615-220 Current Issues in Information Systems I

50 points of information systems subjects.

The topics covered in this subject vary to maintain currency in the information systems profession. Examples of possible topics include computer-aided software engineering; the information super-highway; business opportunities on the internet; information privacy; why information systems fail; emerging technologies; information ecology; and the role of information systems in organisational change; client server computing, object oriented approaches, information systems planning, open systems, evaluation and selection of software packages, information politics, information behaviour, and the value of information. Students will choose or be given topics to be investigated either individually or in groups, and will perform library, on-line, and field research, prepare and deliver reports and presentations, and analyse and critically evaluate the reports and presentations of other students.

At the completion of this subject, students should:

• be conversant with a range of current technical and organisational issues related to information systems; and

• have explored these current issues in information systems while developing analytical skills and personal competencies in research, data collection and analysis, writing, listening, presenting, and working in teams.

Continuous assessment based on individual and group reports, presentations, and critiques, and an end-of-semester 2-hour examination. Student peer critiques will be a component of the assessment. Weighting of the assessment components will be announced at the commencement of the subject.