Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Bachelor of Business Information Systems, Bachelor of Business Information Systems/Bachelor of Business,  Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science (Professional Software Development)

Aims & Objectives:

Students who complete this unit of study should be able to:

• Appreciate the contribution of business information systems analysis methodologies to organisational information systems problem solving
• Encourage students to think deeply, critically, and to communicate effectively about different information systems analysis methodologies clearly
• Provide students with tools and techniques to assist in the analysis of complex, socio-technical problems that typify nature of organisational information systems and the work of business and information analysts
• Demonstrate the importance of thinking through the technical, social and human dimensions of information systems problems, and the value of teasing out the multiple perspectives and multiple objectives that are likely to exist in complex human problems situations and which can adversely impact informaton systems projects.

• Understand the socio-technical context of information sytems in an organisational environment and understand the implications for the business
• Discern the social, human and technical nature of information systems problems and apply appropriate analysis methodologies and tools to real-world information systems as well as research problems
• Identify and focus on primary causes of organisational problems rather than secondary symptoms and tertiary effects
• Think critically about information systems analysis methodologies and understand the strengths and weaknesses of key methodologies
• Contribute effectively to information systems project teams in an organisational context across a broad range of industries
• Identify the ‘social’ challenges associated with information systems change and planning and apply the appropriate tools to address those challenges
• Take an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach to information systems problem solving.

Teaching Methods:

Lecture (24 hrs); Tutorial/Seminar (12 hrs)

Assessment:

Group Assignment, Individual Assignments, Examination

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Students will be provided with feedback on your progress in attaining the following generic skills:
· Teamwork skills,
· Ability to work independently,
· Analysis skills,
· Planning and organising,
· Problem solving skills,
· Communications skills,
· Self management skills,
· Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
· Critical thinking skills.

Content:

• Nature of systems, information systems and systems thinking for BIS analysis and problem solving.
• Hard vs soft approaches to intervening in IS analysis.
• Positivist and interpretive approaches to IS analysis.
• Soft OR approaches, and their relevance and application to business information systems analysis, and to IS development and IS acquisition.
• Sociotechnical theory and its relevance to business information systems analysis.
• Reflective systems development approaches.
• Issues & challenges in business information systems analysis, and the criticality of this to information system success.
• Information as social/cultural /political symbol & signal, concept of myth and metaphor in business information systems analysis, and stems development and acquisition.
• Techniques & approaches for business information systems analysis.
• Interpersonal issues & communication difficulties between and amongst systems analysts & users.

References:

Pidd, M (ed), System Modelling: Theory and Practice. Wiley, Chichester, 2004.

Wilson, B, Soft Systems Methodology: Conceptual Model Building and Its Contribution. Wiley, Chichester.

Checkland, P & Holwell, S, Information, Systems, and Information Systems: Making Sense of the Field. Wiley, Chichester, 1998.

Jackson, MC, Systems Thinking: Creative Holism for Managers. Wiley, Chichester, 2003.

Checkland, P, Systems Thinking, Systems Practice: a 30-year Retrospective. Wiley, Chichester, 1999.

Beyon-Davies, P, Information Systems Development, (3rd ed), Palgrave, Hampshire.