Management Information System
- Management Sciences
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 196 pages
- 14 units
This course, Management Information Systems, is designed to provide postgraduate students with a comprehensive understanding of designing and developing information management systems within organizations. It explores the evolution of systems development, key principles, and phases in a typical systems lifecycle. Students will learn strategic planning for information systems, concept development, requirements analysis, system design, implementation, and maintenance. The course also covers dynamic systems development methods, project management, risk assessment, and geographic information systems.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of MBA815, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
MBA815 · UNIT 2: OVERVIEW OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
This SDLC methodologyestablishes procedures, practices,and guidelines governing the initiation, concept development, planning, requirements analysis, design, development, integration and test, implementation, and operations, maintenance and disposition of management informationsystems (MIS) within the organization. It should be used in conjunction withexisting policy and guidelines for acquisition and procurement.
What you should be able to do
- Understand systems development concepts
- Apply strategic planning to information systems
- Design and develop information systems
- Manage projects effectively
- Assess and manage risks
- Develop geographic information systems
What it prepares you for
- IT Manager
- Systems Analyst
- Project Manager
- Database Administrator
- GIS Specialist
- Government
- Utilities
- Urban Planning
- Environmental Management
- Telecommunications
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Requirements Analysis of System Design
Unit 3: Development, Integration and Testing of Information System
Requires understanding of complex data structures and algorithms for efficient data handling.
- Module 3: Dynamic Systems Development Method
Unit 4: Risk Assessments and Management
Involves understanding and applying various risk mitigation strategies and their impact on project outcomes.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Overview of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Unit 1: Overview of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) · 3 hours
Understand the objectives, purpose, scope, and applicability of SDLC.. Explore different SDLC models like Waterfall, RAD, JAD, Prototyping, Spiral..
- Week 2Module 1: Overview of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Unit 2: Overview of Information System Development Methods · 3 hours
Examine the concept of information system development and the evolution of methods.. Analyze the paradoxes in method use and the popularity of local methods..
- Week 3Module 1: Overview of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Unit 3: Strategic Planning for Design of Information Systems · 3 hours
Define strategic information systems planning and its association with strategic planning.. Identify factors that initiate strategic information system planning..
- Week 4Module 1: Overview of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Unit 4: Initiation of System Design and Development · 3 hours
Explain the factors that trigger the initiation of information system design.. Identify activities that constitute the initiation process..
- Week 5Module 1: Overview of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Unit 5: Concept Development and Planning of System Design · 3 hours
Understand concept development in designing information systems.. Explain planning in designing information systems..
- Week 6Module 2: Requirements Analysis of System Design
Unit 1: Requirements Analysis of System Design · 3 hours
Understand requirement analysis in designing information systems.. Identify tasks in the requirement analysis phase..
- Week 7Module 2: Requirements Analysis of System Design
Unit 2: Design of System · 3 hours
Understand the design phase in designing information systems.. Identify tasks in the design phase of system development..
- Week 8Module 2: Requirements Analysis of System Design
Unit 3: Development, Integration and Testing of Information System · 3 hours
Understand system development, integration, and testing phases.. Identify tasks in the development, integration, and testing phases..
- Week 9Module 2: Requirements Analysis of System Design
Unit 4: Implementation and Disposition of System · 3 hours
Know system implementation and disposition phases.. Identify tasks in the implementation and disposition phases..
- Week 10Module 2: Requirements Analysis of System Design
Unit 5: Operations and Maintenance of System Design · 3 hours
Identify different types of maintenance.. Understand operations and maintenance phase..
- Week 11Module 3: Dynamic Systems Development Method
Unit 1: Dynamic Systems Development Method · 3 hours
Explain dynamic systems development method.. Identify basic principles of dynamic systems development method..
- Week 12Module 3: Dynamic Systems Development Method
Unit 2: Project Management · 3 hours
Understand what project management is and how it has developed.. Identify requirements for successful project management implementation..
Unit 3: Project Planning · 3 hours
Explain project planning.. Understand why it is necessary to write a project specification..
- Week 13Module 3: Dynamic Systems Development Method
Unit 4: Risk Assessments and Management · 3 hours
Understand risk assessment and management in context of MIS as a project.. Learn processes to assess and manage MIS projects risks..
Unit 5: Design and Planning for GIS · 3 hours
Understand the process of developing a geographic information system.. Compare the lifecycle of GIS to other project models..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a study schedule allocating specific time slots for each module and unit.
- Review all key terms and definitions from each unit and create flashcards.
- Practice applying SDLC models to different scenarios to understand their practical implications.
- Focus on understanding the relationships between different project management activities.
- Review examples of risk assessment and mitigation strategies and apply them to hypothetical projects.
- Practice designing basic GIS layouts and performing spatial analysis tasks.
- Review all TMAs and assignments, focusing on areas where you struggled.
- Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 database concepts
- Practice SQL queries from Units 7-9 weekly
- Review all diagrams and flowcharts related to system design and development.
- Form study groups to discuss challenging concepts and share insights.
- Take practice exams to simulate the exam environment and identify areas for improvement.
Questions students ask about this course
What is MBA815 about?
This course, Management Information Systems, is designed to provide postgraduate students with a comprehensive understanding of designing and developing information management systems within organizations. It explores the evolution of systems development, key principles, and phases in a typical systems lifecycle. Students will learn strategic planning for information systems, concept development, requirements analysis, system design, implementation, and maintenance. The course also covers dynamic systems development methods, project management, risk assessment, and geographic information systems.
How many units does MBA815 have?
MBA815, Management Information System, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 196 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is MBA815?
MBA815 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Management Sciences.
Is MBA815 hard?
MBA815 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does MBA815 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is MBA815 assessed?
MBA815 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with MBA815?
IT Manager, Systems Analyst, Project Manager, Database Administrator and GIS Specialist.