Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

At the end of this subject, students will be able to:
describe a variety of applications used by business;
identify the type of problems to which spreadsheets
should be applied and use such a package to solve
simple business problems;
describe how computers are used in large organisations,
including centralised processors, distributed systems and
networked PCs;
understand basic communications terminology and
describe some currently used communication services
and products;
describe alternative methods of systems development
and means of obtaining information for analysis of
requirements;
understand the social implications of computerisation.
Text books
To be advised
Reference
Behan, K. and Holmes, D. Understanding Information Technology.
2nd edn, Sydney, Prentice Hall, 1990
~~404 Computer Programming
Subject aims and description
This subject aims to give students an understanding of the
principles and practice of commercial programming.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
describe the programming process, from problem
definition through to program testing;
discuss the principles of structured programming;
explain the importance and philosophy of testing;
design a logical structured solution to a problem using
various algorithm techniques;
read, understand, modify, and debug COBOL programs;
design, write, test, and document attractive, wellstructured
programs in COBOL.
Topics covered include the following:
program structure
data structure
algorithm design
data validation
arrays and tables
sequential files
reporting
indexed files
strings
testing
Textbook
Stern, N. and Stern, R.A. Structured Cobol Programming. 7th edn,
New York, Wiley, 1994
References
Grauer, R.T. Structured Cobol Programming. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.,
Prentice Hall, 1985
Juliff, P. Program Design. 3rd edn, Sydney, Prentice Hall, New York,
1990
Topping, A.L. and Gibbons, I.L. Programming Logic; Structured
Design. Chicago, SRA, 1985
~~405 lnformation Systems Strategies
No. of hours per week: three hours
Instruction: lecture/tutorial/laboratory
Assessment: to be advised
Subject aims
The aim of this subject is to provide students with a thorough
understanding of the varying information needs of an
organisation and the various methods which are appropriate
to meet those needs.
Particular emphasis will be placed on the need to understand
the data available in and to an organisation and how it can
be used to provide relevant information reliably and
efficiently.
Subject description
Topics covered include:
types of decisions, types of information;
types of information systems, transaction processing,
management information systems, executive information
systems, decision support systems, expert systems;
retrieving data, processing and presenting it - SQL;
networks - centralised, decentralised distributed
processing;
strategic and tactical issues of networks and E.D.I.;
developing an information strategy including the use of
modelling;
managing end user computing;
internal controls and security; crime, fraud, theft, piracy
and sabotage;
improving, refurbishing, redeveloping, existing systems;
using technology for operational, tactical and strategic
advantage.
References
Cashmore, C. and Lyall, R. Business lnformation Systems and
Strategies. New York, Prentice Hall, 1991
McNurlin, B.C. and Sprague, R.H. Jr. lnformation Systems
Management in Practice. 3rd edn, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice
Hall. 1993
Nelson, R.R. End-User Computing, Concepts, Issues and Applications.
New York, John Wiley, 1989
Panko, R.R. End User Computing Management Applications and
Technology New York, Wiley, 1988
~ ~ 4 0 6 Data Base Design and
Implementation
No. of hours per week: three and a half hours
Prerequisite: ~ ~ 4Computer 0 4 Programming
Instruction: lecturellaboratorv
Assessment: examination/asjgnment
Subject aims
This subject is very much a hands-on subject. Students will
get the opportunity of using the relational DBMS, Oracle, and
associated query languages.
The major aim is to prepare students to be productive in
projects involving relational database applications.
After completing this subject successfully, students should:
be able to develop a data model for a small application;
be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of
the database as opposed to the traditional file approach
of data processing;