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BISM7221 Information Systems
Control, Governance and Audit
Ethical IT Decision-Making AND IT
BISM7221 Information Systems Control, Governance, and Audit Essay Assessment Guideline (Semester 1 2022) 1
Purpose
This document identifies the requirements for this assessment and a marking rubric to provide guidance in
undertaking this assessment.
Details:
Type: Essay
Weight: 20%
In Brief: One 1,500-word essay that explores the relationship between ethical IT decision-making in
business and Information Technology (IT) governance.
Task Description
This 1,500-word essay explores the relationship between ethical IT decision-making in business and
Information Technology (IT) governance. This is an individual assignment, and while students are expected
to discuss the essay with their peers the submitted assessment item is to be the student's own work in line
with the University's requirements for academic integrity. The essay is to be supported by current research
(as outlined in the Assessment Guideline) and corroborated through examples from non-academic sources.
Key to success in this assessment item is to undertake a structured exploration of ethical IT decision-making
and how this is affected by different IT governance mechanisms. Specifically, the essay will identify three IT
governance (structural, process or relational mechanisms) that are most suited for ensuring ethical IT
decision making. The student's depth of understanding is demonstrated and supported using independent
personal research. Pithy and clear writing through adherence to the conventions of essay writing is also
important.
Further information regarding this assessment is provided in the Assessment Guideline.
Criteria & Marking
Assessment is made according to the essay's Introduction, motivation, and signposting (10%),
Definition, description and discussion of Ethical IT Decision-Making and IT Governance (30%), Analysis of
implications of IT governance for ethical IT decision-making (30%), Summary of insights, and conclusion
(20%), and Quality of referencing, professional writing, and presentation (10%).
BISM7221 Information Systems Control, Governance, and Audit Essay Assessment Guideline (Semester 1 2022) 2
Requirements
Scope
This assessment item requires you to consider the nature of the relationship between ethical IT decision-
making and Information Technology (IT) governance.
You should provide an introduction for your essay that outlines your purpose and motivation for the essay
and identifies the structure that is to come (that is, the essay should use signposting).
As this essay is only 1,500 words long, an important consideration is whether to narrow down the scope of
the activities your essay will address. For example, should you consider all ethical IT decision-making (e.g.,
should narrow your focus on a particular type of IT decision)? Should you consider all aspects of IT
governance?
Early in your essay you should therefore identify the context of your essay and scope down the topic of
the essay. For example, you might wish to explore the implications of only one aspect of IT governance for a
particular type of ethical IT decision. This decision would increase the focus of your essay and make analysis
more clear and easier to perform. You should however provide a rationale for your choice in the topic. A
rationale might be that you consider one category of IT decisions as having the most impact on organisations
or people, or you might consider one IT governance as the most important.
In the context of the scope of the essay, you are required to define, describe, and illustrate ethical IT
decision-making and define, describe, and illustrate IT governance. In lectures, the class will discuss
different aspects of ethical IT decision-making (i.e., computer ethical issues) and rationalist and non-
rationalist approaches to understanding ethical decision-making. We will also consider aspects of IT
governance, its nature, and the Foundation for Execution (including, but not limited to, Operating Model,
Enterprise Architecture, and the Engagement Model).
You should support your definitions for IT decision-making and IT governance with independent
research from peer reviewed, quality, academic literature. You should also illustrate this discussion of
ethical IT decision-making and IT governance with examples from industry sources.
You should then explore the relationship between ethical IT decision-making and IT governance in your
chosen context. In this analysis you might answer questions such as:
• What does it mean for ethical IT decision-making if this type of IT governance is mature and
executed well?
• Is there an impact on ethical IT decision-making if this type of IT governance is very weak or absent
altogether?
You must consider how IT governance arrangements affect ethical IT decision-making, and, potentially
vice versa: does ethical IT decision-making have an impact upon IT governance arrangements? This
discussion and analysis should be supported by independent peer reviewed research. The discussion is to
be aimed at consultants advising business on their IT governance arrangements and providing at least two
recommendations that consider ethical considerations or issues to be considered.
Finally, conclude your essay by summarising the most insightful points of your essay. In doing so, you
should highlight at least two implications of your discussion above for consultants providing
recommendations for IT governance in different organisations. That is, answer the question of “what, if
anything, do different approaches to IT governance mean for ethical IT decision-making”.
You should feel free to speak to the lecturer during consultation times to confirm your approach.
BISM7221 Information Systems Control, Governance, and Audit Essay Assessment Guideline (Semester 1 2022) 3
Format
Your essay should be typed (in Times Roman 12-point font or larger, single-spaced) and it should be
approximately 1,500 words in length (excluding abstract, appendices, figure/diagrams/tables, and
references).
The essay must have a cover/title page, abstract, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. On the title
page note the essay title, your student number, name, the course code and course title, the date, the word
count (excluding abstract, appendices, figures/diagrams/tables, and references), and the referencing style
used.
Appendices may not be needed, but if required a maximum of 3 appendices is allowed. Each appendix
should be no more than 3 pages each. Tables should not exceed one page. References can be cited using
APA 6th, Harvard, or Vancouver styles (to be noted on the cover page). Other citation styles may be allowed
through permission granted by the lecturer.
Figures/diagrams/tables should not exceed one page.
References can be cited using APA 6th, Harvard, or Vancouver styles (you must note the referencing style
on the title page). Other citation styles may be allowed through permission granted by the lecturer.
Note especially that the word limit does not include the abstract, appendices, figures, diagrams,
tables, or references in the reference list.
Frequently Asked Questions:
• Are independently researched quality academic sources required, and what are they?
Academic sources are required as noted in the rubric. At least 8 (8) independently researched
quality academic sources are needed in defining, describing, discussing, and analysing the topic of
the essay. They should be of high quality and relevant (generally, <= 10 years old).
Academic, peer-reviewed sources provided as required reading material in the course do not
demonstrate independent research. Lecture notes are secondary sources and do not show
independent research and should not be cited.
A reference list should be included in an appendix at the end of the presentation. This reference list
should be prepared in according with the nominated referencing style.
Additionally, books or book chapters authored by university researchers are considered as
‘academic peer reviewed sources’ for the purpose of this report.
Industry (non-academic) sources may be cited and used in argumentation, of course, but they are
not considered independently researched quality academic sources.
There are videos provided in Learn.UQ for this course that provides hints and tips for finding
references to support your essay.
• Can we cite non-academic ‘industry’ sources?