The School of Information Management and Systems (SIMS) occupies the social
science end of the information technology spectrum. Through teaching and
research it advances the organisation, management and use of information and
information technology, and enhances our understanding of the impact of
information on individuals, institutions and society.
The school's programs focus on the general professional discipline of
information management and systems, as well as specialist professions within it
including systems analysts, internet and intranet developers, information
managers, records managers/archivists, electronic publishers and multimedia
practitioners. Many of the academic staff have a high level of professional
experience and expertise. The school enjoys close links with the relevant
professional bodies and corporations that are leaders in the information field.
The activities of the school take place on the Caulfield, Clayton and Berwick
campuses.
Within
its academic areas, the school is one of the most active research organisations
in Australia. The school has excellent research facilities, and its research is
well respected internationally. The school's research program is conducted
through the Enterprise Information Research Group (EIRG) and by four formal
research groups: the Decision Support Systems Laboratory; the Knowledge
Management Laboratory; the Records Continuum Research Group; and the
Information and Telecommunications Needs Research Group. Each group has a large
number of research and honours students.
The EIRG's director is Associate Professor Sue McKemmish, and the deputy
director is Dr Frada Burstein. The EIRG focuses on research in the areas of
enterprise knowledge management, information and telecommunications needs,
metadata, e-business, e-commerce, e-government and electronic recordkeeping.
The Decision Support Systems Laboratory, led by Professor David Arnott, is investigating ways to design and implement systems to support management decision-making. The laboratory has projects in the areas of evolutionary development, decision biases, decision specification using influence diagramming, executive information systems, data warehouses, and organisational issues in DSS. The laboratory takes a strong behavioural view of decision support. It has created the Monash DSS Development Method and the Monash EIS Development Method.
The Knowledge Management Research Group, led by Dr Frada Burstein, is a virtual laboratory, a flexible state-of-the-art facility to support research, and research training and teaching in enterprise knowledge management. The group has projects in organisational memory information systems, knowledge reuse, hybrid soft computing techniques for intelligent decision support, adaptive decision support systems, and cognitive overload in decision support systems. It is extending the notion of decision support by adding techniques originating from artificial intelligence such as knowledge bases, neural networks, and genetic algorithms. The laboratory is based at the Caulfield campus of Monash University and serves staff and students on campus and remotely.
The Records Continuum Research Group is led by Associate Professor Sue McKemmish. The scope of the research group includes the full information spectrum, comprising accountability information, knowledge-based information, and infotainment. These are interpreted in terms of attributes (action/ structure, memory, technology and metadata) and dimensions (create, capture, organise and pluralise), which are in a continuous state of interplay.
The
directors of the Information and Telecommunication Needs Research group (ITNR)
are Professor Don Schauder and Dr Kirsty Williamson. The group explores how
people use telecommunications and new media. These new technologies are making
new relationships and uses possible and challenging many traditional customs
and values. Since 1992, ITNR has researched people's relationships with each
other and their new communications environments. The ITNR is documenting the
way new information and communication technologies are evolving as they become
more responsive to business and social environments, and the adjustments people
make or resist. The INTR is now a joint venture of Monash University and
Charles Sturt University.
In addition to the formal research groups, research is also conducted into
information systems strategy, quality management, information systems security,
geographic information systems, information systems education and historical
bibliography.
The first contact point for information on any of the school's programs is the
school office, telephone (03) 9903 2208, fax (03) 9903 2005. Information may
also be requested electronically from info@sims.monash.edu.au or
visit the school office at level 7, Business and Economics building, 26 Sir
John Monash Drive, Caulfield campus. More details about SIM's teaching and
research are at http://www.sims.monash.edu.au
Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents