49013 Managing Information Technology in Engineering
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2018 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
The aim of this subject is to explore the influence of information technology (IT) on organisations and management, and in particular engineering management. Students critically examine both older and more recent IT innovations. Issues in IT extend to groupware, computer-aided logistic support, decisions support systems, tools for systems engineering, and communications technology, including the internet. Students use a computer-mediated conferencing tool on the internet to participate in group project work either on or off campus. Most of the support material is available from a specific, interactive information tool (UTSOnline) and the internet.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 01. | Communicate professionally using oral and written media. |
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| 02. | Collaborate and work productively in a team environment |
| 03. | Satisfy technical requirements by conforming to a systematic methodology |
| 04. | Understand classes of IT tools used in knowledge areas within various engineering disciplines |
| 05. | Analyse and identify stakeholders of engineering efforts, when establishing IT applications in the workplace |
| 06. | Identify and understand the influence of IT in engineering organisations |
| 07. | Competently use computer-mediated, internet based, conferencing tools for engineering collaboration |
| 08. | Capably interact with information technologies to support engineering practice |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following faculty Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) and Engineers Australia (EA) Stage 1 competencies:
- Identify, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs. (A.1)
- Identify constraints, uncertainties and risk of the system (social, cultural, legislative, environmental, business etc.) (A.3)
- Apply systems thinking to understand complex system behaviour including interactions between components and with other systems (social, cultural, legislative, environmental, business etc.) (A.5)
- Problem solving and design (B.0)
- Identify and apply relevant problem solving methodologies (B.1)
- Synthesise alternative/innovative solutions, concepts and procedures (B.3)
- Apply decision-making methodologies to evaluate solutions for efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability (B.4)
- Demonstrate research skills (B.6)
- Evaluate model applicability, accuracy and limitations (C.3)
- Self management (D.0)
- Manage own time and processes effectively by prioritising competing demands to achieve personal goals (Manage self) (D.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is mediated entirely through an electronic environment. There will be NO classroom events, as all interaction will occur within the enabling confines of UTSOnline. This approach demonstrates to students the use of information tools through direct experience with a specific information tool (UTSOnline).
The nature of information technology within Engineering is incredibly diverse. Whilst the underlying principles are very similar, the specific tools which might be used by an engineer will depend substantially upon their particular engineering discipline and/or the nature of their work (e.g. design versus project managament). Given this diversity, the subject relies on an approach which creates a general investigatory framework (driven primarily by the assessment tasks) and then requires students to take a substantial responsibility for exploring potential information tools and resources within this framework.
The subject involves two types of work: individual and group. The individual work requires students to take on a consultant-like experience, in which a task is assigned and they must exercise self-motivation in exploring potential information sources.
The group work also mimics real experience, and put students into a team for the purpose of short-term assignment, mirroring the role which they might have working within an organisation.
This subject is run entirely online. There are no formal or information class sessions and aside from an subject introductory video, there are no videos of formal lectures nor any tutorials - although some instructional material may be posted on UTSOnline from time to time and the two online quizzes may contain vectors (links/URLs) to further informational/instructional material. You should ensure that you regularly login to the subject on UTSOnline and monitor announcements etc. This should be at least once a week, but preferably more often.
It is very important for all students to manage their time commitments to this subject very carefully. As a guideline this should involve spending an average of approximately 9 hours each week on the subject. You are also expected to participate fully in the online discussions and your group assignments.
Content (topics)
Information Tools
- Design, Analysis, Synthesis, Testing
- Modelling and Simulation
- CAD/CAM
- Project Management
- Collaboration
- Documentation management
- Quality assurance and control
Information sources
- Information repositories / portals
- Regulatory bodies
- Standards bodies
- Professional organisations
- Industry forums; industry groups
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Quiz 1
| Intent: | The intent of this assessment task is to encourage you to read the subject outline and to ensure you understand it. |
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| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark |
| Criteria: | The quiz is marked by UTSOnline and the results are provided immediately upon completion of the quiz. |
Assessment task 2: Assignment 1 (individual)
| Intent: | The principal intent of this assessment task is to encourage you to explore, discover, reflect and report succinctly on those IT tools and resources as used or required by practitioners in your chosen engineering sub-discipline. A further intent is to expose you to a user specification, encourage you to comply with that specification; identify the logical ordering of material to be included in your report; maintain professional discipline when compiling the report; focus on the quality of process/product; and importantly, identify the report's ultimate stakeholder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 01, 03, 05, 06 and 08 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.1, A.5, B.3, C.3 and D.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 35% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | Maximum 3000-6000 words (8 physical pages of assessable text, maximum). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | The assessment sheet used to mark and review your assignment (including a detailed breakdown of the marks assigned) is available for viewing on UTSOnline. Click on the view/submit link for this assignment and then click on the rubric symbol. Submissions will be checked using the ‘turnitin’ software, which is embedded within UTSOnline. A short time after submitting your assignment (typically 10 minutes or so - but be prepared for 24 hours or more in periods of heavy loading) you will be able to view the originality report for your assignment, complete with an overall matching index. The matching index for your submission must be less than 25%. You can submit multiple times prior to the submission deadline to ensure that this requirement is met. Submissions contravening this requirement shall be summarily reported to the Faculty for further investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Assignment 2a: Group web page proposal
| Intent: | To get started on the group project and provide an opportunity for feedback on the proposed topic for the group project, to be finalised in the Group project report. Also for students in the group to get to know each other and their area of engineering; and to provide a mechanism for effective and productive collaboration.. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 01, 02, 03, 05 and 07 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.1, B.0, B.1, B.3 and D.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 15% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | The assessment sheet used to mark and review your ass2a submission (including a detailed breakdown of the assigned group marks) is available for viewing on UTSOnline. Click on the link to submit your assignment and then click on "View Rubric". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 4: Assignment 2b: Group project report
| Intent: | Gain experience in the design of an information architecture to address a specific need within a chosen engineering organisation as identified by the "proposed topic", in Assessment Task 3. Also, to obtain experience in developing a detailed information technology, feasiblity study and project plan, which is at a higher level than a detailed, solution study/plan of the implementation of the specific need. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 03, 04, 05, 07 and 08 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.1, B.0, B.3, B.6 and D.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | The assessment sheet used to mark and review your ass2b submission (including a detailed breakdown of the assigned group marks) is available for viewing on UTSOnline. Click on the link to submit your assignment and then click on "View Rubric". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 5: Assignment 2c: Group project peer assessment
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 01, 02, 03, 04 and 08 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.1, A.3, B.0, B.4 and D.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 10% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | around 3000 words (8 pages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 6: RPF - Relative Performance Factor
| Intent: | Marks from your groupwork in the subject are scaled by your individual RPF so that your final groupwork assessment reflects your individual effort and ability to work in a team | ||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 01, 02 and 03 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.5, D.0 and D.1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Reflection | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Groupwork
Writing the report
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| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Recommended texts
This subject does not have an absolutely required text. The subject is so diverse (crossing many different Engineering disciplines) and the information discussed is changing so rapidly, that there is no single appropriate textbook. The most accurate source of up-to-date information will be online resources and this subject outline. Additional information will be provided, as required, throughout the semester, principally via announcements on UTSOnline for this subject. Having said that, each particpant is encouraged to consult and/or purchase:
Lester Faigley, "The Little Penguin Handbook", Australasian Edition, Pearson Australia, 2011 (or better).
Note: The Little Penguin Handbook may be cited as one of the primary sources for many of your queries on the subject and the assignments; particularly: the structure, harvard notation, grammar, data organisation, etc. Equally, The Little Penguin Handbook can be further used in your professional life and is therefore considered a desirable addition to your "professional bookshelf" - be it hard copy or etext. Please also see the "Books" folder of UTSOnline for the subject for additional information including URLs.
References
As part of this subject, you will need to make use of various electronic sources of information such as IEEE Xplore and the ACM digital library. In order to gain full access to these resources, you will need to access them through the UTS library web page and login using your student number and UTS Webmail password. Information about how to access other electronic databases is provided on UTSOnline
Other resources
Additional resources are available on UTSOnline.
