Craig McDonald © 2008 ISE Planning Day Information Systems Discipline

Craig McDonald © 2008 IS Facets: 1. Information Theory 2. Systems Theory (Components, organisation & emergence) b. Human Activity Systems b. Organisational Systems c. Systems Architecture 3. Design Theory 1. Theories that suggest Units & Research: 2. Context that suggest Units & Research: Academic Interest, Technology Change, Hot Topics, Canberra & UC Software Engineering & Informatics-using disciplines

Craig McDonald © 2008 Cognitive World Information World IS Facet: 1: Information Theory Physical World

Craig McDonald © 2008 Cognitive World Information World actor Data Represented Knowledge ontology Physical World Statements (in documents) Data Represented Knowledge ontology Statements (in documents) IS Facet: 1: Information Theory

Craig McDonald © 2008 IS Facet: 2a: Human Activity Systems

Craig McDonald © 2008 IS Facet: 2b: Organizational Systems

Craig McDonald © 2008 Architectural Layers: Organization Interaction (incl program) Information Technology Generic IT tools databases infobase I T I N F R A S T R U C T U R E web presence Bookings application Organisation Metabolism tasks management users customers Models / Specs: Rich Picture Org Struct & process Activity Daigram Storyboard Scenario Usecase Entity-relationship Systems Architecture IS Facets: 2c: System Architecture System Components:

Craig McDonald © 2008 The professional practice of IS has to do with coming to an understanding of the data, information and knowledge in a complex human activity system (HAS) and intervening in that HAS by modifying information systems in an effort to improve the lives of stakeholders. IS Facet: 3: Design Theory

Craig McDonald © 2008 The professional practice of IS has to do with coming to an understanding of the data, information and knowledge in a complex human activity system (HAS) and intervening in that HAS by modifying information systems in an effort to improve the lives of stakeholders. IS Facet: 3: Design Theory

Craig McDonald © 2008 The professional practice of Architecture has to do with coming to an understanding of the spatial aspects in a complex human activity system (HAS) and intervening in that HAS by modifying buildings and landscape in an effort to improve the lives of stakeholders. IS Facet: 3: Design Theory

Craig McDonald © 2008 Architecture is analogous to IS. The Architect, Christopher Alexander A Pattern Language (1977) The Timeless Way of Building (1979) captures the very human nature of designed change:... when you build a thing you cannot merely build that thing in isolation, but must also repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, and more whole; and the thing which you make takes its place in the web of nature, as you make it. (1977 p. xiii) Architecture is more concrete than IS, but the disciplines share many fundamental principles. IS Facet: 3: Design Theory

Craig McDonald © 2008 requirements spec. 4 broad Designs & evaluation implement design spec. options design analysis system acceptbuild feedback input/output Project Where the rubber hits the road Human Activity System IS Facet: 3: Design Theory

Craig McDonald © 2008 IS Facets: 1. Information Theory 2. Systems Theory b. Human Activity Systems b. Organisational Systems c. Systems Components & Architecture 3. Design Theory 1. Theories that suggest Units & Research: 2. Context that suggest Units & Research: Academic Interest, Technology Change, Hot Topics Software Engineering & Informatics-using disciplines

Craig McDonald © 2008 Context that suggest Units & Research Academic's Interest Relate interests to teaching (part of workload allocation) Develop interests in areas of need Students Interests What's attractive to the classes of student - school leaver, professional development, career conversion Technology Change Second life ( but old stuff too - eg. Stella) Hot Topics ? Changes in Cognate Disciplines SE Informatics-using Disciplines Health Informatics, Government Informatics

Craig McDonald © 2008 Information Systems & Software Engineering

Craig McDonald © 2008 Government Informatics & User Disciplines Health Education Business ICT SE etc... IS

Craig McDonald © 2008 IS Directions for Research & Teaching Research: Move from Projects & Interests to research program? Teaching in '09: 1. Expand Information (Document - Records - Workflow) New Online Unit - "Dimensions of the Information Sector" (Fac of Comms) Split D&WF into 2 - move into information management 2. Expand Data New unit - Data Quality. Other aspects of data - an ontology unit? Mobilise Security? 3. Integrate data, Information & Knowledge - expand GST 4. Social Informatics Second life, Web Re-Organise IS Management ISM - BICS - ITBA Expand Enterprise Architecture, Requirements & Procurement, Evaluation 6. Fix SPQM - SEP (Expand into Grad Cert?)

Craig McDonald © 2008 IS Facets: 1. Information Theory 2. Systems Theory b. Human Activity Systems b. Organisational Systems c. Systems Components & Architecture 3. Design Theory 1. Theories that suggest Units & Research: 2. Context that suggest Units & Research: Academic Interest, Technology Change, Hot Topics Software Engineering & Informatics-using disciplines