LAR2006/LAR3006

Electronic information sources

F Morrissey

4 points - 3 hours per week - First, second semester - Clayton

Objectives At the completion of this subject, students should have an understanding of a wide range of electronic information sources and service providers in the area of business information; and knowledge of their arrangement, contents, and delivery mechanisms, how to use them efficiently and economically, and some criteria for critically evaluating their contents and search engines; the ability to utilise electronic sources in ways that support end-user and organisational needs, ranging from information audits and managing end-user access to manipulating and repackaging information into business information systems or appropriate value-added formats; and an awareness of policy and infrastructure requirements associated with accessing electronic information, including licensing and copyright.

Synopsis This subject is offered as an elective in the BIM. It will introduce students to a range of electronic information sources available from WWW, online host services and CD-ROMs, and demonstrate how they may be used to support enduser requirements and organisational missions, using provision of business information as an example. The sources covered will include online and CD-ROM databases, WWW, statistical, economic and financial sources, electronic newspapers and electronic journals, and geographic information systems. Lectures and practical exercises will provide a topical approach to business information; introduce different searching strategies appropriate in services ranging from structured records to full text; foster critical evaluation of different services; and rehearse practical strategies for creating value-added information products. Awareness and assessment of user needs; and current developments in accessing electronic information sources and services, are emphasised.

Assessment second year Practical exercises: 30% - Evaluation project: 20% - Examination (2 hours): 50%
Assessment third year Practical exercises: 40% - Evaluation project: 20% - Examination (2 hours): 40%

Recommended texts

Bernard R The corporate intranet Wiley, 1996
Castro E HTML for the WWW: Visual quickstart guide 2nd edn, Peachpit Press, 1997
Glossbrenner A and Rosenberg J Online resources for business Wiley, 1995
Quinn S (ed.) Recipe book of online searching 15th edn, Online Information Resources, 1996
Reynolds G W Information systems for managers 3rd edn, West, 1995
Stewart J M and Oxley S Electronic sources of information for business in Australia and New Zealand 2nd edn, RMIT, 1994
Tenopir C and Lundeen G Managing your information Neal-Schuman, 1988

Back to the 1999 Information Technology Handbooks