Unit Outline

The unit provides both a theoretical and a practical understanding of methods for evaluating the structure, policies, operations and technical capacities of organisations within their social and legal context. Students will gain an introduction to the role, knowledge and skills required of a business analyst. This unit focuses on both the specific tools and methods used by a business analyst, building on the technology learning acquired in earlier units, as well as the soft skills of creativity and communication which are critical to successful business and requirements analysis. By the end of the unit, students will understand what is involved in business analysis planning and monitoring, specifically: how to elicit and communicate organisational requirements and how to analyse and assess these requirements to enable effective business solutions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

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


1.	Identify and manage stakeholder requirements using a range of processes, methodologies, tools, research skills and techniques
2.	Prepare business cases for ICT projects that ethically satisfy organisational needs by using best practices in business analysis
3.	Evaluate suggested solutions to ensure that a project is selected for initiation

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to the feedback from previous student cohorts, this unit has moved entirely online. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback, through the unit's ongoing feedback survey, through contact with the unit coordinator, and formally through the University of Tasmania's eVALUate surveys following your completion of the unit.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Identification and Analysis of an ICT Project	Week 8	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Solution Evaluation	Week 13	35 %	LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Practice Quizzes	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Module Quizzes	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 5:	Practical Tutorial Tasks	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Identification and Analysis of an ICT Project

Task Description:

Students, individually or in groups, will visit a business of their choice in their local area to identify issues and requirements. This data will be used to prepare a business case for an ICT project that would address some of the business's issues.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and manage stakeholder requirements	LO1
2	The organisation has been modelled, and the choice of model has been justified	LO1
3	Write a business case that satisfies the organisation's needs, including ethical considerations	LO2
4	Justify the selected project	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Solution Evaluation

Task Description:

Students will consider a case study and multiple possible ICT solutions for that case study. They will prioritise, select and justify their selection of a solution.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse and rank suggested solutions	LO3
2	Select and justify a solution	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Practice Quizzes

Task Description:

Students will complete weekly quizzes related to the module theory to help them practice for the module quiz.

Practice quizzes are optional and do not have a due date.

Task Length:

Three questions to be answered without a time limit. The quiz can be repeated up to three times.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify stakeholder characteristics	LO1
2	Identify methodologies for specified situations	LO1
3	List the characteristics of best practice	LO2
4	Select project solution components	LO3

Assessment Task 4: Module Quizzes

Task Description:

Students will complete weekly module quizzes related to the theory of business analysis.

Module quizzes are due weekly on Fridays at 11:55pm.

Late submissions will not be accepted without an approved extension.

Task Length:

10 Questions to be completed within 10 minutes

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify stakeholder characteristics	LO1
2	Identify methodologies for specified situations	LO1
3	List the characteristics of best practice	LO2
4	Select project solution components	LO3

Assessment Task 5: Practical Tutorial Tasks

Task Description:

Students will present the outcome of their practical tutorial task in the second hour of their two-weekly tutorials.

Students will be assessed during their tutorial.

Late submissions will not be accepted without an approved extension.

Task Length:

Five-minute presentation, every two weeks throughout the semester.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Elicit requirements from stakeholders	LO1
2	Present stakeholders' requirements	LO1
3	Present business cases that satisfy organisational needs	LO2
4	Present the ethical arguments for suggested solutions	LO3
5	Justify selection of solutions	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.