Unit 0: Overview
Getting Started
Important: After you have completed your assignments or have written the final exam, do not
discuss the contents on the forums (or post it anywhere else on the Internet). Posting
discussion regarding the contents of final exams or completed assignments will be considered
cheating and will be dealt with accordingly.
The 16-week schedule of this course is intended to provide guidance on the sequence and
timing of your course activities. It is not expected that every student will adhere strictly to this
schedule, and you may complete the course in less or more time than suggested (please
consider your contract end date when planning your schedule!).
Before you start:
Read the Welcome letter in the course materials package.
If you encounter persistent problems with the course materials access, first check the
COMP 361 General Discussion Forum. If all else fails, contact the Virtual Helpdesk.
Continue to read the other sections of this unit. It is very important that you read this
information!
Familiarize yourself with the course materials, the course study plan, and the
requirements for completing COMP 361.
Email your tutor to let him or her know that you have all your materials in place and that
you have read the requirements for completing the course. Report any problems, and
ask for clarification on any aspect of the course materials or instructions that you do not
understand.
Using Moodle
All SCIS undergraduate courses are now delivered through Moodle. You can log in to Moodle
through myAU. You may want to bookmark your course site.
Assignments are submitted through the upload feature at the bottom of each assignment page.
The first step is to attach multiple files, as well as delete or overwrite uploaded files. Before you
proceed to the next step, which is to submit the assignment, make sure you have completed
uploading all files and all edits are done. Once you hit the Send for marking button and confirm
your submission, your tutor is alerted that you have submitted your assignment and you will no
longer be able to add, delete, or edit your assignment files (unless your tutor reverts your
submission to Draft status).
1
,Unit 0:
You have access to your active courses in Moodle until the course end date. After this, you will
continue to have access for 4 more months, but you will not have access to the tutor and will
not be able to post in the discussion forums.
This interface should be fairly easy to use, but if you have any questions or concerns, please
contact Computing Services Help desk at
https://secure.athabascau.ca/inter/helpdesk/contacthd.htm. Improvements and updates to
Moodle are being done on a continuous basis.
Course Overview
The Subject Matter: Systems Analysis and Design
The analysis, design, and implementation of information systems (information systems
development) is the application of problem solving to a particular area of human activity. As
such, there is nothing inherently difficult about the subject. There is, however, substantial
complexity because of the broad range of concerns and activities under the systems
development umbrella.
This version of COMP 361 breaks new ground: it facilitates learning in a community and through
discussions with your peers, focuses on the object-oriented approach, is use-case driven, and is
compliant with UML (Unified Modeling Language) 2.0 modelling standards.
Systems analysis and design as a subject deals with the concepts, skills, methodologies,
techniques, tools, and perspectives essential for systems analysts. This course takes an
integrated approach to the subject:
Discussion of concepts, skills, methodologies, techniques, tools and perspectives in the
textbook is supplemented by case studies such as the Rocky Mountain House Outfitters
and Reliable Pharmaceutical Service to provide experience with problem-solving
techniques and issues addressed in the textbook.
The assignments in the course reinforce the textbook materials by applying systems
analysis and design concepts, skills, methodologies, techniques, tools, and perspectives
to specific issues and subjects.
The assignments support each other: Assignments 1–5 successively refine the
requirements and design for an information system for the Car Sharing case study.
2
,Unit 0:
COMP 361 and the Web
COMP 361 uses web-based resources extensively because of the currency of the materials
posted on a multitude of academic and commercial websites. Access is organized as follows:
Supplementary readings. Websites with content relevant to specific course topics are
provided to demonstrate various viewpoints on the respective topics.
Worked examples. Additional examples of problem-solving or modelling exercises are
identified and made available to you.
Directed searches. Topic-based search strings are supplied to direct your attention to a
range of web-based resources on specific topics.
How to Proceed and How Not to Proceed
Because of the integrated nature of the treatment of the subject, you are advised to follow as
closely as possible the suggested sequence. Furthermore, you are strongly encouraged to
communicate and discuss topics with other students through blogs and discussion forums!
You are strongly discouraged from taking the assignment-oriented approach to the course, that
is, seeing the course as a collection of assignments with supporting materials. This will almost
inevitably lead to two outcomes: first, an incomplete understanding of the course materials
because the structure implicit in the materials is ignored; and second, difficulty completing the
assignments because of incomplete and/or incorrect understanding of the applicable concepts,
skills, methodologies, techniques, tools, and perspectives.
The suggested sequence assumes part-time study: that you will spend 10–15 hours per week on
the course and will take approximately 16 weeks to complete it. Students who intend to study
full time, or whose personal schedules are likely to be problematic or significantly different
from this norm, are encouraged to develop their own schedules. You should review your
schedule on a regular basis in case reorganization is required. Extensions are available should it
become apparent that six months will not be sufficient to complete the course.
Course Materials
Study Guide
The seven units of the study guide provide you with information about how and what to learn
in COMP 361. Each unit consists of a sequence of sections based on the textbook structure. It is
therefore strongly suggested that you follow the sequence. The basic components of the
sections are learning objectives. Learning objectives are used to organize the learning
3
, Unit 0:
resources from the textbook. A learning objective provides a focus for the content and
activities: it is a statement of what you should be learning in each section. Each objective
usually includes reading materials from the textbook, activities to check your understanding,
and supplementary reading materials.
Each unit and each section include a brief introduction, which provides an overview of the
unit/section. Please note that these introductions are strongly based on text from the textbook
but also include important information specifically related to COMP 361.
Each unit further includes unit activities, which are based on the exercises and case studies
provided in the textbook. The study guide points out the exercises and case study questions
you are responsible to complete. Completing these review components at the end of each unit
should be part of your approach to mastering the learning objectives. Solutions for the
problems and exercises activities and the case studies are available through each Summary and
Unit Activities section.
NOTE: Answers for Review Questions are not provided because they simply repeat the textbook
material. Use the Review Questions to organize your reading of the textbook material.
A Word about Learning Objectives
Learning objectives are used to define the preferred outcomes of studying these course
materials. If you understand the language of these learning “requirements,” you will be able to
develop the right strategies for studying and completing assignments. The language used to
express learning objectives is defined and explained in what is commonly referred to as Bloom’s
Taxonomy.
Benjamin Bloom created this taxonomy for categorizing the types of questions that commonly
occur in educational settings. The taxonomy is useful for categorizing the type of learning
expected in a course—whether cognitive (mental skills, knowledge), affective (growth in
feelings or emotional areas, attitude), or psychomotor (manual or physical skills).
You can find further information at Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains.
Textbook
Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 6th edition, by J.W. Satzinger, R.B. Jackson, and S.D. Burd.
In order to get familiar with the textbook and its features, please read “Features” on pages x–xv
and “Preface” on pages xvi–xxv.
Note: This is a digital textbook (eTextbook). Access and download it through the link on the course
home page. Because this course has transitioned from a print textbook to an eText, you may notice minor
discrepancies between the textbook page numbers referred to in the course and the page numbers in the
eTe 4
Getting Started
Important: After you have completed your assignments or have written the final exam, do not
discuss the contents on the forums (or post it anywhere else on the Internet). Posting
discussion regarding the contents of final exams or completed assignments will be considered
cheating and will be dealt with accordingly.
The 16-week schedule of this course is intended to provide guidance on the sequence and
timing of your course activities. It is not expected that every student will adhere strictly to this
schedule, and you may complete the course in less or more time than suggested (please
consider your contract end date when planning your schedule!).
Before you start:
Read the Welcome letter in the course materials package.
If you encounter persistent problems with the course materials access, first check the
COMP 361 General Discussion Forum. If all else fails, contact the Virtual Helpdesk.
Continue to read the other sections of this unit. It is very important that you read this
information!
Familiarize yourself with the course materials, the course study plan, and the
requirements for completing COMP 361.
Email your tutor to let him or her know that you have all your materials in place and that
you have read the requirements for completing the course. Report any problems, and
ask for clarification on any aspect of the course materials or instructions that you do not
understand.
Using Moodle
All SCIS undergraduate courses are now delivered through Moodle. You can log in to Moodle
through myAU. You may want to bookmark your course site.
Assignments are submitted through the upload feature at the bottom of each assignment page.
The first step is to attach multiple files, as well as delete or overwrite uploaded files. Before you
proceed to the next step, which is to submit the assignment, make sure you have completed
uploading all files and all edits are done. Once you hit the Send for marking button and confirm
your submission, your tutor is alerted that you have submitted your assignment and you will no
longer be able to add, delete, or edit your assignment files (unless your tutor reverts your
submission to Draft status).
1
,Unit 0:
You have access to your active courses in Moodle until the course end date. After this, you will
continue to have access for 4 more months, but you will not have access to the tutor and will
not be able to post in the discussion forums.
This interface should be fairly easy to use, but if you have any questions or concerns, please
contact Computing Services Help desk at
https://secure.athabascau.ca/inter/helpdesk/contacthd.htm. Improvements and updates to
Moodle are being done on a continuous basis.
Course Overview
The Subject Matter: Systems Analysis and Design
The analysis, design, and implementation of information systems (information systems
development) is the application of problem solving to a particular area of human activity. As
such, there is nothing inherently difficult about the subject. There is, however, substantial
complexity because of the broad range of concerns and activities under the systems
development umbrella.
This version of COMP 361 breaks new ground: it facilitates learning in a community and through
discussions with your peers, focuses on the object-oriented approach, is use-case driven, and is
compliant with UML (Unified Modeling Language) 2.0 modelling standards.
Systems analysis and design as a subject deals with the concepts, skills, methodologies,
techniques, tools, and perspectives essential for systems analysts. This course takes an
integrated approach to the subject:
Discussion of concepts, skills, methodologies, techniques, tools and perspectives in the
textbook is supplemented by case studies such as the Rocky Mountain House Outfitters
and Reliable Pharmaceutical Service to provide experience with problem-solving
techniques and issues addressed in the textbook.
The assignments in the course reinforce the textbook materials by applying systems
analysis and design concepts, skills, methodologies, techniques, tools, and perspectives
to specific issues and subjects.
The assignments support each other: Assignments 1–5 successively refine the
requirements and design for an information system for the Car Sharing case study.
2
,Unit 0:
COMP 361 and the Web
COMP 361 uses web-based resources extensively because of the currency of the materials
posted on a multitude of academic and commercial websites. Access is organized as follows:
Supplementary readings. Websites with content relevant to specific course topics are
provided to demonstrate various viewpoints on the respective topics.
Worked examples. Additional examples of problem-solving or modelling exercises are
identified and made available to you.
Directed searches. Topic-based search strings are supplied to direct your attention to a
range of web-based resources on specific topics.
How to Proceed and How Not to Proceed
Because of the integrated nature of the treatment of the subject, you are advised to follow as
closely as possible the suggested sequence. Furthermore, you are strongly encouraged to
communicate and discuss topics with other students through blogs and discussion forums!
You are strongly discouraged from taking the assignment-oriented approach to the course, that
is, seeing the course as a collection of assignments with supporting materials. This will almost
inevitably lead to two outcomes: first, an incomplete understanding of the course materials
because the structure implicit in the materials is ignored; and second, difficulty completing the
assignments because of incomplete and/or incorrect understanding of the applicable concepts,
skills, methodologies, techniques, tools, and perspectives.
The suggested sequence assumes part-time study: that you will spend 10–15 hours per week on
the course and will take approximately 16 weeks to complete it. Students who intend to study
full time, or whose personal schedules are likely to be problematic or significantly different
from this norm, are encouraged to develop their own schedules. You should review your
schedule on a regular basis in case reorganization is required. Extensions are available should it
become apparent that six months will not be sufficient to complete the course.
Course Materials
Study Guide
The seven units of the study guide provide you with information about how and what to learn
in COMP 361. Each unit consists of a sequence of sections based on the textbook structure. It is
therefore strongly suggested that you follow the sequence. The basic components of the
sections are learning objectives. Learning objectives are used to organize the learning
3
, Unit 0:
resources from the textbook. A learning objective provides a focus for the content and
activities: it is a statement of what you should be learning in each section. Each objective
usually includes reading materials from the textbook, activities to check your understanding,
and supplementary reading materials.
Each unit and each section include a brief introduction, which provides an overview of the
unit/section. Please note that these introductions are strongly based on text from the textbook
but also include important information specifically related to COMP 361.
Each unit further includes unit activities, which are based on the exercises and case studies
provided in the textbook. The study guide points out the exercises and case study questions
you are responsible to complete. Completing these review components at the end of each unit
should be part of your approach to mastering the learning objectives. Solutions for the
problems and exercises activities and the case studies are available through each Summary and
Unit Activities section.
NOTE: Answers for Review Questions are not provided because they simply repeat the textbook
material. Use the Review Questions to organize your reading of the textbook material.
A Word about Learning Objectives
Learning objectives are used to define the preferred outcomes of studying these course
materials. If you understand the language of these learning “requirements,” you will be able to
develop the right strategies for studying and completing assignments. The language used to
express learning objectives is defined and explained in what is commonly referred to as Bloom’s
Taxonomy.
Benjamin Bloom created this taxonomy for categorizing the types of questions that commonly
occur in educational settings. The taxonomy is useful for categorizing the type of learning
expected in a course—whether cognitive (mental skills, knowledge), affective (growth in
feelings or emotional areas, attitude), or psychomotor (manual or physical skills).
You can find further information at Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains.
Textbook
Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 6th edition, by J.W. Satzinger, R.B. Jackson, and S.D. Burd.
In order to get familiar with the textbook and its features, please read “Features” on pages x–xv
and “Preface” on pages xvi–xxv.
Note: This is a digital textbook (eTextbook). Access and download it through the link on the course
home page. Because this course has transitioned from a print textbook to an eText, you may notice minor
discrepancies between the textbook page numbers referred to in the course and the page numbers in the
eTe 4
