Systems Analysis for Business (U30209) 2021 session

Systems Analysis for Business (U30209) 2021 session

Coursework assignment (100% weighting)

 

Word count: 2500 words, +/- 10%

Moodle (Turnitin) submission

File name format: <Student number>- SAB-coursework

Submission date: 5pm, Friday 28^th May

 

Associated learning outcomes

Investigate, analyze and review methodologies relating to Information Systems Analysis and Design.

Compare, contrast, evaluate, and select appropriate approaches for developing Information Systems.

Develop a strategic understanding of systems analysis in modern organizations.

 

Specification

Critically discuss what you have learned from this module which will be useful to help frame your approach to an MSc project topic, and why.

This coursework is about applying the systems thinking you have learned on this module to a particular subject area.  Think about a subject area that either (a) you are doing an MSc project in or (b) that you could do a project in.

Task 1: Give the title of your idea.  Explain the scope and purpose of your idea.

Task 2: From each of the four topics presented on Moodle:

●        Stakeholders and perspectives

●        Knowledge management

●        Systems thinking

●        Information systems

Identify one source (article) from each of the four topics within the Moodle resources provided which is particularly interesting to you, and applicable to your MSc project topic.

Cite example statements from these sources (author, year, page number). 

Explain what is interesting and/or useful about each statement, from the point of view of your project topic. You should also indicate why the statement is/would be interesting and relevant for your project topic. 

Note that you should comment on how the different topics we have covered in the module will help you develop a strategic understanding of your MSc project topic. This work may eventually be included as an appendix for your MSc project and should be shared with your project supervisor.

There will be the opportunity for formative feedback on your drafts, and examples of project topics and good work will be put onto Moodle.

Plagiarism and referencing

It is your responsibility to understand the concept of plagiarism and poor scholarship.  You are required to read and think for yourself, and to avoid a copy-paste approach.  Please accurately reference your work using the APA format.
See http://www.referencing.port.ac.uk/apa/index.html for details. 

It is recommended that you use a bibliographic software tool to support your work, such as EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley. 

 

Grammar and spelling

Correct UK English grammar and spelling are expected in critical essay writing. You will be marked down on Structure and Presentation if your grammar and spelling are deficient. You may be marked down in other sections if poor language usage makes your meaning or argument difficult to follow. 

Anonymity

All coursework must be anonymous. You must not put your name on your work. Work should only be identified by your student ID number in the document (see above instructions about file name format). 

Marking and feedback

Marks and feedback will be given to students within twenty working days of the submission date. 

 

 

Marking criteria (based on University grade criteria)

Mark range %	Criteria
80-89	As below plus: ●        Excellent workable to express an original reasoned argument lucidly by reviewing and critiquing a wide range of material.  Original, critical thinking based on outstanding insight, knowledge, and understanding of the material. ●        Wide-reaching research showing breadth and depth of sources.
70-79
60-69	As below plus: ●        Clear, balanced, coherent, critical, and rigorous analysis of the subject matter. Detailed understanding of knowledge and theory expressed with clarity. ●        Extensive use of relevant and current literature to view the topic in perspective, analyze content and develop new explanations and ideas.
50-59	As below plus: ●        Detailed review and grasp of pertinent issues and a critical contextual overview of the literature. Thorough knowledge of theory and methods and uses this to underpin arguments and conclusions. ●        Confidence in understanding and using literature.
40-49	●        Demonstrates grasp of key concepts and an ability to develop and support an argument in a predominantly descriptive way with valid conclusions drawn from the research. ●        Familiarity with key literature which is cited and presented according to convention. ●        Logical and clear structure, well organized with good use of language and supporting material.
30-39	FAIL – Some knowledge of relevant concepts and literature but significant gaps in understanding and / or knowledge. Little attempt at evaluation, conclusions vague, ambiguous, and not based on researched material. Limited or inappropriate research. Deficits in length, structure, presentation, and/or prose.
20-29

  

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Systems Analysis for Business

 Systems Analysis for Business (U30209) 2021 session

Coursework assignment (100% weighting)

 

 

Word count: 2500 words, +/- 10%

Moodle (Turnitin) submission

File name format: <Student number>- SAB-coursework

Submission date: 5pm, Friday 28^th May

 

Associated learning outcomes

Investigate, analyze and review methodologies relating to Information Systems Analysis and Design.

Compare, contrast, evaluate, and select appropriate approaches for developing Information Systems.

Develop a strategic understanding of systems analysis in modern organizations.

 

Specification

Critically discuss what you have learned from this module which will be useful to help frame your approach to an MSc project topic, and why.

This coursework is about applying the systems thinking you have learned on this module to a particular subject area.  Think about a subject area that either (a) you are doing an MSc project in or (b) that you could do a project in.

Task 1: Give the title of your idea.  Explain the scope and purpose of your idea.

Task 2: From each of the four topics presented on Moodle:

●        Stakeholders and perspectives

●        Knowledge management

●        Systems thinking

●        Information systems

Identify one source (article) from each of the four topics within the Moodle resources provided which is particularly interesting to you, and applicable to your MSc project topic.

Cite example statements from these sources (author, year, page number). 

Explain what is interesting and/or useful about each statement, from the point of view of your project topic. You should also indicate why the statement is/would be interesting and relevant for your project topic. 

Note that you should comment on how the different topics we have covered in the module will help you develop a strategic understanding of your MSc project topic. This work may eventually be included as an appendix for your MSc project and should be shared with your project supervisor.

There will be the opportunity for formative feedback on your drafts, and examples of project topics and good work will be put onto Moodle.

Plagiarism and referencing

It is your responsibility to understand the concept of plagiarism and poor scholarship.  You are required to read and think for yourself, and to avoid a copy-paste approach.  Please accurately reference your work using the APA format.
See http://www.referencing.port.ac.uk/apa/index.html for details. 

It is recommended that you use a bibliographic software tool to support your work, such as EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley. 

 

Grammar and spelling

Correct UK English grammar and spelling are expected in critical essay writing. You will be marked down on Structure and Presentation if your grammar and spelling are deficient. You may be marked down in other sections if poor language usage makes your meaning or argument difficult to follow. 

Anonymity

All coursework must be anonymous. You must not put your name on your work. Work should only be identified by your student ID number in the document (see above instructions about file name format). 

Marking and feedback

Marks and feedback will be given to students within twenty working days of the submission date. 

 

 

Marking criteria (based on university grade criteria)

Mark range %	Criteria
80-89	As below plus: ●        Excellent workable to express an original reasoned argument in a lucid manner by reviewing and critiquing a wide range of materials.  Original, critical thinking based on outstanding insight, knowledge and understanding of the material. ●        Wide-reaching research showing breadth and depth of sources.
70-79
60-69	As below plus: ●        Clear, balanced, coherent, critical, and rigorous analysis of the subject matter. Detailed understanding of knowledge and theory expressed with clarity. ●        Extensive use of relevant and current literature to view the topic in perspective,  analyze content and develop new explanations and ideas.
50-59	As below plus: ●        Detailed review and grasp of pertinent issues and a critical contextual overview of the  literature. Thorough knowledge of theory and methods and uses this to underpin  arguments and conclusions. ●        Confidence in understanding and using literature.
40-49	●        Demonstrates grasp of key concepts and an ability to develop and support an the argument in a predominantly descriptive way with valid conclusions drawn from the research. ●        Familiarity with key literature which is cited and presented according to convention. ●        Logical and clear structure, well organized with good use of language and supporting material.
30-39	FAIL – Some knowledge of relevant concepts and literature but significant gaps in understanding and/or knowledge. Little attempt at evaluation, conclusions vague, ambiguous, and not based on researched material. Limited or inappropriate research. Deficits in length, structure, presentation, and/or prose.
20-29

 

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What are the Plagiarism Checker and Grammar Checker Tools?

 

 

We often believed that if we use content from someone else's journal and paraphrase it, it will pass easily through the plagiarism checker tool. However, taking someone else's content without providing the well-deserved credits to the author- is considered cheating. Many institutes have strict laws made for this. The papers get cancelled, and the students get expulsed for this behaviour. The degrees of strictness varies. 

Not just students, but also the people who write professionally, are on the higher risk of losing more than only the grades if they plagiarise. Their entire career, the reputation, is harmed.

Although, grammar checker works the best when one wants to know their grammatical errors. When it comes to writing professionally, overlooking grammatical errors is something that one can't do. The entire essay can go from looking professional to amateur just because of the grammar alone. There are multiple tools out there that make our working life a little easier; the user should also note that unethically using these tools can cause more harm than required. For example, using paraphrasing tool to make someone else's work pass as yours, is an unethical example of using the paraphrasing tool. 

 

How does Plagiarism and Grammar checker work?

 

1: Plagiarism checker works by identifying the similar texts available on the web and compares them to the file or text submitted. 

2: It then shows the similar texts found in one's work that are available elsewhere on the web too. 

3: Plagiarism checker analyses works of other authors to verify the content that is submitted and checks how much of the work is taken from others. It then generates a report to show if the work has been appropriately cited or not, and how much of the work is produced by one's idea. 

4: Grammar checker is a program that checks all the grammatical errors in the text or file that is submitted. It works by highlighting the text that has a grammatical error in it. It also provides with suggestions of the words and punctuation marks that one can use instead. 

5: When there is a time limit, and one does not have the chance of going over their reports to check errors, grammar checker comes handy and makes it convenient for the user to find out all the mistakes in a short amount of time. 

 

Why should you use Plagiarism Checker and Grammar Checker?

 

Both these tools are used to enhance the quality of the work that one is submitting. With plagiarism checker, one can easily find out the content that is not appropriately cited or is stolen from other authors. Grammar checker, on the other hand, finds out all the grammatical errors present in a report. 

It is essential to use both these tools as they are easy to use and understand- making it convenient for the user to find out their mistakes in a short time. With the time constraints on academic writers or students, it becomes hard to keep track of all the errors in a document. 

 

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Using Citation Generators Wisely

While citation generators are a relatively new tool for writers, it has revolutionized writing. Painstakingly documenting every source used for a research paper is an unsurmountable task and often took up large chunks of time that could have been used to research more efficiently. Moreover, citing sources in different formats is taxing. You have to remember the rules of every form separately and apply them without error. Citation generators have made the work much more convenient for us. Merely adding the article's link cited on a citation generator and selecting the citation format will generate a citation for you in only seconds. Whether online or on MS-word, a citation generator can create the whole bibliography with just a few clicks, a task that used to take ages.

Citation generators are efficient and powerful and have altered how we write so dramatically that we educate ourselves about using them. Used carefully, with discretion, it makes writing more manageable and less tedious; however, used carelessly, it can use systematic errors that may pass unnoticed.

 

How Do Citation Generators Work?

Citation generators are programs that turn information about a source into a citation that you can use. Most citation generators work following a similar process:

1.            The generator receives information about a source from you. The generator can obtain information in two ways:

a.            Information about the source typed in by you

b.            A URL is copied and pasted by you from which the citation generator retrieves the sources itself.

2.            The generator processes this information according to the settings you specify.

3.            The generator produces a citation (or set of citations) that you can use.

Source: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_citation_machines_responsibly.html

 

 

How to use Citation Generators properly?

You may ensure that you are using a citation generator correctly in the following ways:

 

1.       Make sure to provide accurate information.

No citation generator can function correctly despite user errors, therefore if you input incorrect information into a citation generator you will receive an incorrect citation. The citation generator cannot bypass your errors, therefore make sure you input the information correctly.

 

2.       Spell the author's name correctly. Subtle things like capitalization and punctuation can also matter.

 

3.       Make sure you designate the correct medium, version, and edition for each source.

Citation generators can't judge whether the information they receive about a source "makes sense." They can't tell, for instance, if you're accidentally citing an academic journal article as a magazine article (and thus likely leaving out important information like volume number). Therefore, to avoid unnecessary confusion, double-check that you've indicated precisely the source you're using (and not a source that's "close, but no cigar").

 

 

4.       Make sure to use reputable, accurate sources.

Citation generators work with the sources you give them. They can't evaluate whether those sources are right or not. To avoid this, be sure to assess whether each source you use is accurate, reputed, and unbiased. Make sure:

•             Your source is source peer-reviewed.

•             You are using a primary source (i.e., directly from the person providing the information, if it is a secondary source, make sure the author is referencing primary sources when possible.

•             Judge whether the source comes from an organization with a vested interest in having an unbiased, authoritative reputation.

•             The source references clear, unambiguous evidence. This evidence well-documented (for instance, in a bibliography).

•             The source acknowledges a range of viewpoints even as it makes its argument.

•             The source does not use emotionally-charged language or make broad generalizations.

•       The source does not come from a lone individual, particularly an individual without a reputation for careful, objective, or well-reasoned claims (or a motivation to preserve that reputation).

•             The source is commercially sponsored. Does the sponsor have a vested interest in the audience's perception of the source's topic?

5.       Double-check the citation you receive against a reference.

After you've finished inputting information and you've received a citation, resist the urge to copy and paste the source into your document without first doing a quick check for accuracy.

•             Pay particular attention to the way the generator has handled capitalization and formatting.

o             Note, for instance, that there are different rules for capitalizing titles in MLA and APA styles.

o             Note also that different types handle numbering differently. For example, some require page ranges to include all numbers in the start and end pages (e.g., 267-268). Others allow the omission of redundant numbers(e.g., 267-8).

•             If you couldn't find any information (e.g.,  date), check to ensure that the information has been left out and not rendered as a generic placeholder (e.g., "[DATE]").

6.       Make sure you cite each source in the text in a way that makes sense.

Remember that bibliographies are not the end of the story when it comes to citations. You should also use citations in the text when you borrow information from a source.

•             Here is an example. Suppose you would like to cite a chapter by the author Jane Smith. You input the source's bibliographic information into the citation generator; you indicate that you're using APA style, and you get the following in-text citation:

o             (Smith, 2015, pp. 122-128)

•             Now, you want to use this citation in the text, so you copy and paste it into a sentence where you're borrowing from Smith's source:

o             According to Smith, the world's first pies were developed by the ancient Egyptians (Smith, 2015, pp. 122-128), while later innovations were spearheaded by the Macedonians (Smith, 2015, pp. 122-128).

•             The uncritical copying and pasting you've just done have led you to make a few mistakes in your citation. When you provide the author's name in a signal phrase (like "According to Smith…"), you usually should not give it again in the parenthetical. You also should not provide a source's date multiple times in the same sentence. Finally, you should not provide vague page ranges when it's possible to pinpoint precisely where you found the information you're borrowing. The citation generator cannot judge the context of the sentence you're using the citation in, so it can't tell you to do any of these things. A much more sensible approach would look like this:

·                     According to Smith (2015), the world's first pies were developed by the ancient Egyptians (p. 123), while later innovations were spearheaded by the Macedonians (p. 127).

 

Common Errors in Citations from Citation Generators

While these are useful tools to get started with your citations, it is vital to check that these are correct as none of them are always 100% accurate.  Common errors found in citations from these generators include:

1.            Mis-capitalization of information

2.            Can be either over or under capitalizing

3.            Citing a source as the wrong type of source

4.            Many sources get cited as webpages when they are not. For example, you may find newspapers through the internet, but they are still newspapers, not webpages

5.            Leaving out information

6.            Inclusion of information that is unnecessary

For example,

Including newspaper, date ranges from library databases as part of the newspaper title, ex: New York Times (1851-2012)

When both a publisher and name for a website are required, putting the same name twice, ex: WebMD, WebMD.com

If no named author, creating a name, ex: Reporters, Telegraph 

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Advanced Research topics in Computer Science

 Section A: Assignment title, important dates and weighting

Section B: Student(s) to complete

Notes for students

·         For undergraduate modules, a score above 40% represent a pass performance at honours level.

·         For postgraduate modules, a score of 50% or above represents a pass mark.

·         Late submission of any item of coursework for each day or part thereof (or for hard copy submission only, working day or part thereof) for up to five days after the published deadline, coursework relating to modules at Levels 3, 4, 5, 6 submitted late (including deferred coursework, but with the exception of referred coursework), will have the numeric grade reduced by 10 grade points until or unless the numeric grade reaches or is 40. Where the numeric grade awarded for the assessment is less than 40, no lateness penalty will be applied.

·         Late submission of referred coursework will automatically be awarded a grade of zero (0).

·         Coursework (including deferred coursework) submitted later than five days (five working days in the case of hard copy submission) after the published deadline will be awarded a grade of zero (0).

·         Regulations governing assessment offences including Plagiarism and Collusion are available from https://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/governance/university-policies-and-regulations-uprs/uprs (please refer to UPR AS14)

·         Guidance on avoiding plagiarism can be found here: https://herts.instructure.com/courses/61421/pages/referencing-avoiding- plagiarism?module_item_id=779436

·         Modules may have several components of assessment and may require a pass in all elements. For further details, please consult the relevant Module Handbook (available on Studynet/Canvas, under Module Information) or ask the Module Leader.

Assignment Briefing Sheet (2020/21 Academic Year)

This Assignment assesses the following module Learning Outcomes (from Definitive Module Document):

Knowledge and understanding:

LO1 Have a conceptual understanding of how established techniques of research are used to create and extend existing knowledge in computer science.

LO2 Be able to identify a research problem from synthesizing problem definitions from relevant literature.

LO3 Demonstrate originality in proposing alternative solutions within a chosen area.

 

Skills and attributes

LO4 Critically evaluate research literature and identify research problems to solve

LO5 Demonstrate ability to propose alternative approaches for future work in a chosen area. LO6 Communicate research knowledge effectively in scholarly manner.

 

Aim: To provide exposure to research areas in Computer Science drawn from the Department’s research profile in order to provide preparatory ground for students to pursue a deeper investigation of a research topic as part of their Master’s project.

Assignment Brief:

 

Research is not just for academics, governments and commercial/industrial organisations typically have a research units where teams of research and subject experts work systematically to create new knowledge/products/services and/or the use of existing knowledge/products/services in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and creative outcomes. Research encompasses pure and strategic basic research, applied research and experimental development. Applied research is original investigation undertaken to acquire new knowledge but directed towards a specific, practical aim or objective.

 

Assume that you have been newly appointed as a research assistant of a university/a large organisation with many research groups who are working on different research projects, are working along with you. During your probation period, your line manager has asked you to attend the company’s weekly research talks and prepare a portfolio, demonstrating that you have achieved the learning outcomes of your Advanced Research topics in Computer Science successfully and you are indeed, ready to join a British research team that produce world leading research outcomes.

 

Portfolio is an individual assessment comprised of 2 parts. Task 1 and Task 2 will carry 40, and 60% marks of the overall module mark, respectively. You will be awarded a preliminary mark out of 100% for both Task 1 and Task 2, and the weighting will be done as part of the portfolio.

 

During the online follow-up tutorial sessions, the module team will provide general feedback and advice regarding your progress. You will also have the opportunity to submit a draft copy of Task 1 for feedback as indicated in the module guide.

Your portfolio should include (in one document, structured appropriately) following;

Task 1:

a.       A review report on your own research area (relevant to your own MSc route)

b.       Self-reflection 1: using the guidelines received in Week 2 tutorial.

 

 

Task 2:

a.       A review report on another distinct topic covered in the lectures in the subject areas below.

As part of your tutorial work you are preparing these short reports on each topic with the support of your tutors. Where a topic seems quite broad, you can choose an aspect of it. The module will include 4-5 research talks by active researchers in UH on their subject areas ;

i.             Networks, Security and Systems

ii.             Human Oriented Computing

iii.             Data Science

iv.            AI & Robotics

v.            Software Engineering

b.       Self-reflection 2: using the guidelines received in Week 10 revision session.

 

 

The report structure and the marking and feedback schemes and grade band descriptors are given in Annex ‘A’.

All work should be supported by a Title page showing the Module code, your name student number, MSc route and the words “Portfolio Coursework”, citations and adequate references (including approximately 15 high quality references) and appendices where required.

Submission Requirements: The complete portfolio in a single document in PDF format should be uploaded to the canvas site for this module. The document should be named to reflect your tutorial group A#, student# and first name and surname as appears in the UH student records (example A01 123456 Deepthi Ratnayake).

 

Marks awarded for:

This assignment is worth 100 % of the overall assessment for this module. A note to the Students: a score of 50% or above represents a pass mark.

Type of Feedback to be given for this assignment:

Formative verbal/written feedback will be given for the portfolio milestone reports through canvas and during the scheduled sessions as per the module delivery plan. Individual summative feedback will be given through canvas for the final submission. The assignment will be marked according to the attached marking scheme as such you should address each of the marking components within your assignment.

 

Every week, review & reflection questions related to the assessment activities will be posted on StudyNet. These questions will help you to reflect on the activities you will be undertaking as part of the assessed work for the module. Self-assessing your work as you progress through the module and help you understand the subject better. Feedback is not just the marks and the commentary at the end of the module – it is also the regular advice about your work as you undertake the practical activities. If you fail to undertake the tutorial activities and you fail to engage with the class and with the instructors, you will disadvantage yourself.

Annex A

Proposed report sub-headings and marking scheme

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