615-302 The Economics of Information and Information Technology

Note

This subject is regarded by the Faculty of Science as a non-sciencesubject for students enrolled in the single BSc and combined BSc courses.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

615-102 (Accounting and Finance for Decision Making) or 306-102 (Accounting Concepts) or 306-104 (Accounting 1B)

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject covers the theory and practice of information systems economics which support the evaluation of IT and IS investment proposals. More broadly, it examines the contribution of information systems to enhanced information delivery in a range of organisational contexts and the means of assessing the impact of these systems using both qualitative and quantitative measures. Topics to be covered include: frameworks for decision making; risk analysis; project justification; cost management; financial guidelines; system evaluation measures and estimates of benefits; measures of information value and information impact measures.

At the completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• identify, quantify and evaluate the costs and benefits of existing and proposed information systems;
• critically assess traditional methods for evaluating the return on investments in information technology and information systems;
• employ appropriate measures of the impact of information in various business contexts;

Assessment

Two written exams (mid-semester and end of semester) of two hours each; individual and or group presentations. The weighting of assessment components will be announced at the commencement of the subject.