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Introduction to Module 4
Introduction to ICT theory, expectations, structure of year, interim exam week(s).

13.1 - Organisational Structure

• Understand the basic concepts of organisational structure as they impact on/affect ICT systems.

AQA Textbook Chapter 1 (pgs1-7)
PP presentation - 13.1 Organisational Structure
Notes from presentation/textbook
General discussion

13.2 - Information Systems and Organisations

• Understand the difference between an information system and a data processing system.
• Understand the role and relevance of an information system in aiding decision making.

AQA Textbook Chapter 2 (pgs8-10)
PP presentation 13.2 - Info Systems and Organisations
Notes from presentation/textbook
Activity 1 (pg 9)
General discussion

13.2 - Definition of a MIS

• Recall that an MIS is a system to convert data from internal and external sources into information.  This is communicated in an appropriate form to managers at different levels, enabling them to make effective decisions for planning, directing and controlling activities for which they are responsible.

AQA Textbook Chapter 2 (pgs10-15)
PP presentation 13.2 - MIS (slides 2-6)
Notes from presentation/textbook
Activities 2 & 3 (pgs12-13) Case Study (pg 15)
General discussion

13.2 - Success or Failure of a MIS

• Understand the factors influencing the success/failure of a MIS.  (See specification for factors)

AQA Textbook Chapter 2 (pgs15-19)
PP presentation 13.2 - MIS (slide 7)
Notes from presentation/textbook
Case Study (pg 18)
Mindmap Exercise - Success of Failure of a  MIS
General discussion

• Recognise the existence of formal methods, the need for clear time scales, agreed deliverables and approval to proceed.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 3 (pgs21-30)
PP presentation 13.2 - Systems Life Cycle
Notes from presentation/textbook
Case Studies 1 & 2 (pg 22), 3 & 4 (pgs 26-27)
Mindmap Exercise – The development and life cycle of an info system
General discussion

13.3 - Corporate Information Systems Strategy

• Describe factors influencing an information system within an organisation.  (See specification for factors)

AQA Textbook – Chapter 4 (pgs31-33)
PP presentation – 13.3 Corp Info Systems Strategy
Notes from presentation/textbook
Mindmap Exercise – Factors influencing an info sys strategy
General discussion

Worksheet – 13.3 Corp Info Sys Strategy (Hmk)

13.3 – Information Flow

• Describe methods and mechanisms of information flow within an organisation, both formal and informal, and the constraints imposed upon that flow by organisational structures.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 4 (pgs33-36)
PP presentation – 13.3 Information & Personnel
Notes from presentation/textbook
General discussion

13.3 – Personnel

• Understand the levels of task/personnel within an organisation:
• Strategic, Tactical, Operational
• Relate the needs of these three levels to the information system.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 4 (pgs36-37)
PP presentation – 13.3 Information & Personnel
Notes from presentation/textbook – Activity 1 (pg 37) – Case Study 1 (pg 38)
General discussion

Exam Question(s) (pg 40)

REVISION for exam (Hmk)

13.4 – Information

• Understand management information needs:  the concept of relevance and methods of interpretation.
• Understand that information has many characteristics and can be classified in many ways.  (See specification for classifications)
• Discuss the value of information in aiding the decision making process.
• Understand the difference between internal and external information requirements.
• Describe the characteristics of good information and delivery.  (See specification for characteristics)
• Describe the advantages and characteristics of good information within an application context.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 5 (pgs41-53)
PP presentation – 13.4 Information
Notes from presentation/textbook – Case Study 1 (pg 43-44), Case Study 2 (pg 46),  Case Study 3 (pg 51), Case Study 4 (pg 53) – Activity 1 (pg 44), Activity 2 (pg 47), Activity 3 (pg 52), Activity 4 (pg 53).
General discussion

13.4 – Data

• Understand that data may require translation or transcription prior to entry into the system.  This can affect the accuracy of the data.
• Discuss the impact of the quantity and quality of data on the method of data capture together with the control and audit mechanisms required to manage data capture.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 6 (pgs58-67)
PP presentation – 13.4 Data
Notes from presentation/textbook – Case Study 1 (pgs 60-61) – Activity 1 (pg 61), Activity 2 (pg 63).
General discussion

Worksheet – 13.4 Information (Hmk)

Worksheet – 13.4 Data (Hmk)

13.4 – Effective Presentation

• Understand the effect that the method and style of presentation has upon the message/design in relation to the intended audience.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 5 (pgs53-56)
PP presentation – 13.4 Effective presentation of information
Notes from presentation/textbook – Activity 5 (pg 54).
General discussion

13.5 – The Management of Change

• Understand that the introduction or development of an information system will result in change, which must be managed.  Changes could occur in relation to re-skilling, attitude, organisational structure, employment pattern and conditions, internal procedures.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 7 (pgs68-74)
PP presentation – 13.5 Management of Change
Notes from presentation/textbook – Case Study 1 (pg 70), Case Study 2 (pg 73).
General discussion

13.6 – Legal Aspects

• Understand the need for a corporate information system security policy and the role it would fill within an organisation.  Factors could include prevention of misuse, detection, investigation, procedures, staff responsibilities, disciplinary procedures.
• Describe the content of a corporate information system security policy.
• Describe methods of improving awareness of security policy within an organisation, cross-referencing to training and standards.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 8 (pgs75-81)
PP presentation – 13.6 Legal Aspects
Notes from presentation/textbook – Activity 1 (pg 77-78), Case Study 1 & 2 (pg 80), Case Study 3 (pg 81).
General discussion

13.6 – Audit Requirements

• Understand that many information systems are subject to audit.
• Understand the impact of audit on data and information control.
• Describe the need for audit and the role of audit management/ software tools in information systems.
• Understand the function of audit trails and describe applications of use.  (See specification)

AQA Textbook – Chapter 8 (pgs81-84)
PP presentation – 13.6 Audit Requirements
Notes from presentation/textbook – Case Study 4 (pgs 83-84)
General discussion

13.6 – Disaster Recovery Management

• Describe the various potential threats to information systems.  (See specification)
• Understand the concept of risk analysis.
• Understand the commercial need to ensure that an information system is protected from threat.
• Describe a range of contingency plans to recover from disasters and relate these to identified threats.
• Describe the criteria used to select a contingency plan appropriate to the scale of an organisation and installation.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 9 (pgs95-106)
PP presentation – 13.6 Disaster Recovery Management
Notes from presentation/textbook – Case Study 1 (pg 95), Case Study 2 (pg 99), Case Study 3 (pgs 100-101), Case Study 4 & 5 (pg 103), Case Study 6 & 7 (pg 104) – Activity 1 (p 103).
General discussion

13.6 – Legislation

• Understand that implementation of legislation will impact on procedures within an organisation.
• Describe the methods of enforcing and controlling data protection legislation within an organisation.
• Describe the methods of enforcing and controlling software misuse legislation within an organisation.
• Describe the methods of enforcing and controlling health and safety legislation within an organisation.
• Discuss the implications of the various types of legislation.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 8 (pgs84-93)
PP presentation – 13.6 Legislation
Notes from presentation/textbook – Case Study 5 (pg 88), Case Study 6 (pg 91) – Activity 2 (pg 88 same as ‘Legislation Activity’ below)
PP presentation – Legislation Activity
General discussion

• Describe the ways in which software houses provide user support, relating these to cost and package.
• Describe the range of user support options available with industry standard packages.  (See specification for options).
• Select and justify an appropriate user support system for a particular context.
• Explain the need for different levels of documentation related to user and task.

Worksheet – 13.7 User Support (Hmk)

13.7 – Training

• Explain the need for different levels of training related to user and task.

• Describe the methods by which users can gain expertise in software use and discuss the relevant merits.
• Understand the need to develop training strategies to respond to growing user awareness.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 11 (pgs119-132)
PP presentation – 13.7 Training
Notes from presentation/textbook – Case Study 1 (pg 121), Case Study 2 (pg 124), Case Study 3 (pg 128), Case Study 4 (pg 130) – Activity 1 (pg 126), Activity 2 (pg 127)
General Discussion

Worksheet – 13.7 Training (Hmk)

13.8 – Project Management and Effective ICT Teams

• Understand why projects are often sub-divided into tasks and allocated to teams.
•  Describe the characteristics of a good team.  (See specification for characteristics)

Worksheet – 13.8 Project Management and Effective ICT Teams (Hmk)

13.9 – Information and the Professional

• Discuss the social, moral and ethical issues associated with the introduction and use of ICT systems, which affect a professional working within the industry.
• Understand that ‘codes of practice’ exist which are separate from any legal requirements with which professional organisations are expected to comply.
• Understand the need for a code of practice for ICT users in an organisation.

AQA Textbook – Chapter 13 (pgs147-149)
PP presentation – 13.9 Information and the Professional
Notes from presentation/textbook – Activity 1 (pg 148) – Case Study 1 (pg 149)
General discussion

13.9 – Employee code of practice

• Understand what is meant by an employee code of practice or acceptable use policy.
• Describe the contents of such a code of practice.  (See specification)

AQA Textbook – Chapter 13 (pgs149-154)
PP presentation – 13.9 Employee code of practice
Notes from presentation/textbook – Activity 2 (pg 151), Activity 3 (pg 153) – Case Study 2 (pg 151), Case Study 3 (pgs 153-154)
General Discussion

Worksheet – 13.9 Information and the Professional (Hmk)

Exam Question(s) (pg 155)