Dr Mahesha Samaratunga

Teaching

Business Information Systems (Postgraduate)

The role of software is increasingly critical in our everyday lives and the accompanying risks of business or safety critical systems failure can be profound. This module will provide students with a framework for articulating and managing the risks inherent in the systems they will develop as practitioners. Likewise, students will learn how to build decision support tools for uncertain problems in a variety of contexts (legal, medical, safety), but with a special emphasis on software development. This course will make a distinctive offering that will enable our students to bring a principled approach to bear to analyse and solve uncertain and risky problems. Course contents: Quantification of risk and assessment: Bayesian Probability & Utility Theory, Bayes Theorem & Bayesian updating; Causal modelling using Bayesian networks with examples; Measurement for risk: Principles of measurement, Software metrics, Introduction to multi-criteria decision aids; Principles of risk management: The risk life-cycle, Fault trees, Hazard analysis; Building causal models in practice: Patterns, identification, model reuse and composition, Eliciting and building probability tables; Real world examples; Decision support environments.

Business Information Systems (Undergraduate)

This module covers the basics of business information systems, with emphasis on the technical, ethical and human factors in successful information system deployment. You will study how organisations use information systems as well as the basic concepts, methods and terminology used during the design and development stages of business information systems. The module reviews the typical hardware, software, data and telecommunications used in business systems and their strategic importance.

Business Modelling (Work based)

Introduces students to the development of quantitative models and associated processes for problem solving and decision making in IT management. The module introduces basic statistical concepts and provides practical experience in developing spreadsheet implementations of quantitative methods. A case study approach is taken to the application of statistical analysis and modelling of a range of engineering activities including concept selection, design optimisation, robust design, manufacturing process improvement, and problem-solving. Examples of modelling approaches may include the use of Microsoft Excel Solver, Scenario Analysis, Data Mining and Discrete Event Simulation.

End Point Assessment (Work based)

This module is only available to students enrolled on the MSc Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist degree apprenticeship.As defined in the approved Assessment Plan for the standard, a degree apprentice must pass this End Point Assessment in order to be eligible for the apprenticeship award. The End Point Assessment consists of 2 components: a project report and a Professional Discussion, both evaluated by an Independent Assessor.

Ethics, Regulation and Law in Advanced Digital Information Processing and Decis (Postgraduate)

This module takes a practical approach to the coverage of ethics in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. It sees ethical considerations as part of a spectrum of concerns, including ethics, but extending through regulation and legal compliance as formal expressions of what is and is not ethical. It considers examples of the kinds of issues that arise in existing systems, and uses the UK Government's Ethical Framework as an example of how to embed considerations of ethics into business processes.

Professional and Research Practice (Work based)

This module is only open to degree apprentices in the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. It covers the following topics: discipline topic tasters; finding, retrieving and evaluating information; ethics, science & technology; scientific and technical writing; skills for workplace context.

Software Development and Quality (Undergraduate)

The module will cover the entire software development lifecycle from design through to deployment and maintenance, with an emphasis on quality, industry standards, and professional issues. Topics will include: software in business; software development processes and technologies; modelling, architecture and design; configuration, change, versioning and release management; implementation deployment and maintenance; legacy architectures, technologies and systems; software quality, standards and processes; project management, resourcing and control; project risk management; software documentation.

Research