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Unit outline_

INFS6077: Digital, Data and Decisions

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Digital technology and digital data offer novel business opportunities and have a transformative effect on how business is conducted. These technologies also transform society and our daily lives. This unit provides an introduction in the manifold ways that digital technology and data impact business. It engages both with current developments and latest innovations and provides an overview of digital business foundations.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Business Information Systems
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
INFS6016
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mylene Struijk, mylene.struijk@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Mylene Struijk, mylene.struijk@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Individual Report A
Please see detailed Individual Assignment requirements in Canvas.
25% Week 06
Due date: 06 Sep 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 13 Sep 2024
1500 Words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment Individual report B
Please see detailed Individual Assignment requirements in Canvas.
30% Week 10
Due date: 11 Oct 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 18 Oct 2024
1500 word report
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5
Assignment group assignment Group project report
Data governance strategy
40% Week 13
Due date: 06 Nov 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 13 Nov 2024
4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Group pitch
Pitch of data governance strategy
5% Week 13
Due date: 30 Oct 2024 at 11:48
10 minute pitch
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Group project report: The group project report is an applied assignment that requires the team's development of a data governance strategy for an industry partner.

Individual Assignment A: The report will assess the implications of generative AI for data governance. 

Individual Assignment B: The report will explore decision-making with data in complex organizational settings. 

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.

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:

Applies according to the University policies

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction and overview Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Introduction to data governance Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Strategies, programs, and frameworks Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 04 The impact of emerging technologies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Data quality Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Securing and protecting data Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Societal and ethical considerations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 08 Leveraging digital data for decision-making Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 09 Collective data governance Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 10 Managing and sustaining change Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Guest lecture Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 12 Review and synthesis Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Group pitches Lecture and tutorial (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

Details about prescribed readings for this unit are 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. Discuss and apply the foundational principles and concepts of data governance, including stewardship, data quality, security, metadata, and lifecycle management
  • LO2. Reflect critically on the implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and internet of things, on data governance practices
  • LO3. Analyze case studies of data governance practices in various (inter)organizational contexts to identify stakeholders, key success factors, challenges, and opportunities
  • LO4. Evaluate the broader societal and ethical implications surrounding data governance, including privacy and transparency, and propose and discuss the effectiveness of ethical guidelines
  • LO5. Assess how organizations can leverage digital data and become more data-driven to enhance decision-making processes
  • LO6. Develop and present a comprehensive data governance strategy tailored to a specific case organization, integrating lecture materials, and ensuring alignment with the organizational context

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.

This unit is continually updated in response to student feedback, including a greater emphasis on cutting-edge technologies, revised assessments, and updated learning materials.

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.