Lecturer in charge

Mr Michael Matthew

Availability

D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year
E1 - Evening; Offered in the first half-year

Unit Outline

• 2008 - Semester 2
  
• 2008 - Semester 1
  
• 2007 - Semester 2
  
• 2007 - Semester 1
• 2006 - Semester 1
• 2006 - Semester 2

Websites

Handbook Entry 

MCom + MIB Student Guide

Description

This unit is designed to give students a focus on how businesses use IT systems in their day to day operations.

A ‘non technical’ unit it looks at how organisations are using Information Systems in practically every aspect of their day to day business activities.

Making extensive use of case studies (from the text and the lecturer’s experience) it emphasises the ‘value add’ of Information Systems whilst reinforcing the basic concepts and/or technical perspectives. It also emphasizes and integrates the significant trends toward e-business and e-commerce that have become prevalent in the last few years.

The objective of the unit is to increase the student’s ability to recognise, describe, evaluate, analyse and ‘design’ Information Systems from a business professional’s viewpoint. Achievement of the unit’s objectives will make students more able to play an effective part in the Information Systems development, management and use. It will also help students to be more able to communicate effectively with Information Systems professionals.

The lecturer is a former partner in a big consulting firm and has over 27 years (and counting!) of industry experience.

Topics

• Introduction to business information systems
• The technological infrastructure of modern information systems (i.e. hardware, software and network)
• WWW and the Internet
• Functional systems for communication, collaboration and management
• Information systems development
• E-business
• The use of information technology for competitive advantage
• IT issues within society