ACG10 (2008)

MANAGING THE DIGITAL ORGANISATION

UNIT INFORMATION

TERENCE BLACKBURN

UNIT COORDINATOR

CONTENTS

WELCOME

UNIT OVERVIEW

LEARNING RESOURCES

INFORMATION ABOUT ASSESSMENT

SUBMISSION AND RETURN OF ASSIGNMENTS

EXTENSIONS TO ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

ONLINE AT UNISA

INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

CAMPUS CENTRAL, CENTRE FOR REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT (WHYALLA)

OTHER SERVICES FOR STUDENTS

ASSIGNMENT FEEDBACK FORM (EXAMPLE)

STUDY SCHEDULE

WELCOME

Welcome to ACG10 - Managing the Digital Organisation. This is one of a number of core units that you need to take in your Bachelor of Accounting degree and it addresses issues that are of fundamental importance to any medium to large organisation or government department.

Information Systems are essential pillars of business and government organisations. This is a discipline that is rapidly evolving and requires not only technical expertise but organisational knowledge for the design, development and management of useful systems. Underlying this change has been the changing perception and value of ‘information’. Information has become one of the most important assets of any organisation. Computer-based information systems are critical to organisations as they strive to make the most effective and efficient use of information. Indeed, most organisations could not exist in their present form without such systems. Moreover, many organisations now view computerised information systems and related communication technologies as vehicles for attaining a competitive advantage over their (global) rivals. Information Systems and Technology is no longer perceived as a cost to a business but an asset that is at the forefront of an organisation’s management and strategic thinking.

In an introductory unit, it is impossible to address every facet of a subject and certainly not in any depth. More importantly, these units need to equip students with fundamental skills that allow them to critically understand and assess the future technological movements, problems and concepts that they will face in their professional careers. Without these skills (and continuing training), students risk their knowledge of information systems and technology becoming outdated. Furthermore, these skills are in increasingly demand from employers.

This unit is neither solely a technology unit nor a business unit but a combination of both. We ask that students think about issues, topics, processes, techniques and approaches, rather than simply memorising textbook material. However, while some students may find that approach challenging, your efforts will be more than amply rewarded in both your further studies and your future careers. You should read the

1

remainder of this Unit information carefully as many student queries are answered in this guide.

We look forward to working with you throughout the study period.

Terence BlackburnUnit Coordinator

Location: School of Computer & Information Science

University of South Australia

City West Campus SM1-24

27-29 North Terrace,

Adelaide 5000

Email: terence.blackburn@unisa.edu.auTelephone: (08) 8302 0740Fax: (08) 830 29190

Unit Coordinator home page: http://people.unisa.edu.au/terence.blackburn

Information regarding this unit is available through my myUniSA: http://www.unisa.edu.au/myUniSA

School contact detailsUniversity of South Australia

City West Campus

27-29 North Terrace

Adelaide 5000

Telephone: (08) 8302 9173

Email: vicky.cini@unisa.edu.au

Fax: (08) 8302 9190

UNIT OVERVIEW

Value of unit: 18 of a full-time load

Offered in study periods 1 and 3, 2008

Unit statementInformation Systems are essential for creating successful, competitive organisations, adding business value and creating useful products and services. Each year these organisations spend trillions of dollars globally on Information and Communications Technology, which is a critical component of Information Systems. How does this technology add value to the business and how can managers optimize the return on their investment? This unit investigates these questions and others through the use of real life case studies. These studies are based on real organisations with their

2

problems and successes. The unit is taught with a focus on interaction and students finding solutions to problems.

How this unit relates to the awardManaging the Digital Organisation is one of the core first level units in the OUA Bachelor of Accounting.

PrerequisitesIt is assumed that students have access to email and the Internet. No other prerequisites or assumed knowledge is necessary.

AimsManaging the Digital Organisation examines how organisations design, manage and use information systems and technology as important corporate resources. This examination occurs in the context of critical and analytical evaluation of the concepts, principles, processes, techniques and issues of modern computerised business information systems. There are two main aims in this unit: 1. to introduce students to case based learning and to use evidence to support their argumentation; 2. to introduce students to the important components of Information Systems and how they are used in organisations.

ObjectivesStudents successfully completing Managing the Digital Organisation will be able to:

1. discuss the role of information systems and technology in society;

2. explain the operations of Information Systems and the role of technology, and how computerised Information Systems are developed, acquired or outsourced;

3. discuss the rationale and uses of database systems as well as understand concepts such as data warehousing and database mining;

4. discuss and critically analyse the uses of computer networks (including the Internet) within businesses, such as e-businesses;

5. discuss and critically analyse the changing role of information systems and technology in the achievement of business objectives from perspectives such as communication, collaboration, performance enhancement and strategy implementation;

6. understand the growing ethical and social issues in a digital firm including those with a global focus

7. apply a range of critical thinking and problem solving strategies to address business issues and problems.

3

Content

No. Topic

1 Information Systems in Global Business Today

2 Global E-Business: How Businesses use Information Systems

3 Information Systems, Organizations and Strategy

4 Ethical and Social Issues in Information Systems

5 IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies

6Foundations of Business Intelligence: Databases and In formation Management

7 Telecommunications, the Internet and Wireless Technology

8 Securing Information Systems

9Achieving Operational Excellence and Customer Intimacy: Enterprise Applications

10 E-Commerce: Digital Markets, Digital Goods

11 Managing Knowledge

12 Enhancing Decision Making

13 Managing Global Systems

Supervised assessment/examThis unit involves a supervised exam. Please be sure to read the section entitled ‘Exams’ under ‘Information about policies and procedures’ later in this Unit information. Alternatively, you can also access information about exam processes online at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/oua/

Study scheduleA table outlining the unit structure and study schedule is printed at the back of this guide. Please refer to it for important information regarding due dates for assignments.

4

LEARNING RESOURCES

Materials dispatched for this unitUnit informationAttention all students: important information

Online learning resources Topic notes and summaries

Assessment documentation

Miscellaneous information that will be provided via the unit website, course notice boards and a Frequently Asked Questions link.

Discussion forums

This unit is taught primarily online using material and activities posted to the unit website. The material posted to this website will include, for example, topic notes which are the same as topic notes used by your student peers who are studying the unit on a university campus, and case studies of real organisational problems. This material and related activities should be studied in conjunction with your online Study guide and textbook, and, if you are able to access them (see note below), the major references.

You can access these online learning resources either through myUniSA at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/myunisa or from a link on the unit home page which has been established on the UniSAnet system (UniSAnet is the online study environment at UniSA).

Please note: For further details on how to access and log-on to your online materials, please read the instructions provided later in this Unit information in the section entitled ‘Online at UniSA’.

Discussion forumsAs part of the Online learning resources for this unit, you will also be provided with access to an online discussion group. To access this facility, you need to go to the unit home page and then click on the link to the Discussion forum.

You can use the discussion forum to discuss relevant academic or unit content issues with your Unit Manager and other students. The Unit Manager or your tutor will be checking the postings to the discussion forum on a regular basis and will reply to queries promptly. You will be required to engage in the online group discussions and this will form part of your assessment for the case studies.

Please note: If you are posting a query to the Unit Manager, please check earlier messages to make sure that your query has not already been answered. Also, please note that administrative or personal queries should not be posted to the discussion forum. Rather they should be sent to Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla) by emailing ouainfo@unisa.edu.au.

5

Set textYou will need continual access to the following text in order to complete this unit. The library may hold only one copy of the nominated textbook and therefore you will need to acquire the book.

Laudon, K. C. & Laudon, J.P. (2006). Management Information Systems. Managing the Digital Firm. (10th Ed.).: Prentice Hall NJ

ISBN=9781741037081 in Australia

ISBN=9780132337748 in Asia

Text supplier (Unibooks)OUA has established a textbook supply service through Unibooks. Further information is available from the Open Universities Australia 2008 Handbook, and OUA website at www.open.edu.au

You can order textbooks by contacting Unibooks:

Phone: (08) 8223 4366

1800 447 313 (price of a local call; mobiles may pay more)

61 8 8223 4366 (international callers)

Fax: (08) 08 8223 4876

Email: open@unibooks.com.au

WWW: www.unibooks.com.au

Postal address:

UnibooksUniversity of AdelaideGate 10 Victoria DriveAdelaide SA 5005

Major referencesWhilst it is in your interests to purchase the unit textbook (especially since the main exam is open book), you do not need to purchase the following books. However, if you are able to access some or all of these books, they may prove helpful to your understanding of the unit material.

1. Haag, S, Cummings, M & McCubbrey, D.J. (2005) Management Information Systems for the Information Age (5th Ed.). Boston, USA: McGraw Hill.

2. Haag, S, Baltzan, P. & Phillips A. (2006) Business Driven Technology. Boston: McGraw Hill Irwin.

3. Jessup, L & Valacich, J. (2006) Information Systems Today. Why IS Matters (2nd Ed.). NJ: Prentice Hall.

4. Oz, E. (2004) Management Information Systems (4th Ed.). Boston: Course Technology.

5. Turban, E., Leidner, D., McLean, E. & Wetherbe, J. (2006) Information Technology for Management (5th Ed.). NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

6

Learning Connection resourcesYou can access a wide range of study skills resources from the UniSA Learning Connection website. In particular, the following specific sections of this website are recommended:

Studying at UniSAhttp://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/studying/default.asp

This section provides links to a wide range of online resources which have been designed to help you develop and enhance the general learning skills you require for successful study.

Referencing (and avoiding plagiarism)http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/studying/referencing.asp

Adopting a correct approach to referencing (and avoiding plagiarism) are key issues which need to be addressed by students undertaking assignments at university level. Therefore, we recommend that you spend some time working through the various guides incorporated in this section of the Learning Connection website.

Referencing using the Harvard author-date systemhttp://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/learningAdvisors/documents/harvard-referencing.pdf

This downloadable file is located in the Referencing section of the Learning Connection website. It provides detailed information about how to reference correctly using the Harvard author-date system.

Please note: A number of the pages and downloadable files on the UniSA Learning Connection website refer students to contact staff from the Learning Connection if they need further assistance with their studies. Unfortunately, this option is not available to students enrolled through Open Universities Australia. However, you are encouraged to make use of those resources which are available online as part of the Learning Connection website, and which are relevant to your studies.

7

INFORMATION ABOUT ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

Assignment 1 (parts A & B) Supervised NoGraded YesWeighting: 20% (2 x 10%)Length: 1 case study in the first half of the study period with

linked questionsDue dates: Monday of weeks 4 and 7

Assignment 2 (parts A & B)Supervised NoGraded YesWeighting: 20% (2 x 10%)Length: 1 case study in the second half of the study period

with linked questionsDue date: Monday of weeks 10 and 12

Participation ExerciseSupervised NoGraded YesWeighting: 10%Length: QuizDue date: Wednesday of week 8

ExamSupervised YesGraded YesWeighting: 50%Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutesDate: The exam will be held during week 14.

Note about specific due datesInformation relating to specific due dates can be found in the ‘Study Schedule’ pages included at the back of this Unit information.

PenaltiesThe Unit Coordinator reserves the right to award zero (0) marks for any piece of assessment not handed in by the due date. There are no extensions in any circumstances.

8

DETAILS OF ASSESSMENTPlease note that whilst students may achieve an overall aggregate mark (for all assessment items combined) in excess of 50%, the Unit Coordinator reserves the right to fail students if they do not submit (all parts of) Assignment 1 or Assignment 2 or achieve less than 40% of the assessment weighting in one of the assignments or less than 50% in the final examination. All assessment items are mandatory for all students.

All assessment items, except the final examination, are to be submitted electronically in a manner that will be detailed for each assessment item separately. Details of these submission processes will be made available (on the unit website) at appropriate times. Printed, faxed or posted assignments will not be accepted. The 4 parts of Assignments 1 & 2 are due by the submission dates noted in the calendar at the end of this document. As these assessment items are to be submitted electronically (in an on-line manner) the date and time of sending these items and receipt by the university should be the same.

Group WorkAll students will be allocated to groups for the analyses of the two case studies. The cases will be submitted and assessed as a piece of group work and all groups must submit on or before the due dates. Due to the structure of the assignment processes it is not possible to allow extensions to the due dates for the submission of the case studies. More details on how the group work will be conducted can be found on the Unit website.

Optional Self Assessment / Peer AssessmentYou have the option of assessing your own work as well as that of the other members of your group. They may also be assessing you and the other members of your group, as well as assessing their own performance. To complete this assessment process, you must complete the appropriate form and email it individually to your tutor after each set of questions and related case study. This means that you will have the option of submitting four self/peer assessment forms over the study period. This mark may influence your tutor’s group mark to arrive at the final mark for each of the four assignments. The reason for this procedure is that members of the group may be making uneven contributions and this is your opportunity to bring it to the attention of your tutor.

Assignment 1 (1 case study with linked questions)This assessment item will be presented in the form of 1 case study in the first half of the study period. These are open book problems and they will be conducted in groups of approximately 5 students. All groups will submit both the case study as well as answers to the two sets of linked questions. Specific details of the cases and their assessment model will be made available and posted to the unit website near the start of the study period. The written analyses (answers) should be about 4 x A4 typed pages in length (excluding references). The word count for each document may vary between 1,500 and 2,000 words but, when the questions are divided among the group members, the individual word counts should be around 400-500 words per student. You are also encouraged to use bullet points whenever possible, rather than lengthy descriptions or answers—but the bullets must contain enough information to explain their meaning.

9

Assignment 2 (1 case study with linked questions)This assessment item will be presented in the form of 1 case study with 2 sets of linked questions in the second half of the study period. All other details are the same as for assignment 1.

What you and your group must do: for each of the 2 case studies and the sets of linked questions over the semester you will:

1. analyse the case and write a group report

2. submit the report to your tutor

3. optionally assess yourself and your peers and email this form to your tutor

Participation ExerciseThis INDIVIDUAL piece of assessment will take the form of an online quiz. It will be held in week 8 and will be managed through the unit website. A URL will be sent to your university email account and you will be required to login to the quiz. You will have 24 hours to complete it. Please check the notice board for additional details.

Examination

The end-of-study period examination will assess all topics covered in the unit. It will take the form of a series of short answer questions followed by an analysis of a case study. (See the general section of the website for a sample exam.) The Unit Coordinator reserves the right to (and may) fail students in the unit if they attain less than 50% in the examination. The main examination and the deferred exam are both ‘closed book’ exams, which means that you cannot take anything into the exam with you. Please also read the ‘Study Suggestions’ section in your Study guide for further advice on the examination.

10

SUBMISSION AND RETURN OF ASSIGNMENTS

ONLINE SUBMISSION For the 2 assignments (2 case study analyses and 2 sets of linked questions) in this unit, which represents all of the asynchronous material you need to submit, all students will be allocated to a group. Each group will be required to submit one copy of each of its own cases, prior to the due date, as an attachment to an email sent to the group’s tutor. You are advised to set your email so that it will request a receipt to provide evidence that your submission has been both submitted and received by your tutor.

Please note: Assignments submitted by Australia Post or facsimile will not be accepted and the designated submission method (as detailed above) replaces the normally mandatory AssignIT submission process. (This is because the current version of AssignIT is unable to accept group submissions.)

Return of assignments.Assignments with their associated feedback forms and marks (see the end of this document) will be returned by email to each group by its tutor. Marks for the mid study period quiz will be posted to the unit website.

DUE DATEThe due date refers to the date for submission of your case studies. This is the latest date that the assignment may be submitted and it may be submitted any time up until and no later than 5.00 pm Australian Central Standard Time on the due date.

ASSIGNMENT TURNAROUND TIMEOur goal is that your assignments will normally be returned to you within 3 weeks of the date received.

FINAL GRADESFinal grades are published approximately 4-6 weeks after the end of the study period and can be accessed at myUniSA.

EARLY RESULTSStudents sometimes require their results by an earlier date for a specific purpose; for example, an application for a postgraduate program.

To apply for an early result you need to send a written application to the Unit Coordinator with the relevant documentation; for example, your letter from VTAC indicating the deadline for applications.

In these cases the university will try to meet the request—although it can't be guaranteed due to the logistics of exam papers being returned, availability of academic staff etc.

Please note that requests for early release of final grades need to be submitted by Friday of week 12.

Results cannot be supplied less than 3 weeks after the end of the study period.

11

EXTENSIONS TO ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

The design of this unit means that it will not be possible to allow assignment extensions. (This is explained in the section on Group Work in the Details of Assessment section of this document).

ONLINE AT UNISA

How do I find the online learning resources for my unit?One means of accessing your online learning resources is by going to myUniSA http://www.unisa.edu.au/myunisa, which is the UniSA web-based portal for study-related information and resources. For further details on myUniSA, please refer to the subsection below entitled ‘Student information via the Web: myUniSA’.

Alternatively, you can access your online materials by going to the unit home page, which has been established on the UniSAnet system (UniSAnet is the online study environment at UniSA). To go to the unit home page, enter the unit code ACG 10 in the search field entitled ‘Area and Catalogue No’ on the following web page, and then click on the related search button: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/courses/

Once you reach the unit home page, if you check underneath the heading ‘Learning resources for this unit’, you will see a link to the Online learning resources.

If you click on this link, you will be asked to enter your log-on details. If these details are correct, you will then be able to access the online learning resources.

Your UniSA username and passwordIf you are a new student, at the start of the study period, you will receive a letter providing your username and password. Alternatively, the following information will enable you to work out these details.

Your usernameYour UniSA username is computer generated and is usually made up of:

the first three letters of your family name;

plus the initials of your first and second names;

plus the code 01f (01 is numeric)

If your family name does not have three letters substitute a letter ‘y’. If you do not have a second name, substitute a letter ‘y’. For example, Chris Le. The username is: leycy01f (with no spaces between characters).

See the notes below for username exceptions.

Your passwordYour password is computer generated to a default setting and is made up of

the first four letters of your family name;

plus your day of birth;

plus your month of birth.

If your family name does not have four letters substitute a letter ‘x’. For example, Chris Le was born on 9 July 1980. Chris’s password is: lexx0907

Your password must be in lower case when accessing UniSAnet or myUniSA.

12

Important notes on your username and password For some students, your username may already be used by someone with a

similar name. If this is case, the ending may be 02f, 03f, 04f, and so on. If you think you are doing everything else correctly, but you are still unable to log-on, then please contact the IT Help Desk (details below) to confirm the details of your username.

Your username and password will remain valid for the study period plus two months. Students who re-enrol in any unit in future study periods should, in the first instance, use their existing username and password.

Help—I can’t log-on!1. Are you entering the correct username and password?

2. Are you a student currently enrolled in an OUA unit offered by the University of South Australia? If you are not sure of your enrolment status, contact Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla).

3. In some circumstances, such as when two or more students have a similar family name, you may not be able to enter your username and password using the above formulas. If you are definitely enrolled and still can’t log-on, then please contact the IT Help Desk (details below) to confirm the details of your username.

STUDENT INFORMATION VIA THE WEB: MYUNISA

What is myUniSA?All students who are currently enrolled with UniSA have access to myUniSA, a web-based portal for study-related information and resources.

What information can I access?The information available through myUniSA includes the following:

Links to online resources provided for your unit—unit home page, online learning resources, discussion forums, AssignIT etc.

Unit enrolments—unit code, unit value, study period and teaching school, etc.

Personal details—full name, date of birth, postal address and contact details.

Materials dispatch—dates products have been sent to you.

Assignment details—dates assignments have been submitted by AssignIT. Marks of assignments returned by AssignIT.

Exam timetables—for units in which you are currently enrolled.

Final grade—your overall final grade can be accessed online approximately 4-6 weeks after the end of the study period.

Access to your UniSA email account and library records.

Is myUniSA secure?Yes. You are the only person who can access your information in myUniSA as long as you:

don’t share your username and password with anyone else; and also

close all Web browsers completely when you have finished using myUniSA.

13

myUniSA also provides you with the option to change your password (see the link available on the initial log-on page). This is another way of keeping your account secure.

How do I log-on to myUniSA?1. Go to the UniSA home page: http://www.unisa.edu.au

2. Click on the word 'myUniSA' on the menu bar at the top of the page.

3. You will then be taken to a 'Welcome to myUniSA' page. Click on the link on this page which says 'Log on to myUniSA'.

4. You will then be prompted with a ‘Username and Password’ pop-up window as below:

5. At the log-on screen enter your username and password. Enter all information in lower case.

6. Select ‘OK’.

What if the personal details information I find in myUniSA is incorrect?Change it straight away!

It is very important that the information the University has about you and your study is correct. Having an incorrect address can mean you do not receive vital information from the University; being incorrectly enrolled can mean you will be charged an incorrect fee.

If you need to change your contact details (address, phone number, etc), please refer to ‘Change of address’ in the ‘Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla)’ section of this Unit information.

To change other information, contact the IT Help Desk (details below).

Help—I don’t understand some of the information I can see!Each screen in myUniSA has online help which explains the information displayed on the screen.

14

Select the ‘Help’ button at the top of the screen to open the online help. (Select the X in the top right corner to close.)

If you need further assistance, contact the IT Help Desk (details below).

EMAILAs part of the enrolment process, all students are issued with a University email account. Your email address is made up like this: (your username)@students.unisa.edu.au.

Email is the designated form of contact for a number of UniSA administrative processes. These processes include:

AssignIT. When using AssignIT to submit assignments, you will receive email notifications when assignments are submitted and/or returned.

Library. If you borrow books from the UniSA Library you will receive email notices about overdue items. Fees can apply to overdue items. For details, please refer to the Flexible Information Service website: http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/fds/

Other UniSA notices. From time to time, other sections of the University send out emails to all students (including OUA students). Some of these messages may be relevant to OUA students, but it is possible that some of these emails will not be directly relevant.

To obtain this information, it is recommended that you log-on to your University of South Australia email account on at least a weekly basis.

Note: If you are unable to access your email, you should contact the IT Help Desk at the beginning of the study period.

Redirection of your UniSA emailYour UniSA email account is the email address that we will use to contact you. We will not contact you using an alternative email address. If you would like to use a different or secondary email address to receive email, you can redirect your UniSA email to your home or work email address by using the Email Redirection application on myUniSA. Redirecting your UniSA email enables you to receive your UniSA email in your home or work inbox.

For further information, please visit the ‘Email redirection’ webpage on the UniSA Information Strategy and Technology Services website: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ists/email/email_redirect.asp

How do I access my UniSA email account?You can access your email account through logging onto myUniSA. Alternatively, you can access your email by doing the following:

1. Go to the UniSA home page: http://www.unisa.edu.au/

2. Click on the word ‘Email’ on the menu at the top of the page.

3. You will then be prompted with a ‘Username and Password’ pop-up window.

Enter your username

Enter your password

Press your ‘Enter/Return’ key or select ‘OK’.

You should now have access to your UniSA email account.

15

Assistance for accessing your email can be obtained at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ists/Email/default.asp

IT HELP DESK Contact the IT Help Desk (http://www.unisa.edu.au/ists/ITHelpDesk/default.asp) if you are having difficulty accessing UniSAnet, myUniSA or your email account. IT Help Desk phones are monitored Monday through Friday 8.30 am to 9.00 pm Adelaide time.

Phone: (08) 8302 5000

1300 558 654 (price of a local call; mobiles may pay more)

61 8 8302 5000 (international callers)

INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

PERFORMANCE IN ASSESSMENTYour performance in a unit’s assessment will be given a grading notation. Graded or Non-graded modes of assessment may be used.

Grade Notation Notational %

Descriptor

High distinction HD 85–100 Outstanding performance on all learning outcomes

Distinction D 75–84 Excellent performance on all learning outcomes

Credit C 65–74 High performance on all learning outcomes OR excellent performance on the majority of the learning outcomes

Pass level 1 P1 55–64 Satisfactory performance on all learning outcomes OR high performance in some learning outcomes compensates for unsatisfactory performance on others, resulting in an overall satisfactory performance

Pass level 2 P2 50–54 Satisfactory performance on the majority of learning outcomes

Fail level 1 F1 40–49 Unsatisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes OR failure to meet specified assessment requirements

Fail level 2 F2 below 40 Unsatisfactory performance on the majority of learning outcomes

Non-graded pass NGP 50–100 Met specified assessment criteria to required standard

Non-graded fail F below 50 Failed to meet specified assessment criteria to required standard

Supplementary pass SP 50 Satisfactory performance on a supplementary assessment

16

ACADEMIC INTEGRITYUniSA aims to foster and preserve the scholarly values of curiosity, experimentation, critical appraisal and integrity and to foster these values in students. Throughout the learning experience, you are expected to adhere to high standards of academic integrity and honesty. Failure to do so may constitute academic misconduct (see section 9 of the Assessment policies and procedures manual at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/policies/manual/).

Academic misconduct includes the following:

Plagiarism (see below).

Breaches of the examination procedures in Section 6: Examination Procedures of the Assessment policies and procedures manual, presentation of data with respect to laboratory work, field trips or other work that has been copied, falsified or in other ways improperly obtained.

Inclusion of material in individual work that has involved significant assistance from another person, where such assistance is not expressly permitted in this booklet.

Falsification or misrepresentation of academic records.

Other actions that contravene the principles of academic integrity.

Plagiarism is a specific form of academic misconduct. Deliberate plagiarism is regarded as a serious act of academic misconduct. Plagiarism includes the following:

a. direct copying of the work or data of other persons, from one or more sources, without clearly indicating the origin. This includes both paper-based and electronic sources of material from websites, books, articles, unpublished work such as theses, working papers, seminar and conference papers, internal reports, lecture notes or tapes, and visual materials such as photographs, drawings and designs

b. using very close paraphrasing of sentences or whole clauses without due acknowledgement in the form of reference to the original work

c. submitting another student's work in whole or in part, where such assistance is not expressly permitted in the Unit information

d. use of another person's ideas, work or research data without acknowledgement

e. submitting work that has been written by someone else on the student's behalf

f. copying computer files, algorithms or computer code without clearly indicating their origin

g. submitting work that has been derived, in whole or in part, from another student's work by a process of mechanical transformation (eg changing variable names in computer programs)

h. in any way appropriating or imitating another's ideas and manner of expressing them where such assistance is not expressly permitted in the Unit information.

17

Students' work may be checked for plagiarism using a variety of means, including text comparison software. Assignments checked electronically will be held in a database for future matching processes.

More information about Academic integrity can be found in the Assessment policies and procedures manual at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/policies/manual or on the Learning Connection website at: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/studying/integrity.asp

UNIT COUNSELLINGFor this unit, there are a number of definite processes which need to be followed in order to obtain advice about administrative and academic matters.

For all administrative queries, please contact Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla). This should be done by emailing your query to ouainfo@unisa.edu.au. Additional contact details are provided in this Unit information in the section entitled ‘Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla)’.

Alternatively, if you have a query about the academic content of the unit, you should post your query to the Discussion forum on the unit home page. The Unit Coordinator or one of the tutors for the unit will be checking this Discussion forum on a regular basis and will reply to your query. (Further information about the Discussion forum facility is provided in this Unit information in the section entitled ‘Learning Resources’.)

VARIATION TO ASSESSMENT TASKSStudents may request a variance to assessment methods, tasks and timelines based on medical, compassionate or religious observance grounds, or community services. Such variations must be requested before or during the second teaching week or within 5 working days of the distribution of this Unit information. Variations requested after this date will need to be negotiated with the Unit Coordinator and may not be able to be accommodated.

RESUBMISSIONThere is no provision for resubmission of assignments, unless invited to do so by the Unit Coordinator.

DEFERRED EXAMSA deferred exam may be provided if a student can provide evidence of unexpected and exceptional grounds which prevented them from attending the final examination. This could be an accident, unexpected illness or bereavement.

Applications for a deferred exam must be forwarded to the Examinations Officer no later than five working days after the scheduled examination date. The application should be a letter with attached relevant documentation, for example, an accident report from Emergency services.

All unsupervised assignment items need to have been submitted to be eligible. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Unit Coordinator.

18

DEALING WITH FAILED ASSESSMENTIt is possible to remedy failed assessment under special conditions. These are Supplementary Assessment for a failed course, Deferred Assessment because of medical, compassionate or religious grounds, and Special Consideration. Please note that there are special conditions and rules applying to Supplementary, Deferred and Special Consideration Assessment. If you are applying for consideration under these processes, you should ensure that you are familiar with all aspects, conditions and requirements of the provisions (section 7 of the Assessment policies and procedures manual http://www.unisa.edu.au/policies/manual/).

EXAMSMost undergraduate OUA units have exams in the week after the end of a study period. It is important that you read this information carefully.

The University makes arrangements for students to sit their exams at approved exam centres. This includes all domestic and international students.

All exams are held during business hours.

Students are sent a letter with the details of the centre to attend in week 10.

The university pays the cost of the invigilation. However, students need to cover any transport costs. In nearly all cases the centre will be within reasonable proximity to your address.

Exams must be sat at the scheduled time and date. Only where a student has an exam scheduled at the same time with another institution are alternative arrangements negotiated. Students in this situation need to contact the Examination Officer by week 8.

You need to ensure that your registered address with the university is current and correct. The address used will be the one designated on myUniSA 5 weeks prior to you being contacted. The centre designation cannot be changed after week 8.

There will be a small number of students located in remote areas in which we do not have access to professional examination centres. In these situations, we will contact the students individually to discuss options for the supervision of their examinations.

Students who have a Disability Access Plan indicating special arrangements for their examinations should contact the Examinations Officer by the end of week 8 to ensure that the correct arrangements for their examination are in place.

If you wish to apply for Variations to standard requirements you should access the information in regard to criteria and the form that needs to be submitted from the OUA @ UniSA website at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/oua/

Please note: It is a complex task to arrange centres for large numbers of students in a diverse range of locations. It is not possible therefore to accommodate individual requests for preferred exam centres.

If you have any queries relating to exams, please contact the Examinations Office using the following contact details:

Examinations Officer

Phone: 1300 361 450 (price of a local call; mobiles may cost more)Email: exams.results@unisa.edu.au

19

WITHDRAWAL OF STUDY

WithdrawalThe exact process for withdrawing from a unit depends on when you decide to withdraw.

Withdrawals before the OUA Census DateIf you decide to withdraw from a unit before the OUA Census Date (end of week 3), you need to contact Open Universities Australia. Please note that withdrawals from an OUA unit prior to the Census Date are eligible for a partial refund. However, refunds are not possible after the Census Date, except when an application for special circumstances is approved by Open Universities Australia. For further information about withdrawing from a unit before the Census Date, please refer to the Open Universities Australia 2008 Handbook or contact Open Universities Australia.

Withdrawals after the OUA Census DateIf you decide to withdraw from a unit after the OUA Census Date, please complete a ‘Withdrawal form’, and send it to Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla). A copy of this form can be downloaded from your unit home page or the OUA @ UniSA website at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/oua/. Withdrawals under this process can only be accepted when lodged by Friday of week 10 of the study period. To confirm a withdrawal using this process, you can check your myUniSA record for confirmation.

Grades for withdrawalA ‘W’ withdraw will be recorded on your academic record where notice of withdrawal has been received.

Assessments not completedIf a withdrawal request has not been submitted by the Friday of week 10 and the required assessments have not been submitted or completed by the due or negotiated date an ‘N’ Fail grade will be recorded.

DeferralsFrom 2008 onwards, deferrals will no longer be available for units offered by UniSA through OUA.

20

CAMPUS CENTRAL, CENTRE FOR REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT (WHYALLA)There are four main sources for accessing information in regard to administrative matters for study with OUA units offered by UniSA. These are as follows:

1. This Unit information booklet

2. The student portal myUniSA

3. OUA @ UniSA website at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/oua/

4. Contact Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla)

Campus Central, Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla) contact detailsPhone: (08) 864761611300 361 450 (price of a local call; mobiles may cost more)61 8 86476161 (international callers)

Fax: (08) 86476082

Email: ouainfo@unisa.edu.au

Phones are attended during normal South Australian business hours. You may leave a voicemail message or fax or email at all other times.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

The University of South Australia (UniSA) does not update personal and contact details for Open Universities Australia (OUA) students. To update or correct your personal and contact details, please go to the Personal Details section of My Area on the OUA website, or contact the OUA office in Melbourne. OUA will then advise UniSA of your updated personal and contact details.

21

OTHER SERVICES FOR STUDENTS

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIBRARY SERVICEAs you are enrolled in a unit offered by the University of South Australia, you are entitled to access a range of services offered by the University Library.

Offered through the Flexible Information Service, the aim of this service is to provide you with prompt and user-friendly access to databases, loans, photocopying and an information service.

They can search for material on a specific topic if you do not have access to the Internet.

Information about the full range of services available to you through the Library is available at http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/fds/

Address

Flexible Information Service University of South Australia LibraryUniversity of South AustraliaMawson Lakes BoulevardMawson Lakes South Australia 5095

Phone: 1300 137 659 (price of a local call; mobiles may pay more) 61 8 8302 6231 (international callers)

Fax: (08) 8302 669961 8 8302 6699 (international callers)

Email: dels@unisa.edu.au

DISABILITY SERVICESThe University of South Australia has a formal commitment to encourage people to seek access to tertiary study. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that any benefits provided by the University are accessible to students with a disability. This commitment extends to students studying OUA units.

There may also be entitlement to a variation or modification to standard assessment arrangements. Services are provided on an individual basis according to access requirements. Further information about disability services is available at:

http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/defaultdisability.asp

Phone: (08) 8302 4423 or 1300 657 144 (cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia)

Email: disability@unisa.edu.au

Students with disabilities are entitled to be assessed in ways which ensure a fair opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge. Alternative assessment arrangements may be required to provide this opportunity. Policy for students with disabilities is available at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/policies/

22

CONTACTING OPEN UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIAContact OUA if you intend to withdraw, have a study problem, need some advice or just want to talk to someone. OUA has a team of trained student advisers if you need:

help choosing which units and modules you wish to study

help processing your enrolment

information about pathways which are available for a range of qualifications

help with enrolling

advice about eligibility for the FEE-HELP student loan scheme, credit transfer, or obtaining funds

to change your name

Phone: (03) 8628 2555

1300 363 652 (price of a local call; mobiles may pay more)

61 3 8268 2555 (international callers)

Fax: (03) 8268 2955

Email: advisers@open.edu.au

Website: www.open.edu.au

Postal

Open Universities AustraliaGPO Box 5387Melbourne Vic 3001

23

24

ASSIGNMENT FEEDBACK FORM (EXAMPLE)

Assessment feedback

Business Information Systems (INFS 1011)

Student Name:_________________________ Student ID______________________

Assignment 1B – Case Study written report

Maximum value = 10 marks

Max. words required = 2000 (for the group)

Due date for each case study in the web site calendar and in this booklet

Key components of this assignment Component

Mark / Grade

Comment

Written case study report:

– Identifying the issues in the case

– Recommendations and justification

– Sources and referencing standards

– Report presentation and layout quality

maximum

possible

marks = 6

Answers to questions relating to the case study

and the lecture material:

– Correct answers

– Extension to answers showing insight or alternative viewpoints

maximum

possible

marks = 4

Assignment grade/mark

The Graduate qualities being assessed by this assignment are indicated by an X:

X GQ1: operate effectively with and upon a body of

knowledge

X GQ5: are committed to ethical

action and social responsibility

X GQ2: are prepared for lifelong learning X GQ6: communicate effectively

X GQ3: are effective problem solvers X GQ7: demonstrate an international

perspective

X GQ4:can work both autonomously and collaboratively

25

26

STUDY SCHEDULE—STUDY PERIOD 1, 2008

Week Dates Content/Work due

1 3–7 March Groups created and case study methodology presented by tutor

2 10–14 March

3 17–21 March

4 24–28 March Assignment 1A case study due 24 March

5 31 March–4 April

6 7–11 April

7 14–18 April Assignment 1B case study due 14 April

8 21–25 April

Assignment 3 Participation exercise 23 April

9 28 April –2 May

10 5–9 May Last week to withdraw

Assignment 2A case study due 5 May

11 12–16 May

12 19–23 May Assignment 2B case study due 19 May

13 26–30 May

14 2–6 June Exam week

27

28

STUDY SCHEDULE—STUDY PERIOD 3, 2008

Week Dates Content/Work due

1 1–5 September Groups created and case study methodology presented by tutor

2 8–12 September

3 15–19 September

4 22–26 September Assignment 1A case study due 22 September

5 29 Sept–3 October

6 6–10 October

7 13–17 October Assignment 1B case study due 13 October

8 20–24 October

Assignment 3 Participation exercise 22 October

9 27–31 October

10 3–7 November Assignment 2A case study due 3 November

Last week to withdraw

11 10–14 November

12 17–21 November Assignment 2B case study due 17 November

13 24–28 November

14 1–5 December Exam week

29

ACG10/UI/01

2008