and the part that Enterprise Systems play in an organisation's broader information infrastructure.
INFS6015 Business Process Management

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x 3hr seminar per week Assessment: individual assignment (25%), group assignment (25%), final exam (50%)
This unit provides an overview of the business process architecture and life cycle from a management perspective. It provides a detailed understanding of the concepts, strategies, tools and technologies required for modelling, analysis, design, improvement, integration, performance measurement and governance of business processes (both intra- and inter-enterprise) in any organisational and/or value chain context and relevant industry standards. The unit also develops practical skills in modelling, redesigning and improving business processes using various business process management software tools/suites.
INFS6016 Technology Enabled Business Innovation

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1 x 3hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: INFS6004 and; Understanding the major functions of a business and how those business functions interact internally and externally so the company can be competitive in the market is essential in order to critically analyse how and where a business can be innovative. Some knowledge of how technology can be applied in a business is also essential. Experience as a member of a project team is desirable. Assessment: individual project proposal (10%), group project report (45%), group project presentation (5%), final exam (40%)
This unit develops knowledge and skills in innovative, technology-enabled business models and strategies from a management perspective. The unit facilitates a better understanding and application of the concepts, strategies, tools and technologies necessary for undertaking business innovation. From basic knowledge of business models and essential business processes, this unit increases awareness and understanding of stakeholders, their capabilities and their limitations in the strategic convergence of technology and business. It provides insights into the technology and infrastructure required to support commerce in the 21st Century and supports the development of student capabilities to analyse, develop and evaluate innovative technology-enabled business strategies and models.
INFS6018 Managing Business Intelligence

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1 x 3hr seminar per week Assumed knowledge: Understanding the major functions of a business and how those business functions interact internally and externally so the company can be competitive in a changing market. How information systems can be used and managed in a business. How to critically analyse a business and determine its options for transformation. (ii) Desirable Experience as a member of a project team. Assessment: mid-semester exam (35%); project report (30%); project presentation (10%); reflective summary (25%)
Business Intelligence (BI), increasingly known as Business Analytics, is a major source of competitive advantage in the Information Age and is, therefore, a leading business priority globally. In recent times, this field has evolved from a technology topic to a management priority, creating an unprecedented demand for new management skills. Taking a business rather than a technology perspective, this unit covers all aspects of the enterprise BI ecosystem in the context of strategic and operational BI, including all five stages of BI evolution. Topics include assessment and management of organisational data quality, multidimensional data modelling and integration, management of structured and unstructured data (including those created by social media), business aspects of data warehousing, innovation through advanced analytics, BI-driven performance management, business process intelligence, active enterprise intelligence, and management of complex BI projects. Access is provided to the largest world-wide community of BI academics and industry practitioners called TUN (www.TeradataUniversityNetwork.com). The hands-on experience in using a commercial BI platform, combined with in-depth analytical skills, will enable students completing the unit to help any organization (regardless of its size and industry domain) to derive more intelligence from its data and compete on analytics. This unit does not require programming experience; it is suitable for both current and aspiring BI practitioners as well as general business practitioners from any functional area interested to learn how to start and lead BI-related initiatives.
INFS6023 Data Visualisation

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 3hr workshop (once per week), weeks 1-13. Assessment: workshop participation (10%); individual project journal (15%); project report (35%); project presentation (15%); reflective summary (25%)
Data visualisation, story-telling, and scenario development have been identified as the most prominent analytical practices of tomorrow. This unit seeks to equip students with necessary knowledge and data visualisation skills, acquired through a real-life project inspired by the leading industry practices. Students will also develop a 'holistic' view of data visualisation in practice and will acquire 'thinking tools' to deal with its organisational and societal challenges. This unit focuses on business/organisational decision makers and their use of data visualisation. As such this unit does not require any prior IT, computer science or data science experience.
INFS6032 Agile Project Management

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x 3 hr seminar per week Assessment: weekly learning journals (30%), in-class agile activities (15%), agile group project report (25%), essay (30%)
Traditional approaches to project management and design work well under stable conditions, when intended outcomes are well understood. Yet, under conditional of market disruption, in innovation projects, new product development or for start-up businesses, traditional methods are often restrictive and inflexible. Agile Project Management and Design Thinking offer alternative approaches that value continuous change, flexibility, time-to-market, interactive learning and self-organisation over rigorous planning and design processes. In this unit, students will learn the ethos, principles, and methods of agile project management and design thinking. Students will experience hands-on techniques such as design thinking, learn management and Scrum as applied in practice. Learning will revolve around practical activities, insights from experienced guest speakers and case studies representing various industries.
INFS6066 Gadgets, Gods and Godzilla

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x3hr class per week (combining lecture and tutorial) for every week of semester Assessment: 5 learning reflection journals (30%); group project (25%); group project presentation (5%); final essay (40%)
Technology is at the heart of many of the contemporary trends and challenges facing organisations. This unit of study introduces students to balanced and critical ways of thinking about the nature and role of technology in business and society. It problematizes the hype surrounding new technological developments (gadgets), the deification of technology as a solution to problems of all kinds (gods), and the, often unintended, consequences of technology applications (godzilla). The unit utilises current technological developments as examples for discussion and examines technology and its design and application in the context of social networks, power relations, and current business trends.