IS1060 Introduction to information systems
Note
Candidates taking this paper are required to submit coursework.
Exclusions
May not be taken with IS2136 Information systems and organisations.
Syllabus
Information systems concepts: The socio-technical character of information systems. Notions of information, and data. Capture of data, storage and display. Information processing. Introduction to systems ideas and their application to information handling activities.
Information Systems within organisations: The roles and functions of information systems within organisations including providing management information, supporting knowledge work and undertaking transaction processing. Use of information in organisations and by various types of people and as applied to various types of task. Issues of information systems management in business and public administration and at a national policy level. Students are expected to undertake small case studies of information systems within local organisations.
Information and communications technologies: Review of the development of information and communication technology. Introduction to computer hardware and software. Representation of data in computer systems, files and databases. Operating software, applications packages and user written programmes. Communications technologies and networks. The Internet.
Systems development: The information systems development life cycle - feasibility, analysis, design, construction, changeover and operation. Introduction to structured development methodologies, prototyping and other alternative approaches. Data Modelling. Criteria for successful applications development. Professional roles in systems development. End user computing. Changeover to new ways of working and issues of the management of change.
Practical coursework: Introduction to software packages. The following types of packages are the basis for the required course work: spreadsheet, word processor, database. No specific packages are required to be used, but typical examples would be Excel for spreadsheets, Word for wordprocessing, and Access for databases. In the course work students are expected to demonstrate and document their ability to analyse and design small applications, as well as their mastery of the software. Course work undertaken with these packages counts for 25 per cent of the overall mark.
