INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS (INF1505)

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR THE YEAR 2023

The schedule is intended to help you pace your studies. Please note the due date for all assignments; no exceptions will be
made for late submissions.

NOTES:

1. Please read section 9.1 of tutorial letter 101 about the availability of assignments. The assignments will be available a few
days before the due dates.

If you miss a deadline, you have effectively forfeited that portion of your year mark.

Also, note that we are using a new prescribed book, the book prescribed for 2023 is different from the previous book.
The book MIS 11th edition is out already, but we are using MIS 10th edition, hence the page references will refer to
the 10th edition book. Both editions are allowed.
WEEK CHAPTER LEARNING OBJECTIVES/ OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT
(2023)
1 1. Introduction to • LO1 Discuss common applications of computers and information systems. Assignment 01
(10th April) Information • LO2 Explain the differences between computer literacy and information literacy. available for
Systems • LO3 Define transaction processing systems. submission on the
15th April 2023
• LO4 Define management information systems.
• LO5 Describe the four major components of an information system.
• LO6 Discuss the differences between data and information.
• LO7 Explain the importance and applications of information systems in functional areas of
a business.
 • LO8 Analyze how information technologies are used to gain a competitive advantage.
• LO9 Apply the Five Forces Model and strategies for gaining a competitive advantage.
• L1O Review the IT job market.
• L11 Summarize the future outlook of information systems.
2 2. Computers and • LO1 Define a computer system and describe its components.
(17th April) Their Business • LO2 Discuss the history of computer hardware and software.
Applications
• LO3 Analyze the impact of the three factors distinguishing computing power of computers.
• LO4 Summarize the three basic computer operations.
• LO5 Discuss the types of input, output, and memory devices.
• LO6 Explain how computers are classified and their business applications.
• LO7 Apply knowledge of the two major types of software and their use in a business
setting.
• LO8 List the five generations of computer languages.
• LO9 Define object-oriented programming.
3 3. Data and Business • LO1 Define a database and a database management system. Assign 01
(24th April) Intelligence • LO2 Explain logical database design and the relational database model. Official Due Date: 28th
• LO3 Define the components of a database management system. April 2023
• LO4 Summarize recent trends in database design and use.
• LO5 Analyze the four major components and functions of a data warehouse and their use
for business.
• LO6 Describe the functions of a data mart.
• LO7 Explain business analytics and describe its role in the decision-making process.
• LO8 Examine the advantage and challenges of big data and predictive analytics for a
business.
• LO9 Explain database marketing and its business applications.
• LO10 Explain key features of Tableau and Power BI as two popular business intelligence and
visualization platforms.
4 4. Personal, Legal, • LO1 Discuss information privacy and methods for improving the privacy of information.
(8th May) Ethical, and
 Organizational • LO2 Explain the general data protection regulation.
Issues • LO3 Explain the privacy issues of e-mail and data collection in a business setting.
• LO4 Examine the ethical issues and censorship of information technology.
• LO5 Discuss the principles of intellectual property and issues related to the infringement of
intellectual property.
• LO6 Examine the impact of information technology on society: the digital divide,
telecommuting, and health issues.
• LO7 Describe green computing and the ways it can improve the quality of the
environment.
5 5. Protecting • LO1 Understand cybercrime and its impact on the global economy.
(22nd May) Information • LO2 Describe information technologies that could be used in computer crimes.
Resources • LO3 Describe basic safeguards in computer and network security.
• LO4 Identify the nine most common intentional security threats.
• LO5 Describe the nine security measures and enforcement that a comprehensive security
system should include.
• LO6 Summarize the guidelines for a comprehensive security system, including business
continuity planning
6 6. Data • LO1 Describe major applications of a data communication system. Assignment 02 is
(5th June) Communication: • LO2 Explain the major components of a data communication system. available for
Delivery submission on the 6th
• LO3 Describe the three major types of processing configurations.
Information June 2023
Anywhere and • LO4 Explain the three types of networks.
Anytime • LO5 Describe the five main network topologies.
• LO6 Explain important network concepts, such as bandwidth, routing, routers, and the
client/server model.
• LO7 Describe wireless and mobile technologies and networks.
• LO8 Describe networking trends such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and Bluetooth
• LO9 Discuss the importance of wireless security and the five techniques used.
 • LO10 Summarize the convergence phenomenon and its applications for business and
personal use
7 7. A connected World • LO1 Describe the makeup of the Internet and the Web. Assign 02
(19th June) • LO2 Discuss navigational tools, search engines, and directories. Official Due Date: 21st
• LO3 Describe four common Internet services and how they are used in a business June 2023
environment.
• LO4 Explain business applications of the Internet.
• LO5 Describe the role intranets in various business functions.
• LO6 Describe the role extranets in various business functions.
• LO7 Analyze Web trends and their impact on business.
• LO8 Analyze the Internet of Everything and its business applications.
8 8. E-Commerce • LO1 Define e-commerce, and describe its advantages, disadvantages, and business models.
(11th July) • LO2 Explain the major categories of e-commerce.
• LO3 Describe the five major activities of the business-to-consumer e-commerce cycle.
• LO4 Summarize the four major models of business-to-business e-commerce.
• LO5 Describe mobile-based and voice-based e-commerce.
• LO6 Explain four supporting technologies for e-commerce.
• LO7 Explain social commerce and the reasons for its popularity.
• LO8 Explain hypersocial organizations and their growing popularity.
• LO9 Explain social media information systems.
9 10. Building • LO1 Apply the systems development life cycle (SDLC) as a method for developing information
(31st July) Successful systems. Assignment 03
information • LO2 Explain the tasks involved in the planning phase. available for
systems • LO3 Explain the tasks involved in the requirements-gathering and analysis phase. submission on the 3rd
• LO4 Explain the tasks involved in the design phase. August 2023
• LO5 Explain the tasks involved in the implementation phase.
• LO6 Explain the tasks involved in the maintenance phase.
• LO7 Describe new trends in systems analysis and design, including service-oriented
architecture, rapid application development, extreme programming, and agile methodology.
10 11. Enterprise • LO1 Explain how supply chain management is used within an organization. Assign 03
(14th Systems • LO2 Describe customer relationship management systems. Official Due Date:
August) • LO3 Describe knowledge management systems. 17th August 2023
• LO4 Describe enterprise resource planning systems
• LO5 Explain advantages and disadvantages of cloud-based enterprise systems.
11 12. Supporting • LO1 Examine the types of decisions made in each phase of the decision-making process.
(28nd Aug) Decisions and • LO2 Describe a decision support system.
Processes • LO3 Explain an executive information system’s importance in decision making.
• LO4 Summarize the uses for a geographic information system.
• LO5 Describe collaboration systems or software including their types and criteria for their
selection.
• LO6 Apply the eight guidelines for designing a management support system.
12 13. Artificial • LO1 Define artificial intelligence and explain how AI technologies support decision Assignment 04
(11th Sept) Intelligence and making. available for
Automation • LO2 Describe an expert system, its applications, and its components. submission on the
• LO3 Describe case-based reasoning, including the four Rs involved in its design and 15th of September
2023
implementation.
• LO4 Summarize each of the four types of intelligent agents and how they are used.
• LO5 Describe fuzzy logic and its uses.
• LO6 Explain machine learning and artificial neural networks.
• LO7 Describe how genetic algorithms are used.
• LO8 Explain natural-language processing and its major categories.
• LO9 Describe the five benefits of integrating AI technologies into decision support
systems.
• LO10 Explain contextual computing.
• LO11 Explain the AI impacts on automation.
• LO12 Describe the ethical issues of AI.
13 14. Emerging Trends, • LO8 Outline criteria for the ethical use of information systems.
(25th Sept) Technologies, and • LO1 Summarize new trends in software and service distribution. Assign 04
Applications • LO2 Describe virtual reality components and applications. Official Due Date: 2nd
• LO6 Describe the foundation, models, and applications of cloud computing. October 2023
• LO3 Discuss uses of nanotechnology.
• LO4 Describe blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.
• LO5 Explain quantum computing and its applications.
14 Self Assessment on REVISION WEEK Assign 04
(2nd your E-tutor side: Official Due Date: 2nd
October – Chapter 1-8 & 10 -14 October 2023
Exam)
Exams commence Exam commence
Exam Commence:
Oct/Nov 2023
© UNISA 2023