Foundations of Business Systems and eCommerce

Aims and objectives

Overall LEB111 aims to instil an appreciation of how technology can be used to assist business, without the technology becoming an end in itself. In particular, it aims to generate an awareness of the importance of information to decision making, how to provide such information and ensure its usefulness to the decision makers. Students gain a strong foundation of business systems fundamentals and the influence of the Internet on business stakeholders; customers, suppliers, manufacturers, service makers, regulators, managers and employees.

On completion of this unit students will:
• Describe the basic concepts that constitute a business
• Apply critical and creative thinking on the use of information
• Understand what constitutes quality and timely information and how to achieve it.
• Explain the relevance of value chain and supply chain management
• Evaluate business segments using an appropriate model
• Develop an awareness of ethical issues pertaining to privacy and culture.
• Explain the importance of security requirements and planning to protect business information.
• Be aware of the new technologies of significance to business environments.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the process in systems design and development
• Apply modelling techniques to the development of business information systems.

Teaching methods

This unit is available on campus through face-to-face lectures (1.5 hours per week) and face to face combined tutorial/labs (1.5 hours per week). Unit delivery is supported by a unit website, text based material, and a range of online learning resources.

Assessment

Assessment will be a combination of assignments and an examination. A typical example would be:

• Reflective Assignment 15 - 25%
• Worked Case Study Assignment 25 - 35%
• Final Examination 40 - 50%

Generic skills outcomes

• Analysis skills: Assessed through assignment requiring analysis of a business environment. Feedback will be provided as part of assignment assessment
• Communications skills: Assessed through written reports. Feedback will be provided as part of assignment assessment
• Ability to work independently: Assessed through participation in tutorials and assessments. Feedback will be provided as part of assignment assessment

Content

• Business basics to include types of business e.g. sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation
• Information Concepts such as Data, Information and Knowledge
• Data Management including databases
• Competitive advantage with information technology: explore Porter’s Five Forces Model
• Value chain and supply chain management
• Frameworks for benchmarking i.e. metrics such as Website, SCM, CRM, BPR, ERP
• Network and internet fundamentals
• Information dissemination and literacy
• Ethical issues pertaining to privacy and culture.
• Security requirements and planning to protect business information.
• Business Models e.g. B2B, B2C, C2B, C2C, M-commerce.
• Systems design and development using the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Analysis Modelling using Rich pictures e.g. DFD’s or Use Case