ITD103 IT Systems Design


To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.


Unit Outline: College 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:ITD103
Credit points:12
Equivalent:INB182
Anti-requisite:IFB103
Coordinator:Geoff Polzin | g.polzin@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

Developing an innovative, practical and cost-effective IT solution that is user-focused is a complex task for IT experts. It requires a systematic process that includes: 1) identifying and clarifying a business problem that an IT system can help to resolve; 2) collecting and interpreting requirements; 3) decomposing the system into its components; and, 4) prototyping techniques to ensure that all the components of the system satisfy the requirements. This unit presents students with authentic industry challenges in which you apply your IT knowledge, fundamental analysis and design techniques. It exposes you to design contexts, theories, processes, principles and methods that IT experts use, either individually or in a group, to analyse and design an IT system. The unit builds your skills towards any career related to operational analysis and design of a specific business scope, including Business Systems Analyst, Solution Architect, and Project Manager.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Apply analysis and design thinking principles, theories, processes, methods, and contexts to produce practical IT solutions to a real-world problem.
  2. Analyse user requirements and apply system analysis and modelling techniques to generate a human-centred design for a client.
  3. Apply written, verbal and visual communication skills to explain the design outputs and gain feedback from users and peers.
  4. Apply teamwork concepts critically reflecting upon personal performance, and the performance of others.
  5. Use agile methodologies to produce outcomes within the agreed timeframe.
  6. Describe the Information Systems profession and key capabilities and skills required by the industry

Content

You will be introduced to design thinking in an IT context and guided through the design process of identifying user needs, defining problems, and ideating possible solutions. Based on your growing IT expertise and interests, you will be asked to analyse and design solutions to contemporary industry problems, relevant to you and the community. Your prototype solutions will be tested against requirements and functionality in collaborative, inquiry-based (exploratory) workshops. You will also undertake the design of an IT system using a real-world case study. This will allow you to understand relevant methods and tools to communicate the necessary components of an IT system. You will be provided with a series of real world case studies to introduce you to design thinking. 

The team design project will provide the opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills, including the development of strong presentation skills, the ability to pitch your multiple designs, and use a variety of visual communication techniques to document and describe your designs. To communicate and test your designs throughout the semester you will create artefacts such as storyboards, wireframes, and low-, medium- and high-fidelity prototypes. Using these tools, you will test, revise and refine your designs, with guidance from real people, to determine whether your prototypes satisfy their needs. This design process will culminate in your realisation of elegant and cost-effective pre-production design concepts using different software and presentation mediums (such as mobile devices). 

This unit introduces the methods of high performing teams to provide you with a solid base on which to develop skills required to work productively as a team member and in industry, as well as a better understanding of team processes. You will be asked to critique the work of others, leveraging your growing knowledge of analysis and design of IT systems, and respond to constructive feedback from your peers in kind. Through this team project you will also acquire the skills and knowledge required to participate as an individual and as an effective team member, learning how to critically reflect upon your learning and performance.

Learning Approaches

This unit takes a blended approach to learning and teaching. You will be provided with both eContent and timetabled activities such as tutorials, workshops and practicals. eContent will be clearly identified on your Canvas site for you to engage with on a weekly basis before your classes. eContent could include videos, readings, self-reflection and/or peer activities designed to enhance your learning experience. During the timetabled activities, the unit coordinator and/or your tutor will further explain content and you will be provided with opportunities to explore this content in a collaborative learning environment. After your weekly classes, you should continue to engage with unit resources to ensure you consolidate your understanding of unit content. Teaching team members will also be available for one-on-one consultations to assist you with your learning journey.

You will be guided through each phase of the analysis and design process through a real-world team project. You will apply current methods for analysing and designing information technology solutions to investigate contemporary problems, relevant to you and the community, and then refine your IT solutions using prototypes and interactions with users. In tandem with your design focus, you will practice the techniques required to develop your communication, reflection and teamwork skills. This learning is facilitated by communicating your analysis and design, particularly through keeping a design logbook. All of these elements are assessed progressively throughout the unit offering you multiple opportunities to demonstrate your progress and receive feedback on your learning experiences.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
• Formal: in writing, such as checklists, rubrics, written commentary
• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
• Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

The assessment in this unit has been designed so that you may develop an understanding of different aspects of analysis and design of IT systems. You will develop the skills to work collaboratively and present confidently demonstrating effective written and visual communication. You will also develop the skills to engage in reflective practice.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Assessment 1 (Career in IT)

There are various jobs in the IT industry. The jobs are beyond coding, programming and software development. For example, there are various jobs in the Information Systems area of IT for graduates who want to become business systems analysts, systems designers and leaders in the IT industry. This is your first assessment because you need to develop a vision about your future. This assessment requires you to analyse the skills that an IT student needs to gain in order to be successful in the IT industry.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 10
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 4
Related Unit learning outcomes: 6

Assessment: Assessment 2 (Design Challenge 1)

In teams you will develop a practical and user centred design prototype to solve a real world problem applying a design thinking approach within an information intensive environment. This will require you to maintain and submit an individual design logbook, which captures visually and in written format the iterative development process that has led to final prototype for the client. 

You will need to contribute productively as an individual and in your team to clarify a business problem, create and evaluate new ideas and implement the best solution that supports the evolving needs of users. Your team will create a video presentation of your high-fidelity prototype. There are individual marks and team marks for this assessment.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 45
Individual/Group: Individual and group
Due (indicative): Week 7
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3, 4, 5

Assessment: Assessment 3 (Design Challenge 2)

You will analyse and design an IT artefact based on one or two case studies, and will need to use an appropriate visual modelling tool to deliver a significant part of the results. The results will include several components such as a description of the methods that you have employed, a concise requirements matrix, detailed use cases, and your UML and/or FMC diagrams. The case study reflects real-world practices/projects that are frequently implemented at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and IT start-ups. For this assessment, there is an expectation that you demonstrate competency in executing the various analysis and design methods associated with the development of your work.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 45
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

There are no extraordinary charges or costs are associated with the requirements for this unit. You may wish to acquire sketch books and appropriate pens and pencils for your initial storyboards. You are not required to purchase any additional artistic tools or mediums. Free software for developing mock-ups will be identified and displayed on the unit Canvas site.

There is no prescribed textbook and most tasks are set around freely available university modules and resources and will be made available through the unit's Canvas site. Appropriate references will be made available on Canvas as well as relevant links.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no unusual health or safety risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area that will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus or in the field.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

ES21 Diploma in Esports

  1. Demonstrate foundational interdisciplinary knowledge relating to esports.
    Relates to: Assessment 1 (Career in IT), Assessment 3 (Design Challenge 2)
  2. Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills.
    Relates to: ULO1
  3. Communicate effectively in an academic and professional manner through written and oral genres integrating digital tools.
    Relates to: ULO3
  4. Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration.
    Relates to: ULO4, Assessment 2 (Design Challenge 1), Assessment 3 (Design Challenge 2)