HIT1401/5401 – S2 2013

Assignment 1 – Theory concepts

Due: 11:59pm Friday, September 6th, 2013
(Late submissions attract a 10% per day late penalty)
Format and Submission: You MUST submit your assignment as a MS Word document with a file name in the following format: ‘123456_Assignment1’ (where 123456 is YOUR student ID). Submit the single file online via Blackboard before the due date/time.
Word Limit: 1000-1500 words (not including Reference List)
Marks: This assessment item contributes 10% to your final grades
Marking Rubric: The assignment marking guide is available to view online:
Assessments/Assignment1Marking Guide.pdf
Description: This is an individual research assignment which consolidates and applies the knowledge gained in the lectures and tutorials. The primary aim is to understand the effect and impact that business processes, competing and/or complimentary technologies and information systems have on an organisation. This means that just describing a technology or how the case study organisation uses a technology is an inadequate response to this task, and will not be rewarded in the marking scheme. There is an expectation that your submission will be analytical, and must draw on theory to frame its evaluation of an organisation’s deployment of business information systems in a competitive environment.
There are 2 parts to this assessment.

Part A (60 Marks)
There are 5 Short Answer Questions. Each question is worth 12 Marks.
1. Describe the information age and the differences between data, information, business intelligence and knowledge (12 Marks).
2. Explain systems thinking and how management information systems (MIS) enable business communications (12 Marks).
3. Describe three Business 2.0 tools for collaborating (12 Marks).
4. Characterise and explain the importance of decision making for managers at each of the three primary organisation levels (12 Marks).
5. Describe business process management and its value to an organisation (12 Marks).

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HIT1401/5401 – S2 2013

Part B (40 Marks)
Qantas trials new check-in technology
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer, The Australian, July 21, 2010
Qantas has signalled it will tighten its excess baggage policy as it introduces futuristic new domestic check-in facilities.
The new facilities are designed to slash the time spent in airport queues. The airline is also preparing to offer upper-tier frequent flyers a unique personal electronic bag tag that can automatically store details of up to four flights and will replace the traditional paper bar code.
A trial of some of the new technologies begins in Perth next week when the flying kangaroo issues new frequent flyer smart cards to a select group of its premium flyers. The new technology includes electronic baggage scales and automated excess baggage payment. Its introduction comes as airlines worldwide are discovering baggage charges as a revenue stream.
Qantas officials say the airline will remain flexible on excess baggage during trials but revealed yesterday a new baggage policy was due out towards the end of the year. Asked whether this meant a crackdown on excess baggage, Qantas customer experience executive manager Alison Webster said: "We'll be making sure we're offering a fair system and our customers are clear on what that system of charges is."
Ms Webster said Qantas had an online capability that allowed people to pre-purchase excess baggage at a significant discount to airport charges and would be publicising this with the baggage policy changes.
Officials said duty managers would also retain the discretion to waive excess baggage charges.
The new smart cards contain chip technology that will allow flyers who have not already checked in online or by mobile phone to tap an airport card reader and complete the process within five seconds. A
2D barcode would be sent to passengers' handsets to confirm their mobile check-in.
Passengers will