Course Outline (Undergraduate):
Course Title
Introduction to ICT
Course Code
BUS108
Faculty of Business
Semester 2, 2007
DISABILITY AND LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES
The University offers a range of services and supports for students with a disability and it is important that these are negotiated early
in the semester. Students who require alternative arrangements such as Special Exam Arrangements and assessment or study
support should discuss their needs with the Disability Services Officer and/or the Course Coordinator as soon as possible.
The university offers a range of academic skills services to assist students with the development of writing and study skills.
Workshops on topics such as critical thinking, clearer writing and essay writing are held most weeks throughout the semester.
Learning fact sheets are also readily available on the intranet (http://intranet.usc.edu.au/usc/STUDSERV/learning). Students can
also make an appointment with an academic skills adviser at Student Services for one-on-one assistance with study and academic
writing skills.
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 2
FIELD OF EDUCATION
020399
FUNDING CLUSTER
6
WORK EXPERIENCE IN INDUSTRY
Indicate whether this course involves work experience in industry by ticking (9) one of the following
boxes:
This course involves work experience in industry.
9 This course does not involve work experience in industry.
If the course involves work experience in industry, indicate the basis on which this occurs by ticking (9)
one of the following boxes:
Learning and performance is directed by USC or persons engaged by USC.
Learning and performance is supported by USC or persons engaged by USC.
No support is provided for learning and performance by USC or persons engaged by USC.
PROGRAM(S)
Bachelor of Business
MAJORS AND MINORS
Information Systems Major
Information Systems Minor
REQUIRED COURSE IN PROGRAM
Bachelor of Business – Foundation Course
CONTACT HOURS
Lecture: 1 Hour
Computer Practical: 2 Hours
PRE-REQUISITES
Nil
MODE
Internal: Students who undertake all courses in which they are enrolled through attendance on campus,
either in Australia or at an offshore location.
UNITS
12 credit points
ENROLMENT RESTRICTIONS
Nil
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 3
COURSE COORDINATOR
Ms Jeanette Van Akkeren
Office: K2.29
Telephone: 5430 1256
Email: jvanakke@usc.edu.au
Consultation Times: TBA
COURSE MODERATOR
Professor Ed Fitzgerald
Office: K1.18
Telephone: 5430 1230
Email: efitzger@usc.edu.au
Consultation Times: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION TO BE USED FOR STUDENT HANDBOOK
The goal of Introduction to ICT is to provide students undertaking a business degree with an
understanding of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This course will provide students
with a firm foundation in ICT, which they can then apply to their career, no matter what area of business
they intend to pursue.
ICTs are everywhere in business and they have changed business processes forever. ICTs are pervasive
because information is needed throughout all aspects of the business environment, and access to
information is one of the most powerful resources in every business function. Knowledge of ICT is an
essential element of success in virtually any position, and although not all people need to be an IS
professional, everyone needs a sound understanding of ICT use in his or her own profession.
This course will provide students with a balance of both technical and management issues needed to
survive the current and future business environment. At the completion of the course, students will have
gained valuable insights on ICTs, which will enable them to work productively with ICT specialists. In
addition, students will gain knowledge about business systems and applications to ensure that ICTs
support their work in the most productive way.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
USC Graduate Attributes Learning Objectives Learning/Assessment Tasks
On completion of this course (eg. essay; project)
students should be able to:
Individual MS Project Individual Final Exam
Paper Test Paper
To understand 1. Explain the importance of
• To have relevant, discipline- information within an
based knowledge, sills and organisation and how ICTs 9 9 9 9
values help to manage information.
• To be able to apply and 2. Explain the importance and
evaluate knowledge growth of integrated
information systems, including 9 9 9
Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) systems such as SAP
and PeopleSoft.
3. Describe the different families
of information systems and
their relevance to various 9 9 9 9
types and levels of
management within an
organisation.
4. Explain the importance of
project management concepts
for applications development.
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 4
USC Graduate Attributes Learning Objectives Learning/Assessment Tasks
On completion of this course (eg. essay; project)
students should be able to:
Individual MS Project Individual Final Exam
Paper Test Paper
5. Explain basic database
management concepts
including relational databases, 9
data dictionaries, tables,
entities and queries.
6. Describe the various threats to
organisations ICTs including
measures that can be used to 9
minimise these threats.
7. Describe basic ICT
architecture and explain how
governance of ICT can be 9 9 9
achieved throughout the
various business functions of
an organisation.
To think 8. Explain how eBusiness, the
• To value and respect reason Internet and WWW has
• To be able to reason impacted on business 9 9
competently functions within and outside
an organisation, particularly in
relation to SCM, B2B, B2G and
B2E strategies.
9. Explain the future trends in
ICT that will impact on
strategic directions, business 9 9
decisions and change
management.
10. Demonstrate an understanding
of the Systems Development
Life Cycle (SDLC) and apply 9
this to applications
development.
To learn 11. Apply project management
• To be self-aware, independent concepts to Gantt and Pert
learners charts. 9 9
• To be able to collect, organise,
analyse, evaluate and use
information in a range of
contexts
To communicate 12. Demonstrate sound written
• To speak, listen and write communication skills in the
competently production of research papers. 9 9
• To be competent users of
information and
communication technologies
To value 13. Describe the legal and ethical
• To have self-respect and a issues related to an
sense of personal agency organisation’s ICTs and 9
• To have a sense of personal compliance issues for business
and social responsibility professionals.
• To understand and apply
ethical professional practices
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 5
LEARNING/ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Learning/Assessment Tasks Submission via Due Date Word Assessment
Length Weighting
Hard Safe
Copy Assignment
1. Individual Paper (1) – 1,000 words 9 9 Week 7 1,000 15%
2. MS Project Test 9 Week 10 N/A 10%
3. Individual Paper (2) – 1,500 words 9 9 Week 13 1,500 30%
4. Final Examination – 2 hour, closed book exam 9 TBA 45%
Safe Assignment is used by universities for preventing plagiarism and ensuring that all students are fairly
assessed on their own learning achievements. Learning/Assessment Tasks ticked above in the Safe
Assignment column are to be submitted electronically to Safe Assignment via Blackboard.
LEARNING/ASSESSMENT TASKS
Learning/Assessment Task 1: Individual Research Paper
Description:
You are to prepare a paper based on the following topic:
“Business information systems are designed to help middle and upper management improve their
business knowledge and to make better decisions”.
You are to research this topic, and prepare a report on how business information systems are used within
an organisation. Areas of discussion in your report should focus on the following:
• Identify three types of business information systems and explain their use by people within an
organisation.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using these systems.
• Choose one of the following strategic business units, and describe how one of the business
information systems can enhance their performance.
Marketing
Finance
Management
Human Resource Management
Manufacturing
Information Technology
Importantly, this paper should read as a narrative and, where possible, include case examples on your
topic. The topic of the paper includes the first three lectures covered in this course.
• Be formatted as a formal business report with an executive summary, table of contents,
introduction, body of report, conclusion, references, figures and tables where relevant.
• Use sub-headings with appropriate numbering for each issue addressed in the body of the report.
• Provide clear narrative with appropriate in-text referencing.
• Include a header with your name, student ID, course name and assignment number.
• Include a footer with page number in the centre of the page.
• Include resources such as statistics, refereed journal articles and refereed conference
publications to substantiate major points raised in the paper.
• Be no longer than 800 words (+/- 10%) (excluding executive summary, table of contents,
references and appendix).
Note: Students should follow the marking criteria provided very carefully.
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 6
Assessment Criteria:
Content Marks Allocated
Marks
Executive Summary 5
• Provides an overview of major issues.
• Outlines entire paper.
Introduction and Overview: 5
• Briefly outlines the topic.
• Summarises the research undertaken.
• Summarises the layout of the paper.
Body of report: 50
• Coverage of appropriate issues.
o Identify three types of business information systems and explain their
use by people within an organisation.
o What are the advantages and disadvantages of using these systems.
o Choose a strategic business unit from the list provided, and describe
how one of the business information systems can enhance their
performance.
• Critical analysis of each identified issue.
• Evidence of wide reading.
• Synthesis of that reading.
Conclusion: 10
• Ties in key issues drawn from the body of the report.
• Appropriateness.
Referencing (Harvard Style) 15
• Currency.
• Relevancy.
• Range of refereed journal articles and refereed conferencing proceedings.
• Correct style.
Correct presentation: 15
• Coverage of appropriate issues.
• Appropriate tone.
• Correct style, presentation and formatting of document.
TOTAL 100
Learning/Assessment Task 2: Project Management and Pert Charts
Description:
This test will be held during tutorials in week 10 covering project management basics and the
development of a Pert Chart.
Assessment Criteria:
Students will be required to answer questions on the use of project management principles within an
organisation. Students will be required to answer five (5) short answer questions (approximately 50
words each), and complete a Pert chart for a given business problem.
Learning/Assessment Task 3: Individual Paper (1,500 words)
Description:
You are to prepare a paper based on the following statement:
“The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), particularly LANS, intranets and
extranets, means that using these technologies is now an everyday occurrence for all stakeholders within
and outside an organisation. However, there are problems of security legal and ethical issues that need
to be addressed in a proactive way by management and employees.”
You are to research this topic, provide a review of the literature and prepare a report on ICT architecture
and security. Areas of discussion in your report should include the following:
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 7
• Provide a description of intranets, LANs and extranets and their application in an organisation.
• Explain the major security threats to an organisation in relation to ICTs.
• Explain what legal and ethical issues need to be addressed by management.
• Describe how these security threats, legal and ethical issues may be overcome.
As in Assessment 1, the paper should:
• Be formatted as a formal business report with an executive summary, table of contents,
introduction, body of report, conclusion/recommendations, references, figures and tables where
relevant.
• Use sub-headings with appropriate numbering for each issue addressed in the body of the report.
• Provide clear narrative with appropriate in-text referencing.
• Include a header with your name, student ID, course name and assignment number.
• Include a footer with page number in the centre of the page.
• Include resources such as statistics, refereed journal articles and refereed conference
publications to substantiate major points raised in the paper.
• Be no longer than 1500 words (+/- 10%) (excluding executive summary, table of contents,
references and appendix).
Note: Students should follow the marking criteria provided very carefully.
Assessment Criteria:
Content Marks Allocated
Marks
Executive Summary 5
• Provides an overview of major issues.
• Outlines entire paper.
Introduction and Overview: 5
• Briefly outlines the topic.
• Summarises the research undertaken.
• Summarises the layout of the paper.
Body of report: 50
• Coverage of appropriate issues.
o Provide a description of intranets, LANs and extranets and their
application in an organisation.
o Explain the major security threats to an organisation in relation to ICTs.
o Explain what legal and ethical issues need to be addressed by
management.
o Describe how these security threats, legal and ethical issues may be
overcome.
• Critical analysis of each identified issue.
• Evidence of wide reading.
• Synthesis of that reading.
Conclusion: 10
• Ties in key issues drawn from the body of the report.
• Appropriateness.
Referencing (Harvard Style) 15
• Currency.
• Relevancy.
• Range of refereed journal articles and refereed conferencing proceedings.
• Correct style.
Correct presentation: 15
• Appropriate tone for an IS research paper.
• Correct style, presentation and formatting of document.
TOTAL 100
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 8
Learning/Assessment Task 4: Final Examination
Description:
A two hour closed book examination – 45%
Conditions for Passing Course
To achieve a pass in this course, students must:
1. Complete all items of assessment;
2. Achieve at least a Pass level overall;
3. Submit specified assessment items via Safe Assignment.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week Teaching Content Focus of Week Learning/Teaching Activities
Comm Week
16 July 1 Introduction to Information & No tutorials week 1
Communication Technology (ICT)
23 July 2 Business Information Systems Overview of ICT, basic definitions (data vs
information, knowledge, systems,
processes, ICTs etc). Chapters 1 & 2
30 July 3 Integrated Information Systems Decision-making and problem solving.
Management IS, Marketing IS, Inventory
management, EIS, Accounting IS, HRIS,
DSS, and Expert systems. Chapter 9
6 Aug 4 Database Management ERPs including SAP, PeopleSoft. Change
management issues for introducing new
enterprise wide (and other) systems.
Chapter 3, pages 139 - 155
13 Aug 5 Telecommunications and Networking Introduction to relational databases and
their importance within an organisation.
Data dictionaries, tables, entities, queries
and reports.
Chapter 7
20 Aug 6 Developing Applications Network topologies and architecture, LANs,
WANs, MANs, GANs.
Chapter 5, pgs 262 - 271
27 Aug 7 Overview of IS Project Management Approaches to applications development,
SDLC & alternatives, programming basics
(sequence, selection, loop, case). Chapter
10
Assessment 1 due
3 Sep 8 Security and Risk Management What is Project management and why is it
crucial? Systems development using PM
techniques (planning, investigation,
analysis, design, implementation and
maintenance/ review). Gantt and Pert
Charts. Chapter 10, pgs 489 – 491, notes
also provided.
10 Sep 9 Legal and Ethical Issues in ICT use Protection against viruses, worms,
spam/spim, hackers/ crackers, internal
threats, physical threats. Chapter 11
Mid Semester Break 17 – 30 September
1 Oct 10 ICT Architecture and Governance Professional ethics, contracts, intellectual
property, privacy. Chapter 12
Project Management Test
8 Oct 11 eBusiness, the Internet and WWW Communicating strategic direction to IS
professionals. Notes provided
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 9
Week Teaching Content Focus of Week Learning/Teaching Activities
Comm Week
15 Oct 12 Current and Future Trends in ICT SCM technologies, B2B, B2C, B2G, B2E,
implications for business professionals,
trends. Chapter 8
22 Oct 13 Revision Trends in ICT including innovations such as
wireless technologies, telecommuting,
RFID, AI. Chapter 9
Assessment 2 due
29-31st Oct Study Break
1 Nov – 18 Nov Exams
19 Nov Inter Semester Break commences
PRESCRIBED TEXT(S)
Stair, R.M. & Baldauf, K.J. 2007, Succeeding with Technology: Computer System Concepts for Real Life,
2nd edition, Thomson Course Technology, United States of America.
RECOMMENDED READINGS
Long, L. & Long, N., 2004, Computers: Information Technology in Perspective, 11th edn, Prentice Hall,
New Jersey.
Snyder, L., 2004 Fluency with Information Technology: Skills, Concepts and Capabilities, Pearson/Addison
Wesley, New York.
Pfaffenberger, B. & Daley, B., 2004 Computers in your Future 2004, Complete edn, Prentice Hall, New
Jersey.
Capron, H.L. & Johnson, J.A. 2004 Computers: Tools for an Information Age, 8th edn, Prentice Hall, New
Jersey.
Electronic Journals
Check ABI Inform (Proquest) for up-to-date and empirical research on ICTs, electronic commerce, the
Internet, global information systems etc.
ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS (Faculty of Business Undergraduate Standard)
Faculty of Business guidelines and information relating to the administration of courses are located on the
Student Intranet as follows:
Student Assessment Items - Guidelines
https://my.usc.edu.au/student/default2.asp?page=/usc/Business/aa_Business_Documents/Student_Asses
sment_Items_Guidelines.doc
Faculty of Business Assessment Item Cover Sheet
https://my.usc.edu.au/student/default2.asp?page=/usc/Business/aa_Business_Documents/Assessment_It
em_Cover_Sheet.doc . Do not make up your own assessment item cover sheet.
Variations to Assessment - Guidelines
https://my.usc.edu.au/student/default2.asp?page=/usc/Business/aa_Business_Documents/Variations_to_
Assessment_Guidelines.doc
Plagiarism
Where specified in the Learning/Assessment Details, submit assessment items through Safe Assignment
via Blackboard:
https://online.usc.edu.au/ICSLogin/?"http://online.usc.edu.au/webapps/login/"
Brief step-by-step instructions at:
https://my.usc.edu.au /usc/Business/aa_SAFE_ASSIGNMENT/Safe_Assignment_Instructions_for_BB.pdf
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
Course Outline (Undergraduate): BUS108 Introduction to ICT Page 10
Hard copies of the above guidelines and information are also available from the Faculty of Business
Reception and Administration Office.
Grade Levels
Grades shall be awarded on the following basis:
HIGH DISTINCTION where a student achieves an exceptionally high level of performance and / or
competence plus the production of original work and demonstrated awareness of
all significant elements of the course.
DISTINCTION where a student achieves a high level of performance and / or competence plus
the production of original work and demonstrated awareness of all significant
elements of the course.
CREDIT where a student achieves a level of performance and / or competence substantially
above the minimum requirements of the course.
PASS where a student achieves a level of performance and / or competence which
satisfies the minimum requirements of the course.
FAIL where a student has not satisfied the minimum requirements of the course.
Date of original approval: Date of most recent change:
Date of discontinuation:
Current form version: 19/4/2007
