IL10110 - FOUNDATIONS OF INFORMATION STUDIES

Module Identifier	IL10110
Module Title	FOUNDATIONS OF INFORMATION STUDIES
Academic Year	2002/2003
Co-ordinator	Mrs Christine J Urquhart
Semester	Semester 1
Other staff	Mr Michael A Lowe, Ms Tanya C Rogers
Course delivery	Lecture	20 Hours
	Seminars / Tutorials	1 Hours
	Seminars / Tutorials	1 Hours
Assessment	Semester Assessment	Assignment: 2 written assignments of 1,500 words.	100%

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module you should be able to:

Discuss why information is important to an organisation;
Identify the main roles of information professionals and 'knowledge managers';
Describe how information science, information management and knowledge management evolved;
Explain why issues of governance and quality are important in the knowledge intensive organisation;
Recognise some of the ethical problems in information handling;
Explain various methods of organising information;
Describe how teams and groups contribute to the knowledge resources of an organisation;
Discuss the importance of document and record management;
Discuss some economic and social implications of information technology;
Identify some possible future trends for information in businesses and consider international perspectives.

Brief description

Development of information and knowledge management, use and valuation of information services and products, document and record management, team and group working for knowledge sharing, and some professional, and ethical issues involved in corporate governance and information handling.

Aims

The aim of this module is to give you an insight into the wokr of an information manager, information scientist or knowledge manager. You will consider what makes information science a science and why information management is important. The roles of information managment posts are varied and the purpose of this module is to introduce you to some of the typical tasks and responsibilites that might be faced by an information manager, and show you the theoratical principles which would underpin their work.

Transferable skills

During the course of the module, the following skills will be developed:

independent project work,
information and IT handling,
use and analysis of numerical information,
academic writing,
oral discussions,
group activity,
career awareness,
self- management

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Wilson, DA.. (2002) Managing Information. 3rd. Oxford: Butterworth
Wilson, DA.. (1996) Managing Knowledge. Oxford: Butterworth - Heinemann