Planning and implementing a technology solution
Before you begin this assignment, be sure you:
1. Read the “UMUC Haircuts Case Study Stage 1 & 2” & review “Walmart Example.”
2. Review Instructor feedback from previous submissions.
Overview of IT Considerations for Proposed Technology Solution for UMUC Hair Cuts
For your Stage Case Study1, you identified a strategy for competitive advantage and a business process that you would improve through the application of technology to a business process for UMUC Haircuts.
For your Stage 2, you identified a proposed IT solution to improve that business process. Your research included planning for IT and business resources, identifying solution components, and identifying ways the new technology would improve the business process and support the strategy for competitive analysis. Modeling the AS IS and TO BE Processes helped identify the steps in the business process you are improving for UMUC Haircuts.
In Stage 3, you will evaluate IT considerations as to their role and importance to the proposed IT solution to be implemented to improve the business process for UMUC Haircuts. In evaluating and implementing an IT proposal, there are several areas that need to be considered. These considerations are listed in the table provided in this assignment. Depending on the specific technology solution you proposed, some of the considerations would be more important than others and some may not need specific consideration for the initial implementation of your proposed solution.
Resources:
Stage One Notes: Strategy for Competitive Advantage
Business Process to Improve
Stage Two Notes: Technology Solution Proposed
Components Identified
Support for Competitive Advantage Identified.
Analysis of Considerations:
· Consideration: The areas for your consideration are listed in the table. Be sure to research each term to ensure understanding as to how it would apply to the technology solution you are proposing for UMUC Haircuts.
· Rankings: High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A): You will rank each consideration as to how important or relevant it is to the technology solution you are proposing as High, Medium or Low, or Not Applicable to your solution.
· Explanation of Ranking: Using the definition of the term you researched and the ranking you selected, give an explanation and tell how this consideration applies to UMUC Haircuts and the technology solution you are proposing. All considerations must be ranked and a thorough explanation that demonstrates understanding of the topic must be provided. Please note that even N/A items require an explanation. A minimum of two good sentences should be used for the explanation.
The responses that you enter into the table for each area of consideration must be aligned to the one specific solution you proposed and appropriate to the UMUC Haircuts business. If a consideration is not relevant for the solution as described or for its implementation, but might be something for the future, mark it “N/A”. If for instance cloud computing is not in the solution being implemented, but may be considered in the future it would be N/A and not required for the solution. Remember to provide an explanation for every item under consideration.
Do not try to create a reason if there is none, but carefully analyze each area of consideration and determine whether it applies and how. Explanations must provide enough information to convey the reasoning behind the ranking. DO NOT copy definitions into the table; your own words should demonstrate your understanding of the concept as you provide your explanation for the ranking.
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Example: If the technology solution being proposed was to have a kiosk for customers to use to pay for their haircuts or salon visits, then for the Consideration of Usability, the following might be entered. (The definition of Usability is provided here for clarification. Definitions are not required to be entered into the table above.) Note the thorough explanation of the ranking. |
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Consideration |
High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A) |
Explanation for Ranking |
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Usability |
Medium |
Since the customers will use the kiosk to make their payments, it must be easy to understand and easy to use. If it is too complicated, customers will not use it. It is ranked “Medium” because it is important for any customer who chooses to use the kiosk to be able to do so quickly, easily and intuitively. However, it is not “High” since there are other methods of paying. |
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Course Resources (for Weeks 1-5) Where to find the definitions of Considerations
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Usability |
The 7 Software “-ilities” You Need to Know (Week3) |
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Maintainability |
The 7 Software “-ilities” You Need to Know (Week 3) |
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Scalability |
The 7 Software “-ilities” You Need to Know (Week 3) |
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Reliability/Availability |
The 7 Software “-ilities” You Need to Know (Week 3) |
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Extensibility |
The 7 Software “-ilities” You Need to Know (Week 3) |
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Portability |
The 7 Software “-ilities” You Need to Know (Week 3) |
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Security |
The 7 Software “-ilities” You Need to Know (Week 3) |
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Information Quality |
High Quality Information, Chapter 1, Section 1.2 (Week 1) |
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Authentication |
Chapter 5, Section 5.4 (Week 4) |
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Business Continuity Plan |
Chapter 5, Section 5.7 (Week 4) |
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Cloud Computing |
Chapter 2, Section 2.4 (Week 3) |
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Enterprise Systems (ERP, CRM, SCM) |
Chapter 10 (Week 5) |
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Networks |
Chapter 4 (Week 3) |
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Database, Data Warehouse, Data Mining |
Chapter 3 (Week 4) |
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Business Intelligence |
Chapter 3 (Week 4) |
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Transaction Processing |
Chapter 2 (Week 3) |
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Decision Support |
Chapter 2 (Week 3) |
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Executive Information |
Chapter 2 (Week 3) |
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Business-to-Business eCommerce |
Chapter 6 (Week 2) |
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Business-to-Consumer eCommerce |
Chapter 6 (Week 2) |
Assignment: UMUC Haircuts Stage 3: Create a document that includes:
I. Introduction
At the top of your paper, show the strategy for competitive advantage that you will focus on and the business process you will improve, using the following format:
Strategy for Competitive Advantage: xxxxxxx (just name the strategy)
Business Process to Improve: xxxxxxxxx (just name the process)
In one brief paragraph:
· State your proposed IT solution.
· Explain how the IT solution it will improve the business process
· State how it supports the strategy for competitive advantage.
· Provide an introduction to the Table of IT Considerations.
II. Table of IT Considerations
· Copy the table below into your paper
· Rank each consideration as High, Medium or Low in Importance/Relevance or Not Applicable to the proposed technology solution
· Explain each ranking, as described in the table, including explanations for N/A as well
· Explanations of the Considerations are listed in Course Resources table above.
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Consideration |
Importance/ |
Explanation for Ranking (minimum 2 good sentences for each, linked to your specific technology solution proposed – be sure to mention your solution and the Case Study) |
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1 |
Usability |
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2 |
Maintainability |
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3 |
Scalability |
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4 |
Reliability/ Availability |
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5 |
Extensibility |
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6 |
Portability |
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7 |
Security |
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8 |
Information Quality |
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9 |
Authentication |
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10 |
Business Continuity Plan |
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11 |
Cloud Computing |
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12 |
Enterprise Systems (ERP, CRM, SCM) |
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13 |
Communications |
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14 |
Database, Data Warehouse, Data Mining |
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15 |
Business Intelligence |
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16 |
Transaction Processing |
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17 |
Decision Support |
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18 |
Executive Information |
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19 |
Business-to-Business eCommerce |
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20 |
Business-to-Consumer eCommerce |
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Additional Instructions:
Formatting: Stage Three IT Considerations submission.
For academic writing, the writer is expected to write in the third person. In third person, the writer avoids the pronouns I, we, my, and our. The third person is used to make the writing more objective by taking the individual, the “self,” out of the writing. This method is very helpful for academic writing, a form in which facts, not opinion, drive the tone of the text. Writing in the third person allows the writer to come across as unbiased and thus more informed.
· Submit one document that includes your paper and the Table of Considerations.
· Write a short concise paper that is double spaced (Table can be single spaced)
· Use APA formatted citations and references for any external sources used.
· Include a title page and a reference page, if references are included.
· Compare your final work to the rubric to be sure you have met content and quality criteria.
· Submit your paper as a Word document, or a document that can be read in Word.
· Your submission should include your last name first in the filename: Lastname_firstname_Stage _3
GRADING RUBRIC:
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ISFM-300 Case Study, Stage 3 Rubric: IT Considerations
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Criteria |
90-100% Far Above Standards |
80-89% Above Standards |
70-79% Meets Standards |
60-69% Below Standards |
< 60% Well Below Standards |
Possible Points |
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Explanation of Proposed Solution |
9-10 Points
Explanation uses course vocabulary and concepts to clearly identify what the IT solution is, what it is expected to do for the business in the case study; it is appropriate for a specific business process, and sets the stage well for the rankings. A well-written introduction to the Table of Considerations is provided. |
8 Points
Explanation uses course vocabulary and concepts to clearly identify what the IT solution is; it is appropriate for a specific business process, and appropriately sets the stage for the rankings. A good introduction to the Table of Considera-tions is provided. |
7 Points
Explanation describes the IT solution and it is appropriate for a specific business process; an introduction to the Table of Considera-tions is provided; minimal use of course vocabulary and concepts. |
6 Points
Explanation of solution does not clearly explain what it is expected to do for the business in the case study, is not a technical solution for a specific process, is not adequate to set stage for rankings; and/or introduction to Table of Considera-tions is missing. |
0-5 Points
No explanation provided, or very poor explanation of proposed solution provided; and/or solution described is not a technical solution; and/or little effort demonstrated |
10 |
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High/ Medium/ Low or N/A Rankings |
36-40 Points
Rankings all demonstrate a strong understanding of course concepts, analysis and critical thinking; and are appropriate for the business in the case study and the proposed solution. |
32-35 Points
Most rankings demonstrate an understand-ing of course concepts, analysis and critical thinking; and are appropriate for the business in the case study and the proposed solution. |
28-31 Points
Rankings are designated and demonstrate a basic understand-ing of course concepts or analysis. |
24-27 Points
Rankings are provided but selection may be lacking in demonstra-tion of understand-ing of course concepts or analysis. |
0-23 Points
Few, if any rankings provided or rankings are not appropriate for the solution and/or the case study. |
40
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Explanation for Rankings |
36-40 Points
Explanations are at least two good sentences which use course vocabulary to justify rankings and demonstrate a strong understanding of course concepts, analysis, and critical thinking; and are focused on the business in the case study and the proposed solution. |
32-35 Points
Explanations are at least two good sentences which use course vocabulary to justify most rankings and demonstrate an understand-ing of course concepts, analysis, and critical thinking; and are focused on the business in the case study and the proposed solution. |
28-31 Points
Explanations are at least two good sentences that justify rankings. |
24-27 Points
Some explanations are less than two good sentences, and/or do not adequately justify rankings; may be lacking in the use of course vocabulary and demonstra-tion of understand-ing of course concepts, analysis, and/or critical thinking; or are not focused on the business in the case study. |
0-23 Points
Few, if any explanations provided, are not compatible with rankings; or little effort demonstrated. |
40
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Table Format |
9-10 Points
Information is professionally presented; is written in third person and uses course vocabulary, correct sentence structure, grammar, and spelling. |
8 Points
Information is presented well; uses correct sentence structure, written in third person, and has few grammar, and spelling errors. |
7 Points
Information is presented with some grammar and/or spelling errors. |
6 Points
Information is not profession-ally presented, and/or contains several grammar and/or spelling errors.
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0-5 Points
Information is extremely poorly written; has many grammar and/or spelling errors; and/or does not convey the information adequately. |
10 |
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TOTAL Points Possible |
100 |
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