Business process analysis
R Dorling and N Lindner
6 points * 4 hours per week * First semester * Peninsula * Prohibitions: BUS1021, SYS1001, SYS1151, SYS1161
This subject will provide students with an understanding of information systems and how they may be used to support business activities. The basic types of business information systems such as order entry and billing, supply and inventory management, debtors and creditors will be studied in some detail. An introduction to some process modelling techniques will be provided to enable students to understand the structure and processing of typical business information systems. The notion of business processes will be introduced together with an introduction to the techniques that are used to analyse their performance. These include physical flow analysis, workflow analysis, work study and simulation. The role of information technology in radically changing the way that business processes are performed will also be addressed. The skills required for effective fact finding will be emphasised. These include oral and written communication skills and presentation and interview techniques.
Assessment
Examination (3 hours): 60% * Practical work, exercises based on business case studies: 40%
Prescribed texts
Whitten J and others Systems analysis and design methods 3rd edn, Irwin, 1994
Recommended texts
Alter S Information systems: A management perspective Addison-Wesley, 1992
Awad E M Systems analysis and design Irwin, 1985
Capron H L Systems analysis and design Benjamin-Cummings, 1986
Davenport T H Process innovation: Reorganising work through information technology Harvard Business School Press, 1993
Eliason A L Online business computer applications 3rd edn, Macmillan, 1991
Gore M and Stubbe J W Elements of systems analysis Brown, 1988
Hammer M and Champy J Re-engineering the corporation: A manifesto for business revolution 14th edn, Harper, 1993
Hicks J O Management information systems West Publishing, 1984
Kendall K E and Kendall J E Systems analysis and design 2nd edn, Prentice-Hall, 1992
Kendall P A Introduction to systems analysis and design: A structured approach 2nd edn, Brown, 1987
Long L E Computers in business Prentice-Hall, 1987
Powers M J and others Structured systems development: Analysis design implementation 2nd edn, Boyd and Fraser, 1990
Semprevivo P C Systems analysis: Definition, process, design 2nd edn, SRA, 1982
Senn J A Information systems in management 4th edn, Wadsworth, 1990
Stair R M Principles of information systems. A managerial approach Boyd and Fraser, 1992