615-355 Legal and Ethical Framework

Note

1. This subject is regarded as a non-science subject for students enrolled in the single BSc and combined BSc courses.
2. Students cannot receive credit for 615-355 and Computer Science 433-343.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Successful completion of at least 35 points of second or third year Information Systems or Computer Science subjects

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject introduces some of the legal and ethical issues associated with the effective use of information systems in a complex organisational and societal framework. Alternative legal business entities and types of contracts are defined. The subject then explores the development and implementation of information systems in ways that satisfy legal, ethical, and business requirements.

Topics may include business entities (companies, partnerships, trusts, etc.), contracts, copyright and patents, privacy and confidentiality, and computer crime.

At the completion of this subject, students should:

• have an understanding of the legal framework of business with respect to information systems, including business entities, intellectual property, contracts, and privacy;
• be exposed to, and have grappled with, a series of practical ethical questions;
• have constructed a personal frame of reference for ethical practice.

Assessment

Class participation; a written assignment of 5000 words; a 3-hour end-of-semester written examination. Weighting of the assessment components will be announced at the commencement of the subject.