| Aim of Module | To enable students to gain an understanding of groupware applications, and to be able to implement a groupware system. |
| Credits | 7 |
| Knowledge Assumed From | SF500 (SF100) Software Fundamentals SO400 (SO100) Systems Overview |
| Student Learning hours | 70 |
| Content Revised | pre 1996 |
| Prescription Expiry Date | Nov 2007 |
| Topics | Highest Skill Level | Suggested Assessment Percentage | |
| 1 Taxonomy of Groupware | R | 30 | |
| 2 Introducing Groupware into an Organisation | A | 20 | |
| 3 Implementing a Workflow System | P | 50 | |
| 100 | |||
| LEARNING OUTCOMES The Student Will | ||
| R | 1 | Define groupware and describe its various implementations. |
| A | 2 | Evaluate, for the business environment, the social, economic and cultural impact of introducing groupware into an organisation. |
| P | 3 | Manage the process of investigation and analysis of a system (of a size appropriate to the time frame of the course) and implement an appropriate workflow system using a groupware software product. |
| 1 | Taxonomy of Groupware |
| - Characteristics of groupware | ||
| - Categories of groupware: | ||
| - Messaging systems | ||
| - Group Decision Support Systems | ||
| - Co-ordination Systems (workflow) | ||
| - imaging | ||
| - Time/task management and scheduling | ||
| - Multi-user editors | ||
| - Knowledge management | ||
| > | Messaging Groupware Systems | |
| - Overview of technology that supports groupware | ||
| - The internet as Groupware | ||
| - Messaging systems | ||
| > | Workflow Systems | |
| - Define a workflow system | ||
| - Advantages & disadvantages of business workflow systems as implemented in groupware software | ||
| - The importance of awareness and modelling of workflow in business | ||
| - Workflow flowcharts | ||
| > | Group Decision support Systems | |
| - Definition of a GDSS and examples | ||
| - Decision making face to face | ||
| - Production blocking | ||
| - Evaluation apprehension | ||
| - Research into the effect of factors affecting outcomes: (distance, number of participants, organisations involved) | ||
| - Overview of technology required | ||
| - Approaches to decision making (Nominal group technique, Delphi) | ||
| - The affect on group dynamics | ||
| > | Multi-user Editing | |
| - Groupware document imaging systems and document management | ||
| - Multi-user editing software (e.g. Lotus Word Pro) | ||
| - Time management and scheduling applications | ||
| - Critical success factors for introduction: Executive ‘’champion’’, User driven, initial investment, speedy implementation of initial projects. | ||
| 2 | Introducing Groupware into an Organisation |
| > | Technical, cultural, social and business perspectives | |
| 3 | Implementing a Workflow System |
| > | Investigate, analyse, design and implement a workflow system. | |
| Note | ||
| > | The course should introduce a groupware product (such as Lotus Notes) as early as possible, and use this product to demonstrate the practical application of the theory. | |
| > | The groupware application development should be done as a group project. | |