BIS1201

Information Systems Foundations

Dr. Harjinder Rahanu

Dr. Simon Jones
 Dr. Simon Jones
Room Hendon T120
Telephone x14299
Email s.jones@mdx.ac.uk

Office Hours TBC

All other times by appointment

Dr. Harjinder Rahanu

Room Hendon T112
Telephone x14721
Email h.rahanu@mdx.ac.uk

Office Hours TBC

All other times by appointment
 BIS1201 Personnel
Module Leaders and Dr. Simon Jones
Lab Tutors Dr. Harjinder Rahanu
 Course Overview

Aim

This course aims to provide you with a good

grounding on the role of Information Systems
(IS) and Information Technology (IT) in
organisations from a managers perspective
 Syllabus 1/4
Week Lecture Content Lab Activities Deadlines

1 Module introduction: aims, objectives, syllabus and Week 1 lab activities

assessment
2 Strategic role of information systems Week 2 activities
Differentiate between data, information and knowledge
Overview of the various types of information systems and
their respective functions

3 Principles and theories of business information systems
Defining systems in terms of their inputs, processes,
outputs, subsystems, suprasystems, environment and
boundaries
Feedback and control systems; systems control theory
Week 3 activities [During this week’s Commence
seminar you will be placed in groups of 3 work on CW1
or 4 to undertake the Coursework].

4 Identifying key business processes in organisations and Week 4 activities

their main components
5 Process Modelling; Data Flow Diagrams [DFD], Part 1 Week 5 activities
Constructing a DFD based on a case study narrative
The advantages and disadvantages of DFDs

6 Process Modelling; Data Flow Diagrams [DFD], Part 2 Week 6 activities

Worked examples of constructing DFDs from a case study
narrative
 Syllabus 2/4
7 Data Modelling; Entity Relationship Diagrams [ERD] Week 7 activities Prepare drafts of
The advantages and disadvantages of ERD Coursework 1,
Worked examples of constructing ERDs from a case ready for
presenting in
study narrative
seminars 8-10 and
9 for feedback
8 Guidance on Coursework 1 Week 8 activities
Feedback on drafts of Coursework 1
[Task 1, 2 & 3]
9 Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)—definitions and Week 9 activities Submit hard copy
examples Feedback on drafts of Coursework 1 of draft Coursework
Management Information Systems (MIS) —definitions [Task 4] 1 to seminar tutor
and examples for feedback in
Identifying different types of reports and how they aid week 10
management decision making and problem solving
10 Decision Support Systems (DSS)—definitions and Week 10 activities
examples Tutorial Sessions with Coursework
Executive Information Systems (EIS) —definitions and Groups
examples Feedback on hard copy drafts of
Explaining Decision Making and Problem Solving Models Coursework 1
and producing examples of typical structured and
unstructured decisions
Outline the traditional organisational structure [in terms of
an organisations strategic, tactical and operational
needs]
11 Independent Study in Coursework
No Lecture Groups: No Labs
Christmas Vacation
 Syllabus 3/4
12 No Lecture Week 12 activities Submit
Finalise coursework 1 submissions Coursework 1
Deadline: Friday,
Jan 12th, 2018,
23:55pm
13 Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPS); Week 13 activities Commence work
Characteristics, examples, advantages and drawbacks on CW2

14 Information systems project initiation, feasibility and Week 14 activities

planning
Evaluate the technical, economic, behavioural and
organisational feasibility of a proposed system
IS Project Critical Success Factors

15 Information Systems Project Failure Week 15 activities

Define the different categories of Information Systems
failure
Discover the legal issues invoked by the failure of
information system technologies

16 Security Issues concerning information systems Week 16 activities

Identify tools and strategies of security management of
ICT including risk analysis
Identify and explain systems controls and audits that
can be used in order to secure business applications of
ICTs

17 Guidance on Coursework 2 Week 17 activities

 Syllabus 4/4
18 Professional and legal issues surrounding Week 18 activities
information systems [including the relevance of
current UK legislation].
The relevance of professional codes of practice
to IS design, management and usage
19 Ethical issues surrounding information systems Week 19 activities Prepare drafts of
design, implementation and usage Coursework 2,
ready for
presenting in
seminars 20-23
20 Revision Lecture Revision Activities Submit hard copy
Feedback on soft copy drafts of Coursework 2 of draft coursework
to seminar tutor for
feedback in weeks
21-23
21 No Lecture Tutorial Sessions with Coursework Groups
Feedback on hard copy drafts of Coursework 2
22 Tutorial Sessions with Coursework Groups
“ “ Feedback on hard copy drafts of Coursework 2
23 Feedback on final drafts of Coursework 2 Finalise drafts of
“ “ Coursework 1 for
submission in week
24
24 Independent Study in Coursework Groups: No Submit
“ “ Labs Coursework 2
Deadline: Friday
April 20th, 2018.
23:55pm]
 BIS1201 Assessment
Regime

Group Course Group Course

work 1 work 2
50% 50%
 Coursework 1 (50%)
Assessed Group Work
A minimum of 40% required to pass

A maximum of 4 students per group. Group members

should ONLY be from your own Seminar Slot
Any problems that arise with group work should be
discussed with Module Leader ASAP
Coursework 1 will be issued in week 3, via UniHub, also
to be found in Module Handbook
Coursework 1 to be submitted, via UniHub, in week 12
 Coursework 2 (50%)

Assessed Group Work

Again a minimum of 40% required to pass

A maximum of 4 students per group. Group members

should ONLY be from your own Seminar Slot
Any problems that arise with group work should be
discussed with Module Leader ASAP
Coursework 2 will be issued, via UniHub in week 13

Coursework 2 to be submitted, via UniHub in week 24

 Lectures

Objectives of Lectures

1 Presentation of formal topics

2 Review lectures AND Seminars

3 Attendance a MUST to complete

coursework
 Seminars

Objectives of seminars
1 Weekly seminar activities, review questions and group discussions to be
found on OASISplus

2 MUST attend seminar that you are allocated, register will be taken to
record attendance

3 Will be required to present, in groups, answers to weekly exercises

(MUST BE PREPARED PRIOR TO ATTENDING SEMINAR)

4 Poor attendance and performance in seminars will be taken into

consideration with borderline cases at the end of the semester

5 Help with coursework AND course content

BIS1201 Resources on UniHub1/3
BIS1201 Resources on UniHub 2/3
BIS1201 Resources on UniHub 3/3
 BIS1201 Resources: Text Books
ESSENTIAL
Weekly Lecture Slides, Lecture Notes & Lab Activities all available on UniHub

CORE TEXTS
1. Whiteley (2013) An Introduction to Information Systems, 8th Edition,
Palgrave Macmillan
[Available as a personal e-textbook on UniHub]
2. Stair & Reynolds, (2012) Principles of Information Systems, 10th Edition,
Cengage Learning
[Multiple hardcopies available in the library]

ADDITIONAL TEXTS
O’Brien, James and Marakas, (2011) Management Information Systems,
McGraw-Hill Rainer
Kelly, Cegielski & Casey (2013) Introduction to Information Systems, Wiley.