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Monash University

FIT5094 IT for management decision making - Semester 1, 2015

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 (Evening)
  • Malaysia (Evening)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • Two hours of lectures
  • One 2-hour laboratory

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

  • A minimum of 8 hours independent study per week for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

See also Unit timetable information

Additional workload requirements

For independent study it is anticipated that on average you will spend per week:

•    3 hours preparing for the tutorial/laboratory,
•    5 hours of reading and assignment work.

Unit Relationships

Prerequisites

FIT9130 or FIT5130 or FIT9003 or equivalent

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Caddie Gao

Malaysia

Tam Leong Hing

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 the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. 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, see:

www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/ and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Based on previous student feedback this unit is well structured and no changes have been made for this semester.

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

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will:
  • examine and describe the concepts, scope and application of IT for decision support;
  • explain the nature of managerial decision-making;
  • create IT-based decision support for managers;
  • evaluate major approaches of IT-based decision support;
  • select the appropriate decision support approach for a particular project;
  • perform system analysis for management support projects.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Overview of using IT to support management 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 Assignment 1 due 4pm, Friday 17 April 2015
7 Simulation modelling  
8 Personal decision support systems  
9 Data warehousing  
10 Business intelligence Assignment 2 due 4pm, Friday 15 May 2015
11 Decision support strategy and governance Assignment 2 allocated sessions
12 The decision support industry Assignment 2 allocated sessions
  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 learning system.

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.

Assessment Summary

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

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Assignment 1 - Strategic Decision Analysis 25% 4pm, Friday 17 April 2015
Assignment 2 - Personal Decision Support 25% 4pm, Friday 15 May 2015. Allocated sessions scheduled for Weeks 11 and 12
Examination 1 50% To be advised

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1 - 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. Mastery of this task is essential for systems analysts working in a decision support role.

    Details are available on the FIT5094 Moodle-based unit website.
    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 Moodle-based unit website. 

    Due date:
    4pm, Friday 17 April 2015
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2 - 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 Moodle-based unit website.
    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 Moodle-based unit website.

    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 15 May 2015. Allocated sessions scheduled for Weeks 11 and 12

Examinations

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

Learning resources

Reading list

A large number of articles and other reading material will be made available on the FIT5094 Moodle-based unit website.

The Caulfield Campus Library has a world-class collection of books and journals on decision support related topics.

Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html

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

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Resubmission of assignments

No resubmission of assignments is possible for FIT5094.

Referencing requirements

All assignments should use APA style. 

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-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 electronic submission). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.

Online submission

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

Required Resources

Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Limited copies of 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 1st Edition of Marakas is still relevant.)

Recommended text(s)

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 Edition) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall (ISBN: 0-13-101879-5).

Other Information

Policies

Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash’s Education Policies at: www.policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Faculty resources and policies

Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis.

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