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Monash University

FIT5094 IT for management decision making - Semester 1, 2012

This unit provides students with an understanding of the development and use of information systems that support managers, especially their decision-making tasks. Students will learn of the nature of management work and decision theory and how this affects the development of decision support systems. A number of commonly used decision support methods and techniques will be explored. Students will be introduced to personal decision support systems, group support systems, negotiation support systems, data warehousing, executive information systems and business intelligence.

Mode of Delivery

Caulfield (Day)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs laboratories/wk

Workload

This is a six-point unit that, according to University guidelines, requires you to spend 12 hours per week (a total of at least 156 hours per semester). It is anticipated that, on average, you will spend, per week:

•    2 hours in the lecture,
•    2 hours in a tutorial/laboratory,
•    3 hours preparing for the tutorial/laboratory,
•    5 hours of your own reading and assignment work.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

IMS5005

Prerequisites

One of FIT9003, IMS9001, IMS9003

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Rob Meredith

Academic Overview

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will:
  • understand the scope and application of IT for decision support;
  • have an understanding of the nature of managerial decision-making;
  • be familiar with the major approaches of IT-based decision support;
  • be able to choose the appropriate decision support approach for a particular project;
  • be able to undertake systems analysis for management support projects.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Strategic Decision Analysis 25% 4pm, Thursday 5 April 2012
Personal Decision Support 25% 4pm, Friday 11 May 2012
Examination 1 50% To be advised

Teaching Approach

  • Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
    This teaching and learning approach helps students to initially encounter information at lectures, discuss and explore the information during tutorials, and practice in a hands-on lab environment
  • Laboratory-based classes
    This teaching approach is practical learning.
  • Simulation or virtual practice
    This teaching approach is practical learning.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

The unit is unchanged in 2012.

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Required Resources

Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.

You will need access to:

  • iThink simulation software
  • Spreadsheet

 Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook.

Recommended Resources

There is no compulsory text for FIT5094.  However, the following two texts are general textbooks that cover the DSS area. They both have chapters or sections that address some sessions. Both are available from the reserve collection of the Caulfield Library. (The first edition of Marakas is still relevant.)

•    Mallach, E.G. (2000) Decision Support and Data Warehouse Systems. Boston: McGraw Hill (ISBN 0-07-289981-6).
•    Marakas, G.M. (2003). Decision support systems in the 21st Century (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall (ISBN 0-13-101879-5).

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Using IT to support executive decision making  
2 Managerial information behaviours  
3 Overview of decision making and normative decision theory  
4 Behavioural decision theory 1  
5 Behavioural decision theory 2  
6 DSS development methods Assessment Task 1: Strategic Decision Analysis - due 4pm, Thursday 5 April 2012
7 Simulation modelling  
8 No lecture due to ANZAC Day  
9 Personal decision support systems  
10 Data warehousing Assessment Task 2: Personal Decision Support - due 4pm, Friday 11 May 2012
11 Business intelligence  
12 Management support strategy  
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Strategic Decision Analysis
    Description:
    The objective of this assignment is to analyse and understand a decision process and to identify ways of improving the process. 

    Details are available on the FIT5094 MUSO site.
    Weighting:
    25%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Mastery of a decison analysis task and presentation of that analysis. The detailed marking guide is available on the FIT5094 MUSO site. 

    Due date:
    4pm, Thursday 5 April 2012
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Personal Decision Support
    Description:
    The objective of this assignment is to gain a critical understanding of a software application for personal decision support. A key aspect of the assignment is an insight into the role of a systems analyst in a DSS engagement.

    Details are available on the FIT5094 MUSO site.
    Weighting:
    25%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Mastery of the development of a simulation model, and presentation and manipulation of the model. The detailed marking guide is available on the FIT5094 MUSO site. The assessment of this assignment will take place in a simulated work environment. Students are required to attend a 15 minute session allocated to them in Weeks 11 and 12.

    Due date:
    4pm, Friday 11 May 2012

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    50%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the VLE site for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Resubmission of assignments

No resubmission of assignments is possible in FIT5094.

Referencing requirements

All assignments should use APA style. 

Other Information

Policies

Student services

The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/

The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.

Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows:

  • Website: http://monash.edu/equity-diversity/disability/index.html;
  • Email: dlu@monash.edu
  • Drop In: Equity and Diversity Centre, Level 1 Gallery Building (Building 55), Monash University, Clayton Campus, or Student Community Services Department, Level 2, Building 2, Monash University, Sunway Campus
  • Telephone: 03 9905 5704, or contact the Student Advisor, Student Commuity Services at 03 55146018 at Sunway

Other

A large number of articles and other reading material will be made available on the FIT5094 MUSO site.
The Caulfield campus library has a world-class collection of books and journals on decision support related topics.

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