Course Title: Gather data to identify business requirements

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2015

Course Code: COSC6108C

Course Title: Gather data to identify business requirements

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5300 - Diploma of Information Technology

Course Contact : Chandra Nannegari

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1657

Course Contact Email:chandra.nannegari@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Paul Lewis                                  +61 3 9925 1615                       paul.lewis@rmit.edu.au
 

Nominal Hours: 30

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify, analyse and document business requirements.  Students will work in teams to design a small business database, and then test their design in a modern database management system (DBMS).

This unit is delivered using a blend of classroom based and self-paced learning activities.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICAICT509A Gather data to identify business requirements

Element:

1. Identify key information sources

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify information repositories across the business
1.2 Review current organisational documentation
1.3 Develop critical questions to elicit information from key stakeholders using
a mixture of open and closed questions

Element:

2. Gather data

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Use a wide range of information-gathering techniques
2.2 Review reports and other data sources for business information
2.3 Confirm business-critical factors relating to current and future directions of
the organisation with stakeholders

Element:

3. Prepare data analysis for review

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Analyse group and individual responses to clearly define business priorities
3.2 Document data analysis for review according to organisational standards


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

Learning activities will include laboratory-based sessions on a variety of topics as shown in the weekly breakdown.  Learning activities will generally consist of practical computer exercises based on teacher handouts.  Students should attend all sessions.

Students will also be expected to undertake work on a small database project and other activities for homework.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.

We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.

 


Teaching Schedule

The Teaching Schedule for this course is as follows:

Please note that this course, ICAICT509A - Gather data to identify business requirements, is co-delivered and co-assessed holistically along with ICADBS502A - Design a database.

Induction Session

Prior to training commencement a program level induction session will be conducted that comprises the following:

  • Program overview and requirements
  • MyRMIT/Blackboard
  • Overview of assessment requirements
  • Pre-Training Review including:
    • Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfers
    • Assessment of current skills and knowledge
  • Competency/Grading Criteria
  • Plagiarism
  • Appeals
  • Extensions
  • Feedback
  • Privacy
  • Submission requirements
  • Resubmission policy
  • Where to get support
  • Student responsibilities

The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course.  This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities. 

Week Week Commencing Topics Assessment Competencies Delivered 
1 6th Jul 2015

Introduction to the course including:
•  Course requirements
•  Course support documents
•  Course Blackboard access
•  Accuracy of enrolment
•  Assessment requirements/Cover Sheets
•  Reminder re Plagiarism
•  Reminder re Appeals
•  Extensions/Resubmissions
•  Feedback in this courser
•  Reminder re submission requirements
•  Getting help

Introduction to data analysis & DB design
•  Course introduction & overview. Relational database concepts.
•  Introduction to Access. Web forms & data entry. 2-table relationships

 

ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A 
2 13th Jul 2015 Key sources of data. Business rules.
Basic ERDs. 1:M relationships & foreign keys

Project Specifications issued.
Project Teams selected

 
3 20th Jul 2015 Business documents & business rules.
More on ERDs: M:N relationships & bridging tables
  ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
4 27th Jul 2015 Gathering data. Referential integrity.
Building up complex ERDs
ASSESSMENT 1 - DATABASE PROPOSAL due ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
5 3rd Aug 2015

Developing questions. Conceptual, logical & physical models.
Forms & sub-forms

  ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
6 10th Aug 2015

Analysing data. Suitable data types.
Redundancy, dependencies & normalisation

ASSESSMENT 1 - Individual Design Draft due ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
7 17th Aug 2015

SQL Server tables, logins & database roles.
Database requirements & design improvements.

  ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
8 24th Aug 2015

Data integrity & data validation.
Groupable data. Forms & reports

ASSESSMENT 1 - Individual Design Update due

ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
MID-SEMESTER BREAK (Mon 31st Aug to Fri 4th Sep 2015 inclusive)  
9 7th Sep 2015

Review of data validation etc.
Security & permissions in SQL Server.

  ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
10 14th Sep 2015

Review of normalisation.
Class work on project & documentation

ASSESSMENT 1 - Team Design Part 1 due ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
11 21st Sep 2015

Backup & restore procedures in SQL Server
Review of client requirements. Data dictionaries

  ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
12 28th Sep 2015

Reports with grouped data
Format of security & backup plans

ASSESSMENT 1 - DATABASE DESIGN due ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
13 5th Oct 2015 Class work on project & documentation.
Revision for Skills Review
  ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
14 12th Oct 2015

Skills Review conducted
Final class work on project & documentation.

ASSESSMENT 2 - Skills Review ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
15 19th Oct 2015

Project submission & demonstrations

ASSESSMENT 1 - DATABASE IMPLEMENTATION due ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A
 16 26th Oct 2015

Re-submission of work if required.
Course & assessment feedback

  ICADBS502A
ICAICT509A

You will receive feedback two weeks from the due date of each task. If required, resubmissions are due by the end of the following week.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There is no prescribed textbook for this course.  However presentations and handouts given out in class should be quite useful.


References

Pratt, P & Last, Z (2014), Concepts of Database Management, 8th edn, Cengage Learning,
ISBN-13: 978-1285427102

This is a good introductory level text suitable for this course.  Older editions of this text are also useful, and a number of copies are available from the RMIT Library.

Stephens, R (2009), Beginning Database Design Solutions, Wiley, Print ISBN: 978-0-470-38549-4

Although from 2009, this text is pitched at a good introductory level, and is available free of charge as an e-book via the RMIT Library Website.


Other Resources

Students may also refer to various Websites as indicated their teacher.


Overview of Assessment

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.

A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example:

  • direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
  • review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
  • demonstration of techniques

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.


Assessment Tasks

Please note that this course, ICAICT509A - Gather data to identify business requirements, is co-delivered and co-assessed holistically along with ICADBS502A - Design a database.

Critical aspects of assessment

Evidence of the ability to:

  • document business requirements based on business strategy and current and future directions
  • facilitate client stakeholders to reach a consensus position
  • design a well-structured database that represents the client’s business reality and provides the user with a productive business tool

You are required to complete 2 assessments.  You must successfully complete all sections of each assessment task to be deemed competent in this unit.

NOTE: Details about specific tasks and assessment criteria will be included in the Cover Sheet(s) for each task.


ASSESSMENT 1 - Database Project

For this assessment task you will be asked to plan and develop a small business database for an on-line business from scratch in consultation with key stakeholders.  You will first need to identify information sources, gather data and confirm key client database requirements.  You will work in a team to manage this project efficiently.

In order to be deemed competent in this task you will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas including the following key areas: 

  • Skills in gathering and analysing data to determine requirements
  • Ability to produce ERDs for a wide variety of scenarios
  • Ability to create Access data structures to test your designs
  • Ability to normalise your tables to store data effectively
  • Ability to create objects such as forms and reports
  • Documentation of security and recovery procedures

Work for each stage of the project (outlined below) should be submitted on the due date, as per the Teaching Schedule.  You will be expected to submit and retain soft copies of any documents required. In some cases printouts may be required.


DATABASE PROPOSAL
(Team Submission) - Due Week 4

Initial draft of proposal outlining details elicited by questioning client including:

  • Area of business operations, as well as purpose & scope of database project
  • Key business processes such sales, ordering & stock control
  • Technical constraints including hardware & software e.g. DBMS
  • Any key business rules & particular design requirements
  • Any issues requiring further clarification from key stakeholders (further questions)
  • Outline of deliverables & timeline for project stages, including simple Gantt chart
  • Team member responsibilities & communication plan
  • Sample business documents e.g. forms & reports from current system


DATABASE DESIGN
(Individual & Team Components) - Due Week 12

  • Individual Design Draft - Due Week 6
    • First draft of ERD (with cardinalities) created in VISIO with Access Relationships
       
  • Individual Design Update - Due Week 8
    • Updated ERD & Access Relationships (for client confirmation after normalisation)
    • Some sample data inserted into tables in Access
       
  • Team Design Part 1 - Due Week 10
    • ERD and Relationships for whole group (final conceptual & logical models)
    • Data structures implemented eg. keys, constraints, indexes & validation rules
       
  • Team Design Part 2 - Due Week 12
    • Data dictionary & business rules finalised (physical model)
    • Client requirements validated. Questions on client requirements


DATABASE IMPLEMENTATION
(Individual & Team Components) - Due week 15

  • Final version of database with sample data entered as required
  • Queries, forms and reports as specified (Individual Submission)
  • Final project documentation including security, backup & recovery procedures

Students will receive feedback or confirmation at each stage in relation to client requirements.  In many cases changes or modifications will be required. It is therefore vital that any design documentation and other work required for each stage be submitted in a timely manner.

Late submissions of work required for any stage of this project will be eligible for grading at CAG (Competency Achieved) level only

General Points

  • All documents are to be presented in portfolio form ie. a folder of documents submitted on Blackboard
  • Each document should include a header (eg. with the name of the document and team members’ names) and a footer (eg. with the date and page number).
  • All team members must sign the assessment cover sheet(s).
  • Soft copies are to be retained by all team members as backups. Google Docs is preferred.
  • RMIT academic discipline procedures will apply in cases of plagiarism. Students should use Turnitin to avoid plagiarism.



ASSESSMENT 2 – Skills Review  (Conducted in Week 14)

For this assessment task you will be asked to analyse data models and design data structures, forms and reports for some simple scenarios. You will be able to review and verify your designs on your computer with reference to Web and other resources, including DBMS software.

You will also be questioned on the information sources (e.g. key documents & questions) as well as techniques used in gathering data, such as reviewing reports. You will also need to be able to analyse simple data to in order to confirm database requirements.

Some knowledge of security and data recovery concepts and procedures will also be required.

To be deemed competent in this task you will be expected to demonstrate your knowledge of the skills and concepts covered in all sections of the course.
 


Assessment Matrix

The Assessment Matrix that maps all assessments to the critical aspects of evidence, skills, knowledge and elements is available from the teacher.

Other Information

Submission Requirements

Assessment tasks need to be submitted via the Learning Hub (Blackboard).

You should:

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. 
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks (hard copy and soft copy).
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.  You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work.  On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work.  An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on Blackboard. 
  • Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.  For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.


Late Submission Procedures

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

More information:  http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension

Form to use:  http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.  Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.

More Information:  http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w

Form to use:  http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
 


Resubmissions (VET Programs)

If you are found to be unsuccessful in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission.  The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is "CAG".

If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course.  Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.


Adjustments to Assessment

In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment.  For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following Website:

More Information:  http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31


Marking Guide (Competency)

You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.

You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.


Marking Guide (Grading)

After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:

Final Grades Table:

CHD     Competent with High Distinction
CDI      Competent with Distinction
CC       Competent with Credit
CAG     Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC     Not Yet Competent
DNS     Did Not Submit for assessment

Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview