Certificate in IT Syllabus - Information Systems
Rationale:
This module covers the following topics: systems analysis and design, database systems, data analysis and management, systems and organisations.
Aims:
• To develop an awareness of the nature and use of information and information systems in an organizational context
• To introduce the various techniques used within systems analysis and design
• To foster an appreciation of the different types of methodologies used in the system development process
• To provide an introduction to database management systems
Objectives:
• Show an understanding of the flow of information within organisations
• Understand the differing types of information
• Propose practical solutions to given analytical problems
• Demonstrate the effective use of a chosen methodology through requirements analysis and fact finding techniques
• Display an awareness of systems development tools and techniques
• Become conversant with system design issues
• Develop awareness of the basic ideas behind using a computer to store and manipulate data
• Display knowledge of data analysis and modelling techniques
• Discuss various database management architectures
• Demonstrate an awareness of Human Computer Interaction and the use of multimedia and hypermedia
• Suggest suitable testing strategies and implementation techniques
Prior Knowledge Expected: None
Content:
1a DATA MANAGEMENT
The nature of information; its acquisition, presentation, storage and management
Characteristics of data; data capture and collection
Data processing and data modelling
Simple statistical measures; mean, mode, median, standard deviation
Tabular representation of data; histograms, interpolation
Requirements analysis and prototyping
Fact finding methods
Security, integrity and control
File management; organisation and access methods
Database design issues; entity modelling, normalisation, logical/physical mapping
Database architectures and types of database management systems
Functions of database management systems and database administration
Introduction to multimedia and hypermedia
1b SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
The systems development life-cycle and its implications for software design, coding, testing, implementation and support
Prototyping and systems development tools
Structured systems analysis and design techniques
Hard and soft system methodologies
Rapid application development and prototyping techniques
Object-oriented modelling
Human computer interface (HCI) design aspects
1c ORGANISATIONS
The flow of information in an organisation
Basic idea of management functions and structure of business and other organisations
Personnel and social considerations in the consideration of new systems
Management of computer systems, staffing, maintenance, project management and scheduling
Quality assurance aspects and methods
Primary Texts:
Britton & Doake, Software Systems Development – A Gentle Introduction, McGraw-Hill, 2005, 0077111036
Date, C. J., An Introduction to Database Systems, Addison-Wesley (8th Ed), 2003, ISBN: 0321189566
One of the standard works on database systems. Candidates should concentrate on the basic concepts of database and database design.
Kendall, K & Kendall, J. E., Systems Analysis & Design, Prentice-Hall (6th Ed), 2003, 013127323X
Other Texts:
Graham, I., Object-oriented Methods, Addison-Wesley (3rd Ed), 2000, ISBN: 020161913X
Goodland, M. & Slater, C., SSADM: A Practical Approach, McGraw-Hill, 1995, ISBN: 007709073X
Rolland, F. D., The Essence of Databases, Prentice-Hall, 1998, ISBN: 0137278276
Nickerson, R. C., Business and Information Systems, Addison-Wesley (2nd Ed), 2003, ISBN: 0130901229
Geoffrey Elliot & Susan Starkings, Business Information Technology, Pearson, 2004, ISBN: 0321270126
Other Reading:
The computer trade press and the computing/IT supplements of newspapers will help to give candidates both an understanding of the scope of the discipline and introduce new developments in the field.
