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CIS8008 Information Systems Decision Support

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
CIS 8008 74422 1, 2008 EXT Information Systems Decision Support 1.00 Toowoomba
Academic group: FOBUS
Academic org: FOB005
Student contribution band: 2
ASCED code: 020307

Contents


STAFFING

Examiner: Michael Lane
Moderator: Wui-Gee Tan


OTHER REQUISITES

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to USQConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/business/aboutfob.htm


RATIONALE

This course focuses on information systems that are used to support decision making. Information systems have value only to the extent that they contribute to achieve corporate goals. Fundamental to their utility is the extent to which information systems assist with decision making at the various levels within an organisation. It is appropriate to examine the nature of decisions and decision making at the organisational level both in terms of decision theory and in terms of the individuals and groups who make them.



SYNOPSIS

This course takes a person-oriented view of organisations to examine the implications for the design, development, and management of information systems that support decision making. Decision support systems, groupware, executive information systems, and expert systems are considered in relation to their support roles.



OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item/s that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective is/are shown in parentheses after each objective. On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1.
understand the interaction of decision processes and information systems within fluid organisations (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination)
2.
understand and be able to assess the various phases and components in the design of decision support systems (Assignment 2, Examination)
3.
discuss the socio-technical aspects of development and implementation of decision support systems (Assignment 2, Examination)
4.
discuss special types of support systems, including group support systems, business intelligence systems, executive information systems, and expert systems (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination)
5.
critique current literature on decision support systems, including knowledge-based systems (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination).


TOPICS


Description Weighting (%)
1. Decision and decision-making
1.1. Managerial work and managerial thinking
1.2. Managerial decision making
 20.00
2. Developing systems to support decision-making
2.1. IS supporting decision making
2.2. Analysis and modeling for decision support
2.3. Data warehousing and datamining
2.4. Development process for decision support
 30.00
3. Enterprise decision support systems
3.1. Decision support in a distributed context
3.2. Decision support for group meetings
3.3. Decision support for executives
 25.00
4. Intelligent decision support systems
4.1. Expert systems
4.2. Neural networks and fuzzy logic
 25.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Summers, J & Smith, B 2006, Communication skills handbook: how to succeed in written and oral communication, 2nd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Queensland.

Turban E, Aronson, JE, Liang, TP & Sharda, R 2007, Decision support and business intelligence systems, 8th edn, Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.



REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.



STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY HOURS
Assessments 40.00
Directed Study 55.00
Private Study 70.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1 100.00 10.00 24 Mar 2008  
ASSIGNMENT 2 100.00 40.00 16 May 2008  
2 HOUR EXAMINATION 100.00 50.00 END S1 (see note 1)
NOTES
1.
The examination is scheduled to be held in the end-of-semester examination period. Students will be advised of the official examination date after the timetable has been finalised.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

  1. Attendance requirements:
    If you are an international student in Australia, you are advised to attend all classes at your campus. For all other students, there are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval of the examiner, then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded.
  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
  6. Examination information:
    This is a restricted examination. Candidates are allowed access to specific materials during the examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the examination for this course are (i) Writing materials: non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination; (ii) Translation dictionaries: with the examiner's approval, candidates may, take an appropriate non-electronic translation dictionary into the examination. This will be subject to perusal and, if it is found to contain annotations or markings that could give the candidate an unfair advantage, it may be removed from the candidate's possession until the appropriate disciplinary action is completed.
  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
  8. University Regulations:
    Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Student Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene university regulations. These regulations can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm. Students should also read the Faculty of Business Policies and Procedures which can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/business/aboutfob.htm.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1. Assignments: (i) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner. (ii) Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within 24 hours if required by the examiner. (iii) In accordance with university policy, the examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances. (iv) The examiner will normally only accept assignments which are electronically submitted through the USQ Study Desk for this course. Students who are unable to meet this submission requirement should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate alternative arrangements. (v) In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience.
2. Course weightings: Course weightings of topics should not be interpreted as applying to the number of marks allocated to questions testing those topics in an examination paper.
3. Referencing in assignments: Unless otherwise directed by the examiner, all written and oral assignments submitted by students must conform to the guidelines laid out in the 'Communication skills handbook: how to succeed in written and oral communication'. Any work not prepared in accordance with these guidelines may be subject to penalty or requirement for resubmission.
4. Make-up work: Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete - Make up). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non directed personal study.
5. Deferred work: Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination); IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
6. Appeals: Any appeal against the award of a grade in the course will be conducted in accordance with university regulations. These regulations are published in the university handbook.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  1. E-mail and Internet access: Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.
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