ObjectivesOn completion of this course students should have:
* a comprehensive understanding of the process and practice of research in Information Systems;
* a sophisticated understanding of the Information Systems discipline;
* completed a substantial piece of original research; and
* the necessary skills for further advanced research in Information Systems (e.g. in doctoral studies)
Academic titleMaster of Science - Information Systems
Course descriptionStudents must complete a total of 200 points over a two year full-time (or four year part-time) program comprising:
* 615-610 Research Methods in Information Systems as a core discipline subject of 12.5 points;
* between 37.5 and 112.5 points of elective discipline subjects;
* between 25 and 50 points of professional tools subjects, one of which must be 600-615 Thinking and Reasoning with Data; and
* a 50 point or a 100 point research project.
Core discipline subject (12.5 points)
Students must take the following subject:
• 615-610 Research Methods in Information Systems
Elective discipline subjects (between 37.5 points and 112.5 points)
Students must select three to nine approved coursework subjects from the list below:
IS Skills
* 615-680 Information Technology Infrastructure
* 615-681 Business Analysis Modelling and Design
* 615-671 Business Applications & Architectures
* 615-652 Emerging Technologies & Issues
IS Management
* 615-682 IS Project and Change Management
* 615-660 IS Strategy and Governance
* 615-683 Impact of Digitisation
* 615-695 Professional IS Consulting
IS Project & Change Management
* 615-659 Advanced IS Project Management
* 615-662 Advanced IS Change Management
* 615-692 Organisational Change for IS Managers
* 615-684 Models of IS Project Management
IT Service Provision
* 615-685 Managing In-House IT Service Provision
* 615-687 ICT Contract Law Basics
* 615-688 ICT Outsourcing Contract Management
Business Analytics
* 306-622 Business Intelligence (subject to approval from the Melbourne Graduate School of Management)
* 325-692 Decision Analysis (subject to approval from the Melbourne Graduate School of Management)
* 615-644 Data Warehousing
Interaction Design
* 615-636 Interaction Design and Usability (not available in 2009)
* 615-672 Pervasive Computing
* 615-656 Knowledge Management Systems or 615-691 Decision Support Using ICT (not available in 2009)
* 615-683 Impact of Digitisation
Where appropriate a student may complete up to two approved 200 or 300 level subjects. Students may also select approved postgraduate subjects from cognate disciplines (e.g. computer science, business information systems).
Professional tools (between 25 and 50 points)
Students must take at least 25 points (2 subjects) but no more than 50 points of Professional Tools subjects; one of which must be 600-615 Thinking and Reasoning with Data:
* 600-615 Thinking and Reasoning with Data (compulsory)
* 600-614 Business Tools: Money, People and Projects
* Business Tools: The Market Environment (available semester 1, 2010)
* Critical Analysis in Science (available semester 2, 2010)
* eScience (available semester 2, 2010)
* 600-617 Systems Modelling and Simulation
* 600-618 Ethics and Responsibility in Science
* 600-616 Science in Context
* 600-619 Science and Communication
Research Project (50 points or 100 points)
Students will gain research experience in Information Systems (or cognate discipline) by completing a thesis (worth 100% of the overall score) and two oral presentations (hurdle). Students may complete a 50 point Minor Research Project or, with approval from the Course Coordinator, a 100 point Major Research Project.
Minor Research Project (50 points):
Students complete a thesis of no more than 12,000 words. This is the recommended path for most students.
Students may enrol in a combination of research project subjects as indicated below, over their two years of full-time study or over their four years of part-time study, to ensure they have completed a total of 50 points for the minor research project by the end of their course.
50 point Minor Research Project:
* 615-613 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 12.5 points
* 615-612 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 25.0 points
* 615-611 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 37.5 points
* 615-607 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 50 points
Major Research Project (100 points):
Students complete a thesis of no more than 22,000 words. This option can only be undertaken with approval from the Course Coordinator.
Students may enrol in a combination of research project subjects as indicated below, over their two years of full-time study or over their four years of part-time study, to ensure they have completed a total of 100 points for the major research project by the end of their course.
100 point Major Research Project:
* 615-617 Information Systems Research Project Major – 12.5 points
* 615-616 Information Systems Research Project Major – 25.0 points
* 615-615 Information Systems Research Project Major – 37.5 points
* 615-614 Information Systems Research Project Major – 50 points
Subject Semester Credit Points
615-613 Information Systems Research Proj Minor
Students undertake an original investigation of a topic relevant to Information Systems (or cognate discipline). Specific research projects will depend on the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a range of issues within Information... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
615-612 Information Systems Research Proj Minor
Students undertake an original investigation of a topic relevant to Information Systems (or cognate discipline). Specific research projects will depend on the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a range of issues within Information... Semester 1, Semester 2 25
615-611 Information Systems Research Proj Minor
Students undertake an original investigation of a topic relevant to Information Systems (or cognate discipline). Specific research projects will depend on the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a range of issues within Information... Semester 1, Semester 2 37.50
615-607 Information Systems Research Proj Minor
Students undertake an original investigation of a topic relevant to Information Systems (or cognate discipline). Specific research projects will depend on the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a range of issues within Informatio... Semester 1, Semester 2 50
615-617 Information Systems Research Proj Major
Students undertake an original investigation of a topic relevant to Information Systems (or cognate discipline). Specific research projects will depend on the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a range of issues within Information... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
615-616 Information Systems Research Proj Major
Students undertake an original investigation of a topic relevant to Information Systems (or cognate discipline). Specific research projects will depend on the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a range of issues within Information... Semester 1, Semester 2 25
615-615 Information Systems Research Proj Major
No description available Semester 1, Semester 2 37.50
615-614 Information Systems Research Proj Major
Students undertake an original investigation of a topic relevant to Information Systems (or cognate discipline). Specific research projects will depend on the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a range of issues within Informatio... Semester 1, Semester 2 50
615-610 Research Methods in Information Systems
Research is a systematic process of answering questions to acquire new knowledge. Research in information systems questions how professional practice is conducted and contributes to the development of better practices. The subject provides students ... Semester 1 12.50
615-680 Information Technology Infrastructure
This subject provides participants with an understanding of the current issues in the design and management of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and service provision. The current impacts of the convergence, commoditisatio... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
615-681 Business Analysis Modeling and Design
This subject introduces the fundamental processes for identifying information systems requirements, leading to the specification and design of information systems or the selection of commercial off-the-shelf packages to support business processes. St... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
615-671 Business Applications & Architectures
Integrating business applications across business functions and companies provides large benefits to organizations. The first phase of this subject concentrates on business processes and enterprise applications including ERP systems. The relationship... Semester 1 12.50
615-652 Emerging Technologies and Issues
As with many other forms of technology, information technologies have lifecycles ranging from initial conception, possible adoption and widespread use in industry, to eventual obsolescence. This subject will address emerging information technologies,... Semester 2 12.50
615-682 IS Project and Change Management
This subject covers management of projects and leading project teams and associated change management roles, tasks and processes. Topics include the project life cycle, project tasks and deliverables, defining a project charter from a business case, ... Semester 2 12.50
615-660 IS Strategy and Governance
Strategic IS management is an increasingly important management activity as organizations realize that appropriate use (or misuse) of information and information technology can have significant effects on their competitive position. Using case studi... Semester 1 12.50
615-683 Impact of Digitisation
In this subject students examine the implications of the digitization of data, information, and communications on organizations and society. Students will investigate how digitization affects individuals, organizations, and society with associated se... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
615-695 Professional IS Consulting
This subject allows students, working individually and in syndicates, to gain experience in commercial and professional aspects of information systems practice. Students will develop business communication skills, including commercial report writing,... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
615-659 Advanced IS Project Management
Projects are typically characterized as being temporary in nature, having a defined start-end, involving the accomplishment of a novel or unique task and operating under constraints. Obviously the goal of a project is "success". The PMBOK (... Semester 1 12.50
615-662 Advanced IS Change Management
The development and implementation of information systems is both a catalyst for, and a response to, organisational change. In this subject, the interrelationship between information systems and organisational change is examined from both theoretical... Semester 1 12.50
615-692 Organisational Behaviour for IS Managers
This subject examines the role of the IS Manager within the context of the larger organisational environment and the process by which organisational change occurs. It enables students to develop an understanding of the issues faced by project manager... Semester 2 12.50
615-684 Models of IS Project Management
This subject examines three advanced topics in the field of project management: 1. Project planning, scheduling, estimation and control techniques. 2. Project management models including the use of methodologies, outsourcing, procurement and project ... Semester 2 12.50
615-685 Managing In-house IT Service Provision
Over the course of the last twenty years, a highly regarded body of principles and practices for IT management, known as ITIL, has been developed by the UK's Office of Government and Commerce. Developed by subject matt... Semester 1 12.50
615-687 ICT Contract Law Basics
This subject provides an introduction to law from a business perspective. A wide range of topics is covered, with an emphasis on contract law and developing an ability to find and apply the law to resolve specific problems. Topics include: the nature... Semester 2 12.50
615-688 ICT Outsourcing Contract Management
This subject provides a practical set of principles, tools and techniques for client organizations to follow when managing ICT outsourcing. Topics discussed are as follows: Architect Phase 1: Deciding why, what and how to outsource, and to whom and w... Semester 2 12.50
306-622 Business Intelligence
This subject examines the use of information technology for business decision making. In particular, it focuses on business modelling, the business application of artificial neural networks, knowledge-based systems, data mining and OLAP (Online Analy... Semester 2 12.50
325-692 Decision Analysis
This subject will provide the analytic frameworks and tools that managers need to support their judgements in decision making with a focus on risky decisions and resource allocation. It covers the topics of decision making under uncertainty (includin... Semester 1 12.50
615-644 Data Warehousing
Data warehouses are designed to provide organizations with an integrated set of high quality data to support decision-makers. They should support flexible and multi-demensional retrieval and analysis of data. Topics covered include data warehousing a... Semester 2 12.50
615-636 Interaction Design and Usability
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
615-672 Pervasive Computing
Pervasive computing describes access to information using new communications and networking technologies. The technology implies computing power, freed from the desktop, extended to wireless handheld devices, home appliances, and commercial tools-of-... Semester 1 12.50
615-656 Knowledge Management Systems
This subject focuses on how a range of information technologies and analysis techniques are used by organizations to support knowledge management initiatives. Topics likely to be examined are: collaborative technologies and computer-supported coopera... Semester 1 12.50
615-691 Decision Support Using ICT
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
615-683 Impact of Digitisation
In this subject students examine the implications of the digitization of data, information, and communications on organizations and society. Students will investigate how digitization affects individuals, organizations, and society with associated se... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
600-614 Business Tools:Money, People & Projects
This subject will give an overview of the tools required to operate successfully in an organisational environment. The focus of the subject is the internal workings of an organisation and specifically addresses three main areas: working with people,... Semester 2 12.50
600-617 Systems Modelling and Simulation
Modern science and business makes extensive use of computers for simulation, because complex real-world systems often cannot be analysed exactly, but can be simulated. Using simulation we can perform virtual experiments with the system, to see how it... Semester 1 12.50
600-618 Ethics and Responsibility in Science
What is scientific fraud? What should a scientist do when he or she finds fraud is occurring on a scientific or medical research team? How does a scientist write and defend an ethics submission and get it approved? How can a scientist ensure complian... Semester 2 12.50
600-615 Thinking and Reasoning with Data
What conclusion can be drawn from a pool of data? How can a scientist draw meaningful conclusions while not overreaching? How can modelling help the scientist interpret data? This subject will address these questions by teaching students critical th... Semester 1 12.50
600-616 Science in Context
As a Scientist, one of the main challenges is to communicate scientific knowledge to the wider community. Whether the issues are big or small, communicating complex scientific knowledge needs to be ‘context relevant’. Increas... Semester 2 12.50
600-619 Science and Communication
This subject reviews the nature of scientific communication and develops the skills required to improve written, oral and visual communication. It is primarily a skill-based practical course that builds on Science in Context. The subject considers th... Semester 1 12.50