Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course introduces the information system development process to the students. During course the students will learn about the main development frameworks (E.g. waterfall, agile) and different ways of defining the system requirements as well as modeling the data flows and their organization in an information system. After the course, the students know the basics of the main tasks in the information systems development processes. They will also understand the multidisciplinary nature of this work and how the different tasks may be orchestrated to work together. Students will also learn to apply the knowledge they have learned to real-world problems.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 08.01.2019 - 21.02.2019

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Riitta Hekkala

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Riitta Hekkala

Contact information for the course (valid 11.12.2018-21.12.2112):

Instructor’s contact information:

Riitta Hekkala; riitta.hekkala@aalto.fi

Office: G5.05 at Chydenia

Office Hours: by appointment

Instructor’s Webpage: http://people.aalto.fi/riitta_hekkala

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Must know: Software development processes: Waterfall model, iterative development models, Agile methods in software development, Determining system requirements, Data flow model(s), Object oriented analysis (OOA), Entity-relationship model, Relational model, Normalization, System architectures and data structures, and Outsourcing.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Overview: This course introduces the information system development process to the students. During course the students will learn about the main development frameworks (e.g. waterfall, agile) and different ways of defining the system requirements as well as modelling the data flows and their organisation in an information system. After the course, the students know the basics of the main tasks in the information systems development processes. They will also understand the multidisciplinary nature of this work and how the different tasks may be orchestrated to work together. Students will also learn to apply the knowledge they have learned to real-world problems.

    Learning outcomes: After the course, the students can describe the main tasks of an information systems development process. They can evaluate the pros and cons of different IS development process models. They can use the basic system development modelling techniques that are common in multi-disciplinary software projects. These contents will be concretised in the exercises.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Spring 2021:
    30% personal learning journals from
    the selected lectures (5)
    50% group work (9‐12 pages),
    20% personal presentation (video
    presentation, 4‐7min)

    Spring 2022:

    80% Exam
    20% assignments/ a project work in 2-3 person groups (Grading follows Bachelor's Capstone Evaluation Rubric).

     

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Grading: Assignments (20% assignments/ a project work in 2-3 person groups; Grading follows Bachelor's Capstone Evaluation Rubric). + exam (80%). Each assignment will be graded, and 5/5 must be passed. 

    In order to pass the course, the student must have a minimum of 50% points from the exam to pass the course. Maximum score from the exam is 30/30 points.


Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Spring 2021:

    Lectures
    personal learning journals/diaries (5) + a personal
    video presentation
    a group‐work/ essay

    Spring 2022:

    Lectures 24h (Obligatory classroom presence)
    - Exercise lectures 12h (Obligatory classroom presence)
    - Assignments 76h (e.g. case studies; a project work)
    - Exam preparation 44h
    - Exam 4h
    - Total 160h (6 ECTS)

  • Applies in this implementation:

    - Lectures: 22h - participation is optional

    - Exercise lectures: 10h - participation is optional

    - Assignments: 78h (e.g. case studies; a project work)

    - Exam preparation: 44h

    - Exam: 4h

    - Total 160h (6 ECTS)

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Avison, D. and Fitzgerald, G.: Information systems development. Methodologies, techniques & tools., 2006

    Hoffer, J.A., George, J.F. ja Valacich, J.S., Modern Systems Analysis and Design, 4. edition, 2005; 5. edition 2008; Pearson Prentice-Hall.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Avison, D. and Fitzgerald, G.: Information systems development. Methodologies, techniques & tools., 2006

    Hoffer, J.A., George, J.F. ja Valacich, J.S., Modern Systems Analysis and Design, 4. edition, 2005; 5. edition 2008; Pearson Prentice-Hall.

Registration for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Via WebOodi

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Assignments:

    There are five assignments that reflect the contents of the lectures.

    1. The teacher will provide the necessary instructional content for the exercises in advance through the MyCourses page.

    2. The exercises are completed, in teams of 2 or 3 people, outside of the teaching hours. Teams cannot be changed during the course.

    3. The exercise lectures on Thursdays are intended for clarifications and advice. The groups deliver their assignments electronically through MyCourses.

    Timing of each assignment:

    • The teacher will publish the weekly assignments on Tuesdays. The instructional material may be available already earlier.

    • Exercise lecture on Thursday is for those who want to ask for advice and clarifications.

    • Assignment must be returned electronically as a PDF document on Sunday 23:59.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    The tentative schedule of this course: 

     

    Session

    Date

    Topic

    Readings

    Assignment Due Date

    Lecture 1

    10 Jan 2019

    Introduction & Organization of the course

     

     

    Lecture 2

    15 Jan 2019

    Software engineering processes: Waterfall model and iterative development models/LEAN/TEAL 

    Hoffer et al. ch. 1 & Avison et al. ch. 3

     

    Lecture 3

    17 Jan 2019

    Determining system requirements/ Use Cases

    Hoffer et al. ch. 6 and p. 225–9

     

    Exercise lecture 1

    17 Jan 2019

    Use Cases

    Will be published 15 Jan at latest

    20 Jan 2019

    Lecture 4

    22 Jan 2019

    Object oriented analysis (OOA)            

    Data flows: Hoffer et al. ch 7; OOA: Avison et al. ch. 13 & 22

     

    Lecture 5

    24 Jan 2019

    Understanding obstacles in enterprise architecture development

    TBA

     

    Exercise lecture 2

    24 Jan 2019

    Object oriented-based architecture

    Will be published 22 Jan at latest

    27 Jan 2019

    Lecture 6

    29 Jan 2019

    Entity-relationship (ER) model

    Hoffer et al. ch. 9

     

    Lecture 7

    31 Jan 2019

    Working as a software developer in an ISD project 

    TBA

     

    Exercise lecture 3

    31 Jan 2019

    ER-model

    Will be published 29 Jan at latest

    3 Feb 2019

    Lecture 8

    5 Feb 2019

    Relational model + Normalization

    Hoffer et al. ch. 10

     

    Lecture 9

    7 Feb 2019

    Alternative approaches to ‘data federation’ and their theoretical basis 

    TBA

     

    Exercise

    lecture 4

     

    7 Feb 2019

    From ER-model to relational

    model / Normalization

     

    Will be published

    5 Feb at latest

    10 Feb 2019

    Lecture 10

    12 Feb 2019

    A case study on software development processes 

    TBA

     

    Lecture 11

    14 Feb 2019

    Agile way of working in an information system project + Final notes

    Avison et al. ch. 7 & Hoffer et al. ch. 13 (p. 456–458)

     

    Exercise lecture 5

    14 Feb 2019

    Planning an information system development project

    Will be published 12 Feb at latest

    17 Feb 2018