Bachelor of Business Information Systems

Unit Description:

BBUS1000 is a core unit in the Bachelor programs of the Australian Institute of Higher Education.

This unit introduces students to academic skills that are required for academic studies. It develops academic communication and study skills including time management and organisational skills, digital skills, referencing, critical thinking, academic writing, research and investigation techniques and presentation skills.

Weekly workshops are used as interactive sessions where students are given practical exercises to enhance their understanding of the topics and materials covered in this unit.

By the end of the unit students will have developed the understanding and skills necessary to help them complete all required assessments and to pass all their units.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to the field of information technology. It provides both theoretical knowledge and practical application of basic aspects of information technology and their relevance to 21st century business operations.

The unit starts on a global scale in the e-world of the Internet before visiting the micro-world of computer hardware, operating systems, and software tools for productivity, creativity, and information processing. The unit explores networking and communication systems before looking at database technology and the design and management of business information systems. The unit concludes with a discussion of current issues and trends in information technology.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

BBUS1001 provides students with an introduction to accounting and governance mechanisms.

This unit discusses bookkeeping processes and preparation of financial reports, accounting for retail operations, inventory, accrual accounting and introduction to management accounting. Accounting for business decisions introduces basic accounting concepts, principles and methods. Accounting in a social context, environmental and ethical issues are discussed in the unit.

Weekly workshops are used as interactive sessions where students are given a number of questions and practical exercises to test their understanding of the lectures.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

This unit examines the theory and concepts of data organisation and their impact on business information management. The unit ensures that students understand the increasingly technological issues in managing databases in organisations, and are aware of both the possibilities and the restrictions of such systems.

The unit introduces students to the capabilities and advantages of database management systems. It involves learning the general features of such database management software and using an actual system for a practical application.

Students will gain a basic knowledge of database design and development including data modelling methods, techniques for database design, and implementation of the database using a relational database management system.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

This introductory Professional and Ethical Practice unit provides students with the foundations of professional ethics and a broad management-oriented understanding of ethical issues.

Students will gain a strong understanding of the legal, ethical, and societal implications of using information technology thorough coverage of notable technology developments and their impact on business today. Students will examine issues surrounding professional codes of ethics, file sharing, infringement of intellectual property, security risk assessment, Internet crime, identity theft, employee surveillance, privacy, compliance, social networking, and the ethics of IT corporations.

Students develop digital literacy skills by understanding ethical decision-making for current and future business managers and IT professionals and aims to prepare the individuals responsible for addressing ethical issues in today’s workplace. Students will learn how to examine ethical situations that typically arise in IT and gain practical advice for addressing the relevant issues.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

This unit aims to provide students with an understanding of principles of management applied across organisations.

Throughout this unit, students will examine theories of management and evaluate how inquiry-based skills can be applied in the contemporary workplace. This unit introduces students to key perspectives and discusses a range of fields that inform the theory of leadership and management practices.

This unit will cover theories of management and their application to contemporary practice, strategies of working in a diverse global workplace, teams and teamwork, planning and controlling information flow, organising and leading, motivating and rewarding, and management strategies in both personal and professional contexts.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

The unit introduces students to fundamental computing concepts and the techniques of computer programming including problem solving, algorithm design, good program coding, documenting, debugging, testing and implementation. Basic algorithms (including searching, and sorting) and data structures (including arrays) are studied in the context of useful applications. Elements of ‘a good programming practice’ will be emphasised in the course.

Students will be exposed to popular programming languages such as C++, Java or Python that are currently used in industries. Students will undertake practical exercises and activities in one or more of these languages available in the Computer Laboratory.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

In a business world of big data, the emerging need to understand basic processes of data analysis, especially the interpretation of such analysis is becoming a fundamental tool for the professional. BBUS1008 Statistics for Professionals introduces basic theoretical concepts and applications of statistics in a real-world business environment. Statistics involves collecting, summarising, interpreting and presenting numerical information for the purpose of informed decision making. It is important that statistical data is presented in a meaningful way to inform managerial decision-making. To this end, models of descriptive statistics are explored, as is statistical inference, which focuses on future action based on already collected and analysed data.

Students will learn statistical and mathematical concepts such as probability, correlation and regression, sampling, hypothesis testing and chisquared tests. In addition, students will be introduced to different statistical software packages and learn of their value to professionals.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

BISY2009 Requirements and Design Thinking covers the principles of information system development for a business environment. Students will be introduced to a range of information systems concepts and practices emphasising on the understanding of information systems as designed solutions to problems and computing to interpret these solutions. Students will be introduced how Design Thinking can be productively applied to different systems design situations. The theoretical concepts, methods, and tools for the key stages of Design Thinking including user research, ideation, prototyping and user evaluation will be covered.

Students will be expected to develop an understanding of analysing information system requirements and requirements engineering principles. Students will develop analytical and practical skills in data requirements gathering and analysis along with methods to model data needs. Modelling of data will occur at the conceptual, logical, and physical levels along with an ability to compare different approaches. Brief introduction into agile methodologies is also a part of this unit.

Pre-requisite: BBUS1002

Unit Description:

This unit provides students with an overview of the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques of project management, and their application in delivering successful Information Systems (IS) project outcomes. Students will gain understanding of how projects are managed through the full project lifecycle including planning, execution, monitoring, control and closure.

This unit will provide students with an appreciation of the nature of Information Systems projects, and methods used by the project manager and project team for stakeholder engagement, scheduling project activity and resources, budgeting for projects, communicating project plans, progress and status, controlling scope and variations, managing the project team, managing change, and assessing and mitigating project risks. A range of case studies will be used to enhance practical understanding of the tools and techniques covered.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to the object-oriented programming approach using a contemporary language and an integrated development environment (IDE). The unit introduces the concepts of object-orientated programming (OOP).

The unit starts with a brief overview of OOAD including use cases, domain diagrams and interaction diagrams and class diagrams and then moves on to cover OOP principles such as objects, classes, inheritance, and class hierarchies.

The unit uses appropriate business examples to enable students to solve business problems using the fundamentals of object-oriented programming.

Students will learn OOP concepts with an OOP language, which includes one or more of the following Java, Python or C#.

Pre-requisite: BISY1003.

Unit Description:

Choose one Level 2000 Elective: See the list of electives at the end of this webpage.

Unit Description:

BIS2006 Management of Information Systems and Enterprise Systems examines the theory and concepts of Enterprise and Management Information Systems and the role they perform in business today. The Unit ensures that students have foundations in enterprise information systems and identifies the key issues for managers involved in acquiring and maintaining large-scale software systems in organizations. During lectures, the value and uses of information technology and the way that it is used for operating businesses, making management decisions, gaining strategic advantage, and ensuring probity and transparency in business operations are explained. During lab sessions, these issues will be demonstrated in a practical manner to the students, so that students can see theory in practice, and appreciate linkages between the concepts.

Pre-requisite: BBUS1002.

Unit Description:

BISY2008 ICT Support Services develops students understanding, methods and strategies to help internal and external company’s customers to support, create, maintain, and manage technologies to achieve an excellent customer service. This unit introduces students to the support and maintenance of technological infrastructure and services domain. Students will receive theoretical and practical knowledge to develop skills to prevent, diagnose, solve, and prevent ICT common help desk related issues with quality customer service, remote support, and proper troubleshooting capabilities to resolve IT related issues in a business environment.

The unit delivers the concepts of computers and user support in a business. Starting with an introduction of ICT general concepts such as Help Desk, Troubleshooting and Customer Service to move forward to define Operational Level Agreements, Incident Management, Change Management and Helpdesk Policies and procedures structures. Students will be exposed to appropriated business examples which will enable them to practice the unit concepts in an ICT environment.

Pre-requisite: BBUS1002.

Unit Description:

BISY2007 Systems Design and Thinking continues evolving students’ knowledge and practices of BISY2001 Requirements and Design Thinking, increasing an understanding of the nature of analysing, designing, and developing information systems. A practical emphasis will be placed on the techniques, tools, and methods of systems analysis and modelling in a business environment. Students will develop analytical skills in information data modelling, use case analysis, specifications, and socio- technical issues of the systems development life cycle.

This unit also focuses on traditional, object-oriented, and web-based systems modelling including models, tools, and deliverables together with roles of functional dependencies, domain normalization and user-centered design approach. At the end of this unit, students will have a sound understanding of the techniques required to analyse, model, and develop an information system.

Pre-requisite: BISY2009.

Unit Description:

Choose another Level 2000 Elective: See the list of electives at the end of this webpage.

Unit Description:

Large data collections are widely available in many companies and organisations. Data mining is still a young multidisciplinary field which involves:
Database and data warehouse technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence, statistics and numerical mathematics, parallel and high-performance computing and visualisation.Data mining is being applied in many areas such as in bioinformatics and health, governments (statistics, census and taxation), credit card and insurance companies, terror, crime and fraud detection, and in networking and telecommunications.This unit covers the relationship that can be established between data mining and smart business practices. It also explains how to develop models for classification, prediction, and customer segmentation with the help of data mining for business intelligence techniques.

The unit covers both a theoretical and practical understanding of the key methods of classification, prediction, reduction, exploration, and affinity analysis in data mining and how we can apply these methods to real business cases and data.

Pre-requisite: BISY1002 and BBUS1008.

Unit Description:

The unit examines current security threats to organisations and the necessary security processes, products and solutions required to mitigate these threats and to ensure business continuity.

The unit covers social, business and organisational issues, as well as security policy design and management. A range of products and solutions are discussed. From a technical perspective, firewall and secure router design, installation, configuration and maintenance; AAA implementation using routers and firewalls; and virtual private networks will be topics covered both theoretically and practically.

Pre-requisite: BBUS1002.

Unit Description:

e-Business, in its broadest sense, is the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to support all business activities. e-Commerce (a subset of e-Business) involves the use of the Internet in the transacting of business. Organisations are experiencing enormous changes brought about, in part, by the multi-billion dollar evolution of e-Business and e-Commerce.

The unit presents the theory and practice involved with organisation-wide application of technology to enable improved business practices and management decisions. The unit provides a common foundation composed of the fundamental concepts required for the use and application of telecommunications, systems, and technology in the E-business environment. This unit also examines the ethical, social and legal implications underlying e-Business.

Pre-requisite: BISY2006.

Unit Description:

Choose one Level 3000 Elective: See the list of electives at the end of this webpage.

Unit Description:

BISY3007 Cloud Services and Big Data introduces students to the concepts of cloud computing, big data, data streaming and to the use of cloud platforms in big data applications. Students will examine the five’s of big data from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Students will examine how big data analytics, AI and machine learning can assist businesses to make better informed decisions and gain competitive advantage.

Students will examine and compare the capabilities and applications of various big data frameworks, such as Hadoop, Spark, Flink and Airflow. Students will undertake practical exercises and activities in one or more of these frameworks using java and/or Python, utilising a variety of cloud platforms (AWS, Google, Azure) to analyse a combination of structured, semi-structured and unstructured data from multiple sources.

Pre-requisite: BISY1002 and BISY2006.

Unit Description:

Choose another Level 3000 Elective: See the list of electives at the end of this webpage.

Unit Description:

BISY3008 Information Systems Project (Capstone) allows students to gain skills on real or simulated industry-based projects. This unit is delivered over two blocks and it is designed to give students experience in developing independent skills and implementing non-trivial programming/research projects. Students will pursue a lengthy project in any area of business information systems. Additional to the lecture of the unit, project teams will be advised and supervised by BIS academics. Such academics will be involved to the extent of providing the real-world “wicked” problem, giving feedback to students during the process. Furthermore, they will review the final presentation and provide final feedback on whether the solution met the unit requirements.

Students will be choosing one from three possible streams to complete this unit:

1. 1. A case-based project with a fortnight/monthly opportunity to get supervised by a mentor/advisor and guided by the lecturer throughout the lecture sessions. Students work in teams to design, code, test and deploy an information systems project.
2. 2. An industry-based project guided by an advisor from AIH, and a supervisor from the industry organisation. Students work in teams to design, code, test and deploy an information systems project.
3. 3. Research-based work under the supervision of BIS academics, project teams will pursue research on the BIS trending areas available for supervision and with fortnight/monthly supervision.

Different milestone-based submissions are peer evaluated with the help of a peer assessment application.

For non-research-based projects, the first section of the unit requires teams to document and initiate requirements engineering and system design specifications (SRS and SDS). The system requirements for the project work are to be specified based on real-world business cases. Then, students will use contemporary tools and techniques to provide an information systems solution and work effectively as a member of a development team to prototype the implementation of the bespoke information system based on the system requirement specification (SRS) and system design specification (SDS) completed earlier.

For industry-based projects, a company supervisor must be part of the process who will report on milestones achievements. Students must present industry results in a way of reports and presentations.

For research-based projects, topics are guided by BIS supervisors. Project teams will count with at least one of the BIS Lecturers as an advisor/supervisor who will guide the project including helping to write journal articles, conference proceedings. A research-based project must be approved by AIH based on the diligence, quality of the student cohort, and research training of the students.

Among the topics delivered in lectures, students will be exposed to technologies, tools, and project management techniques that will enhance and ease the project they have at hand.

Pre-requisite: 160 CP including BISY2004.

Unit Description:

This unit informs students with a thorough grounding in financial accounting. Accounting fundamentals discusses bookkeeping processes and preparation of financial reports, the framework of accounting, internal control and cash, non-current assets and current liabilities. The unit develops understanding of discipline specific knowledge areas, professional judgment and problem-solving skills. The focus on financial accounting with an examination of accounting for partnerships and companies as well as cash flow statements. Financial Statements are discussed at length with reference to relevant accounting standards.

Pre-requisite: BBUS1001.

Unit Description:

This unit aims to provide the use of an accounting information system in an organization. The application of technology to automate accounting processes and the implications this has for the accountants are addressed in this unit. Practical experience in the operation of an accounting package such as MYOB will be utilized as a self-directed study activity. Governance of accounting information system and the internal controls built into the systems that collect and store the data are explored. Basic safeguards to reduce cyber-crime and ethical issue are discussed.

Pre-requisite: BBUS1001 and BBUS1002.

Unit Description:

This Unit introduces students to the legal framework and legal principles applying to commercial activity within the context of the Australian legal system. In particular, legal problems commonly encountered in business situations such as torts, contracts and consumer law.

This Unit also introduces students to the legal framework and legal principles applying to companies primarily but some introductory discussion is done on partnerships, trusts and associations as well. Some of the key topics include types of companies, process of incorporating, effects of incorporation, internal rules, appointment and removal of directors, duties of directors, shareholders’ remedies, share capital transactions and insolvency procedures.

In this regard, students develop the ability to interpret legislation and case law and apply them to given scenarios. The workshops will be used as interactive sessions where students are given the opportunity to test their problem-solving skills as well as ability to relate the relevance of the Corporations Act to various aspects of running a company.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

The aim of this unit is to help students develop their knowledge, understanding and application of various theoretical models and practices of accounting. This unit focuses on specific financial reporting issues and discusses accounting standards such as Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The course commences with an overview of the Australian financial reporting environment by focusing on the institutional framework for accounting standard setting and the conceptual framework. The course then investigates selected applied issues in financial accounting by examining requirements of Australian accounting standards in the following areas: valuation of assets including fair value, intangibles, leases, revenue recognition and sustainability. The course will also examine the corporate accounting issues such as share capital and reserves, liabilities and accounting for financial instruments. Discussions based on governance and corporate social responsibility are also covered.

Pre-requisite: BACC2001

Unit Description:

The unit covers the concepts, principles, and techniques of management accounting. It provides both theoretical knowledge and practical application of aspects of contemporary and traditional management accounting systems and their role in providing cost information to assist in decision-making, planning, and control that will allow effective management of resources and creation of value for organizations, customers, and stakeholders.

Pre-requisite: BACC2001.

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to the field of corporate finance and provides both theoretical knowledge and practical applications of business finance decision-making. It begins with the basics of financial mathematics and asset valuation and moves on to examine the tools and techniques for making capital investment decisions, financing decisions, and the dividend decisions. It also looks at the Australian equities market and issues of capital market efficiency.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

BBMG2001 Organisational Behaviour and Design demonstrates how to examine individual and group behaviour in organisations. Students are introduced to dominant theories of organisational behaviour. The unit teaches a range of concepts and theories that can be used as tools to generate a more precise and in-depth analysis of behaviour than would be possible with idiosyncratic or superficial observations. Students will practice the critical habit of viewing phenomena from many perspectives and identifying related operational and ethical issues for managers. Students are given opportunities to examine different perspectives on managing people and designing organisations, and to understand and practice the determinants of interpersonal and team interactions in organisational environments. Understanding people and group dynamics is introduced as the key to becoming a good leader and facilitating effective change management. These topics will be explained in the context of common business scenarios and will help students apply theory to practice.

Pre-requisite: BBMG1002.

Unit Description:

Human Resource Management (HRM) has gone through a considerable transformation in recent decades. Once a reactive, administrative function that was seen by other functions as playing little part in organisational success, the ‘Personnel and Administration’ function of the past is now a key contributor to the future of the organisation and to success. HR departments are often now called ‘People and Culture’, reflecting the changing nature of the function.

This unit will explore the wide-ranging responsibilities of human resources departments, and key theories in HRM, as well as look at challenges for the future.

In this unit, students can gain knowledge of talent acquisition, talent management, succession planning, performance management, industrial relations concepts, employer brand, employee engagement and a range of other HR topics.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

Operational Management examines the operational facets of organisations, focusing on the processes that contribute to the organisation’s end product or service. Students will examine the operational objectives and strategies and develop an understanding of several key functions within the organisation, including the design of processes, the design of supply networks, process technology and job design. Planning and control are recognised as a central management function, this includes planning and controlling inventory, supply chain management and project management. The processes of monitoring, measuring, analysing and improving operational performance are applied via scenarios and case studies.

Pre-requisite: BBMG2001.

Unit Description:

Causes of project under performance, also referred to as project failure, include people, systems, processes. Organisations, project sponsors and project managers have an onus to create an environment for project success. For some practitioners, this necessitates changing mindsets and even paradigms given that it to challenge common assumptions. This unit aims to create a positive environment to avoid most problems encountered in ‘typical projects’. Much of the problem prevention commences at project start-up.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

This unit develops analytical skills and a practical understanding of negotiation techniques in projects, effective management, and conflict resolution through the application of research and academic literature. It does so by evaluating the influence of culture, personality, perceptions and communication, and using these insights to develop plans for conflict resolution in various project situations to reach agreements.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

The ever-increasing connections between governance, ethical behaviour and a sustainable future are explored in this unit. The emphasis is on leadership and management of organisations as a key element in ensuring sound practice in all three of these important facets of organisations.

In this unit, students will learn about both top-down and bottom-up approaches to ensuring that organisations are well governed, act responsibly, and are cognisant of the actions required to address the triple bottom line.

The unit will cover governance as distinct from management, the role of leadership, the 3Ps of sustainability, and ethics, and the connection between the disciplines in this unit with other areas such as finance, marketing, and HR.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

Entrepreneurship is the backbone of the economy. New products and services created by entrepreneurs can have a cascading effect on the economy, stimulating related businesses or sectors and furthering the economic development of countries. Entrepreneurs also help drive change through innovation, allowing society to improve its quality of life.

This subject focuses on innovation-driven entrepreneurship and introduces students to the pathways of entrepreneurial venture. The students will learn how to design resilient entrepreneurship, from opportunity identification to business models, as well as growing and planning entrepreneurial ventures.

Strategic entrepreneurial growth will also be highlighted along with awareness of legal and regulatory challenges relevant to entrepreneurial ventures.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

Managers today encounter mammoth challenges which are varied and complex in nature. It becomes essential in modern times for executive managers to have an in-depth understanding of underlying managerial practices, especially those that relate to challenges for improving business practices. Emerging issues in market demand, technology, social responsibility, communication, human resources management, etc. makes it imperative for managers to examine and implement contemporary and innovative solutions for business problems.

The unit will explore more contemporary advanced management and organizational theories to assist managers with creative problem-solving for critical business management challenges and issues.

This unit introduces to the participants a blend of learning in class and online through several activities and assessments. It focuses on student’s learning for sustainable business including economic, social, environment and organisation culture in achieving the set business objectives optimally.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

An artifact is an object made by a human being. A project artifact is a tangible by-product of a project. Artifact can take the form of a template, document, output, or project deliverable (PMBoK 7th Ed.). Project artifacts determine standards and requirements for derivable completion, such as design specifications for a product, or a checklist of steps for performing status meetings. The team lead by the project manager determines what artifacts are required to successfully deliver each phase of a project. Artifacts are often inter-related such as a ‘register of plans’ and then in addition each of the plans themselves.

Starting with outcomes, this unit covers principles, models and methods designed to ensure that project artifacts are limited to those that add value not ‘bureaucracy’. The unit examines project artifacts from start-up, to planning, execution and close-out.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

An artifact is an object made by a human being. A project artifact is a tangible by-product of a project. Artifact can take the form of a template, document, output, or project deliverable (PMBoK 7th Ed.). Project artifacts determine standards and requirements for derivable completion, such as design specifications for a product, or a checklist of steps for performing status meetings. The team lead by the project manager determines what artifacts are required to successfully deliver each phase of a project. Artifacts are often inter-related such ‘register of plans’ and then in addition each of the plans themselves.

Starting with outcomes, this unit covers principles, models and methods designed to ensure that project artifacts are limited to those that add value not ‘bureaucracy’. The unit examines project artifacts from start-up, to planning, execution and close-out.

Pre-requisite: Nil.

Unit Description:

This unit builds on the knowledge and skills that students have already acquired in previous units, most notably Business and Corporations Law. The workshops examine the fundamentals of taxation law in Australia and are designed to develop in students both an appreciation of the Australian taxation system as well as practical and analytical skills for navigating tax law. More than a method of revenue collection, this unit encourages students to view taxation law as a social process and to consider the various changes that taxation has undergone since the Income Taxation Assessment Act 1936. There are opportunities for students to assess the application of the tax laws in Australia as well as analyse tax laws. Looking at taxation issues from the minds of future practitioners, the workshops include practice questions session where students can also delve into more depth on the social implications of tax law.

Pre-requisite: BACC2003.