CIC Case Study
Chesapeake IT Consultants
Chesapeake IT Consultants (CIC) is a successful Information Technology consulting services firm that utilizes proven IT and management methodologies to achieve measurable results for its customers. Its customer base includes small to mid-tier businesses, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies at the local, state and federal levels. CIC feels strongly that its success is dependent on the combination of the talent of its IT consultants, the best practices CIC employs, and a dedication to delivering truly beneficial IT solutions to their clients.
Corporate Profile
Corporate Name: Chesapeake IT Consultants, Inc.
Founded: May 2004
Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland
Satellite Locations: Herndon, Virginia; Bethesda, Maryland
Number of Employees: 400
Total Annual Gross Revenue: $80,000,000
President and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Alvin Morrison
Business Areas
CIC provides consulting services in the following areas:
 Business Process Consulting – Business process redesign, process improvement
 IT Consulting – IT strategy, analysis, planning, system development, implementation, and network support
 IT Outsourcing Consulting – Requirements analysis; vendor evaluation, due diligence, selection and performance management; Service Level Agreements
Business Strategy
CIC’s business strategy is to provide extraordinary consulting services and recommendations to its customers by employing highly skilled consultants and staying abreast of new business concepts and technology and/or developing new business concepts and best practices of its own.
Current Business Environment
CIC provides consultants on-site to work with its clients, delivering a wide variety of IT-related services. CIC obtains most of its business through competitively bidding on Requests for Proposals issued by business, government and non-profit organizations. A small but growing portion of its business is through referrals and follow-on contracts from satisfied clients. CIC anticipates it will win two large contracts in the near future and is preparing proposals for several other large projects.
CIC Case Study 3/18/2017 2
CIC, as a consulting company, relies on the quality and expertise of its employees to provide the services needed by the clients. When it is awarded a contract, the customer expects CIC to quickly provide the consultants and begin work on the project. CIC, like other consulting companies, cannot afford to carry a large number of employees that are not assigned to contracts. Therefore, they need to determine the likelihood of winning a new contract and ensure the appropriately skilled consultants are ready to go to work when needed. CIC relies on its HR Department to find and hire the personnel that the line managers need for upcoming contracts. It is very much a “just in time” hiring situation.
The Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, houses approximately 300 employees. Satellite offices have been opened in the last two years in both Herndon, Virginia and Bethesda, Maryland to provide close proximity to existing clients. It is anticipated that new pending contracts would add staff to all locations. The management team believes there is capacity at all locations, as much of the consultants’ work is done on-site at the customers’ locations.
Strategic Direction
As a small to mid-size business (SMB), CIC recognizes that it needs to carefully plan its future strategy. Considering the competitive environment that contains many very large IT consulting firms, such as Hewlett-Packard (HP), Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), as well as numerous smaller companies with various skill sets, market niches, and established customer bases, CIC will be evaluating how best to position itself for the future and recognizes that its ability to identify its core competencies, move with agility and flexibility, and deliver consistent high quality service to its clients is critical for continued success.
One area that is critical to a consulting company is the ability to have employees who possess the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfill current and future contracts. With all the competition in IT consulting services, CIC is planning to incorporate consultants in other countries to provide remote research and analysis support to the on-site teams. Since CIC has no experience in the global marketplace, the Director of HR has begun examining international labor laws to determine where CIC should recruit and hire employees.
Challenges
The two contracts that CIC expects to win very soon will require the hiring of an additional 75 consultants very quickly. The Director of Human Resources (HR) is concerned that the current manual process of recruiting and hiring employees will not allow his department to be responsive to these needs. He is looking for a near-term solution that will automate many of the manual hiring process steps and reduce the time it takes to hire new staff. He is also looking for a solution that will allow CIC to hire employees located in other countries around the world.
CIC Case Study 3/18/2017 3
Additional business plans include adding help desk support as a provided service. This may include partnering with another vendor offshore to provide economical competitive services in this area.
Management Direction
The management team has been discussing how to ramp up to fill the requirements of the two new contracts, and prepare the company to continue growing as additional contracts are awarded in the future. The company has been steadily growing and thus far hiring of new employees has been handled through a process that is largely manual. The HR Director reported that his staff will be unable to accommodate the hiring of the 75 new employees in the timeframe required. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) then recommended that the company look for a commercial off-the-shelf software product that can dramatically improve the hiring process and shorten the time it takes to hire new employees. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) wants to ensure that all investments are in line with the corporate mission and will achieve the desired return on investment. She will be looking for clear information that proposals have been well researched, provide a needed capability for the organization, and can be cost-effectively implemented in a relatively short period of time to reap the benefits. The CEO has asked the CIO to work with HR to recommend a solution.
Your Task
As a business analyst in the CIO’s department, you have been assigned to conduct an analysis, develop a set of system requirements, and propose an IT solution. The CIO has set up a series of interviews for you to collect information about the current hiring process and the requirements for a system. He has asked you to produce a Business Analysis and System Recommendation Report (BA&SR) as your final deliverable

Stage 1:   Background and Organizational Analysis

Before you begin work on this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study which is located in Content under Course Resources.  Refer to the Business Analysis and System Recommendations (BA&SR) Table of Contents below to see where you are in the process of developing this report.

Overview

As a business analyst in the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO’s) department of Chesapeake IT Consulting (CIC), you have been assigned to conduct an analysis, develop a set of system requirements and propose an IT solution to improve the hiring process for CIC.   This work will be completed in four stages, and each of these four stages will focus on one section of an overall Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) report to be delivered to the CIO. 

The graphic below outlines the Table of Contents for this report:

Section I: Background and Organizational Analysis (Stage 1) WEEK 2 Submission– The first step is to look at the organization and explain how an IT system could benefit CIC by improving its hiring system.

Section II: Strategic Use of Technology (Stage 2) WEEK 4 Submission– Next you will explain, in general, how CIC can use IT for strategic purposes.

Section III: Strategic and Operational Outcomes (Stage 3) WEEK 4 Submission– Then you will analyze CIC’s strategy and processes to determine how technology solutions can be used to support the organizational processes and enable CIC’s strategic and operational outcomes, and develop a set of requirements for the new hiring system.

Section IV: System Recommendation (Stage 4)WEEK  8 Submission – Finally, you will identify an enterprise hiring system for CIC, and explain how it meets the requirements, and what needs to be done to implement the system within CIC.

The sections of the BA&SR will be developed and submitted as four staged assignments.  In stages 2, 3 and 4, you will also incorporate any feedback received when the previous stage is graded to improve the effectiveness of your overall report and then add the new section to your report.   At the end of the course, you will submit a complete BA&SR document that includes all the sections and changes that resulted from previous feedback.                                  

Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents

I.                     Background and Organizational Analysis (Stage 1)      

A.                  Introduction        

B.                   Organizational Strategy

C.                   Components of an Information System

1.                   People and Technology

2.                   Processes

3.                   Data/Information

II.                   Strategic Use of Technology (Stage 2)

A.                  Decision Making

B.                   Communication

C.                   Collaboration

D.                  Relationships

E.                   Structure

F.                   Competitive Advantage

III.                 Strategic and Operational Outcomes (Stage 3)

A.                  Strategic Outcomes

B.                   Process Analysis

C.                   Requirements

IV.                 System Recommendation (Stage 4)

A.                  Benefits of an Enterprise Solution

B.                   Proposed IT solution

C.                   How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements

D.                  Implementation Steps

E.                   Conclusion

Assignment – BA&SR Section I – Background and Organizational Analysis (Stage 1)

Section I of the BA&SR document contains an organizational analysis and identifies ways in which information systems can help the organization in the case study (CIC) to meet its strategic goals and meet the information needs of various levels of management.  This analysis lays the ground work for the next section of the BA&SR which will explain how technology can be used to support specific strategic activities of the organization.

Using the case study, assignment instructions, Course Content readings, and external resources, develop your Section I: Background and Organizational Analysis.  Recommended lengths for each section are provided and be sure to include all pertinent information.  A key to successful business writing is quality and conciseness rather than quantity.

To start, review the Business Perspectives Module (week 1 content), particularly the sections that describe the example of Booz Allen Hamilton, a services company with a business model similar to that of CIC in the case study.  The case study tells you that the executives and employees at CIC have identified a need for an effective and efficient hiring system.  As you review the case study, use the outline below to help you take notes to assist in your analysis; in particular, list the needs of the individuals expressed in the “interviews.”  

I.Background and Organizational Analysis

A.Introduction – briefly describe (at a high level) the organization in the Case Study; provide a context for the rest of the document.  (one paragraph)

B.Organizational Strategy – Using the Business Strategy statement and information from the Case Study, explain how a new hiring system would support that strategy.  (Two to three strong sentences that explain how the system would support the strategy and justify your position with specifics from the Case Study).

C.Components of an Information System – Explain each of the following in relationship to an information system to support the hiring process at CIC: 

1.People and Technology – .  Include how the technology will improve how the job is done; that is, identify what each of the stakeholders needs the system to do.  (Introductory sentence or two, followed by 1-2 sentences for each role)

i.CEO

ii.CFO

iii.CIO

iv.Director of Human Resources

v.Manager of Recruiting

vi.Recruiters

vii.Administrative Assistant

viii.Hiring Manager

2.Processes –      For each of the sub-processes listed, complete the table with the requested information.    (Provide an introductory sentence for this section and copy the table and insert the information within.)

Hiring Process

Below are sub-processes that are part of the overall hiring process

As/Is Process

To/Be Process

Business Benefits of Improved Process

Receiving applications

Matching applications with open job requisitions

Screening Resumes

Scheduling Interviews

3.Data/Information –   The case study provides insight into the kinds of data that will be needed.  First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.    (Provide an introductory sentence and copy the table and insert information within.)  

Data/Information Requirement

Formatting Your Assignment

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 ours. 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.

• Write a short concise paper:  Use the recommendations provided in each area for length of response.  Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced. It’s important to value quality over quantity.  Assignment should not exceed 4 pages.
• Ensure that each of the tables is preceded by an introductory sentence that explains what is contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.
• Use at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference.  Use at least one external reference and one from the course content.

Stage 2:   Strategic Use of Technology

Assignment

The first step is to incorporate the feedback you received on your Stage 1 assignment, making any needed corrections or adjustments.  For this assignment, you will add Section II of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) and identify and explain how the organization in the case study can use technology for strategic purposes in the areas listed below.  This analysis lays the ground work for Section III – Strategic and Operational Outcomes of the BA&SR (Stage 3 assignment) which will explain how technology can be used to support the strategic outcomes of the organization.

Using the case study, assignment instructions, Course Content readings, and external resources, develop your Section II on Strategic Use of Technology.   Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information

As you review the case study, including the description of CIC as well as the “interviews” that are documented, list opportunities for CIC to use technology for strategic purposes in the areas of:  decision making, communication, collaboration, relationships, structure, and competitive advantage.   Keep in mind, these are to be aligned to the business strategy and the organizational goals; the uses described in this section should not be just automating manual processes.  Begin with Section I (the Stage 1 assignment), making changes based on feedback you received and add Section II.  Note:  In addition to the criteria for Stage 2, as indicated in the grading rubric, the incorporation of improvements based on substantive feedback (more significant problems with content) from the previous stage will also be evaluated. 

Apply specific information from the case study to address each area listed below.

II.  Strategic Use of Technology

1. Decision-Making – In the Information Systems course module (included in the Week 4 Learning Resources), you were introduced to the information requirements of various levels of the organization.  First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.  Then, for each of the processes listed below, complete the table with the appropriate level) and an example of a decision supported by the Hiring System to be made at that level.  (Provide an introductory sentence then copy the table and insert information within.)

Role

Level

Example of Possible Decision Supported by Hiring System.

Senior/Executive Managers

(Decisions made by the CEO and the CFO at CIC supported by the hiring system.)

Middle Managers

(Decisions made by the Director of HR and the Manager of Recruiting supported by the hiring system.)

Operational Managers

(Decisions made by the line managers in the organization who are hiring for their projects supported by the hiring system.)

B.              Communication – Explain how a hiring system would improve internal and external communications.  (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences)

C.              Collaboration – Explain how a hiring system would improve collaboration internally within CIC.  (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences)  

D.              Relationships – Explain how implementing an enterprise hiring system would foster stronger relationships with applicants/potential employees.  (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences)

E.              Structure – Explain how a system would improve the CIC hiring process by providing a consistent structure for each participant to perform his/her part in the hiring process. (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences)

F.              Competitive Advantage – Explain how and why CIC can use the new hiring system to increase its competitive advantage.  Your explanation should demonstrate your understanding of what competitive advantage is as well as how improving the hiring process will help achieve CIC’s competitive advantage. Include how CIC can use the type of data/information that will be in the hiring system for strategic advantage.  (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences)

Formatting Your Assignment

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 ours. 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.

• Include Section I, revised according to any feedback received and add to it Section II.
• Write a short concise paper:  Use the recommendations provided in each area for length of response.  Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced. It’s important to value quality over quantity.  Section II should not exceed 4 pages.
• Ensure that each of the tables is preceded by an introductory sentence that explains what is contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.
• Use at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference.  Use at least one external reference and one from the course content.
• Compare your work to the Grading Rubric below 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_2

Stage 3:   Strategic and Operational Outcomes

Before you begin work on this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study and reviewed the feedback received on your Stage 2 assignment.  Refer to the Business Analysis and System Recommendations (BA&SR) Table of Contents below to see where you are in the process of developing this report.

Overview

As the business analyst in the CIO’s department of Chesapeake IT Consulting (CIC), your next step in working towards an IT solution to improve the hiring process at CIC is to analyze the strategic outcomes and processes at CIC and develop a set of requirements for the hiring system. 

Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents

V.                   Background and Organizational Analysis (Stage 1)

A.                  Introduction        

B.                   Organizational Strategy

C.                   Components of an Information System

1.                   People and Technology

2.                   Processes

3.                   Data/Information

VI.                 Strategic Use of Technology (Stage 2)

A.                  Decision Making

B.                   Communication

C.                   Collaboration

D.                  Relationships

E.                   Structure

F.                   Competitive Advantage

VII.               Strategic and Operational Outcomes (Stage 3)   

A.                  Strategic Outcomes

B.                   Process Analysis

C.                   Requirements

VIII.             System Recommendation (Stage 4)

A.                  Benefits of an Enterprise Solution

B.                   Proposed IT solution

C.                   How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements

D.                  Implementation Steps

E.                   Conclusion

Assignment

The first step is to incorporate the feedback you received on your Stage 2 assignment, making any needed corrections or adjustments.  (If you have not incorporated the feedback from your Stage 1 assignment, you should do so prior to submitting Stage 3.) For this assignment, you will add Section III to Sections I and II, as outlined below.  Note:  In addition to the criteria for Stage 3, as indicated in the grading rubric, the incorporation of improvements based on substantive feedback (more significant problems with content) from the previous stage will also be evaluated. 

Section III of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation Report analyzes the organization’s strategy and processes to determine how technology solutions can be used to support organizational processes and enable strategic and operational outcomes.  For this assignment, you will list requirements for a new hiring system. This analysis leads into Section IV – System Recommendation section of the BA&SR (the Stage 4 assignment) that will propose an IT solution to meet CIC’s organizational strategy and fulfill its operational needs. 

Using the case study, assignment instructions, Course Content readings, and external resources, develop your Section III on Strategic and Operational Outcomes.   Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information.  A key to successful business writing is quality and conciseness rather than quantity.

The case study tells you that the executives and employees at Chesapeake IT Consultants (CIC) have identified a need for an effective and efficient hiring system.  As you review the case study,list three goals (or strategies) from the description of the company, as well as from the “interviews” that are documented.  Then, to focus on operational outcomes, you will analyze the hiring process in use at CIC by identifying specific steps. 

Note:  Refer to the Week 6 Content “Good Practices for Developing User Requirements” in particular for this assignment.  Business Requirements – why the project is being undertaken – aligns with the Strategic Outcomes section III- A.   User Requirements and Software Requirements are addressed in III-C – Requirements below.

II.Strategic and Operational Outcomes

A.Strategic Outcomes – Identify three strategic goals or objectives mentioned in the company description and interviews in the CIC Case Study, and explain how the new hiring system would help achieve those goals/objectives.  (2-3 sentences for each goal/objective) 

1.   Strategic Goal/Objective 1 and explanation: 
2.   Strategy Goal/Objective 2 and explanation:
3.   Strategy Goal/Objective 3 and explanation:

B.Process Analysis – To understand what the new hiring system needs to do for CIC, you will first analyze the current hiring process.  The Interviews in the CIC Case Study provide the information you need about how the process is currently conducted.  You will need to combine the steps that each interviewee discusses and organize them into a logical sequence showing the high level start to finish process.  First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.  Then, for each of the elements listed below, complete the table with the requested information. The beginning and ending step have been provided for you.  Each process step should be concise and start with an action verb.  (Provide an introductory sentence and copy the table and insert information within.)

Hiring Process Step

Responsible CIC Position

1.  Receive application from job hunter

Recruiter

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12. Extend Hiring Offer to Selected Candidate

Recruiter/Hiring Manager

1. Requirements – The next step is to identify the essential requirements for the information system.  Refer to the Week 6 Content -Good Practices for Developing User Requirements. Here you are focusing on the Business Requirements and the Software Requirements. Each requirement is one sentence in length and addresses one thing the system must do.  The requirements are documented in a table, as shown below.  For a full requirement specification, there will be many requirements statements; you only need to provide the number of requirements identified for each category.  The requirements should be derived from the Case Study; an analyst should not “invent” requirements.

For this assignment, you will identify:

• 4 user requirements (what users will be able to do with the product (functional) requirements (numbered in the table as U-#).  requirement in this section
• 1 reporting requirement (UR-#)
• 5 software requirements related to security (SS-#)
• 3 software requirements related to system performance requirements (SP=-#)

Here’s an example of a business requirement:

Requirement Number

Requirement

Source (individual) from Case Study

U-1

Prepare job offer for chosen candidate

Recruiter – Paul O’Brien

First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.  Then, for each of the rows listed below, complete the table with the requested information.  (Provide an introductory sentence and copy the table and insert information within.

Requirement Number

Requirement

Source (individual) from Case Study – name and title

U-1

U-2

U-3

U-4

UR-1

SS-1

SS-2

SP-1

SP-2

SP-3

Formatting Your Assignment

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 ours. 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.

• Include Sections I and II, revised according to any feedback received and add Section III.
• Write a short concise paper:  Use the recommendations provided in each area for length of response.  Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced. It’s important to value quality over quantity.  Section III should not exceed 4 pages.
• Ensure that each of the tables is preceded by an introductory sentence that explains what is contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.
• Use at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference.  Use at least one external reference and one from the course content.
• Compare your work to the Grading Rubric below to be sure you have met content and quality criteria. 

Stage 4:   System Recommendation and Final BA&SR Report

Before you begin work on this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study, and reviewed the feedback received on your Stage 1, 2 and 3 assignments.  Refer to the Business Analysis and System Recommendations (BA&SR) Table of Contents below to see where you are in the process of developing this report.

Overview

In this Stage 4 assignment, you will identify an enterprise hiring system for CIC and explain how it meets the requirements, and what needs to be done to implement the system within CIC.   In addition, you will provide a complete final BA&SR Report incorporating feedback from earlier stages.

Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents

IX.                  Background and Organizational Analysis (Stage 1)

A.                   Introduction           

B.                   Organizational Strategy

C.                   Components of an Information System

1.                    People and Technology

2.                    Processes

3.                    Data/Information

X.                   Strategic Use of Technology (Stage 2)

A.                   Decision Making

B.                   Communication

C.                   Collaboration

D.                   Relationships

E.                    Structure

F.                    Competitive Advantage

XI.                  Strategic and Operational Outcomes (Stage 3)

A.                   Strategic Outcomes

B.                   Process Analysis

C.                   Requirements

XII.                System Recommendation (Stage 4)

A.                   Benefits of an Enterprise Solution

B.                   Proposed IT Solution

C.                   How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements

D.                   Implementation Steps

E.                    Conclusion

Assignment

The first step is to incorporate the feedback you received on your Stage 3 assignment, making any needed corrections or adjustments.  (If you have not incorporated the feedback from your Stage 1 and Stage 2 assignments, you should do so prior to submitting Stage 4.) For this assignment, you will add Section IV to Sections I, II and III, as outlined below.   This assignment requires a complete BA&SR document with revisions made as needed based on the Stage 1, 2, and 3 project submissions and feedback.  Note:  This is a specific grading criteria in the rubric.

Section IV of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation will propose an IT solution to meet CIC’s organizational strategy and meet its operational needs.  In Section IV, you will also Identify and explain the high-level steps that will need to take place in order to implement the system you have proposed.

Using the case study and the outline and resources listed below, develop your Section IV – System Recommendation.   Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information.

III.System Recommendation

A.Benefits of an Enterprise Solution:  Explain what an enterprise system solution is in general (one paragraph) and how such a system would help CIC (one paragraph).  (Two complete paragraphs in total) Note:  Enterprise solutions are not the same as ERP applications.

1. Proposed IT Solution: There are many SaaS HR systems available.   Conduct some research on the web (using the search term “SaaS HR system”) and identify a system that will support and improve the hiring process at CIC and that meets the requirements you listed in Section III -Strategic and Operational Outcomes (the Stage 3 Assignment).  Be sure to evaluate potential solutions to align with the needs of CIC.  Identify the vendor and the system you selected. (One paragraph)
2. How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements:  Using the 10 requirements you listed in your Stage 3 assignment (and incorporating any feedback you received), you will now explain how the solution you have chosen fulfills these requirements.

First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.  Then copy the entries for the 10 requirements into the Requirements column from the table in Section III (Stage 3 Assignment).  Complete the table by providing the explanations of how the system you selected meets each requirement.   (Provide an introductory sentence and copy the table and insert information within.)

Req.

Number

Requirement

(from Requirements table in Section III)

Explanation of How the Proposed System Meets the Requirement

U-1

U-2

U-3

U-4

UR-1

SS-1

SS-2

SP-1

SP-2

SP-3

    

1. Implementation Steps:  First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section. Then address each of the 7 implementation areas below by addressing the questions provided and identifying appropriate implementation steps.  Label each paragraph with the area being addressed for clarity. (one paragraph for each item)

Implementation Areas:

1. Vendor agreement – What does CIC need to do to be able to start using the system?  How much will it cost to use the system? [web research and vendor information]
2. Hardware and telecommunications
   1. What hardware will CIC need to have to implement the solution? [Chapter 2; vendor information] 
   2. What kind of telecommunications will be needed for the solution, including local connectivity inside CIC and Internet access?
3. Configuration
   1. What options does the vendor offer for configuring the off-the-shelf system to CIC’s needs?  [vendor information]
   2. How will the configuration be done and by whom?  
4. Testing – How will CIC test the system to see if it is working properly for its needs? Choose one of the ten requirements in Requirements (Section C) above and explain how this will be tested to ensure it is working properly and the requirement is met.
5. Employee preparation – Identify what CIC will need to do in each of the following areas to prepare the employees (including the hiring managers) to use the new system:
   1. Leadership (2-3 sentences)
   2. Change Management (2-3 sentences)
   3. Training (2-3 sentences
6. Data migration – What existing data would need to be entered into the system to get started, and how might this be accomplished?
7. Maintenance – Who will provide updates and corrections to the system?
8. Conclusion:  Close your Business Analysis and System Recommendation with a brief summary of the key points including the benefits CIC can expect to gain from this solution and the alignment with strategic objectives. (One well-written paragraph).

NOTE:  This final submission should be a cohesive Business Analysis and Systems Recommendation Report for the CIO of Chesapeake IT Consulting.  Sections I, II and III should have been updated to reflect substantive feedback received during the grading process.  The formatting should be consistent throughout the document, and the writing should flow well from beginning to end.  Headings, numbering, and footers should be correct for a final submission.  Although you prepared this in stages, the final product should not seem to be piecemeal or disconnected.

Formatting Your Assignment

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 ours. 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.

• Write a complete, well organized paper that includes the four sections of the Business Analysis and System Recommendations (BA&SR) report. Use the recommendations provided in each area for length of response.  Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced. It’s important to value quality over quantity.  Length for Section IV should not exceed six (6) pages in addition to Sections I, II and III.
• Ensure that each of the tables is preceded by an introductory sentence that explains what is contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.
• For Section IV, use at least three resources with APA formatted citation and reference.  One reference must be from the vendor site for the solution you are recommending, one additional external source, and one from the IFSM 300 course content.

Stage 4 Answer Format

Must be double spaced except tables which will be single spaced

There is a requirement for research outside the case itself.  One outside reference and one reference from class readings and these must meet APA requirements

The first step is to incorporate the feedback you received on your Stage 3 assignment, making any needed corrections or adjustments.  (If you have not incorporated the feedback from your Stage 1 and Stage 2 assignments, you should do so prior to submitting Stage 4.) For this assignment, you will add Section IV to Sections I, II and III, as outlined below.   This assignment requires a complete BA&SR document with revisions made as needed based on the Stage 1, 2, and 3 project submissions and feedback.  Note:  This is a specific grading criterion in the rubric.

Using the case study and the outline and resources listed below, develop your Section IV – System Recommendation.   Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information.

IV.System Recommendation

A.Benefits of an Enterprise Solution:  Explain what an enterprise system solution is in general (one paragraph) and how such a system would help CIC (one paragraph).  (Two complete paragraphs in total) Note:  Enterprise solutions are not the same as ERP applications.

1. Proposed IT Solution: There are many SaaS HR systems available.   Conduct some research on the web (using the search term “SaaS HR system”) and identify a system that will support and improve the hiring process at CIC and that meets the requirements you listed in Section III -Strategic and Operational Outcomes (the Stage 3 Assignment).  Be sure to evaluate potential solutions to align with the needs of CIC.  Identify the vendor and the system you selected. (One paragraph)
2. How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements:  Using the 10 requirements you listed in your Stage 3 assignment (and incorporating any feedback you received), you will now explain how the solution you have chosen fulfills these requirements.

First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.  Then copy the entries for the 10 requirements into the Requirements column from the table in Section III (Stage 3 Assignment).  Complete the table by providing the explanations of how the system you selected meets each requirement.   (Provide an introductory sentence and copy the table and insert information within.)

Req.

Number

Requirement

(from Requirements table in Section III)

Explanation of How the Proposed System Meets the Requirement

U-1

U-2

U-3

U-4

UR-1

SS-1

SS-2

SP-1

SP-2

SP-3

    

1. Implementation Steps:  First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section. Then address each of the 7 implementation areas below by addressing the questions provided and identifying appropriate implementation steps.  Label each paragraph with the area being addressed for clarity. (one paragraph for each item)

Implementation Areas:

1. Vendor agreement – What does CIC need to do to be able to start using the system?  How much will it cost to use the system? [web research and vendor information]
2. Hardware and telecommunications
   1. What hardware will CIC need to have to implement the solution? [Chapter 2; vendor information] 
   2. What kind of telecommunications will be needed for the solution, including local connectivity inside CIC and Internet access?
3. Configuration
   1. What options does the vendor offer for configuring the off-the-shelf system to CIC’s needs?  [vendor information]
   2. How will the configuration be done and by whom?  
4. Testing – How will CIC test the system to see if it is working properly for its needs? Choose one of the ten requirements in Requirements (Section C) above and explain how this will be tested to ensure it is working properly and the requirement is met.
5. Employee preparation – Identify what CIC will need to do in each of the following areas to prepare the employees (including the hiring managers) to use the new system:
   1. Leadership (2-3 sentences)
   2. Change Management (2-3 sentences)
   3. Training (2-3 sentences
6. Data migration – What existing data would need to be entered into the system to get started, and how might this be accomplished?
7. Maintenance – Who will provide updates and corrections to the system?
8. Conclusion:  Close your Business Analysis and System Recommendation with a brief summary of the key points including the benefits CIC can expect to gain from this solution and the alignment with strategic objectives. (One well-written paragraph).

NOTE:  This final submission should be a cohesive Business Analysis and Systems Recommendation Report for the CIO of Chesapeake IT Consulting.  Sections I, II and III should have been updated to reflect substantive feedback received during the grading process.  The formatting should be consistent throughout the document, and the writing should flow well from beginning to end.  Headings, numbering, and footers should be correct for a final submission.  Although you prepared this in stages, the final product should not seem to be piecemeal or disconnected.  There should be one Reference Page at the end that contains all of the references used in the paper.