IFN585 Systems Innovation and Design


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:IFN585
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:(192cps in SV03 or SV04 or IV04 or IV05 or MV05 or MV06 or BV06 or BV07 or EV08 or EV07) OR (admission into IV53 or IV57 or IV54 or IV59 or IV55 or IV52 or IV56 or IV51 or IV58 or IV60) OR (admission into IN18 or IN20 or IN19 or IN28 or IN29 or IN31 or IN25 or KC88 or EN72 or DE99 or BS11)
Anti-requisite:IFN552 or IFN558 or IFQ552 or IFQ558
Coordinator:Kenan Degirmenci | kenan.degirmenci@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

Organisations are continuously transforming to leverage the potential of information systems. Effective transformation requires leadership to clearly define business problems that information systems can help address. This unit focuses on two key components that support such transformation: data analysis and visualisation, and systems innovation and design. The first component introduces you to data analysis and visualisation, enabling you to explore patterns, generate insights, and communicate findings that support evidence-based decision-making. The second component introduces system dynamics modelling, equipping you with tools to understand and design complex systems through feedback loops and scenario analysis. Together, these approaches enable you to analyse problems, model solutions, and support informed organisational decisions through the strategic use of information systems.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Analyse business problems to generate relevant stakeholder questions and apply data-driven and systems-based approaches to support decision-making.
  2. Synthesise data and create a digital dashboard to solve organisational issues including computer and human factors.
  3. Evaluate potential IT-enabled solutions under ethical considerations, including how they relate to First Nations Australians.
  4. Apply modelling techniques to analyse complex systems and evaluate system behaviour and intervention outcomes.
  5. Employ communication skills to work independently through reflective practice.
  6. Employ teamwork skills to work collaboratively through reflective dialogue.

Content

You will be introduced to the process of identifying user needs, defining business problems, and exploring system-based solutions. Drawing on your growing IT expertise and interests, you will analyse contemporary industry challenges and design solutions that are relevant to both organisational and community contexts. Designing effective solutions requires an understanding of technical, managerial, and societal perspectives of information systems. In this unit, data analysis and visualisation will support the exploration of data-driven insights, while system dynamics modelling will guide the design of innovative solutions for complex problems. Together, these approaches provide a foundation for making informed and ethical decisions through the strategic use of information systems.

Learning Approaches

This unit consists of weekly lectures and tutorials. Lectures introduce key concepts through a case study based on a real-world scenario, illustrating both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Tutorials involve collaborative, group-based activities where you will work with real or realistic data to identify and analyse business problems. These activities are designed to build your skills in evidence-based reasoning, problem-solving, and systems thinking. You will also have opportunities to present your progress, helping you develop effective communication and collaboration skills in a professional context.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Tutorials are designed to be engaging, with tutors providing ongoing feedback on tutorials and assessment pieces. Success in this unit requires a solid understanding of the subject matter. If you are experiencing difficulty with the content required in this unit, you are encouraged to make contact with your tutor to seek assistance.

  • Consultation times can be booked with members of the teaching team throughout the teaching period.
  • Individualised written feedback will be provided on marked assessments.
  • Unit communication channel to pose questions or time will be made available in tutorials to provide support.
  • Feedback will also be provided to the cohort based on common areas for improvements identified throughout the tutorials.

Assessment

Overview

This unit prepares you to analyse business problems and design IT-based solutions using real-world data. You will begin by developing a digital dashboard that applies data analysis and visualisation techniques to uncover insights. You will then build on this work by applying systems thinking and modelling to design an IT artefact. In addition to creating these artefacts, you will demonstrate your ability to critically reflect on systems innovation and design through the lens of contemporary challenges and relevant theoretical frameworks. Your participation in tutorial activities will further support your development through collaboration and ongoing engagement, while an invigilated examination will assess your conceptual and theoretical understanding. Completion of the Online Ethics Module is required to meet professional standards expected of IT graduates.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Data Analysis and Visualisation

Create a digital dashboard using data analysis and visualisation. You will be required to collect, clean, and prepare data for analysis, then design an interactive dashboard that communicates key insights effectively. Ethical considerations, including the respectful inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, will form an integral part of your analysis and design process.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 50
Length: 2,000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 5
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 5

Assessment: System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence

In this assessment, you will collaboratively design a behavioural system innovation by developing artefacts including system dynamics models, mathematical formulations, experimental designs, and operational strategies. Each group member will contribute an independently developed artefact and participate in an individual oral defence to demonstrate their understanding and application of systems thinking, behavioural theory, and real-world data.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 50
Length: Artefact submission (group) / 4 minutes oral defence (individual)
Individual/Group: Individual and group
Due (indicative): Week 10
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 4, 5, 6

Assessment: Online Ethics Module Part 1

In this self contained online Ethics module (Part 1) you will learn about the Australian Computer Society's Code of Professional Conduct and how it is applied in the workplace. You will then need to pass an online quiz to test your knowledge of the topics covered. You must pass the quiz in order to pass this unit, however you may attempt the quiz an unlimited number of times until you pass.

Threshold Assessment:

As an IT professional you will be legally bound by a code of ethics and professional conduct. Knowledge of these codes is therefore essential for all IT graduates. You must pass this Online Ethics Module in order to pass this unit, i.e. regardless of how well you do in the other assessment items, you cannot pass this unit if you fail this assessment item. You may however attempt this assessment items an unlimited number of times until you pass.

Weight: 0
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Unlimited attempts allowed any time before the end of semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 3

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

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.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

  • Free software for visualisation of design will be provided.
  • Recommended reading material, as well as lecture content and tutorial content will be made readily available.
  • Most tasks are set around freely-available university modules and through the unit’s Canvas site.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no unusual health or safety risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

EN72 Master of Advanced Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

  1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices in Advanced Robotics and AI and Data Analytics domains
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence, Online Ethics Module Part 1
  2. Critically analyse, evaluate and apply appropriate methods to problems to achieve research-informed solutions in Advanced Robotics and AI and Data Analytics domains
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  3. Apply systematic approaches to plan, design, execute and manage projects in Advanced Robotics and AI and Data Analytics domains
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  4. Communicate complex information effectively and succinctly in oral and written form for diverse purposes and audiences
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  5. Work independently and collaboratively demonstrating ethical and socially responsible practice
    Relates to: Online Ethics Module Part 1

IN18 Graduate Certificate in Information Technology

  1. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of information technology disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, Data Analysis and Visualisation
  2. Critically analyse complex IT problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate solutions.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence, Online Ethics Module Part 1
  3. Employ industry-best practice, IT methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement IT systems, processes and/or software.
    Relates to: ULO2, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  4. Work effectively in both self-directed and collaborative contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5
  5. Communicate effectively in IT professional contexts using written, visual and oral formats.
    Relates to: ULO4, Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  6. Critically reflect on the social, cultural, ethical and diversity issues related to the IT field.
    Relates to: ULO3, Online Ethics Module Part 1

IN19 Graduate Diploma in Information Technology

  1. Demonstrate advanced IT knowledge in one or more IT disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, Data Analysis and Visualisation
  2. Critically analyse complex IT problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate solutions.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence, Online Ethics Module Part 1
  3. Apply advanced, industry-best practice, IT methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement IT systems, processes and/or software.
    Relates to: ULO2, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  4. Work effectively in both self-directed and collaborative contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5
  5. Communicate effectively in IT professional contexts using written, visual and oral formats.
    Relates to: ULO4, Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  6. Demonstrate developed values, attitudes, behaviours and judgement in professional contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Data Analysis and Visualisation
  7. Critically reflect on the social, cultural, ethical and diversity issues related to the IT field including how they realte to First Nations Australians and diverse populations.
    Relates to: ULO3, Online Ethics Module Part 1

IN20 Master of Information Technology

  1. Demonstrate advanced specialist IT knowledge in at least one information technology discipline.
    Relates to: ULO1, Data Analysis and Visualisation
  2. Critically analyse complex IT problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate innovative and novel solutions that are convincingly justified.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence, Online Ethics Module Part 1
  3. Integrate advanced, industry-best practice, IT methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement complex IT systems, processes and/or software.
    Relates to: ULO2, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  4. Employ leadership and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts to create value for others.
    Relates to: ULO5
  5. Communicate effectively in IT professional and scholarly contexts to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, visual and oral formats.
    Relates to: ULO4, Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  6. Demonstrate business acumen and well-developed values, attitudes, behaviours and judgement in professional contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Data Analysis and Visualisation
  7. Create positive change through critically reflecting upon and actioning responses to the social, cultural, ethical, sustainability, legal and accessibility issues in the IT field, including how they relate to First Nations Australians and diverse populations.
    Relates to: ULO3, Online Ethics Module Part 1

IN28 Master of Artificial Intelligence

  1. Demonstrate advanced specialist IT knowledge in Artificial Intelligence discipline.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation
  2. Critically analyse complex Artificial Intelligence problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate innovative and novel solutions that are convincingly justified.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence, Online Ethics Module Part 1
  3. Integrate advanced, industry-best practice, Artificial Intelligence methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement complex Artificial Intelligence systems, processes and/or software.
    Relates to: System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  4. Communicate effectively in Artificial Intelligence professional and scholarly contexts to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, visual and oral formats.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  5. Demonstrate business acumen and well-developed values, attitudes, behaviours and judgement in professional contexts.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation
  6. Create positive change through critically reflecting upon and actioning responses to the social, cultural, ethical, sustainability, legal and accessibility issues in the Artificial Intelligence field, including how they relate to First Nations Australians and diverse populations.
    Relates to: Online Ethics Module Part 1

IN29 Master of Cyber Security

  1. Demonstrate advanced specialist IT knowledge in Cyber Security discipline.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation
  2. Critically analyse complex Cyber Security problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate innovative and novel solutions that are convincingly justified.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence, Online Ethics Module Part 1
  3. Integrate advanced, industry-best practice, Cyber Security methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement complex Cyber Security systems, processes and/or software.
    Relates to: System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  4. Communicate effectively in Cyber Security professional and scholarly contexts to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, visual and oral formats.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation, System Dynamics Modelling with Oral Defence
  5. Demonstrate business acumen and well-developed values, attitudes, behaviours and judgement in professional contexts.
    Relates to: Data Analysis and Visualisation
  6. Create positive change through critically reflecting upon and actioning responses to the social, cultural, ethical, sustainability, legal and accessibility issues in the Cyber Security field, including how they relate to First Nations Australians and diverse populations.
    Relates to: Online Ethics Module Part 1