This course is designed for Honours students to undertake independent research in business information systems. Student will conduct research in their chosen topic under the supervision of an academic staff member with a relevant research interest. Students will be required to identify research problems, review and synthesize literature, develop an appropriate research design, collect and analyse data, and present their findings effectively in a written thesis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Problematise within a relevant discipline through both theoretical and empirical critical analysis.
2. Translate the problem into a set of clearly defined research questions to enable a scientific approach.
3. Determine the appropriate research design and methodology to acquire evidence relevant to the research questions.
4. Acquire a body of evidence relevant to the problem by using the appropriate research methods.
5. Critically analyse the gathered evidence using appropriate method of analysis.
6. Synthesise results and/or findings to inform appropriate solutions related to the problem.
7. Consider the theoretical and practical implications of the chosen solutions for both the literature and society.
8. Produce a structured written thesis which shows the position of the candidate in relation to the underlying problem.

Research-Led Teaching

This cours requires students to undertake in-depth investigation of a problem/topic related to Information Systems and other germane disciplines.

Supervisors will provide guidance and suggest relevant material to students, all geared towards equiping the student with research skills and successful completion of a thesis.

Field Trips

There are no field trips in this course.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional class costs expected in this course.

Required Resources

No additional required resources in this courses but access to a modern computing device (tablet, laptop or desktop computer) is highly advisable.

Recommended Resources

The course Wattle site and supervisors will provide additional resources as required.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Course Schedule

Contact hours for the course will take the form of periodic meetings between student and supervisor.

Support for Students

The University offers a number of support services for students. Information on these is available online from http://students.anu.edu.au/studentlife/

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	This is a research course with two major components: methods/applied topics courses (4 x 6 units) and a thesis (24 units). At the start of the semester, supervisor(s) and students will agree to a schedule of frequent (typically weekly) meetings and timetable of deliverables, which include successfully completing the methods courses and writing a thesis.	Typical assessment can be found in Assessment tab, however there may be adjustments to form and due date (as authorised by the supervisor and course convenor) depending on the student's individual requirements and circumstances. Methods courses will have their own assessment tasks that the Honours student should complete.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

As there are no separate tutorials in this course, the discussion of the various aspects of the work related to the thesis will be done during meetings with students' respective supervisors.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Thesis proposal	0 %	*	*	1,2,3,7
Research Thesis (monograph)	100 %	02/06/2023	29/06/2023	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Contact hours for the course will take the form of periodic meetings between student and supervisor. Participation is expected in all supervision meetings but not assessed. Meetings may be held online.

Examination(s)

Methods courses within this program may have examinations.

Once a thesis is completed, it will be sent for examination by on campus or external academics with expertise in the topic covered in the thesis.

Assessment Task 1

Thesis proposal

The thesis proposal within the Honours program is an exercise that allows the Honours student to outline to their supervisor and/or audience if a presentation is carried out, the research problem they want to tackle, their critical appreciation of extant knowledge in the domain examined and the research design to be adopted. This exercise carries no weight but provides the student with some important feedback from the academic community on the proposed research. The proposal should be submitted within 2 months of completion of all methods courses.

Student and supervisor will agree on how formal they want the proposal (oral presentation and written form) to be. Tasks to be completed within the thesis proposal include:

1. Submission of written thesis proposal to thesis supervisor 
2. Submission of thesis timeline to thesis superviso
3. Presentation of thesis proposal to academic staff
4. Submission of presentation slides

Assessment Task 2

Research Thesis (monograph)

Name of Assessment Task:

Research Thesis

Details of Task:

Submission of the final research report, structured as a thesis. Honours students must successfully complete the methods courses before they can work on their thesis. More information on thesis ncluding assessment task 1 - thesis proposal- will be provided during meetings with thesis supervisor.

Word limit:

24-unit thesis: 100 pages (double spaced) -students are required to strictly abide by the page limit and attached conditions as examiners will neither read nor assess part in excess of recommended length.

Value:

100%

Due date:

5pm Friday first week of exam period (for students completing their thesis in this semester)

Submission method:

via Turnitin on Course Wattle site - your supervisor or course convenor will tell you if any other form of submission is also required.

Further information on these tasks (including exact dates) and the Honours Program Guide, will be provided by your supervisor and the RSM Honours Program/Course Convener.

Marking of the Hons thesis will be arranged by the course convener in consultation with the supervisor(s).

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Learning Platforms website.

You will submit your thesis by emailing the final copy to your thesis supervisor.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

An e-copy of a successful thesis will be kept in the ANU digital theses collection at the ANU library. Students may submit a hardcopy at RSM thesis repository.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://rsm.anu.edu.au/study/students/extension-application-procedure.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

You will receive detailed comments on your thesis by email after it has been assessed by examiners.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of your thesis is not possible.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students