Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice
Rationale:
In order to function effectively, professional Information Systems Engineers need not only appropriate technical knowledge, skills and experience, but also a broad understanding of the context in which they will be expected to work. This does not mean that they must become experts in these areas (although those who go on to assume substantial management responsibilities may later need to acquire professional knowledge and expertise in some of them).
Aim:
To understand the context – ethical, social, legal, financial and organisational – in which professional Information Systems Engineers work
Objectives:
- Show an understanding of the role of professional codes of conduct and apply them to specific situations
- Understand the nature and legal standing of a range of organisations
- Understand the range of functions that exist in an organisation, the need for organisational structure and the characteristics of various types of structure
- Understand and read, at a basic level, a balance sheet, a profit and loss account, and a cash flow statement
- Understand and calculate, in simple cases, the basic information needed for day-to-day financial management
- Understand the main pieces of legislation that apply to the profession and recognise situations to which they are relevant
- Understand the mechanisms used to protect computer software and the reasons for such protection
Computer Networks
Rationale:
Virtually every computer is connected, or has the potential to be connected, to other computers. When connected locally, they provide vital services such as print servers, file servers, CPU servers and when connected externally, offer access to the Internet, world-wide-web and electronic mail. Millions of people world wide have been exposed to the World Wide Web of computers and the information they provide.
The explosion in the use of such technologies and the long established use of local area networks has made the study of computer networks and the underlying communication technology as important as the more traditional foundations of computer science such as computer architecture, operating systems and programming.
Aims:
- To develop an understanding of the modern network technologies in common use today
- To appreciate how computer networks are able to format and transfer data at high speed and over both the local and wide area
- To identify potential and actual limitations with existing networks and identify advances in technology that may solve them
Objectives:
- To be able to demonstrate an understanding of the physical properties and performance characteristics of communication media; specifically copper cable, fibre optics and wireless networks
- To be able to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of communication standards, including an appreciation of protocol layer models and enhancements to those standards
- To be able to demonstrate an appreciation of the theory and practice of common local area networks including virtual and wireless LANs
- To be able to demonstrate an appreciation of the theory and practice of wide area networks and their interconnection
- To be able to demonstrate an appreciation of the significance of network and inter-network protocols; specifically IPv4, IPv6, TCP and UDP
- To be able to describe the importance of reliability and quality of service, including examples of error recovery strategies, traffic differentiation and prioritisation
Database Systems
Rationale:
A database system is nowadays the central software of most data processing applications. A Database Management System supports the operation of database applications within an integrated, controlled and accessible framework.
Aim:
To provide candidates with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the principles and practice of database systems development
Objectives:
- To introduce the theory of the relational model and relational programming languages
- To write data manipulation commands in SQL, data definition commands in SQL
- To specify the functional and data requirements for a typical database application
- To produce detailed data models and their associated logical schemas
- To design the structure and functionality of a forms based user interface for a database application
- To be able to describe data distribution and data connectivity over a network
IT Project Management
Rationale:
The project approach is more prevalent in industry today than ever before. It is therefore necessary for candidates to have an understanding of the methods and techniques used in Project Management early in their studies and careers.
Aims:
- To develop an awareness of the need for project planning and management
- To apply professional attitudes and techniques to managing a project
Objectives:
- On completion of this module the candidate should be able to:
- Explain the stages in the system development lifecycle and the activities that are carried out to implement an IT application;
- Apply basic project planning techniques
- Demonstrate an understanding of steps needed to build and maintain effective development teams;
- Explain the procedures needed to monitor, control and report upon an IT development project;
- Discuss and where appropriate apply the principles of project risk management.
- Explain the ways in which appropriate quality attributes of the products of an IT development project can be assessed and assured.
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Key Facts
Places available:
11
Number of applicants:
54
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