ICT158 Introduction to Information Systems

Workshop 1 - Introduction

This week’s workshop has some exercises relating to the material in Topic 1 and the unit in
general. These exercises don’t need to be handed in for assessment, although you should
write down your findings. Students can work in pairs or small groups to discuss the
exercises.

At the completion of this workshop you should have gained practice in:
 Analysing an information system to identify its components and functions
 Familiarising yourself with the online unit on Moodle
 Using the library resources, particularly on referencing.

TO DO:

Exercise 1: Thinking about information systems - an ATM

We said in the lecture that information systems are combinations of people, processes and
(usually) technology that perform some useful function. They
 take some inputs and transform them to outputs
 work within a boundary and in an environment.

In this exercise you will use these concepts to analyse a real information system to identify
its features.

You will all be familiar with using an ATM (automatic teller machine) to withdraw cash or
make a deposit. Discuss with your neighbours and as a class how an ATM can be viewed as
an information system.

1. Identify the following features of an information system for an ATM:

 Inputs
 Outputs
 Transformations/Processing
 Feedback
 Boundary
 Environment
 Subsystems
 Other systems it interacts with (by getting inputs from, or supplying outputs to).

If you don’t have all the information you need, state the assumptions you have made.
Information systems are also made up of various components:
 People
 Repositories of data
 Equipment (hardware & software)

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  Networks.

2. Identify these components for the ATM information system.

Exercise 2: Thinking about information systems – Fiona Stanley Hospital

In the next exercise you are again going to analysis an information system, this time one of
the suite of systems currently under development at the Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Background

Fiona Stanley Hospital is considered to be one of the most technologically advanced

hospitals in Australia and an unprecedented level of work is going into its digital and
information technology systems. It was originally planned to be a paperless facility,
featuring the latest in medical and information technology. The hospital will integrate a
suite of 48 core systems into one hospital as well as a significant number of smaller clinical
applications. The “advanced ICT system” at the facility is billed as being able to deliver new
levels of patient care and convenience by managing administration, patient information,
medical records, communications and patient entertainment, all through one central
facility.

It also needs to connect to the State-wide system that the rest of the WA Health
Department uses. This involves everything for the clinical, administrative and infrastructure
systems - including patient records and medication management, as well as delivering new
levels of patient care and convenience.

Considering the components of an information system:

 People
 Repositories of data
 Equipment (hardware & software)
 Networks

you are now going to identify these in relation to an information system at the Fiona Stanley
hospital. Watch the Fiona Stanley Hospital Virtual Tour here:
http://www.fsh.health.wa.gov.au/About-us/News/Media-Gallery/Videos (video) or read the text
description of it here:
http://www.fsh.health.wa.gov.au/~/link.aspx?_id=5F11996F6C9743508B2350FC5510010C&_z=z

You can work with your neighbour for this exercise:

 List some of the information systems at FSH that you can identify from the tour
description
 Choose one of the information systems for deeper analysis. From your own
experience, and internet research, analyse the system you have chosen, by
answering the questions below. You can also investigate other hospital information
systems to see what typical functionality is involved:

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 1. Briefly summarise the purpose of the system you have chosen.

2. Who are the stakeholders (people involved with the system) likely to be, and what is
their stake (interest)?

3. What are the inputs to the system, and what are the outputs? What hardware,
software and data repositories are involved?

4. Does the system you have chosen have any subsystems within it? Is it part of any
larger systems? Are there any other systems it is linked to (e.g. by taking inputs from,
or supplying outputs to)?

Exercise 3: The online unit

Familiarise yourself with the ICT158 online unit on the LMS. Make sure you know where to
find:

 The lecture slides

 The tutorial handouts
 The lecture recordings on Echo
 Announcements
 The general discussion forum
 The Assessment tabs, where you will submit your assessable work. There is a
separate tab for each of the assessment components.

Exercise 4: Refresher on library resources and referencing

The Murdoch library has many useful sources of information and it’s well worth while
learning how to use its resources effectively. Below are just a few pointers to pages that you
will find useful throughout this unit, and in your other units. Browse around the sites now,
bookmark them, and remember that they are there when you need them!

 The main library page is here http://library.murdoch.edu.au/ , and the Quick Start guide
to using the library here: http://library.murdoch.edu.au/Getting-help/Quick-Start/

FINDING INFORMATION

 The library has many subject guides that have been assembled by subject specialists to
provide you with an overview of resources in a particular area; see:
http://library.murdoch.edu.au/Getting-help/Subject-guides/

Explore the resources at the Information Technology subject guide:

http://libguides.murdoch.edu.au/Infotech

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 Findit is a very simple and effective way to search the library collections:
http://library.murdoch.edu.au/Find-information/About-Findit/

Use Findit to repeat some of your research from Exercise 1. Were you able to locate any
more useful information?

REFERENCING

 The library has some very useful guides on referencing styles and how to cite references.
The overview page is here: http://library.murdoch.edu.au/Getting-help/Referencing/

And there are detailed individual guides for several styles, for example:
http://libguides.murdoch.edu.au/APA
http://libguides.murdoch.edu.au/Chicago

Referencing practice. Choose:

 a website you have consulted during this tutorial, and
 the textbook for one of your units.

For each resource, give its full reference in the correct format for APA or Chicago (or choose
another style if you prefer).

Add these references to your e-Portfolio.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Referencing correctly is part of the wider topic of academic integrity, a fundamental concept
in your academic life. The sections here http://our.murdoch.edu.au/Student-life/Study-
successfully/Referencing-and-citing/ explain what academic integrity is, how to avoid
plagiarism, and the penalties that can apply in cases of academic misconduct.

Familiarise yourself with these pages, and remember, if you are ever in any doubt about
your work (for example, whether you are paraphrasing or referencing correctly) ask your
tutor or the unit coordinator.

COMPLETING THE WORKSHOP

Complete this workshop by writing up your findings to exercise 1, 2 and 3 as an ePortfolio

report. Your ePortfolio should answer the questions asked in the exercise, and summarise
your findings. It should also include a section for reflection on what you have learned,
particularly in relating the exercise to
 the week’s topic
 the unit in general
 your own experience.

An example of an e-Portfolio report (from a different unit) is available on Learning

Management System (LMS).