1996 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

Content
Software and hardware components of decision support
systems
Decision support system concepts
Recent software developments
Hardware facilities available
Specific application software available for decision
support analysis
Recent developments in decision support software
Mainframe vs PC based decision analysis
Decision support software
Spreadsheets
An appreciation of the nature and role of modelling in
the decision making process, e.g. financial, forecasting,
simulation.
Choosing the right type of decision analysis tool for a
specific application.
Using Lotus 1-2-3 for decision analysis.Students will be
expected to acquire the necessary skills needed to build
their own models.
Graphics
m The presentation of information in a graphic format,
including output from modelling packages.
Using presentation . . graphics software for effective
communication.
R
c. Data bases
t;
Using corporate data as source material for micro-based
decision support . - tools.
Data base packages as a decision support facility.Students
will be expected to acquire the necessary skills needed to
build and query their own data bases.
Availability and accessing of public data bases.
Recommended reading
As this subject is primarily concerned with the use of application
software and current developments in using microcomputers, text
books form a minor component of reference material
Software documentation, user manuals and current journal
articles will provide the major reference material for the subject.
It is required that students have access to a PC for work
undertaken outside formal session times.
BT706 lnformation Technology
Effectiveness
Ceditpoints - 12.5 2 hounper week ow 1 semester
Prerequisites - BT60l Systems Project Management
Instruction: [ectures/seminan/2er0rbhops Assement:
Assignment (50%) and Research Report (50%)
Objectives
This subject focuses on the effective management of IT
resources.
On completion of this subject students will have developed
an understanding of the financial management of the ITdepartment,
the management of productivity and quality in
software development and the application of metrics to the
management of IT.
Content
Topics covered in these three areas include:
Financial management
Cash flow, chargeout, budgets and capital expenditure
evaluation;
Quality
An overview of total quality management, factors
affecting productivity and quality in S/W development,
approaches to controlling
- .. quality, quality standards,
measurement of qualny;
Metrics
Measuring IT performance quality, operations and
productivity measured at both strategic and tactical
levels, evaluating IT investments including IT
. -
~nfrastructure.
Textbooks
No single text covers the subject material.
References
Carlson, W.M. and McNurlin, B.C. Uncovering the Infortnation
Technology Payoffs, Rockville, Md., United Communications
Group, 1992.
Jones, C. Applied Software Measurement Assuring Productivizy and
Quality. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1991
Quinlan, T.A. EDP Cost Accounting, New York, Wiley, 1989.
BT707 lnformation Technology
Effectiveness
3 hours per week Prerequisites: completion of the Graduate
Diploma in Management Systems or equivalent Instruction: a
combination of lectures, seminars and workshops
Assessment: assignment and research report
A subject in the Master of Business Administration
0 biectives
This subject focuses on the effective management of IT
resources.
On completion of this subject students will have developed
an understanding of the financial management of the IT
department, the management of productivity and quality in
software development and the application of metrics to the
management of IT.
Content
Topics covered in these three areas include:
Financial management:
Cash flow, chargeout, budgets and capital expenditure
evaluation;
Quality:
an overview of total quality management; factors
affecting producivity and quality in S/W development;
approaches to controlling quality; quality standards;
measurement of quality;
Metrics:
measuring IT performance - quality, operations and
productivity measured at both strategic and tactical levels;
evaluating IT investments including IT infrastructure.