This unit provides students with knowledge of fundamental concepts relevant to systems development and of a number of widely-used and influential systems development approaches.

2005: Existing unit IMS3230 Information Systems Development Practices being updated to fit into the new BITS degree structure with new FIT unit code.

FIT3062 Advanced Development Methods and Practices is an elective 3rd level unit in the Caulfied BITS major in Systems Development.

There is no comparable unit in the faculty.

Students undertaking a Systems Development major need to understand and be able to apply information systems modelling techniques.

At the completion of this unit the students will have knowledge of:

• the fundamental concepts relevant to systems development approaches
• the role and use of systems development methodologies
• a number of widely-used and influential systems development methodologies

and have an understanding of:

• approaches to evaluating and selecting systems development methodologies
• organisational issues relevant to the use of systems development methodologies

At the completion of this unit, students will have developed attitudes which enable them to:

• recognise the usefulness and appropriateness of particular approaches to systems
• consider the suitability of the use of a particular methodology for systems development in a given systems development situation.

At the completion of this unit, students will have the skills to:

• compare particular systems development methodologies
• evaluate systems development methodologies appropriate to particular organisational contexts and development environments

ASCED Discipline Group classification: 020301 Conceptual modelling

This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of a range of approaches to information systems development and knowledge of a number of systems development methodologies. Topics include the evolution of systems development methodologies, frameworks for evaluation and selecting methodologies, the organisational context in which systems development takes place, productivity and quality improvement strategies, and a number of systems development approaches. This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of the use of information systems modelling within information systems development. Critical comparisons are made of the various approaches to information systems modelling. Topics include philosophical foundations of information systems modelling - data modelling, process modelling, event driven modelling, object-oriented modelling; information systems modelling in practice - the process of information systems modelling. The unit will furthermore highlight various methods of requirements elicitation and these methods will be practised.

This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of a range of approaches to information systems development and knowledge of a number of systems development methodologies. It focuses on the organisational context in which systems development occurs, including the introduction of technology-enabled change and the use of quality and productivity improvement practices.

• Avison, D.E. & Fitzgerald, G. (2003). Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools. (3rd ed), McGraw-Hill, London.
• Avison, D.E., Kendall, J.E. and DeGross, J.I. (eds) (1993). Human, Organizational, and Social Dimensions of Information Systems Development. Elsevier, North-Holland.
• Ancona, D.G., Kochan, T. A., Van Maanen, J., Westney, D.E., and Scully, M.A. (2003) Managing for the Future:Organizational Behaviour and Processes, South-Western Pub., NY.
• Bahrami, A. 1999. Object Oriented Systems Development: Using the Unified Modelling Language. Irwin McGraw-Hill, Boston MA, USA.
• Checkland, P.B. 1993. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, England.
• Checkland, P.B. and Scholes, J. 1990. Soft Systems Methodology in Action John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, England.
• Fowler, M. (1997) UML Distilled: Applying the Standard Object Modelling Language Addison-Wesley, MA.
• Henderson-Sellers, B. (1992). A Book of Object-Oriented Knowledge. Prentice-Hall, NY.
• Hoffer, J.A., George, J.F. and Valacich, J.S. (1999) Modern Systems Analysis and Design, (2nd edition) Addison-Wesley, Reading MA, USA.
• Kolb, D.A., Rubin, I.M. and Osland, J. (1995). Organisational Behaviour: An Experiential Approach. (6th ed) Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs.
• Schermerhorn, J.R., Hunt, J.G. and Osborn, R.N. (2000). Managing Organizational Behavior. (7th ed). Wiley, New York.
• Sprague, R.H. and McNurlin, B.C. (1993). Information Systems Management in Practice (3rd ed). Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs.
• White, E., Fischer, L. (eds) (1994) New Tools For New Times: The Workflow Paradigm: The Impact Of Information Technology on Business Process Reengineering Future Strategies Alameda, Calif.

On campus

2 hour lecture plus 1 hour tutorial per week

Knowledge and understanding objectives are achieved mainly through lectures and tutorial exercises.

Attitudes and beliefs objectives are achieved mainly through laboratory exercises and assignment work.

Practical skills objectives are achieved mainly through laboratory exercises and assignment work.

Relationships, communication and team work objectives are achieved mainly through laboratory exercises and assignment work.

Examination: 60% + Practical: 40%

Knowledge and understanding objectives are assessed mainly through the examination.

Attitudes, values and belief objectives are assessed mainly through the examination and assignment work.

Practical skills objectives are assessed mainly through assignment work.

Relationships, communication and team work objectives are assessed mainly through assignment work.

12 hours per week including lectures, tutorials and private study.

High-tech lecture theatre with data display and internet connection, with a PC and facility to plug in a laptop, for two hours per week throughout the semester.

1 hour tutorial per week

One lecturer per semester. One tutor per tutorial per semester.

Adequate copies of at least the recommended texts listed above.

FIT

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

FIT2001 or IMS1002 or CSE1205 or equivalent