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Unit of study_

INFS6004: Digital Business Transformation

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The disruptive forces of digital technologies 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 digital 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 digital business transformation initiatives. Topics covered include: the drivers of digital business transformation, managing digital transformation as a process, understand the power of disruptive technologies, technological impacts on new forms of organizational arrangements.

Unit details and rules

Unit code INFS6004
Academic unit Business Information Systems
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
INFS5002 or COMP5206
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 digital technologies can be used and managed in a business. How to critically analyse a business and determine its options for digital transformation. Desirable Assumed Knowledge: Experience as a member of a project team

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Carol Hsu, carol.hsu@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Assignment 1
Business report
10% Week 04 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Assignment 2
Business report
40% Week 09 2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Assignment 3 (report)
Business report
40% Week 12 3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Assignment 3 (presentation)
Oral presentation
10% Week 13 Presentation duration to be determined
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Assignment 1: Students are required to select, analyse and submit a brief written description of a news item for a specific company relevant to the topic for a particular week in this unit and analysis of the likely transformative impact of this news item. Students will be encouraged to focus their projects on an industry and a company of interest to their future careers.
  • Assignment 2: Students are required to evaluate business strategic intent, business models and transformative change in a selected company. 
  • Assignment 3 (report): In groups, students are required to select, analyse and describe a company as experiencing organisational difficulties for which there may be a transformative solution. Determine and describe a solution in sufficient detail to show how it may adequately address the organisation’s challenges. Selecting and applying current change management frameworks, analyse the organisation and determine a transformative change management plan appropriate to the solution and the project’s requirements. 
  • Assignment 3 (presentation): All students in each team to design, develop and present the critical details from assignment 3 (report).

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Drivers of business transformation and process models of change Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 02 Leading change as a system process Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 Recognising the need for change and starting the process Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 04 Building relationships and diagnosis Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 Analysing Information and processes - BPR Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 06 Power, politics and leading transformation projects Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 07 Implementation planning: motivation and resistance Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 08 Evaluating transformation projects Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 09 Organisational learning from transformation projects Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 10 Sustaining transformation projects Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 11 Diffusing transformation projects Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 Unit review and synthesis Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 13 Group presentations Presentation (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

  • Hayes, J. (2018). The Theory and Practice of Change Management, 5th Ed. Palgrave-MacMillan.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Critically apply acquired knowledge and understanding of drivers, inhibitors and characteristics of business transformation and its management in formal assessment activities.
  • LO2. Critically analyse business problems that necessitate transformation and change in an organisation.
  • LO3. Critically and creatively analyse and propose business innovations to address identified business problems.
  • LO4. Critically synthesise and apply methods, models and frameworks with business analysis, communication and research skills in digital transformation projects.
  • LO5. Collaborate and communicate in a professional manner with people from diverse backgrounds.
  • LO6. Contribute effectively to address stated requirements for formal assessment activities both independently in individual assessments and as a responsible member of a diverse team for group assessments.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.