Kangaroo Island Energy Management Information System's Technical Architecture for Information input, processing and output
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19-2TechAssignment2Spec-2.docxTechnology and Project Management (MGMT7020)
Assignment 2 Specification: Technology Case Study Analysis Report
Context for this Assignment:
The Technology module assesses your ability to apply the EBM approach to understanding information technology systems and their management. The course learning outcomes for this module are all addressed by both assignments and the exam, with different emphases.
Assignment 1, completed individually, focuses on the earlier parts of EBM. Its objective is to show that you understand general technology principles by applying them to a specific topic, critically researching the literature on that topic and presenting a coherent multi-faceted analysis of it. Assignment 2, completed in a team with other students, focusses on the later parts of EBM. Its objective is to demonstrate the application of your technology understanding to evaluate a specific case study. You should work on both assignments in parallel as they are mutually supportive.
The assessment items have been designed to allow you to acquire and use the concepts in the course as a way to better understand your world and to act in it in a more knowledgeable and responsible manner.
The Assignment:
Teamwork:
This assignment is developed in a team. Teams can comprise 3 or 4 members and, given the shortness of the module, must be organised and active in week 1.
Assessment Schedule:
Due: Friday 30 August 2019 at 23:55 (week 6).
Return: Two weeks after submission (depending on student numbers).
Weight: 10% of the total grade.
Size: The Case Study Analysis Report will be equivalent to around 1500 words
excluding references and appendices.
Approach to Assignment:
At the start of the module you will not have the knowledge and skills you need to understand, far less do, the assignment! Don't be concerned about that. As we cover the lecture topics week by week you will be able to build your assignment step by step. Each week's class contains time for a team meeting, you should use the knowledge you have just gained to do some development of assignment 2.
Your task is to use the tools and techniques discussed in class to explain the technology-based system case study your team has selected. So,
1. Research the general context of the case study and start to draft a report introduction. Give some thought to the issue of evidence that supports your perceptions.
2. Use the conceptual modelling techniques discussed in class to provide a conceptual picture of the information situation (ie. a conceptual system) and explain to top management what these models say.
3. Describe a possible physical system (ie. a technical system) that implements the conceptual system.
How you might research and model will be covered in lectures.
Assignment Format and Content:
Your report will be in the form of a presentation to Kangaroo Island Council. Prepare a 5 to 7 minute video report accompanied by speakers notes - a smart phone recording is fine. A PowerPoint presentation with voice-over, with speaker's notes, is also acceptable. All team members will participate in the presentation.
Your report will explain the Kangaroo Island Energy Management Information System to the Council. Your report should contain:
a summary of the report's purpose and main findings
an overview of the context, which explains KIEMIS principles, stakeholders and functions. A Rich Picture usually assists such a description
an explanation of the physical technical layer of a possible KIEMIS (technology components and structure)
a brief explanation of the models you developed in the conceptual layer of KIEMIS
your view of the management aspects of the system.
Assignment Submission:
Each student submits a PDF file for the speaker's notes (use filename such as: Tech1-u123456-notes) and either a video file or PowerPoint presentation.
Assignment Assessment Criteria:
Give some thought to what you think would constitute a 'good' report and presentation in this circumstance. Masters level work is not about just doing something to meet others' specifications, it is about tackling problems independently and developing your capacity to determine what is 'good' in each situation. Here are some general criteria you can use as a quality check-list:
Context and Significance
Meets the objective of the assignment
Leaves council with a clear picture of how it all works and what it means for them
Breadth
Covers the extent of the KIEMIS
Uses examples or scenarios to build understanding
Depth
Appropriately identifies and applies concepts discussed in class and readings
Soundness
Professional - unbiased, objective (this is not a sales pitch)
Grounded in sound sources
Presentation (assignment layout and configuration):
Design and effectiveness of video presentation
clear take-home messages, good navigation
good use of diagrams, colour, text
Speakers notes are comprehensive
quotations, paraphrases and references are consistently and correctly attributed and cited
Assignment Marking:
Your team report will be graded in the ANU grading scheme using the above criteria.
Your individual contribution to the team assignment influences the grade you receive.
All team members need to meet, discuss and agree on a relative individual contribution to the assignment.
If the team cannot agree on relative contributions, contact your lecturer.
If the team agrees that everyone contributed equally:
No further action is required, your lecturer will assume that each team member receives the same grade.
If the team agrees that some members contributed more than others:
The team collectively will allocate each team member an individual number representing their relative contribution, where an average contribution is 100.
Ensure the total of individual contributions equals the number of team members multiplied by 100.
Each individual contribution is normally in the range of 90 – 110. You should not have outliers
(less than 90 or greater than 110). If you do, then please see your lecturer.
One group member will send an email to your lecturer, including your group name/number and, for each team member, their name, student id and agreed contribution. The email will be cc’d to
all team members, otherwise it will not be processed by the lecturer.
Example: Assume your group has three members and you came to an agreed relative contribution as below. If the team assignment was graded at a Distinction level (say 75) then the individual marks would be:
Agreed Contribution Individual Assignment mark
Team member 1: 90 67.5 (credit)
Team member 2: 110 82.5 (high distinction)
Team member 3: 100 75 (distinction)
total: 300
Professionalism:
The ANU Rules and Code of Practice for Student Academic Honesty form part of the rules for this assignment. Any incidences of plagiarism will be treated with the utmost severity. The ANU Code of Practice for Student Academic Honesty is available at http://academichonesty.anu.edu.au/
While you must use your own words and ideas, you will source ideas from the readings and other areas, such as text books, journal articles or the 'grey literature'. Reference these sources in the References section in your report (this is not included in the word limit).
Be sure that the sources you quote, or paraphrase, are clearly and correctly cited.
Assignment Case Study:
Kangaroo Island Energy Management Information System
Kangaroo island lies off the coast of South Australia. It has a population of about 5000 people and is under the control of the Kangaroo Island Council, an elected body which is responsible to the South Australian (SA) Government for the management of the island. A brief history of the island is at:
http://sahistoryhub.com.au/places/kangaroo-island
(Google maps)
Electricity is always an issue for island communities. In 2016 a report, "Towards 100% Renewable Energy for Kangaroo Island", the University of Technology Sydney concluded that a fully self-sustainable system could be built. The SA government at that time decided instead to put an undersea cable to supply the island from the mainland. But in the last few years renewal energy technology has developed considerably while the national electricity grid and its regulation have come under considerable pressure. An example of the shifting balance is the SA Tesla battery installation.
The Council has persuaded the SA government to change its direction and Kangaroo Island is now set to be a model of a self-sustaining energy community. It will use a mix of renewable energy technologies to generate power on the island, batteries and hydro to store it and more efficient ways to use it. Here's an idea of the change - Murray St. Kingscote has current power to be replaced by renewals to provide the necessary services.
Gas
communications
Street lighting
industry
Electricity from
the mainland
air con
Diesel
generator
(Google maps, street view)
Petrol
vehicle
Report Scope
The Council has asked you to provide it with a report explaining a simple information system (IS) that would manage the island's new energy system. The IS will be like 'smart city' technology. There will be a 'smart meter' in every house and business as well as on public infrastructure (like traffic lights) that look after the flow of power across the island. The role of the IS will be:
1. to look after the use of power within each node (ie 'behind the meter'). Many places will have local battery storage to accumulate energy when it is being generated on site and release it when it is needed either for immediate use or into the grid for use by the hospital, industry and so on.
2. to look after the grid ensuring power is flowing to where it is needed.
Your report will not be about energy technologies - solar panels, air-conditioners, industrial machines, bio-mass, wind turbines, heating, etc.
It will be about information systems - data, information knowledge, people, algorithms, databases, sensors, intelligences, data analytics, decision-making, etc.
This is a fictitious case study - do not contact the SA Government or Kangaroo Island Council
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7020 2-19 Assignment 2
