Fundamentals of Information Systems and Technologies

Classes are theoretical-practical, appealing to the development of the student’s critical sense, with learning based on problem-solving, challenges and case studies corresponding to Information Technologies and Systems in an organisational context.

Active teaching and learning methodologies centred on the student will be used, with the aim of promoting the development of analytical problem-solving skills, critical thinking and continuous learning, based on the technical skills acquired.

Initially, the classes will present the fundamental concepts, interacting with the students and promoting individual and team debate. The Case Study and Scenario Analysis methodology will be used so that it becomes clear how Information Systems and Technologies exist in practice in companies, as well as the relevance of organisational knowledge. These real-life examples can be complemented with a company visit to reinforce this awareness on the part of the students. The discussion of strategic decisions and their impact on the operationalisation of systems is also one of the aspects to be explored.

In the Technology/Hardware/Computer Architecture component, practical sessions via simulation and laboratory exercises will provide added value for exploring and understanding system performance and how memories work. These tools and specific software dedicated to this objective are accessible today, which allows practice with input and output interactions.

In this course, as students will find in most of the courses in the Management Informatics degree programme, Project-based Learning is used, as well as problem-solving-based learning, which will be complemented in the Fundamentals of Information Systems component with Challenge-based Learning. The choice of these strategies encourages students to think and find solutions to the challenges they will be presented with. It also encourages teamwork, discussion of the various solutions proposed by the groups, and the creation of working teams that help each other, as if they were a company. In these cases, we focus on challenges and problems that the students diagnose and try to solve, by suggesting improvements and/or changes to processes and procedures, aspects that are relevant to learning in other subsequent Curricular Units, encouraging the development of critical thinking.

Objectives:

– To master the knowledge and procedures to be observed in Information Systems Auditing (ISA)

– Identify the appropriate profile for the profession of auditor and IS auditor

– Learn about ISA certifications and codes of ethics and conduct

– Know the methods, paradigms and instruments for diagnosing, auditing and making recommendations regarding IS

– Know how to draw up ISA reports using technical writing

– Understand the phases and good practices for auditing application controls, applications, cybersecurity programmes, artificial intelligenceimplementation projects, databases and cloud computing and outsourcing operations – know how to analyse quality policy procedures in ISA processes – Know CAAT to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of ISA.

Skills to be acquired:

– behave in accordance with the code of ethics and conduct for carrying out ISAs- identify weaknesses in IS controls and propose corrections and new control rules.

Part A. Fundamentals of Information Technology

A1. Introduction to the study of Computer Architecture: Computers and Systems and evolution A2. Performance concepts

A3. Top-Level view of computing functions and interconnection

A4. Memory Hierarchy: Locality and Performance

A5 – Cache Memory

A6- Internal Memory

A7- External Memory

A8- Input/Output (I/O)

A9- Operating System Support

Part B. Fundamentals of Information Systems

B1. Organisational Knowledge

B2. Fundamental Systems Concepts

B3. Types of Information Systems

B4. The Organisation and Information Systems

B5. Stakeholders involved in an Information System

NAO