Information Systems Unit 3 Course Outline
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Units 3 and 4 are designed to be undertaken as a sequence. This unit focuses on techniques and procedures to analyse and design information systems and to partially develop a software design specification through the use of a programming language. Students explore the roles and functions of information systems, types of networks, and they apply three of the systems development life cycle phases; analysis, design and development. The use of this concept as a problem-solving methodology is also covered in this unit.

Students acquire and apply knowledge and skills to represent the components, and the relationship between the components, of a networked information system. They analyse the operation of an information system, and explore design options in order to develop the physical design specifications for a modified or new networked information system.

In this unit students are expected to undertake the design and coding of a software module, using a programming language. Students also explore how the development of programs is influenced by legal obligations and ethical responsibilities. Students are not expected to fulfill an entire software design specification for Outcome 3; only a module needs to be developed. Typically, the stages of software development involve analysing, designing, developing, testing, documenting and evaluating. For Outcome 3 students are only required to engage in the phases of designing, developing and testing. In Unit 4 students are required to undertake all stages of software development.

AREAS OF STUDY

1.   Information systems and networks

This area of study focuses on the types, purposes and components of information systems used in a range of settings. Types of networks, network topologies and data communications form part of this area of study.


This area of study will include:

·         types of information systems used by individuals and organisations;
·        
purposes of using information systems in a range of settings;
·        
information system goals and objectives;
·        
roles and functions of the components of an information system, including people, equipment, procedures, data;
·        
computer architecture;
·        
types of networks and the types and capabilities of network topologies;
·        
network operating systems, network architecture and components
·        
tools to represent the components, and relationship between the components, of a networked information system.

Networks

2.   Information systems engineering (analysis and design)

This area of study focuses on the main phases associated with the systems development life cycle; analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. Within this context students study in depth the analysis, design and development phases in Unit 3. In Unit 4 students study the development phase, together with an in-depth study of the implementation and evaluation phases. In both units, students explore the use of the systems development life cycle as a problem-solving methodology.

This area of study will include:

·         the systems development life cycle, including analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation;
·        
economic, social and technical factors prompting change within organisations;
·        
information system goals and objectives;
·        
roles and functions of the components of information systems;
·        
primary and secondary data sources and data acquisition methods to conduct an analysis;
·        
types of data and a range of equipment appropriate for inputting, processing, storing, accessing and outputting data and
         information;

·        
existing information system context, processes and data structures;
·        
logical design techniques for documenting the results of an analysis;
·        
input, processing and output specifications to meet information system goals and objectives;
·        
functions and characteristics of hardware and software components options and procedures available to meet the
         required specifications;

·        
technical, operational and economic criteria for evaluating the feasibility of alternative design options to achieve the
        information system goals and objectives;

·        
physical design specifications;
·        
tools to represent the relationships between information system components;
·        
criteria for evaluating the performance of proposed information systems.

3.   Software development

This area of study focuses on a range of tools and techniques for implementing the software and hardware specifications of information systems. Students are expected to have an overview of the stages of software development; analysing, designing, developing, testing, documenting and evaluating. In Unit 3 students study in depth the stages of designing, developing and testing. The solution developed by the students should be one module that partially meets a software design specification. In Unit 4, students study all stages of software development.

This area of study will include:

·         stages of software development, including analysis, design, development, testing, documentation and evaluation;
·        
file management considerations;
·        
naming conventions for files and objects;
·        
data types to meet particular needs within software designs;
·        
data representation methods and factors that determine the representation methods selected;
·        
approaches to designing software and methods of expressing their design;
·        
legal obligations of programmers, and ethical considerations regarding the development of programming solutions;
·        
criteria for evaluating software;
·        
high-level programming languages as methods for implementing software design;
·        
techniques for checking that coded programs meet design specifications;
·        
principles of hardware operation essential to the development of software modules;
·        
purpose and characteristics of internal documentation.