Syllabuses of Subjects offered by

COMP, AMA, CBS, ELC

C O N T E N T S

Subject Code/Title

Page

COMP311 Foundations of Database Systems 1 COMP316 Object-oriented Methods for Information Systems

Development 4

COMP431 Business Process and Workflow Management 7 AMA2101 Quantitative Methods for Business 10 CBS2015 Putonghua for Business and Administration 13 ELC3201 Workplace English for Business Students 15 ELC4201 Executive English 18

August 2006 I

Subject Code : COMP311 Subject Title : Foundations of Database Systems Level : 3 Credits : 3 Mode of Study : Seminar 28 hours Laboratory 14 hours Pre-requisites : COMP201 and (COMP305 or COMP210) Assessment : Continuous Assessment 55% Examination 45%

ROLE AND PURPOSE This subject provides students knowledge on:

design, develop, implement, and administrate a database system of considerable complexity.

possess enough background to evaluate various DBMSs of different data models and make the appropriate selection for an organization.

LEARNING OUTCOMES After taking this subject, the students should be able to: Professional/academic knowledge and skills (a) acquire a good understanding of the architecture and functioning of database

management systems, as well as to be able to use the associated tools and techniques;

(b) understand and apply the principles and practices of good database design and analysis;

(c) recognize the direction of database technology and their implication so as to manage and plan database system developments.

Attributes for all-roundedness (a) appreciate development of database technologies for lifelong learning, e.g., web

databases; (b) build up on team spirit, presentation and technical writing skills.

August 2006 1

INDICATIVE CONTENT Basic concepts of database system (2 hours) Database and its applications DBMS design objectives and its components ANSI/SPARC three-level system architecture Data independence

Database design (6 hours) Entity-relationship model Functional dependencies Normalization Relational data model (6 hours) Relational structure Relational languages: relational algebra, relational calculus, SQL Relational constraints: entity constraints, referential integrity constraints and

foreign keys File structures and physical database design (4 hours) File organization Indexing and hashing Application designs and query processing (6 hours) Relational view definition and management Equivalence of expressions, estimation of query-processing cost, join strategies Database and the World Wide Web Embedded SQL and ODBC Implementation issues (4 hours) Buffer management Transaction processing Concurrency control Crash and recovery Security and integrity

August 2006 2

TEACHING/LEARNING APPROACH Laboratory Experiment

There are two types of laboratory/tutorial sessions:

Practice of technical skills such as database CASE tools, SQL and application programming.

Reinforce design and analysis skills through group interactions, presentations and prototype demonstrations.

Case Study

Real-life/industrial database application development examples will be discussed in classes and/or tutorials when appropriate.

INDICATIVE READING Textbook

Michael Manning. Database Design, Application Development, & Administration, 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 2004. Reference Books

David Kroenke. Database Processing: Fundamentals, Design and Implementation, 8th edition, Prentice Hall, 2002. A Silberschatz, H.F. Korth, S. Sudarshan. Database System Concepts 4th Edition. McGraw Hill, 2002. Hector Garcia-Molina, Jeffrey D. Ullman & Jennifer Widom. Database System Implementation, Prentice Hall, 2000. C. J. Date. An Introduction to Database Systems, Addison-Wesley Longman, 1999.

August 2006 3

Subject Code : COMP316 Subject Title : Object-oriented Methods for Information Systems Development Level : 3 Credits : 3 Mode of Study : Lecture 28 hours Tutorial 14 hours Pre-requisites : COMP201, COMP302 Assessment : Continuous Assessment 60% Examination 40%

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To introduce students to the concepts and practices of the object-oriented approach to software development.

To familiarize students with the tools and languages for object-oriented analysis, design and implementation.

To expose students to the applications of object-oriented technologies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES After taking this subject, the students should be able to: Professional/academic knowledge and skills (a) analyze a problem using an object-oriented approach; (b) design an object-oriented model for a problem, and implement the design using

appropriate object-oriented tools and techniques; (c) document the analysis and design of an information system using UML; (d) determine the degree to which a technology conforms to the object-oriented

paradigm; Attributes for all-roundedness (a) analyze and solve information system problems in a systematic manner; (b) cooperate with team members in problem solving; (c) report and present the solution to an information system problem clearly.

August 2006 4

INDICATIVE CONTENT Information systems analysis and design (4 hours) System Development Life Cycle: requirement definition and specification Analysis and design Implementation Testing Object-oriented Paradigm (4 hours) Rationale for the OO approach OO software development life cycle Objects and classes Abstraction, aggregation, messages, services, encapsulation, association,

generalization, inheritance hierarchy, polymorphism, metaclass Object-oriented analysis and design (12 hours) Object behaviour analysis Identification of classes and objects in a problem domain Object relationships Identification of structures, attributes instance connection, services and message

connections

Design issues in problem domain: data management, task management and human interface components, mapping an OO data model into a relational model

Reuse, patterns, and frameworks Unified Modeling Language (UML) Object-oriented languages and systems (4 hours) Characteristics of object-oriented tools such as C++, Java, Smalltalk Object-oriented Project Management (4 hours) Applications in information system analysis, design and software engineering User interfaces, system conversion, user training, user guide and operations

manual, system development planning and scheduling, software cost estimation

August 2006 5

TEACHING/LEARNING APPROACH Tutorials/Laboratories/Project presentations and seminars (14 hours)

OO/UML development tools such as Rational Rose. Class exercises on OO analysis and design problems. Presentations and demonstrations of projects.

INDICATIVE READING Timothy C. Lethbridge and Robert Laganiere. Object-Oriented Software Engineering Practical software development using UML and Java, McGraw-Hill, 2nd Edition, 2005. Simon Bennett, Steve McRobb and Ray Farmer. Object-Oriented System Analysis and Design Using UML, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002. Wolfgang Emmerich. Engineering Distributed Objects, John Wiley & Sons, 2000. Grady Booch, James Rumbaugh and Ivar Jacobson. The Unified Modeling Language User Guide, Addison Wesley, 1999. Grady Booch. Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with Applications, 3rd Edition, Benjamin/Cummings, 2005. B. Meyer. Object-Oriented Software Construction, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2002. M. Fowler and K. Scott. UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language, 3rd Edition, Addison Wesley, 2003. B. Hughes and M. Cotterell. Software Project Management, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002. Deitel & Deitel. Java: How to Program, 6th Ed., Prentice Hall, 2004. Deitel & Deitel. C++: How to Program, 5th Ed., Prentice Hall, 2005.

August 2006 6

Subject Code : COMP431 Subject Title : Business Process and Workflow Management Level : 4 Credits : 3 Mode of Study : Lecture 28 hours Tutorial 14 hours Pre-requisite : None Assessment : Continuous Assessment 55% Examination 45% ROLE AND PURPOSE

To present a process-oriented view to business modeling and the application of workflow technologies to business process engineering.

To equip students with the fundamental knowledge of workflow management systems.

LEARNING OUTCOMES After taking this subject, the students should be able to: Professional/academic knowledge and skills (a) understand the role of business processes in modern enterprises; (b) understand the basic steps in business process engineering/re-engineering; (c) understand the application of workflow technologies to process modeling and

implementation; (d) understand the building blocks of a workflow management system; (e) understand the existing industrial workflow standards; (f) apply workflow technologies to solve business problems; Attributes for all-roundedness (a) improve presentation and communication skills (through case study

presentations); (b) learn independently and to find/integrate information from different sources

required in solving real-life problems

August 2006 7

INDICATIVE CONTENT Introduction to business process (2 hours) Modern business environment Process-oriented view to organizations Examples of business processes Business process engineering (4 hours) Process analysis Process re-engineering Business engineering and workflow Fundamental concepts of workflow (6 hours) Major components of a workflow management system Buildtime metamodel: process data, activities, control flow, data flow Runtime system structure Workflows and objects Advanced functions of workflow (8 hours) Events Dynamic modification of workflows Advanced join conditions Container materialization Context management Performance spheres Compile spheres Transactions Workflow systems architecture (4 hours) Application structure Middleware Internet and mobile workflow Emergent technologies. Workflow standards (4 hours) OMGs Workflow Management Facility Workflow Management Coalition standards

August 2006 8

TEACHING/LEARNING APPROACH Case Study

Presentations will be held during the seminars, where the students will form groups to read and present real-life cases related to the subject's topics.

INDICATIVE READING L. Ficher (ed.), Workflow Handbook 2004, Future Strategies Inc., 2004. F. Leymann, D. Roller, Production Workflow: Concepts and Techniques, Prentice-Hall, 2000. T. Schael, T. Schal, T. and T.W. Schaller, Workflow Management Systems for Process Organisations, Springer, 1998. Articles from journals, magazines, and conference proceedings, including ACM TOCS, ACM TODS, IEEE TKDE, IEEE TSE, IEEE TOC, CACM, IEEE Computer, ICDE, CIKM.

August 2006 9

Subject Code : AMA2101 Subject Title : Quantitative Methods for Business Level : 2 Credits : 3 Mode of Study : Lectures 28 hours Seminars 14 hours Pre-requisites : None Assessment : Continuous Assessment 50% Examination 50% Minimum Pass Grade : Continuous Assessment (D) Examination (D) ROLE AND PURPOSE This subject provides students with basic statistics and the ability to take a numerate approach to a wide range of modules in Levels 3 and 4 of the course. It also develops their ability to think analytically, critically and creatively, while contributing to the development of their IT skills. LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:

use a variety of basic techniques in understanding and interpreting data. understand elementary quantitative methods and their applications in

business, analyzing business scenarios and problems by applying statistics.

think critically and creatively about the uses and limitations of quantitative methods in business.

use statistical package and interpret the output, appreciating the applications of information technology for quantitative analysis in business.

August 2006 10

INDICATIVE CONTENT Descriptive Statistics

Presentation of business data in tabular, diagrammatic and graphic forms; misleading presentations. Summary measures of location and spread. Probability

Concepts of probability. Axioms of probability. Bayes Theorem. Random variables and expected values; uses and limitations in decision making. Common probability distributions: Binomial, Poisson and Normal. Estimation

Simple random samples. Sampling distributions: mean, proportion and differences. Confidence intervals: mean, proportion and differences. Hypothesis Testing

Hypothesis testing: mean, proportion and differences. Chi-square Test

Test of Goodness of Fit. Test of Independence. Relationships between Variables

Exploratory Data Analysis. Linear relationships: ordinary least squares. Correlation coefficients.

Multiple Regression

Multiple Regression Equation. Inferences about Parameters. Modelling Techniques. Financial Mathematics Fundamentals of compound interest. Discounted and Compounded Value. Annuities. Amortization and Sinking Funds

TEACHING/LEARNING APPROACH Lectures will be used to present the basic technical material and illustrate its use. Seminars will be used for problem classes where students can check their solutions to

August 2006 11

exercises and resolve problems with their understanding of the topics. Mini cases illustrating the use of the basic statistical techniques, and computer packages will be used when appropriate. INDICATIVE READING Study Guide Quantitative Methods for Business, Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2005 Reference Books Aczel, A.D., Complete Business Statistics, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2002. Hamburg, Morris, Statistical Analysis for Decision Making, 5th ed., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991. Levin, Richard I. and Rubin, David S., Statistics for Management, 7th ed., Prentice-Hall, 1998. Moore, David S. and McCabe, G., Introduction to the practice of Statistics, 4th ed., W H Freeman, 2003. McClave, J. T., Benson, P. George and Sincich, Terry., A First Course in Business Statistics, 8 ed., Prentice Hall, 2001.

August 2006 12

Subject Code : CBS2015

Subject Title : Putonghua for Business and Administration

Semester : Either

Pre-requisites : Students should possess basic Putonghua proficiency level

Hours Assigned : Seminar 42 Hours

Status : Compulsory

Credits : 2

Duration : 1 Semester

Method of Assessment : 100% Continuous assessment

Minimum Pass Grade : Coursework (D) LEARNING OUTCOME Built on the students Putonghua foundation upon entry, this subject aims to enhance students communication skills in Putonghua in the business context. Students are expected to:- 1. be able to master the key features of Putonghua in terms of pronunciation and

common ways of expression; 2. be able to communicate efficiently in various business settings in Putonghua; 3. be familiarized with the pragmatic devices underlying business communication in

China; 4. be familiarized with the cultural background of China as reflected in business

communications in China. INDICATIVE CONTENT 1. Comprehensive revision on Putonghua communication skills

pronunciation vocabularies grammar

2. In-depth practice on Putonghua listening comprehension skills speed and accent casual speech vs. speech on specialized topics quantity and structure of information pragmatic rules and implications

3. Colloquial expressions in Putonghua

4. Business communication principles and rules in conversation common pragmatic devices in business communications

August 2006 13

stylistic and rhetorical variations in spoken and written communications according to contextual changes

culture and language communication in the business setting commonly used jargons for business and administration

INDICATIVE READING Required 2000 Reference 2003 1999 1998 1994 900 2002 2002

August 2006 14

Subject Code : ELC3201

Subject Title : Workplace English for Business Students

Level : 3

Subject Weight : 1.0

Semester : 1 or 2

Hours Assigned : 28

Credits : 2

Length : 1 semester

Assessment : 100% Continuous Assessment

Minimum Pass Grade : Coursework (D)

OBJECTIVE To develop those English language skills required of FB students to communicate effectively in their future professional careers. SUBJECT DESCRIPTION The subject is designed to introduce students to the communication skills, both oral and written, that they may be expected to need to function effectively in their future professions. These skills will be necessary for successful employment in any organisation where internal and/or external communication is conducted in English. The study method is primarily based on seminars. Seminar activities will include discussions, role-play, individual and group activities. Use will be made of information technology and the ELCs Centre for Independent Language Learning. LEARNING AND TEACHING MATERIALS Course-specific materials developed by the English Language Centre will be used throughout the course. In addition, lecturers will recommend additional reference materials as required. SYLLABUS This syllabus is indicative. The balance of components, and the weighting accorded to each, will be based on the specific needs of the students.

August 2006 15

Language Appropriacy Introducing notions of context-sensitive language use in spoken and written English: for example, in the writing of e-mails, job application documents and workplace reports; and in oral appropriacy with regard to such activities as job interviews. Seeking and supplying information Practice in the oral skills required in job-seeking interviews, and problem-solving. Workplace writing Selecting and using relevant content, appropriate format and style, and structure and layout, in letters, memos, emails and reports. Language development Improving and extending relevant features of students' grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. OUTCOME AREAS By the end of the course, students will be able to use appropriate English in:

job interviews letters, memos and e-mails reports REFERENCES Ashley, A. (1992) A handbook of commercial correspondence. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Baugh, L. S., Fryar, M. & Thomas, D. A. (1995). How to write first-class business correspondence. Illinois: NTC Publishing Group. Bilbow, G. T. (1997). Business writing for Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Longman. Guffey, M. E. (1999). Business English. 6th ed. Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College. Guffey, M. E. (2001). Essentials of business communication. 5th ed. Australia: South-Western College Pub. Lehman, C. M. (1999). Business communication. 12th ed. Cincinnati, Ohio:

August 2006 16

South-Western College Pub. Murphy, H. A. & Hilderbrandt, H. W. (1997). Effective business communications. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

August 2006 17

Subject Code : ELC4201

Subject Title : Executive English

Level : 4

Subject Weight : 1.0

Semester : 1 or 2

Hours assigned : 42

Credits : 3 Pre-requisites : ELC3201 Workplace English for Business Students

Length : 1 semester

Assessment : 100% Continuous Assessment

Minimum Pass Grade : Coursework (D) OBJECTIVE To develop those higher level English language and communication skills required by FB graduates to communicate effectively as professionals in their chosen fields and to participate fully in corporate critical and creative thinking. SUBJECT DESCRIPTION The subject is designed to build upon the language and communication skills covered in previous ELC profession-related courses. The subject underlines the need for students to be able to select suitable registers of English in particular contexts, in addition to focusing upon the strategies available to speakers and writers of English when communicating in a professional capacity. To enable students to use their English more appropriately and successfully in their future professions, the coherent presentation of ideas and language will be emphasised. The study method is primarily based on seminars and tutorials. Seminar activities will include discussions, role-play, individual and group activities. Use will be made of video and tape audio recordings, library research, and the ELCs Centre for Independent Language Learning. LEARNING AND TEACHING MATERIALS Course-specific materials developed by the English Language Centre will be used throughout the course. In addition, lecturers will recommend additional reference

August 2006 18

materials as required. SYLLABUS This syllabus is indicative. The balance of components, and the weighting accorded to each, will be based on the specific needs of the students. The course will follow a project management organisational structure; i.e.: 1) Initiating: brainstorming, interviewing stakeholders, goal setting 2) Planning: prioritisation and drafting proposals 3) Executing: preparing promotional literature, conducting meetings and

communicating with stakeholders 4) Controlling: conducting meetings with stakeholders about project progress and

negotiating about new or revised requirements 5) Closing: preparing a final report Throughout this subject, continuing attention will be paid to grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. OUTCOME AREAS By the end of the course students will be able to use appropriate English in:

Writing proposals Presenting proposals Writing promotional literature Business meetings Writing a Project Report REFERENCES Baldwin, R. & Heitler, D. (1995). Creating opportunities. Oxford: O.U.P. Ellis, M. & O'Driscoll, N. (1994). Giving presentations. Harlow, Essex: Longman. Guffey, M. E. (1999). Business English. 6th ed. Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College. Huckin, T. & Olsen, L. (1991). Technical writing and professional communication for

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nonnative speakers of English. Singapore: McGraw Hill. Murphy, H. A. & Hilderbrandt, H. W. (1997). Effective business communications. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. O'Driscoll, N. & Pilbeam, A. (1992). Meetings and discussions. Harlow, Essex: Longman.

August 2006 20

Required Reference