Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Bridging the gap between the business needs and IT solutions effectively have always been a key issue in organisations seeking to improve their business. This is often due to the lack of appreciation and knowledge of IT solutions by business on one hand, and a lack of clear understanding of the business domain and needs by the IT professionals on the other hand. It is expected that students undertaking this unit would have covered the necessary understanding the role of IT in business and have acquired sufficient technical skills to be ready to being to apply IT effectively to addressing business needs. This unit will equip students with knowledge and skills necessary for a business analyst who is equipped to identify the areas of business that could be improved through IT solutions and develop business cases and plans for achieving effective solutions.

Aims

This unit is aims to give you an introduction to the role, knowledge, and skills required of a business analyst. This unit focuses on both the trades-tools and methods used by a business analyst, as well as the soft skills-creativity and communication, both of which are critical to successful business and requirements analysis. Through lectures, cases studies and role playing activities, you will develop basic knowledge and skills required for introductory business analysis (BA).

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the business analysis process and its importance (GC1)


2. To establish parameters for analysis and solution(s): scope, business drivers, business needs, and social and ethical considerations (GC1, GC6)


3. To gather and analyse requirements at both a high and detailed level (GC1, GC2)


4. Demonstrate key business communications skills, such as interview techniques, needed to gather required data effectively (GC3)


5. Apply management and analytical techniques to develop potential solutions (GC1, GC4)


6. To create and present concise business case and requirements with measurable benefits based on full understanding of current situation (GC1, GC2)

Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
GC4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change

Content

The topics that will be covered in this unit are:

• BA process & its importance


• Business and strategic alignment


• Defining critical success factors, key performance indicators, and scope of analysis


• Needs & requirements gathering techniques


• Identifying and prioritising needs and requirements


• Management and Analytical techniques: Balanced score cards, Options Analysis, Return on Investments


• Effective writing and presentation skills for presenting business case

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit comprise a two-hour lecture and a one-hour workshop each week. The lecture will involve the introduction of the concepts, methods, and techniques as well as case studies of their applications.

The workshop will involve application of the concepts and methods learned in the lecture either through discussion of questions around cases or role-playing exercises in groups. In addition to the INB220 requirements, students are expected to engage in a deeper and more critical discussion of the issues and questions covered in the workshop

In addition, you are expected to conduct relevant research necessary for material beyond those covered in the lecture for completing your assignments.

Assessment

Assessment for this unit will include the following summative items:You can obtain feedback on your progress throughout the unit through the following mechanisms:
· teaching staff will be available for advice and assistance during lectures and practical sessions
· feedbacks will be given by teaching staff on the workshop submissions
· your major assignment will be returned to you before the end of semester with comments on your progress
· teaching still will also be available for private consultation outside the lecture and practical sessions

Assessment name: Business Requirements
Description: Analysis of Business Needs and Requirements. Students will be required to develop, based on a real business problem and through various data gathering techniques, a business requirements document detailing the scope of analysis, the current business situation, and needs within the established scope.
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 9

Assessment name: Business Case
Description: Business Case for an IT solution. Students are required to develop and present a business case, proposing a solution, detailing and arguing how the business requirements identified in Assessment No. 2 will be addressed.
Relates to objectives: 4-6
Weight: 35%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 14

Assessment name: Participation and Engagement
Description: Final examination - covering all key theory concepts and practical applications.
Relates to objectives: 1-6
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Text:
Mastering the Requirements Process, Second Edition. Suzanne and James Robertson. Addison-Wesley, 2006.

Recommended Reading:
International Institute of Business Analysis ()

Risk assessment statement

There is minimal health and safety risk in this unit. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within FIT campus areas and laboratories.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 24-Oct-2012