Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate Handbook 2002: Units indexed by faculty
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School of Information Management and Systems (SIMS)


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.

Research

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.

Decision Support Systems Laboratory

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.

Knowledge Management Research Area

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.

Records Continuum Research Area

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.

Information and Telecommunication Needs Research Area

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

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