INFO600 to INFO622

INFO600 Research Methods for Information Systems                                                                           10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent

This unit is intended to help students understand a range of concepts and techniques associated with both qualitative and quantitative methods of research that are applicable for Business and/or Information Systems.   The students will be able to evaluate the best method of doing particular types of research and will allow them to apply some of these techniques in workshop activities and projects. Being able to research new areas is an important skill in both Business and Information Systems and the unit will help students understand the methods most applicable to their discipline.

INFO601 Applied Data Communications                                                                                              10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent

This unit teaches students how to do data communications analysis and design from a business-oriented perspective by equipping students first with the analytical models with which to organise data communications and networking requirements as well as the functionality of currently available technology to meet those requirements. The unit introduces students to key thinking models and familiarise them with the forces at work shaping the data communications industry. A real-world, practical approach to the industry is supported by the inclusion of business cases.

INFO602 Current Issues in Information Systems                                                                                   10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit introduces students to a selection of current state-of-the-art information systems topics by focusing upon the nature, structure and development of knowledge in the Information Systems domain. It takes a practical rather than a purely academic approach to the subject and aims to give students an increased ability to find, comprehend, organise, and evaluate critically knowledge associated with Information Systems. The course therefore helps to prepare students to become and remain well-informed practitioners in the Information Systems field.

INFO603 Database Systems                                                                                                                  10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit covers advanced aspects of database systems. By the end of the unit, students are expected to understand the concepts presented as well as having hands-on experience with commercial standard database management systems through their participation in database design, implementation and a management project.

INFO604 Distributed Systems                                                                                                               10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

Distributed information systems necessitate an alternate paradigm for program design and implementation. This unit introduces students to various principles, advanced concepts and technologies that influence the design and implementation of distributed systems. Topics include communication, processes, naming, synchronisation, consistency and replication, fault tolerance, security and real world examples of middleware.

INFO605 Electronic Commerce                                                                                                            10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit provides students with the opportunity to gain an understanding of the issues involved in electronic commerce from technical aspects such as Internet security and electronic cash, to the legal framework being forged to facilitate the exchange of resources in international markets. Review of case studies will facilitate understanding of the issues. Projects focusing on practical applications of electronic commerce will inculcate appreciation of its potential.

INFO607 Information Management                                                                                                      10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit provides an advanced understanding of the management and organisational issues associated with modern information systems. The nature and value of systems and services concerned with data, information and knowledge are explored, and the strategic benefits and opportunities are analysed.

INFO608 Information Systems and the Law                                                                                         10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

Students are introduced to a range of legal perspectives, which will increasingly impinge on the work of information systems professionals. In addition to the consideration of the foundation of legislation in ethical practice, students will explore the legal responsibilities and potential liabilities of information systems professionals as system and software designers, users and managers. Consideration will be given to the legal rights and obligations of individuals and organisations as both users and service providers; a particular focus will be on the development of legislative systems in the context of the increasing access to, and exploitation of, internet applications.

INFO609 Information Systems Security                                                                                                10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit will review concepts, theories, methodologies and techniques discussed in information systems security literature and practice. Case studies will provide students with an understanding of computerised security techniques in practice. The unit is intended to acquaint the student with the analysis and engineering techniques employed in securing today's information system environment.

INFO610 Management of Organisational Change                                                                                10 cp

Prerequisites INFO607 Information Management

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

The emphasis of the unit will be on developing an understanding of how information systems create and facilitate change and how this can be most effectively managed. Case studies undertaken in small groups and incorporating students’ experiences will be discussed to apply the theory gained from the text, readings, and a short weekly lecture.

Students will develop an understanding of the role of information systems professionals in causing or inhibiting change, the organisational and technological impacts of change, planning for and managing the change process, methods and techniques for initiating and managing change and contemporary information systems, and technology change issues such as business process re-engineering and outsourcing. The unit includes the study of project management, organisational impact, implementation strategies for information systems, legacy systems, and re-training and career path planning and the use of outside resources.

INFO611 Object-Oriented Information Systems                                                                                    10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit introduces the use of object-oriented thinking and tools through systems development methodologies and techniques of analysis and design (concepts and notation). It will study a widely-used methodology for analysis of requirements and design of information systems. Students will learn how an O-O design can be expressed using at least one specific object-oriented language.

INFO612 Software Design                                                                                                                    10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit identifies the issues associated with the production of high-quality software, and introduces students to basic techniques for software development and maintenance. Procedural and object-oriented programming methodologies will also be introduced and used as a tool for software design and problem-solving.

INFO613 Systems Development Methodologies                                                                                   10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit covers the process of aligning systems closely with business requirements. It introduces the topics of IS project management, planning and control, business case analysis and system development documentation. The unit focuses on a structured approach to addressing system development issues including such aspects as system definition, scope, platform and tool selection, communications requirements and maintenance requirements.

INFO614 Information Systems Project                                                                                                  20 cp

Prerequisites INFO600 Research Methods in Information Systems

Teaching Organisation Each student is under the supervision of a member of the University staff, who will guide him or her in the research and writing up of the project.

The Information Systems project involves independent study under supervision.

The selected project is expected to be a substantial work in which a student must demonstrate their ability to conduct independent study, make appropriate theoretical and practical connections, and contribute to an existing body of knowledge. Each project student is under the supervision of a member of University staff. Students will choose their own topic of study in consultation with a supervisor appointed by the School Committee and upon the recommendation of the Head of School.

INFO615 Information Systems Thesis                                                                                                   40 cp

Prerequisites INFO600 Research Methods in Information Systems

Teaching Organisation Each student is under the supervision of a member of the University staff, who will guide him or her in the research and writing up of the project.

The research thesis involves independent study under supervision.

The research thesis is expected to be a substantial piece of research in which a student must demonstrate an ability to conduct an independent research study, to make appropriate theoretical and practical connections, and to contribute to an existing body of knowledge. Each candidate is under the supervision of a member of University staff. Students will choose their own topic of study in consultation with a supervisor appointed by the School Committee and upon the recommendation of the Head of School.

INFO616 Human Factors in Information Systems                                                                                 10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit explores the central role of people in the design, implementation and operation of information systems. Beyond technical robustness, the success of an information system is ultimately dependent on the people involved in its development and application. People are as much a part of an information system as any hardware or software component and yet their involvement is often understated in the study of information systems. This unit will focus on the role of people in information systems from a cognitive psychology perspective particularly with respect to individual differences, their effect on systems and their effective management.

INFO617 Web Technologies                                                                                                                 10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

During the last few years, the Internet and the World Wide Web have become major focal points in exchanging information and conducting business. These new technologies have enabled business professionals to perform their jobs better, faster, cheaper and more efficiently. As the web evolved rapidly and became popular, an associated set of web technologies has started to evolve as well. This unit introduces students to various technologies that are required to develop web-based applications.

INFO618 Portable Applications and Network Programming                                                                 10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit introduces programming language (Java) and techniques for network programming by using it. The unit gives hands-on experience in writing network applications for the Internet.

INFO620 Personal and Professional Accountability in IS                                                                     10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent

This unit emphasises the ethical foundation that underpins the work of all professionals, including information systems professionals. The unit allows students to examine the key personal and professional accountability issues for information systems professionals and is intended to enhance students’ ability to reason and think critically about issues that arise in the course of their daily personal and professional lives. Students are also introduced to ethical theories and traditions and to methodologies which can be applied to the resolution of ethical scenarios within the domain of information systems.

INFO621 Business Intelligence                                                                                                             10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit allows students to gain insight into the need for business intelligence in decision-making in an organisation. It emphasises the use of data warehouses and data mining techniques in addressing this need.   Methods of planning and implementing a business intelligence solution to meet the needs of an organisation will also be addressed.

INFO622 Enterprise Information Systems                                                                                             10 cp

Prerequisites Nil

Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.

This unit gives students the opportunity to critically examine the need for integrating data, processes, objects and communication into enterprise-wide information systems. The issues surrounding these systems and methods used to address them will be appraised. The unit allows students to consider different approaches to Enterprise Resource Planning systems development, implementation and management.