This subject is being introduced to provide a core project subject for the proposed Business Systems major of the Bachelor of Computing. While a similar existing subject is available, namely GCO3800 Industry Project, the nature of the industry based projects undertaken by Business Systems majors may differ, with a greater focus being on the application of information technology in analysing and solving a significant business problem. This may, for example, involve the utilisation of a range of techniques and skills for decision making, including the application of modern software tools in the development of statistical or financial models. It is envisaged that project teams may include some students from other disciplines. For example, the possibility of students taking the Bachelor of Electronic Commence working with students in the Business Systems major to develop an electronic commerce application has been discussed with staff in the Faculty of Business and Economics.

This unit builds on knowledge and understanding developed in core units throughout first and second level studies. Students will:

1. understand all stages of the process of developing an information system;
2. understand the roles and responsibilities of clients, system users and developers in a systems development project;
3. understand how information systems are developed;

This subject aims to develop in students:

4. the capacity to apply in a practical setting the theoretical work covered in their course
5. the ability to develop a significant computing application, from the analysis and design stages, through coding and implementation to evaluation.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

6. work with clients and communicate effectively with them
7. define a problem, and gather data, facts, opinions and information needed to analyse and solve it
8. outline and evaluate alternative solutions to a system development problem
9. perform a feasibility study that includes estimates of costs, time requirements, a schedule for the development, and the benefits expected from the system
10. identify hardware and software requirements for a system
11. document a system design using tools which include system flow charts and data flow diagrams
12. implement a system, including testing and debugging
13. evaluate a system, identifying any weakness or possible enhancements

This subject aims to develop in students:

14. the ability to operate effectively as a member of a development team.

Students work in project groups (usually six people) on a system development project for a client who may be either internal or external to Monash. In general, projects involve all aspects of the system development lifecycle. Project management aspects of system development are stressed. The requirements of the subject are fulfilled by the team producing an identified set of deliverables, usually a project proposal, project plan, a system specification, user documentation and software. The team must perform software management activities to ensure that the project is delivered on time. Students are required to maintain a development log with a full record of all their project-related activities. Each member of the team must demonstrate a significant contribution to the team effort, a sense of responsibility for the project outcome and skills for interaction with the client. Internal students meet formally with the subject adviser each week for seminar presentations and tutorial sessions. In the case of exteral students an individual project or smaller project group (two or three people) may be permitted. Students admitted to the school's industry experience scheme fulfil the unit requirements by undertaking a project with their employer.

On-campus, off-campus learning

Students work in project groups (usually six people) on a system development project for a client who may be either internal or external to Monash addressing objectives 1-14. On-campus students meet formally with the subject adviser each week for seminar presentations and tutorial sessions. Off-campus students communicate with the groups superviser electronically and by telephone as well as submitting reports by mail.

The requirements of the subject are fulfilled by the team producing an identified set of deliverables, usually a project proposal, project plan, a system specification, user documentation and software (objectives 1-5). The team must perform software management activities to ensure that the project is delivered on time. Students are required to maintain a development log with a full record of all their project related activities.

In the case of external students an individual project or smaller group (2-3 people) may be permitted. Students admitted to the School's industry experience scheme fulfil the subject requirements by undertaking a project with their employer.

Assignments and other assessment modes: 100%

Assessment is entirely by practical work and is based on two seminar presentations, quarterly supervisors reports, supervisor evaluation of the project deliverables, evaluation of the final product by two assessors other than the supervisor, and peer assessment of each team member?s contribution.

12 credit points

12 hours per week for 26 weeks. The unit requires two consecutive semesters to complete.

One seminar room for discussions and presentations for 2 hours per week

Facilities to allow students to complete development of project systems

• Software Title:
• Vendor:
• Version:
• OS: MS Windows XP ( ) and/or LINUX ( )
• License Details: (A valid software license certificate/s or Vendor permission must be available upon request if the software is to be installed for teaching)
• Are we currently licensed: Yes ( ) or No ( ) (If unsure, please check with your local IT support )
• If (Yes), who is the contact person for this software?:
• If (No), will the software license be arranged by: Staff member requesting the software ( ) or Technical Services* ( ) ? *If the latter is selected, please discuss your requirement/s with myself ASAP, prior to finalising your request, as there could be financial or resourcing implications.
• Is the software to be installed and accessed from a: Client/Workstation ( ), or Server ( ) ?
• Type of license: Site License ( ), Freeware ( ), FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) ( ), Shareware ( ), Lab based ( ) # of Licenses needed ____
• In what week will you commence using the software in class? Semester 1 (Week ___ ) and/or Semester 2 (Week ___ ):
• Nominated Staff For Acceptance Testing Software: (Name) (Phone) (Email)
• Additional Information: Special Requirements, Software Configuration/Installation Requirements, etc:

This is an existing unit with a current library approval

Gippsland School of Computing & IT 100%

Completion of all second level core units