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Unit outline_

OINF5990: Professional Practice in IT

Semester 2b, 2023 [Online] - Online Program

This Unit of Study introduces the students to some of the concepts, standards and techniques associated with the current professional practice in information technology in the business environment. Students will encounter a range of concepts, techniques and professional issues including interpersonal and organisational communication, human resources and conflict resolution, globalisation, professional ethics, social impacts of IT, data security, data quality assurance, system audit, investigative research and project management practice. Practical and real world case studies will be used as part of the learning to enhance the in-class teachings to the needs of industry.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Computer Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
INFO5990
Assumed knowledge
? 

Students enrolled in INFO5990 are assumed to have previously completed a Bachelor's degree in some area of IT, or have completed a Graduate Diploma in some area of IT, or have many years experience as a practising IT professional

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ali Anaissi, ali.anaissi@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Contribution Reports
Reports will be used to assess the level of contribution made by members.
0% Multiple weeks Typically 50-100 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4
Assignment group assignment Team Profile
A profile which shows team capabilities, areas of improvement & governance.
0% Week 01 TBC
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO10
Assignment group assignment Report 1
Write a professional report for your company CIO in response to a scenario.
15% Week 02 2000-4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO7 LO9 LO10 LO11
Assignment group assignment Report 2
Write a professional report for your company CIO about certain issues.
15% Week 04 2000-4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11
Assignment group assignment Report 3
Write an audit brief for an external auditor.
20% Week 06 2000-4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11
Supervised exam
? 
hurdle task
Final Exam
This is a 2-hour formal closed-book exam.
40% Week 08
Due date: 07 Jun 2023 at 18:30
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Online task Participation - Synchronous sessions
Participatory discussion. Opportunity to ask questions and review topics.
5% Weekly 90 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Online task Participation - Discussion Forum
Participation in forums - engaging in chats, asking & answering questions.
5% Weekly Weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Tutorial quiz Weekly Quiz
Weekly self-assessment quiz to allow students to self-assess their own leve
0% Weekly Weekly self-assessment
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Details of each assessment task appears in Canvas for the course.

The assessment contains three main components:

  • Knowledge (40%): This is assessed through two primary components: (1) Weekly quizzes (0%) - these are not worth any marks but contribute to participation. This means that there is no penalty for attempting them and getting them wrong, as they are intended as a way for students to receive immediate feedback on their learning progress. (2) Final exam (40%) – a formal close-book exam.
  • Team Report (50%): This is a major group report that will be developed incrementally through the semester and which focuses on understanding the implementation of technology within organisations. There are two main submissions, as well as several minor planning and reflection requirements.
  • Participation (10%): This is assessed based on students active participation in completing the weekly quizzes and engaging in discussions on the discussion forum, as well as completing the weekly team report prework.

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

Excellent course work

Distinction

75 - 84

Very good course work

Credit

65 - 74

Good course work
 

Pass

50 - 64

Fair course work

Fail

0 - 49

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

 

It is a policy of the School of Computer Science that in order to pass this unit, a student must achieve at least 40% in the written examination. For subjects without a final exam, the 40% minimum requirement applies to the corresponding major assessment component specified by the lecturer. A student must also achieve an overall final mark of 50 or more. Any student not meeting these requirements may be given a maximum final mark of no more than 45 regardless of their average.

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:

Late penalties are applied as per University policy (5% of the maximum mark per day, up to a maximum of 10 days, after which a mark of zero is 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 *Enabling Skills for Succeeding in This Unit *Creating Organisational Value Through IT Investments *Wrap-Up Independent study (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
*Check In *Review Misconceptions/Address Questions *Lecture *Break out groups *Synthesis (whole group) and closing Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Week 02 *Weekly Overview *Enterprise Architecture *From Linear to Continuous *IT Service Management (ITSM) Frameworks, and the Agile Approach *DevOps *Change Management *Sourcing *Wrap-Up Independent study (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
*Check In *Review Misconceptions/Address Questions *Lecture *Break out groups *Synthesis (whole group) and closing Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Week 03 *Weekly Overview *Communication - The Nature of Writing *Communication - So Why Is It Difficult? *Communication - Getting it Right *People - IT Teams and Teamwork *People - Recruitment and Retention *Finding and Trusting Information *Research *Wrap-Up Independent study (4.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO8 LO10 LO11
*Check In *Review Misconceptions/Address Questions *Lecture *Break out groups *Synthesis (whole group) and closing Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO8 LO10 LO11
Week 04 *Weekly Overview *Scoping and Estimation *Decision Making *Tracking IT Investments *Wrap-Up Independent study (2.2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
*Check In *Review Misconceptions/Address Questions *Lecture *Break out groups *Synthesis (whole group) and closing Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Week 05 *Weekly Overview *Testing Management *Security Management *Quality Assurance and Quality Control *Quality Audits *Wrap-Up Independent study (3.2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO8 LO9
*Check In *Review Misconceptions/Address Questions *Lecture *Break out groups *Synthesis (whole group) and closing Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2 LO3 LO8 LO9
Week 06 *Weekly Overview *Ethics *Regulatory Issues *Revisiting IT Professions *Revisiting Organisational value *Wrap-Up Independent study (5.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
*Check In *Review Misconceptions/Address Questions *Lecture *Break out groups *Synthesis (whole group) and closing Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at lecture and tutorials is expected.

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

These are specified in the weekly material.

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. Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to construct and present effective written and oral communication appropriate to IT practitioners.
  • LO2. Students will be able to analyse and criticise wider issues and problems concerning professional practice in IT.
  • LO3. Students will be able to evaluate the impact of information technology on individuals and organisations within our globalised world.
  • LO4. Students will be able to demonstrate awareness of and have gained skills in aspects of professional practice including conflict resolution, contract negotiation, team formation, leadership and team dynamics.
  • LO5. Students will be able to understand issues relating to ethics and professional responsibility in the IT profession and be able to analyse and resolve ethical dilemmas.
  • LO6. Students will be able to understand aspects of intellectual property and its protection.
  • LO7. Students will be able to analyse current trends in human resource management in the IT industry.
  • LO8. Students will be able to understand issues related to, and select approaches for managing, software testing, data security, data quality, and quality assurance in the IT industry.
  • LO9. Students will be able to define the use of IT in different industries.
  • LO10. Students will be able to describe and apply skills relating to professional practice in IT project management.
  • LO11. Students will be able to select and apply investigative research methods, models and tools to IT professional practice; identify and critique changing information on the area of interest; and interpret the potential validity of results.

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 is the first time the unit has run, so no feedback has yet been provided.

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.