Information Systems I

Code:

EIG0021

Acronym:

SI I

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Informatics
OFICIAL	Computer Science

Instance: 2012/2013 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Industrial Engineering and Management
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Engineering and Industrial Management

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MESG	18	Syllabus since 2007/08	1	-	6	56	160
MIEIG	81	Syllabus since 2006/2007	3	-	6	56	160

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this course is to educate students to design adequate information systems which fulfil users’ needs and the objectives of organizations, taking into account the short, medium and long term.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To prepare students to use techniques for the identification of critical factors of success, for modelling activities and business processes.

2. To prepare students to use conceptual modelling techniques, in particular object class modelling.

3. To prepare students to apply user interface modelling techniques.

4. To prepare students to use software engineering methodologies.

5. To prepare students to use available computer tools of Database Management Systems (DBMS) for Information Systems prototyping.

 

 6. To prepare students to use relational database modelling techniques.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the semester students should be able to (i) analyze a problem of information management in an organization, (ii) propose and test a conceptual model for managing relevant and critical information for the business processes involved, (iii) build and test a prototype of an information system supported in database components and with user interfaces, including searching information and producing reports.

This prototype can be used for personal use in real environments, but is not suitable for supporting operations for groups of employees.

 

Students also acquire the competence to use the models and prototypes as negotiation instruments with professional software engineers for the development of robust business information systems 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Algebra.

Conceitos básicos de gestão empresarial.

 

Conhecimentos básicos de computação pessoal.

Program

1. DESIGN OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS: Introduction to the processes of analysis and modelling of systems and organisations; Introduction to the design of an information system.

2. USER INTERFACE MODELING: Introduction; Introduction to specification and prototyping tools; Recommendations, principles and rules for interface design; Main models of interface: menus, forms, dialogue boxes and direct manipulation; Problems with user interaction modelling.

3. CONCEPTUAL MODELING OF CLASSES: static modelling of classes of objects (UML); classes, attributes and methods; associations and simple aggregations; generalisations and inheritance; Mapping between class model and relational model.

4. DATABASE DESIGN: Introduction to DBMS - Database Management Systems; SQL language; RelacionalAlgebra and Calculus; Database normalisation.

 

5. CONCLUSIONS AND REFERENCES.

Mandatory literature

C. J. Date; An introduction to database systems. ISBN: 0-201-19215-2 (vol.1)

Teaching methods and learning activities

This course is based on the following complementary activities that involve lecturing, learning, and associated assessment of acquired knowledge and competences:

A1. THEORETICAL NOTIONS: The theoretical concepts taught during theoretical classes should be learnt by study activities and conceptualisation.

A2. THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL CASES: Students should study test cases and solutions presented by lecturers in classes, and practice with new problems.

A3. DBMS TOOL: After the presentation of the software tool (MS Access) students should autonomously use and explore it.

 

A4. INFORMATION SYSTEM PROTOTYPE: Students have to design and develop an IS prototype. This project will be supervised by the lecturers during classes. Note: Student groups will be composed based on a questionnaire with behavioural questions aiming at creating homogenous groups.

Software

Microsoft Access

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	56,00
Short exam MS Access	Teste	10,00	10,00	2012-10-11
Project report specification	Trabalho escrito	14,00	10,00	2012-11-01
Project - MS Access Prototype	Trabalho laboratorial	26,00	25,00	2012-12-13
Short exam PSI+MIU	Teste	10,00	10,00	2012-10-04
Short exam MCC+MR	Teste	20,00	20,00	2012-11-15
Short exam AR+NFD+SQL	Teste	20,00	20,00	2012-12-20
Project presentation	Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese	4,00	5,00	2012-12-20
	Total:	-	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
Attendance of lectures and tutorials	Frequência das aulas	56	2012-12-20
Study and work	Estudo autónomo	104	2012-12-20
	Total:	160,00

Eligibility for exams

Students have to reach a minimum mark to be admitted to exams (See General Evaluation Rules of FEUP).

All written examinations are closed book exercises. The most important formulas will be provided to students if required. It will also be taken into the account in the assessment the presentation, correctness and quality of the Portuguese or English language used.

 

The group project mark done in a previous academic year will be considered only if the cross-evaluation by the rest of the group is over 2 values in 5.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final mark will be based on the mark of the mini-tests (60%) and on the group assignment (40%). 

P0 - Mini-test MS Access: 10%

P1 - Mini-tests TP: -- Note: A minimum mark of 6.5 out of 20 is required in this component for successful completion of this course. 

-- P1.1 Mini-test 1: 10% -- Design of Information Systems and User Interface Modeling (Chapter 1 and 2)

-- P1.2 Mini-test 2: 20% -- Conceptual Modeling (Chapter 3)

-- P1.3 Mini-test 3: 20% -- Design of Databases, Functional Dependencies, Normalization, Algebra, Relational Calculus, and SQL (Chapter 4)

P2 - Group project assignment – global group mark:

-- P2.1 Report of proposed project: 10%

-- P2.2 Developed prototype in MS Access: 25%

-- P2.3 Presentation of work: 5% -- Note: This mark may be different for each group member (see text below).

Each group makes a 10 minute presentation. The lecturers will choose which student will make the presentation and may ask questions to each group member individually (this allows a distinct evaluation of each group member in this evaluation component). At the end of the group project assignment, each student has to assess each of his group colleagues using a cross evaluation system available on: http://paginas.fe.up.pt/~sibd/aval (SiFEUP/SIGARRA username and password).

This cross-evaluation may change the individual mark of a student in the group project negatively or positively as follows: [-2, -1, 0, 1] (when compared to the global group mark before cross-evaluation).

Students who do not answer the survey used to set the profile for the creation of the projects groups within the prescribed deadline will have a penalty of 25% on the group work mark.

Students who do not perform the cross-evaluation within the prescribed deadline will have a penalty of 25% on the group work mark.

 

At the time of appeal exam: the marks obtained in group work and in the MS Access mini-test will keep the same weight.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with a special status (working students, military personnel, and high-level competition athletes) can opt to be assessed as normal students.

Alternatively:

Instead of separate components P1.1, P1.2 e P1.3 they should answer a written final examination (date to be defined) with those 3 parts.

Component P2.1 will be required, and an individual report of the proposed project should be submitted. Components P0, P2.2 e P2.3 will be replaced by a unique practical exam in a computer (date to be defined), involving the implementation of the prototype specified in P2.1. It is estimated that this exam will last for about 5 hours.

P1.1 + P1.2 + P1.3: 50%

P2.1: 10%

 

P0+P2.2+P2.3: 40%

Classification improvement

Students may repeat in the period of exams at the end of the semester the P1 short exam with the lowest mark.

Students may also improve their marks in the following academic year, by improving the components they wish to.

 

The group project mark done in a previous academic year will be considered only if the cross-evaluation by the rest of the group is over 2 values in 5.

Observations

The members of the groups will be selected by the lecturers. This selection will be based on a questionnaire, which will work as way of defining each students’ profile in a group. Each member of the group will have the chance to assess the performance of the peer members, by a system of crossed assessment.

Students that failed in the course during the semester may repeat in the period of exams at the end of the semester the P1 short exam with the lowest mark.

Students who failed this course in a previous year, can ask that their previous positive marks (P1 mini-tests or P2 group project) be taken into account in the current assessment. A P1 positive mark is one higher or equal to 10 (out of 20). For component P2 to be taken into account students must have a minimum mark of 10 (out of 20) both on the report and on the project, and have achieved a positive mark in the group cross evaluation.

The grade of previous years’ assignments will be calculated based on a simple proportionality rule (for example, if a student have achieved a mark of 16 out of 20 on P2 and if in the current year they achieve a grade of 8 out of 20, it will be calculated as follows: (16/20)x8=6,4.

 

Contact with students will be made by the SIFEUP/SIGARRA e-mail.