GSB 741 Management Information Systems
This unit combines concepts and principles drawn from contemporary management science, management accounting and information technology to produce a body of knowledge of relevance to strategic and operational managers and users of contemporary computer-based information systems.
Studying this unit will assist you to:
- develop the ability to recognise, describe, analyse, plan and design Information Systems from a business professional’s viewpoint; and
- develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work interactively with information technology personnel within relatively complex systems environments and systems development projects.
No prior knowledge of information technology is assumed, although the great majority of students attempting this unit have considerable ‘end-user’ expertise. It would be quite advantageous for students attempting this unit to have some theoretical or practical knowledge of contemporary behavioural management principles.
Unit material is comprised of an amalgam of information technology and management science concepts and principles, these extensively underpinned with focused discussion of extant practical applications. Each section of material studied is immediately integrated with real world case studies, these providing students with an immediate opportunity to apply the analytical tools and concepts cumulatively developed with each successive topic.
The material is presented in a way that recognises the centrality and importance of the core work processes of any organisation; thus it views information technology as a potentially important input to such processes.
The overriding thrust (progressively developed throughout this unit) is to develop a whole-of-organisation view of information systems, information technology, and technology applications. This is initially achieved by developing, in some depth, a work-centred analytical framework for identifying and describing important basic components and functions of an information system. This framework is subsequently used for analysing how business processes interact with information systems, for discovering and investigating ways in which information technology can be advantageously used for modifying and extending business processes, for improving business communication and decision-making, and for developing competitive advantage.
Students completing this unit have found it valuable for the organisational (as opposed to technological) view that was developed with respect to information systems and information technology.