University of Technology Sydney

42080 Fundamentals of Information Systems

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 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Information Technology: Computer Science
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

Appropriate use of information is the key to organisational sustainability and growth in today’s world. This introductory subject imparts students with the fundamental knowledge of key concepts in information systems. It introduces students to the functional dynamics in an organisation and how information system supports them. The subject highlights the key technology, business systems available in current practices. It helps them to understand how to acquire and develop solutions to business challenges using technology and systems. The subject also introduces the concepts of socially responsible use of information encompassing privacy, security, and social impacts of information.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1. Assess alignment between business strategies and IS/IT strategies in organisations. (B.1)
2. Demonstrate ability to achieve and maintain competitive advantage for organisations utilising new technology trends. (C.1)
3. Design solutions to IS/IT related challenges (technological, social, safety, ethical etc.) for organisations. (C.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)

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will be delivered in online mode over a 1.5-hour duration weekly for 12 weeks. During the 1.5 hours, the lecturer will first introduce the concepts related to the weekly topic. Then a group-based exercise will be conducted with the aim of solving specific IS challenges relevant to the topic.

Lecture notes of the concept introduction will be made available online along with related contents such as presentations, videos etc.

Further weekly discussion topic will be made available through forums where students will contribute and critique via forum discussions.

Quizzes will be conducted online to ensure students have good understanding of the weekly concepts. This will provide regular feedback on student learning.

Content (topics)

  1. Introduction to Information Systems
  2. Information systems within the organisation
  3. Organisational Strategy, Competitive Advantage and Information Systems
  4. Acquiring information systems and application
  5. Data and Knowledge Management
  6. Business Intelligence
  7. Customer Relationship Management and Supply Chain Management
  8. Human-AI Interaction
  9. Information Security - Cyber Security

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Module Quiz (3)

Intent:

To apply understanding of knowledge to a series of technical questions.

Objective(s):

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

1, 2 and 3

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

B.1 and C.1

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%

Assessment task 2: In-class Activities

Intent:

Students demonstrate their ability to apply the concepts learnt to a problem presented.

Objective(s):

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

1, 2 and 3

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

B.1 and C.1

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

Assessment task 3: Assignment

Intent:

This assessment is to test students’ ability to characterise a real-life business IS/IT challenge, research the current practices, and to devise an appropriate solution for the challenge.

Objective(s):

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

1, 2 and 3

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

B.1 and C.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 40%
Length:

2000 words maximum

Minimum requirements

To pass this subject, students must achieve an overall mark of 50% or greater.

Required texts

Management Information Systems, 1st Australian Edition R. Kelly Rainer, Heather Gray, Tomayess Issa, Graeme Pye, Indrit Troshani, Brad Prince, Hugh J. Watson ISBN: 9781118646021

Recommended texts

Essentials of MIS, Global Edition, 13th Edition

Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon.