Data Management - Solution Design

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will:

• select, justify, and implement the technology needed to accomplish business tasks
• identify and analyse skills needed to manage information in a business operation
• identify and demonstrate ethical standards with respect to privacy, confidentiality, and personal behaviour appropriate to business settings

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• Assign role plays in which students justify business technology choices in realistic settings. For example, ask students to research the value of desktop publishing to a real estate firm. Then have them role-play a meeting with the office manager and the firm's owners in which the manager recommends buying or not buying a desktop publishing package.
• Ask students to prepare reports evaluating the security needs of record systems, including both hardware and software issues. Have them investigate products that meet these requirements and prepare displays outlining their findings.
• Have a guest speaker from a local business (e.g., bank, law firm) talk to the class about software piracy and secured and unsecured Internet sites. Discuss a range of ethical and legal issues associated with privacy of information, copyright, and public access to information.
• Place students in groups of at least four, each representing a company. Tell them their company can afford to keep only three full-time equivalent positions (consider varying the number of positions kept). Challenge them to determine possible solutions for all employees involved. Ask how they would assess each employee's knowledge and skills and how they would communicate staffing changes to those individuals being let go and those who remain. Have them prepare and present reports to the class outlining the best solutions and the factors they considered to support their decisions.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

• Ask questions such as the following to check on students' abilities to justify their selection of technologies to solve business problems and complete business tasks:
  • What is the purpose of the task?
  • How will the end product be used? Who will use it?
  • What technology could you use to complete the task?
  • How does the technology you selected meet the requirements of the task? How is it better than other options?
  Note evidence that they can relate their choices to the end products' audience and purpose. As students resolve problems or complete tasks, ask them to explain what they would do differently if they had to do the activities again.
• Encourage students to demonstrate how information is compiled, stored, retrieved, and distributed. Note the extent to which students:
  • identify the type and source of information
  • state legal requirements regarding storage, retrieval, and distribution of information
  • code data for storage
  • apply knowledge of storage systems
  • find and retrieve information
  • make appropriate decisions about sharing information
• Have students interview local business or information systems managers about how information is managed. Then ask them to present summaries of their findings. Note the extent to which they:
  • describe the tasks involved and the skills needed to manage information
  • include additional insights they have gained
  • relate new information to their current knowledge base
  • summarize and draw conclusions about the skills needed to manage information in business now and in the future
  • select appropriate technologies to present their findings to the class

• Exploring Desktop Publishing: A Projects Approach
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• Database Applications, Third Edition
• Desktop Publishing Activities
• A Guide to Microsoft Office 97 Professional for Windows 95

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