CS271S. Information Management

Prerequisites: introduction to computer science (any implementation of CS103 or CS112), discrete structures (CS106 or CS115), CS120

Syllabus:

• Overview of information management: History and motivation for information systems; common problems of information management; the business perspective
• Social issues in information technology: Intellectual property; computer crime; privacy; security and civil liberties; the need for a legal and ethical framework; guidelines for computer use
• Introduction to database systems: History and motivation for database systems; components of database systems; DBMS functions; database architecture and data independence; use of a database query language; the relational model
• Building databases: Underlying methodology; database query languages; particular database issues
• Information systems to serve particular purposes: Intranets and extranets; the information retrieval problem
• Design and development of information systems: Database design; relational database design; life-cycle issues
• Security and control issues: Overview of problems and standard solutions; database integrity; transactions; the role of encryption
• Evaluation of information systems

Units covered:

IM1	Information models and systems	2	core hours (of 3)
IM2	Database systems	2	core hours (of 3)
IM3	Data modeling	4	core hours
IM4	Relational databases	5	hours
IM5	Database query languages	5	hours
IM6	Relational database design	2	hours
IM7	Transaction processing	3	hours
IM11	Information storage and retrieval	2	hours
IM13	Multimedia information and systems	2	hours
IM14	Digital libraries	2	hours
SP2	Social context of computing	1	core hour (of 3)
SP3	Methods and tools of analysis	2	core hours
SP4	Professional and ethical responsibilities	2	core hours (of 3)
SP5	Risks and liabilities of computer-based systems	1	core hour (of 2)
SP6	Intellectual property	2	core hours (of 3)
SP7	Privacy and civil liberties	2	core hours
	Elective topics	1	hour

Notes:
The material for this class builds on the work of earlier classes, in particular CS140S. The focus of the course is on the decisions that need to be made about how best to manage complex information and how to store it in a manner that ensures ease of retrieval, with a simple and natural conceptual framework.

With the development of any information system, there will be imperatives of various kinds. One important one is the business or commercial perspective. Accordingly, this course can be used as a vehicle for introducing students to the world of business and commerce and to the imperatives -- including the ethical ones -- that operate in this environment. But ultimately there will be an underlying life-cycle model with a requirements phase, a specification phase, a design phase, a development phase, as well as validation and verification phases. Ideas from human computer interaction and networking will also be relevant. Students need to be exposed to these ideas to convey the notion of a disciplined and considered approach to the development of these systems.

At some level, all information systems depend on database technology. Many other issues, however, also come into play including human factors and the dynamics of the World-Wide Web. Examples of good practice can be made available by exposing students to suitable web sites and to suitable digital libraries.

Students typically respond positively and responsibly to instances of computer disasters and malpractice. Such illustrations and case studies can be used as a vehicle to engender an appreciation of the importance of a study of social and ethical issues. Indeed, it is vital to have an approach which ensures that students understand the importance and relevance of this topic.

In the wider environment of the university, ideas from this course can be reinforced by appealing to other sets of rules to which students must adhere. These systems of rules provide living examples of the discipline that must be practiced within laboratories and the management practices that should be associated with the running of computer systems by support staff.

Students who complete this course should be able to perform the following tasks:

• Describe the different business and other imperatives (including legal and ethical) that influence the development of information systems, and this includes the requirements of remote access.
• Apply the basic principles of database technology.
• Explain the potential of distributed information management systems and the problems such systems entail.
• Identify common security and control mechanisms associated with information management and be able to apply these mechanisms effectively.
• Justify the need for codes of conduct and a legal framework for computer use.
• Give examples of several computing applications that raise sensitive legal and ethical concerns.

Online resources for CS271S