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Unit outline_

INFS5002: Foundation in Business Information Systems

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit introduces students to the foundations of business information systems and the emerging strategic role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in transforming organisations. Students develop an understanding of how ICT come to matter to organisations as they disrupt, change and transform organisations and organisational processes. The unit covers systems issues, information literacy 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 gain an understanding of socio-technical networks, how information systems function, and how processes in organisations can be leveraged to create digital innovation and business transformation.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Business Information Systems
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
INFS6001
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sebastian Boell, sebastian.boell@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Sebastian Boell, sebastian.boell@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment End of Semester Reflective Essay
An end of semester reflection on the unit learning. For details see Canvas.
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 05 Jun 2023 at 23:59
2100 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2
Participation Participation
Individual, see canvas for details
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Reflection on Group Work
Provide and respond to feedback on the performance of team members in.
20% Week 08
Due date: 17 Apr 2023 at 23:59
1400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Assignment group assignment Group Project
Design proposal for system, with weekly formative submissions, see Canvas.
40% Week 13
Due date: 24 May 2023 at 23:59
1 proposal ~5,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

For details on assessments please see the assessment section and details provided on the Unit’s Canvas site.

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 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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

regular late penalties apply

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 Introduction to Foundation in Digital Business; BIS as Technology Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 BIS as Disruption; BIS as Transformation; BIS as Project Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 BIS as Communication; BIS as Developed; Workshop - Literature Searching Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 BIS as Tool; BIS as Information Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 BIS as System; BIS as Designed; Workshop - Design Thinking Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 BIS as System Dynamic; BIS as System Thinking Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 BIS and IT; BIS as Data; Workshop - Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD); Workshop - Data Flow Diagrams Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 BIS as Workflow; Workshop - Introduction to BPMN. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 BIS as Tool for Efficiency; BIS as Insight; Workshop - Interface and Interaction design & development, Adobe XD. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 BIS as Strategy; BIS as Decision Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 BIS as Ethical; BIS as Media Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 BIS as Sustainable; BIS as Choice. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Summary and Farewell; Group Project pitch/presentation to clients. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures 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. Participation in tutorials is mandatory, if you miss more than 4 tutorials without special consideration you will fail this unit. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all tutorials. Tutorial seesions are NOT be recorded.

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

see Canvas

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. Interpret, analyze, model and visualize representations of business processes, organisational structures and data.
  • LO2. Appraise and critically assess the use of digital technology in business, society and individual workplace contexts.
  • LO3. Effectively communicate and collaborate with different personalities, individually and in group settings, incomplex digital work environments to achieve positive and sustainable change outcomes.
  • LO4. Evaluate the operations of a business and suggest and design solutions and improvements enabled by digital technology.
  • LO5. Identify current trends in business information systems and ability to assess their implications for managers, organisations, employees and other stakeholders.
  • LO6. Appraise and Examine the problem space within which technology is used with the aim to argue for the design of a specific solution

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.

Thank you for your feedback. Your input is used to make continuous adjustments to in-class activities and assessments. Stay in touch and please reach out for any additional feedback you want to provide.

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.