Master of Business Information Systems

The Master of Business Information Systems is a postgraduate degree that prepares students for careers in business-focussed IT areas such as IT management, project management, business information systems, information management or knowledge management. The degree covers the business IT spectrum from supporting business operations through to supporting managers' decision making. It prepares students for roles such as business analyst, systems analyst, project leader, IT manager, as well as information manager, archivist or librarian. The course requires completion of a set of advanced preparatory information technology units followed by further specialist units in business information systems and either a minor-thesis research project or an industry experience project. Students may either complete a specialisation(s) or complete the general form of the degree without a specialisation.

Specialisations

The course has a general form and also provides students with the option to specialise in archives and recordkeeping, and library and information science. Students may study the general form, complete either specialisation or combine both specialisations. The specialisations are not available to Malaysia, on-campus students.

Business information systems studies

The general form of the course gives students the skills and knowledge to solve organisational information problems. The course caters for students who would like to be business analysts, information systems consultants and IT managers. Students will learn about information technology principles, systems analysis and design, enterprise architecture and systems, IT management and governance and project management. Students can select from a range of business information systems units to focus their studies in several areas of interest including business intelligence, user experience design and business process modelling.

Archives and recordkeeping

Records managers and archivists ensure that vital records of social and organisational activity are created, managed and made available to business for accountability, corporate memory, enterprise knowledge and cultural purposes. Work settings include most major private and public sector organisations, and archival institutions. Knowledge managers are concerned with developing strategies and processes for managing organisational knowledge and knowledge flows to achieve organisational goals, enhance performance and add value. A particular concern is developing an environment conducive to the creation, sharing and application of organisational knowledge, and systems that support these processes.

Library and information science

Librarians and information specialists manage information and provide information services to clients in a wide range of contexts. They are concerned with analysing information needs, solving information problems, evaluating information sources, organising information, synthesising information into targeted information products, and training clients in the use of information products, services and systems. They work for commercial, government and community sector organisations, for information consultancies and as independent information brokers.

Archives and recordkeeping/Library and information science

Depending on unit selection, students may satisfy the requirements for both of the specialisations described above. Refer to details for the single specialisations above. Students who opt to complete the combined specialisation will not be able to undertake the minor thesis research pathway in the course.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

1. explain and critically discuss the major theoretical and professional issues in business information systems.
2. analyse critically a business problem, design IT solutions for such problems and assess their effectiveness.
3. engage in business information systems practice to a level of depth and sophistication consistent with senior professional practice.
4. demonstrate professional social, ethical and communication skills in an industry setting, and manage ambiguity and complexity in real-world settings.
5. communicate findings and the rationale of design solutions to the full range of stakeholders.
6. demonstrate an understanding of business information systems in a technology-independent manner.
7. if undertaking the research stream, independently design and execute research projects to investigate business information systems problems.

Graduates may be eligible for membership of:

• the Australian Computer Society (ACS)
• the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) (Library and Information Science specialisation only)
• the Australian Society of Archivists (Archives and Recordkeeping specialisation only)
• the Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia (RIM Professionals Australasia) (Archives and Recordkeeping specialisation only).

The course is structured in three parts, A, B and C. All students complete Part B (core studies). Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A (foundation studies) or Part C (advanced studies) or a combination of the two.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundations for advanced business information systems

These units provide an introduction to information systems and business concepts, including system design and analysis as applied in professional practice. You will learn basic software programming and development concepts and database technology.

These units are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.

Part B. Core master's study

These studies draw on best practices within business information systems to gain critical understanding of the theories and practice relating to information systems and business process design, IT strategy, IT governance, IT management and related issues. Your study will focus on project management as well as a choice of several areas of enterprise IT and information management practice.

Part C. Advanced practice

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work in the broad realm of business information systems.

You have two options.

The first is a minor thesis research program, consisting of a research project and a research methods training unit. Students wishing to use this Masters course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this first option.

The second option is a program of coursework involving advanced study and an Industry experience studio project.

Students completing the combined specialisation Archives and Recordkeeping/Library and Information Science complete the industry experience program.

Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised honours degree in a discipline cognate to information systems, will receive credit for Part C, however, should they wish to complete a research project as part of the course they should consult with the course coordinator.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Foundations for business information systems (24 points), Part B. Core Masters study (48 points) and Part C. Advanced practice (24 points).

• Students admitted at Entry level 1 complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.
• Students admitted at Entry level 2 complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C, or Part A and Part B.
• Students admitted at Entry level 3 complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Units are six credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundations for advanced business information systems studies (24 points)

Students complete:

a. Four units (24 points)

• FIT9123 Introduction to business information systems
• FIT9130 Systems analysis and design
• FIT9131 Foundations of programming
• FIT9132 Introduction to databases

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

Students complete:

• FIT5057 Project management (6 points)
• 42 points from your Business Information Systems specialisation below:

Business information systems

a. Five units (30 points) from:*

• FIT5086 Organisational informatics
• FIT5087 Archival systems
• FIT5088 Information and knowledge management systems
• FIT5090 Social informatics
• FIT5094 IT for management decision making
• FIT5097 Business intelligence modelling
• FIT5101 Enterprise systems
• FIT5102 IT strategy and governance
• FIT5105 Information access and use
• FIT5106 Information organisation
• FIT5107 Managing business records
• FIT5111 Information systems development practices
• FIT5133 Enterprise architecture and management
• FIT5145 Introduction to data science
• FIT5146 Data curation and management
• FIT5152 User interface design and usability
• FIT5159 IT for financial decisions
• FIT5160 Business process modelling, design and simulation
• FIT5178 Applied project management
• FIT5180 Business and legal issues in project management
• FIT5194 Computer based global project management
• FIT5195 Business intelligence and data warehousing

*Note: not all units will be offered every year.

b. Two elective units (12 points) from PART B, Section a) above. Or any FIT Level 5 units or Level 5 units offered by any other faculty of the University with course director approval.

Archives and recordkeeping

Students complete:

a. Six units (36 points):

• FIT5086 Organisational informatics
• FIT5087 Archival systems
• FIT5088 Information and knowledge management systems
• FIT5090 Social informatics
• FIT5107 Managing business records
• FIT5146 Data curation and management

b. One elective (6 points) from PART B, section a) of the 'Business information systems' specialisation above. Or any FIT Level 5 units or Level 5 units offered by any other faculty of the University with course director approval. Students seeking professional accreditation with the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) or the Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia (RIM Professionals Australasia) must complete FIT5104 Information and knowledge management professional practice.

Library and information science

a. Six units (36 points):

• FIT5086 Organisational informatics
• FIT5088 Information and knowledge management systems
• FIT5090 Social informatics
• FIT5105 Information access and use
• FIT5106 Information organisation
• FIT5146 Data curation and management

b. One elective (6 points) from PART B, section a) of the 'Business information systems' specialisation above. Or any FIT Level 5 units or Level 5 units offered by any other faculty of the University with course director approval. Students seeking professional accreditation with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) must complete FIT5104 Information and knowledge management professional practice.

Archives and recordkeeping/Library and information science

a. Seven units (42 points):

• FIT5086 Organisational informatics
• FIT5087 Archival systems
• FIT5088 Information and knowledge management systems
• FIT5090 Social informatics
• FIT5105 Information access and use
• FIT5107 Managing business records
• FIT5146 Data curation and management

Part C. Advanced practice (24 points)

Students complete a) the research stream or b) the Industry Experience stream. Students completing the combined Archives and Recordkeeping/Library and Information Science specialisation must complete the Industry Experience stream.

a. Research pathway students complete:

• FIT5125 IT research methods
• FIT5126 Minor thesis part 1
• FIT5127 Minor thesis part 2
• FIT5128 Minor thesis final

* To enrol in the research units, students must have successfully completed 24 points of level five FIT units and have achieved an overall average of at least 75% across all these units.

b. Industry experience students complete 24 points from your business information systems specialisation below.

Business information systems

• FIT5122 Professional practice
• FIT5120 Industry experience studio project (12 points)
• FIT Level 5 elective

Archives and recordkeeping

• FIT5120 Industry experience studio project (12 points)
• FIT5104 Information and knowledge management professional practice
• FIT Level 5 elective

Library and information science

• FIT5120 Industry experience studio project (12 points)
• FIT5104 Information and knowledge management professional practice
• FIT Level 5 elective

Archives and recordkeeping/Library and information science

• FIT5120 Industry experience studio project (12 points)
• FIT5104 Information and knowledge management professional practice
• FIT5106 Information organisation

Students entering at Entry levels 1 and 2 can choose to complete a research pathway (24 points) that will provide a pathway to a higher degree by research. Students entering at Entry level 3 will normally already have an honours degree, however, students in this group who wish to complete a research thesis in Business Information Systems should discuss the options with the course coordinator.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided they have satisfied the requirements indicated for that award during their enrolment in this Masters course:

• Graduate Certificate in Business Information Systems after successful completion of 24 credit points of study including FIT5057 Project management and 18 credit points from Part B, Section a).
• Graduate Diploma in Business Information Systems after successful completion of 48 credit points of study including FIT5057 Project management and 42 credit points as described in Part B and C with a minimum of 12 credit points from Part B, section a).