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Unit outline_

INFS6004: Digital Business Transformation

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal evening] - Remote

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

Academic unit Business Information Systems
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
INFS5002 or COMP5206
Prohibitions
? 
None
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
Lecturer(s) Evelyn Ng, evelyn.ng@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Assignment 1
Business report
15% Week 05
Due date: 24 Mar 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 31 Mar 2023
700 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Assignment 2
Business report
40% Week 09
Due date: 24 Apr 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 01 May 2023
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Assignment 3 (report & presentation slides)
Business report
35% Week 12
Due date: 19 May 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 26 May 2023
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Assignment 3 (in-class presentation)
Group presentation
10% Week 13
Due date: 22 May 2023 at 18:00

Closing date: 26 May 2023
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 news articles for a specific company relevant to the topic for a particular week in this unit and analysis of the likely transformative impact of the news articles. 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 & presentation slides): 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 (in-class 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 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.

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 and Overview Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 The Drivers and Enablers of Digital Transformation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Understand Digital Trends and Emerging Technologies_1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Understand Digital Trends and Emerging Technologies_2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Manage Change and Transformation-1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Manage Change and Transformation-2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Manage Change and Transformation-3 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Digital Transformation of Consumption Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Digital Transformation of Communication Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Digital Transformation of Value Chains and Supply Networks Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Digital Transformation of Traditional Industries Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Review and Guest Lecture Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Group Presentations Presentation (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

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 will be available on 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. Identify and describe the drivers and enablers of digital transformation in business settings.
  • LO2. Critically analyse business problems that necessitate digital 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 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.