Assignment Brief

BTEC Level 4-5 HNC/HND Diploma (QCF)

To be filled by the Student

Name of the Student :

Edexcel No : Registration No: Batch No:

Unit Assessment Information

Qualification : Higher National Diploma in Computing and Systems Development

Unit Code & Title : Unit 30 - Information Systems in Organizations (No 1 of 1)

Assessment Title & No’s : Understanding information needs of an unknown organization

Learning outcomes and grading opportunities:

LO 01: Understand information needs within different functional areas of organizations
Learning Outcomes LO 1.1

LO 02: Be able to compare information systems

Learning Outcomes LO 2.1 LO 2.2

LO 03: Be able to use information systems to produce management information

Learning Outcomes LO 3.1 LO 3.2

Merit and Distinction Descriptor

M1 M2 M3 D1 D2 D3

Date Issued : Date Due :

Date of Submission:

Assessor : Date Assessed:

Internal Verifier (IV): Date of IV:

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General Guidelines
1. A Cover page or title page – You should always attach a title page to your assignment. Use
previous page as your cover sheet and be sure to fill the details correctly.
2. This entire brief should be attached in first before you start answering.
3. All the assignments should prepare using word processing software.
4. All the assignments should print in A4 sized paper, and make sure to only use one side printing.
5. Allow 1” margin on each side of the paper. But on the left side you will need to leave room for
binging.
6. Ensure that your assignment is stapled or secured together in a binder of some sort and attach
the Softcopy (CD) of your final document, system on last page.

Word Processing Rules

1. Use a font type that will make easy for your examiner to read. The font size should be 12 point,
and should be in the style of Time New Roman.
2. Use 1.5-line word-processing. Left justify all paragraphs.
3. Ensure that all headings are consistent in terms of size and font style.
4. Use footer function on the word processor to insert Your Name, Subject, Assignment No, and
Page Number on each page. This is useful if individual sheets become detached for any reason.
5. Use word processing application spell check and grammar check function to help edit your
assignment.
6. Ensure that your printer’s output is of a good quality and that you have enough ink to print your
entire assignment.

Important Points:
1. Check carefully the hand in date and the instructions given with the assignment. Late
submissions will not be accepted.
2. Ensure that you give yourself enough time to complete the assignment by the due date.
3. Don’t leave things such as printing to the last minute – excuses of this nature will not be
accepted for failure to hand in the work on time.
4. You must take responsibility for managing your own time effectively.
5. If you are unable to hand in your assignment on time and have valid reasons such as illness, you
may apply (in writing) for an extension.
6. Failure to achieve at least a PASS grade will result in a REFERRAL grade being given.
7. Non-submission of work without valid reasons will lead to an automatic REFERRAL. You will then
be asked to complete an alternative assignment.
8. Take great care that if you use other people’s work or ideas in your assignment, you properly
reference them, using the HARVARD referencing system, in you text and any bibliography,
otherwise you may be guilty of plagiarism.
9. If you are caught plagiarizing, you could have your grade reduced to A REFERRAL or at worst you
could be excluded from the course.

Statement of Originality and Student Declaration

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I hereby, declare that I know what plagiarism entails, namely to use another’s work and to present it as
my own without attributing the sources in the correct way. I further understand what it means to copy
another’s work.

1. I know that plagiarism is a punishable offence because it constitutes theft.

2. I understand the plagiarism and copying policy of the Edexcel UK.
3. I know what the consequences will be if I plagiaries or copy another’s work in any of the
assignments for this program.
4. I declare therefore that all work presented by me for every aspect of my program, will be my
own, and where I have made use of another’s work, I will attribute the source in the correct way.
5. I acknowledge that the attachment of this document signed or not, constitutes a binding
agreement between myself and Edexcel UK.
6. I understand that my assignment will not be considered as submitted if this document is not
attached to the attached.

Student’s Signature: …………………………… Date:.………………

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 Assignment Brief

Scenario

Information is the most valuable resource to a modern organization. Gathering, analyzing, processing
and sharing this information can be the difference between success and failure for many businesses.

Assume that you have been recruited for an organization to work as a business analyst. The higher
management wishes to expand the company with more functional areas and deploy information
systems. In this case, you have been asked to write a management report on the current situation of
the organization. (You can select any organization as your preference for the task)

Task 1: Understand information needs within different functional areas of organizations (LO1, M1)

Select an organization of your preference and create a profile for the organization pointing out the
vision, mission, employee base, objectives and goals. (M3)

Businesses are broken into a number of functional areas. Create a definition for each of the areas
below to explain what they do and the role they play in an organization.

 Finance & accounts

 human resources
 sales & marketing
 research and development
 manufacturing & production
 customer service
 administration

1.1 Identify the main functional areas of the selected organization and evaluate the information
needs of each and every functional area with proper evidences. Ensure that you identify the types of
information they may collect and store, the types of tasks they may perform with it (LO 1.1)

1.2 Assume that the organization wishes to use information systems in their functional areas.
Evaluate the suitability of the information systems within the identified functional areas. (LO 2.3)

Task 2: Be able to compare information systems (LO2, M2, M3. D1)

2.1 Businesses employ a range of information systems to ensure that they can manage and produce
the required details to support their operations.

Research four systems from the following:

 decision support systems

 management information systems
 executive information systems
 office automation systems
 expert systems
 global information systems
 data warehouse systems
 enterprise systems
 integrated information systems

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For each system describe the key characteristics, the uses of the system and some typical outputs
that may be generated from them (include examples where available to illustrate these). (LO 2.1)

2.2 Investigate the current trends of the selected information systems (in task 2.1) with examples (LO
2.2)

Task 3: Be able to use information systems to produce management information (LO3, M1, M2, D1,
D3)

3.1 Identify three major issues that reside in the organization, give proper solution for one issue with
the aid of an information system. Describe how the information system can use to generate valid
accurate and useful information for the selected problem (LO 3.1)

3.2 Evaluate alternative methods of solving the problem selected in the task 3.1 (LO 3.2)

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 Outcomes/Criteria for PASS Task Possible Achieved Feedback
Evidences
LO1 Understand information needs within different functional areas of organizations
(Task 1)
1.1 evaluate the information 1.1
needs of the different functional
areas of an organization

LO2 Be able to compare information systems (Task 1, Task 2)

2.1 describe different types of 2.1
information systems

2.2 investigate the current trends 2.2

in using information systems
applications to solve business
problems

2.3 evaluate the suitability of 1.2

information systems for different
functional areas of an
organization

LO3 Be able to use information systems to produce management information (Task 3)

3.1 use an information system to 3.1
generate valid, accurate and
useful information for a given
problem

3.2 evaluate alternative methods 3.2

of solving the problem.

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Grade Descriptor for MERIT Possible evidence Achieved Feedback
M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions

1.1 An effective approach to To achieve M1 you

study and research has been must use an
applied effective approach
for the research

M2 Select/design and apply appropriate methods/techniques

To achieve M2,
2.1 A range of methods
and techniques have you have to use
been applied appropriate
methods and
2.2 A range of sources of
techniques in
information has been used
gathering
information and
presenting
them. Proper
reference on
different sources
of information
from internal
and external
sources.
M3 Present and communicate appropriate findings

3.1 The communication is

To achieve M3,
appropriate for familiar and
unfamiliar audiences and you should use a
appropriate media have range of
been used.
methods of
presentation
appropriately.
(photos, images,
graphs, charts,
relational and
process
diagrams etc.).

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Grade Descriptor for Possible evidence Achieved Feedback
DISTINCTION
D1 use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions

1.1 the validity of results has To achieve D3 you

been evaluated using defined must evaluate the
criteria validity of the
results using the
defined criteria

D2 take responsibility for managing and organizing activities

2.1 substantial activities,

To achieve D2
projects or investigations you must
have been planned, managed manage your
and organized activities when
completing the
tasks

Use a Gantt chart

to demonstrate
activity
management
with time.

D3 demonstrate convergent / lateral / creative thinking

3.1 effective thinking has To achieve D3

taken place in unfamiliar you must
contexts undertake
effective thinking
when giving
solutions to
problems in
unfamiliar
contexts.

Strengths: Weaknesses:

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Future Improvements & Assessor Comment:

Assessor: Signature:

Internal Verifier’s Comments:

Internal Verifier: Signature:

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