Overview
In this unit, you will explore elicitation tools and techniques to identify, develop, model and report the requirements specification required to implement an enterprise system. You will see how knowledge audits lead to the identification of knowledge gatekeepers who are internal and external to an organisation. This unit is a key element in the development of business analysis skills in students. Note: If you have completed COIT20238 or COIS20077 then you cannot take this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: COIT20250 e-Business Systems and COIT20249 Professional Skills in ICT
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Students emails, phone calls and evaluation feedback. Staff feedback.
Students could not understand why Mahara helps them and how they would benefit from its use. They saw it causing them more work to prepare when Mahara tends to have technical issues, as compared to their other units not using Mahara. They wish to submit each assignment in Word file format for marking in future.
Suggest to drop the use of Mahara in the two e-journal and e-portfolio assignments in this unit.
- Devise an appropriate and comprehensive knowledge audit plan to support business analysis requirements
- Apply the techniques of knowledge capture, knowledge codification and knowledge sharing (using appropriate technologies)
- Use appropriate modelling tools to interpret and analyse the business context for enterprise systems
- Critically review approaches to the implementation of enterprise systems within an organisation and any issues that may arise
- Appraise the ethical and professional issues relevant to a business analyst
- Effectively write and communicate enterprise systems specifications.
Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is in use in over 100 countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles.
ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA. The SFIA codes is included:
- Information Management (IRMG)
- Research (RSCH)
- Business Process Improvement (BPRE)
- Business Analysis (BUAN)
- Requirements Definition and Management (REQM)
- Business Modelling (BSMO)
- Change Implementation and Management (CIPM)
- Stakeholder Relationship Management (RLMT)
- Problem Management (PBMG)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||
2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||||
3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 40% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
1 - Knowledge | ||||||
2 - Communication | ||||||
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
4 - Research | ||||||
5 - Self-management | ||||||
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
7 - Leadership | ||||||
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||||||
3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 40% |
Textbooks
Business Analysis
Edition: 3rd (2014)
Authors: Paul, D., Cadle, J., and Yeates, D.
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
London London , UK
ISBN: 9781780172774
Binding: Paperback
Business Analysis Techniques: 99 essential tools for success
Edition: 2nd (2014)
Authors: Cadle, J., Paul, D., and Turner, P.
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
London London , UK
ISBN: 9781780172736
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
The text books can also be purchased as a downloadable e-books from the Kindle Store
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Software: IHMC Cmap Tools http://cmap.ihmc.us
- Software: Microsoft Visio
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.soon@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
The Role of the Business Analyst
Chapter
Chapters 1 & 2 Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Strategic Management
Chapter
Chapter 3 Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Creative Leadership and Knowledge
Chapter
Chapters 4 and 5 The Enterprise Business Analyst: Developing creative solutions to complex business problems Hass, K. (2011)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Business Analysis Techniques
Chapter
Chapters 4 & 5 Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Stakeholder Analysis and Management
Chapter
Chapter 6
Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
What's the Real Problem?
Chapter
Chapters 8, 9 & 10 Business Analysis: Best Practices for Success Blais, Steven (2012)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Approaches to Business Analysis
Chapter
Chapters 7 & 8 Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Talk! Talk! Talk!
Chapter
Chapters 5 & 15 Business Analysis: Best Practices for Success Blais, Steven (2012).
Events and Submissions/Topic
e-Portfolio Due: Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Requirements Elicitation
Chapter
Chapter 10 Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Documenting and Modelling Requirements to support Strategy
Chapter
Chapters 11 & 12 Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Delivering the Requirements and Business Solution
Chapter
Chapters 13 & 14 Business Analysis Paul et al (2014, 3rd ed):
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Implementing Knowledge Management and Change
Chapter
Chapter 10, Jashapara (2011).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Group Case Study Report Due: Week 12 Wednesday (4 Oct 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator: Dr Lisa Soon
Office Location: Level 1, 538 Flinders Street West Townsville QLD 4810
Phone: +61 07 4726 5317 Ext55317
Emai: l.soon@cqu.edu.au
Note: For all inquiries, please send me an email. For urgent matter, phone me whenever needed. If unavailable, please leave a voice message or email me.
1 Written Assessment
In this assessment you will demonstrate an understanding of the core competences and skills required for a Business Analyst. You will also demonstrate your knowledge in use of tools and techniques for requirements elicitation and reporting. The required topics are covered during Weeks 1- 4. The submission of this assessment item. For the submission of this assessment item, you have to prepare an e-journal using the software tool Mahara, and create a standalone website putting contents in your journal entries into a Word file that contains all contents of your e-journal. Further details are available on the unit Moodle website in the Assignment 1 Specification document.
Week 5 Friday (11 Aug 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Two weeks after submission (Week 7)
Each e-Journal entry will be assessed upon:
- Synopsis: quality of a summary of the journal entry
- Reflection: demonstration of understanding of each of the topics given in the Assessment Specification
- Critique: development and support of critical arguments of the practical application of knowledge and understanding
- Devise an appropriate and comprehensive knowledge audit plan to support business analysis requirements
- Use appropriate modelling tools to interpret and analyse the business context for enterprise systems
- Critically review approaches to the implementation of enterprise systems within an organisation and any issues that may arise
- Appraise the ethical and professional issues relevant to a business analyst
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Portfolio
In this assessment item, you will demonstrate your understanding and skills developed by learning the topics from Weeks 4 - 7, and more specifically techniques of knowledge capture, knowledge codification, and use of appropriate modelling tools. You will be preparing a portfolio in Mahara putting together your work meeting the requirements specified in the Assessment specification. You will be using the software tool Mahara to create your portfolio which allows progressive creation of the document. Submit your assessment in Week 8 as a Word file with identical contents from Mahara.
Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017)
Each e-Portfolio will be assessed upon:
- Quality of description of business from the perspective a Business Analyst (BA), based on the given scenario.
- Development and support of arguments in relation to analysis and documentation of the business context
- Demonstration of comprehensive and detailed documentation of the main business processes and justification of the modeling tools used.
- Quality of presented conclusion supported by your findings
- Devise an appropriate and comprehensive knowledge audit plan to support business analysis requirements
- Apply the techniques of knowledge capture, knowledge codification and knowledge sharing (using appropriate technologies)
- Use appropriate modelling tools to interpret and analyse the business context for enterprise systems
- Critically review approaches to the implementation of enterprise systems within an organisation and any issues that may arise
- Appraise the ethical and professional issues relevant to a business analyst
- Effectively write and communicate enterprise systems specifications.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
3 Practical and Written Assessment
You are required (as a group with up to four members) to write a report based on a given case study. In this report, you need to evaluate current business systems and processes and propose improvements for the given case study. You are required to demonstrate your analytical and modelling skills to communicate your findings from the case study. You are also required to conduct a self and peer assessment of the completed report and submit your assessment outcome.
Further details and case study are available on Moodle course website in the Assignment Specification document.
Week 12 Wednesday (4 Oct 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Assignment will be returned on the day of Certification of Grades
The group case study report will be assessed upon:
- Professionalism in report presentation e.g. an effective title page, headers and footers, use of headings and sub-headings as appropriate.
- Quality of Executive summary
- Quality of introduction
- Demonstration of an articulate statement about current business processes and problems
- Critical analysis in the requirements of a new System
- Quality in the assessment of the feasibility of the new Business case
- Quality of a presented conclusion, supported by the related findings
The case study report is further assessed through the inclusions of in-text citations together with a list of correctly cited references, ordered alphabetically by surname of first author, in accordance with the Harvard style of referencing. Note: Refer to the unit website for the link to the guide.
Participation, contribution and collaboration in group work are assessed through the completion of an Self and Peer Assessment Online Survey by all group members
- Devise an appropriate and comprehensive knowledge audit plan to support business analysis requirements
- Apply the techniques of knowledge capture, knowledge codification and knowledge sharing (using appropriate technologies)
- Use appropriate modelling tools to interpret and analyse the business context for enterprise systems
- Appraise the ethical and professional issues relevant to a business analyst
- Effectively write and communicate enterprise systems specifications.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.