615-110 Foundations of Information Systems

This subject is regarded by the Faculty of Science as a non-science subject for students enrolled in the BSc, BASc and combined BSc.

Students may not gain credit for both 615-110 and any of 615-120 Introduction to Information Systems (prior to 2004), 103-100 or 103-001 Computer Applications or 103-002 Internet Applications.

Commerce degree students are not permitted to enrol in this subject, except BCom/BIS students, where this subject is a core component.

Nil.

The subject presents the foundations of information systems. The subject focuses on conceptual (systems thinking), organisational (culture and competitiveness), economic (cost structures), managerial (outsourcing and strategic processes), and societal (legal, ethical and security issues) aspects of information systems.

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

• view the organisation as an information processing system designed to manage environmental uncertainty;

• discuss the use of IS for automation, integration, organisational learning, reengineering, and strategy;

• understand the economic characteristics of the information economy;

• explain the operating, managerial and strategic processes associated with IS management; and

• describe the ethical concerns associated with information privacy, accuracy, intellectual property, and accessibility.

In addition to these subject-related skills, students should acquire or extend other valuable, generic skills. These include:

• problem-solving skills; and

• working in teams to allocate duties and achieve specified goals.

A group project (of 3-4 members) of 2000 words due during the semester (20%); a 2-hour written examination in the examination period (50%); an individual assignment of 1500 words due during the semester (20%); an individual assignment based on tutorial work during the semester (10%); Satisfactory completion of the examination and attendance of at least 80% of tutorials is necessary to pass the subject.