University of Technology Sydney

32040 Industry Project

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Information Technology: Professional Practice and Leadership
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 32144 Technology Research Preparation

Recommended studies:

systems design; requirements gathering; project planning; networking; report writing; presentations; working in teams

Description

This subject deals with issues involved in strategic level analysis and design in a corporate information systems environment. Through a major case study, it reinforces material previously studied, while giving groups of students scope to use their own judgement in applying their knowledge. It stresses the development and assessment of alternative approaches to a system strategy. Senior management and communication skills are also developed.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Conceptualise, design, and undertake research on an industry based problem or scenario. (C.1)
2. Engage in decision making in areas of uncertainty. (C.1)
3. Identify and present systematically, the requirements for an information system in a medium to large and complex organisation. (B.1)
4. Develop an appropriate systems solution, assess its impact on the organisation and make management recommendations. (C.1)
5. Design and implement a strategy for introducing change to a corporate information system. (C.1)
6. Clearly communicate contributions to practical situations. (E.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
  • Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This is a capstone subject that is comprised of tutorials and group meetings.

Initial classes articulate subject organisation, requirements and direction. These are followed by weekly teamwork tutorials/meetings. Each week these provide students with verbal feedback from their tutors, so as to gauge their progress and gain ideas for future direction.

Students access Canvas to view videos, reference materials and communication tools. By accessing Canvas, students are informed in a wide range of material, from how to form their groups to how to prepare and develop their assessment tasks.

Being a capstone project, this online learning is then used as reference materials for use with tutorial and group meetings, where students are required to work collaboratively as a project team. They are guided and encouraged to have their own team meetings and thereby further develop the project. Students are encouraged to use collaborative technologies outside face-to-face meetings.

Content (topics)

  1. Case study background
  2. Advanced report writing
  3. Presentation techniques
  4. Group dynamics
  5. High-level design concept

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Industry Report

Intent:

This item assesses a student’s ability to produce a suitable report based on an industry based problem or scenario in an industry team environment.

Option A - assesses an individual student's competence in understanding an industry based problem or formulating a suitable project to address this problem.

Option B - assesses the competence of a group of students in understanding an industry based scenario and developing a suitable solution to address this scenario.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and E.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 80%
Length:

Option A Students - An industry level report of appropriate length in relation to the project and to be determined in conjunction with the academic supervisor

Option B Teams - An industry level report of approximately 35 to 50 pages (body of report) excluding appendices, reference lists, etc.

Assessment task 2: Presentation

Intent:

This item assesses a student’s oral communication skills and ability to present arguments clearly and concisely to specialist and non-specialist audience.

Students will develop and present an industry based poster video presentation based on their industry based project

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 3, 4 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and E.1

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 20%
Length:

Video: 3-5 minutes

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

References

McNurlin, Barbara C., Sprague, Ralph H. [2013]
Information Systems Management 8th Ed
Pearson Education, New Jersey

Guffey, Mary E., Lowey, Dana [2015]
Business Communication 8th Ed
Cengage, Manson USA

Pearson, Neil., Larson, Erik., Gray, Clifford. [2023]
Project Management in Practice, 3rd Ed
McGraw Hill, Australia

Other resources

Soft copies of all outlines and assignments may be found at Canvas: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.